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Montessori schools in Oakville

Find the top Montessori schools and programs in Oakville.

On this page we cover private schools in the Oakville area that offer Montessori programs. This includes Montessori schools in Old Oakville, Uptown Core, College Park, Palermo, River Oaks, Glen Abbey, and Clearview.

For a more complete guide to Montessori education, including a discussion of Montessori elementary schools, start with our introductory guide.

There are lots of private Montessori schools in Oakville. These schools vary in terms of their classroom practices, curricular approaches, program offerings, and special needs support. The schools listed below reflect this diversity. They can be filtered for a wide range of features.

2. Choosing a school

For general advice on how to choose and evaluate private schools, check out our choosing a school guide and advice from top education experts. For advice on choosing Montessori schools, see our main Montessori school guide and our Montessori choosing guide. You can also read our guides to questions to ask private schools and questions students get asked at school interviews.

Private school expos

Private school expos are a great starting point for finding a school. We have annual private school expos in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, and Halton-peel. The closest one to Oakville is our Halton-peel private school expo: it allows you to speak with many private schools, including some Montessori schools—all in one place. Find a Montessori school near you.

Parent discussion forum

Another great resource in your school search is the Our Kids parent discussion forum. The forum is an ideal place to discuss options and debate topics related to Montessori schools and preschools. Our community of parents, educational experts, school officials, and alumni can help answer your questions and stimulate your thinking.

Open house events

Attending open houses is a great way to learn more about private schools. For general advice on open house visits, check out our guide on school visits.

3. Tuition at Oakville Montessori schools

The cost of Montessori schools in Oakville tends to be lower than the cost of other private schools in Oakville. In fact, Montessori schools are usually on the lower side of private school tuition in general.

Private school tuition can range from $5,000 to over $30,000 per year for day students. There are no public Montessori schools in Oakville, though some public schools use certain Montessori principles and materials.

Many schools offer needs-based financial aid, such as bursaries or tuition relief. Other schools, though not as many, offer scholarships, which are given based on merit—for instance, in academics or athletics. You can learn more about need- and merit-based financial aid in our dedicated guide. You can also read about the costs of preschools in general.

Below, you’ll find the range of costs for Montessori private schools and preschools in Oakville:

Academics

Special needs support

Montessori schools, in Oakville and other cities, often have large mixed-age classes with high teacher-to-student ratios. They also tend to have lots of interaction, student-to-student teaching, and group and independent work.

Below, the Montessori philosophy and teaching approach is discussed in more detail. For more comprehensive coverage, see our main Montessori school guide.

Montessori school philosophy

The Montessori philosophy of education is unique. Some of the main principles of this philosophy are the following:

Student-centred: Students are free to move around the class, choose their own work, and determine the pace of their studies. This can make for a dynamic learning environment. Kids often choose work that’s engaging and stimulating, in this setting, which can give rise to a love of learning.

Uninterrupted work time: Montessori schools give kids lots of uninterrupted work time, especially at the elementary level. In many schools, they’re given at least one 3-hour, uninterrupted work period to focus on their chosen work, free of interruptions. Uninterrupted work periods are believed to improve children’s concentration, self-discipline, and work habits.

Concrete learning: Similar to Waldorf and Reggio Emilia, learning tends to be concrete and hands-on. At the primary and elementary level (and sometimes at the secondary level), kids work with lots of different concrete materials, including “manipulatives”—or self-correcting puzzles.

Montessori children also work with blocks, rods, spindle boxes, and many other materials. Concrete learning engages many of the senses. And, research has shown that it can speed up learning, especially for younger kids.

No external rewards: In primary and elementary school, children aren’t given tests or assignments, or graded on any of their work. Montessori children also aren’t praised very much, and when they are praised, it’s for effort—not outcome. Progress is assessed informally, through observation and developmental rubrics, rather than formally, through grades or report cards.

Montessori teaching approach

Montessori teachers rarely provide direct instruction. They almost never stand at the front of the class and lecture to all the students. And when they do lecture, the lectures are usually short, interactive, and engaging.

More often, though, teachers move around the class, and give lessons to or guide students. They usually work with students one-on-one or in small groups. They often encourage students to repeat and practice activities, and they plan projects to meet each student’s learning needs. Their primary role is to connect students with their work, rather than to impart knowledge to them. Teachers are thus viewed more as “guides” or “mentors” than “teachers” in the traditional sense.

Montessori schools, in Oakville, Ontario, have mixed-age classes, with kids aged 0-3 (toddler), 3-6 (primary), 6-9 (lower-elementary), 9-12 (upper elementary), and so on. The mixed-age classroom informs the teaching approach and learning environment.

Most Montessori classes have lots of group work. Kids work together in small groups on projects and tasks, with some guidance from the teacher. Kids help each other, and older kids often mentor their younger classmates, by helping with them with their work and modelling appropriate behaviour. This can reinforce knowledge and skills learned in the classroom, for both older and younger kids.

Montessori in Oakville

Oakville is in the western end of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). It's close to Mississauga, Milton, and is in the Halton region.

Oakville has many great public and private schools. In particular, it has many private schools that offer appealing schools and preschool programs for children of all ages. These schools often provide tailored instruction to meet the diverse learning needs of a wide range of children.

There are several private Montessori schools in Oakville. These include preschools and elementary schools. Some of these schools also offer childcare. All Montessori schools in Oakville have a child-centred approach. This means kids often have the freedom to choose their own tasks and work at their own pace. This can make school stimulating and fulfilling. It can also make it fun.