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Ontario Montessori schools

Find the top Montessori schools and programs in Ontario.

On this page, we cover private Montessori schools in Ontario. This includes schools in Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Brantford, and Unionville.

For a more complete guide to Montessori education, including a detailed discussion of philosophy and classroom practices, start with our introductory guide.

There are lots of Montessori schools in Ontario, including in Toronto, Ottawa, and Mississauga. These schools vary in terms of their philosophy, 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

Our Montessori choosing guide has specific advice for choosing Montessori schools. For advice on how to choose and assess private schools in general, check out our choosing a school guide and expert advice 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. In Ontario, we have private school expos in Toronto, Ottawa, and Oakvile. These expos allow you to speak with lots of private schools, including some Montessori schools—all in one place. Find a Montessori school near you.

Parent discussion forum

Another useful 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 education. Our community of parents, educational experts, school officials, and alumni can help answer your questions and lay out your options.

Open house events

Open houses are another great way to learn more about schools. For general advice on open house visits, check out our guide on school visits. For specific questions to ask Montessori schools, see our Montessori questions guide.

3. Tuition at Ontario Montessori schools

The cost of Montessori schools in Ontario tends to be lower than the cost of other private schools in Ontario. 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. There are no public Montessori schools in Ontario, though some public schools use certain Montessori principles.

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. You can learn more about need- and merit-based financial aid in our dedicated guide. You can learn more about preschool costs, in our dedicated guide.

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

Academics

Special needs support

The Montessori philosophy and approach, based on the research and insights of Maria Montessori, is unique. And Montessori schools (including preschools), in Ontario and other provinces, have several progressive classroom practices. Some of the main ones are discussed below.

For more comprehensive coverage of the Montessori method, see our main Montessori school guide.

Montessori classroom practices

Self-directed work: Montessori students do lots of independent work. While the learning environment provides some structure, students often choose their own tasks and learning materials. With some guidance from the teacher, they also determine the pace of their studies. This allows them to do work they find challenging and stimulating, and that they’re likely to complete. It can also lead to a love of learning, thoughout the school years and beyond.

Concrete learning: The main focus is on concrete learning, rather than abstract learning. Especially at the preschool and elementary level, kids work with lots of different concrete materials to learn important practical life skills.

Concrete learning engages many of the senses. And research has shown that it has several benefits. For instance, it leads to faster and more efficient learning, and it can also improve a child's focus and engagement.

Minimal tests and grades: Similar to Waldorf and Reggio Emilia schools, Montessori schools almost never test students or give them assignments. Moreover, student work is rarely graded, except in high school (and sometimes middle school). 

Instead, student progress is informally assessed through observation and developmental rubrics. The belief is that kids should be intrinsically motivated—by doing meaningful work they enjoy and find fulfilling—rather than externally motivated (through grades, report cards, and the like).

Individualized curriculum: Montessori schools focus heavily on academics, even sometimes at the preschool level (3-6). Kids must master the basics in math, science, the language arts, and other subjects. They can then move on to more advanced work.

The curricular focus and pace, though, will differ between children. Each child will move at a different pace and study subjects in different ways, depending on their specific learning needs and interests. Each child will also have their own individualized learning plan, one that’s arrived at by both the child and the teacher. This is a hallmark of the Montessori method. 

Montessori curricular and teaching approach

In Montessori schools in Ontario, subjects are almost never taught in isolation. Typically, several subjects are taught together, as part of what's called an integrated curriculum.

For instance, biology or chemistry aren’t taught as single subjects, except possibly in high school (and maybe middle school). Rather, they’ll be taught as part of an integrated unit.

To this end, a teacher might deliver what Montessori educators refer to as a great lesson. For instance, in some schools, teachers give a great lesson on the beginning of life, where students learn about biology, chemistry, history, religion, and other subjects.

An integrated curriculum can be very rewarding for Montessori students. It encourages them to make connections between ideas and concepts from a variety of disciplines. It also can lead to positive learning outcomes, such as a broadening of knowledge and a wider range of interests.

Unlike mainstream schools, though, Montessori schools don’t deliver this curriculum through direct instruction. Teachers rarely, if ever, give long lectures or lessons. When lessons are given, they tend to be shorter and more interactive and engaging than lectures given in mainstream schools.

Instead of lecturing, teachers tend to work with individuals or small groups of students. Their main role is to be a facilitator: they provide the necessary support and guidance for students to complete their work. They also help connect students with meaningful work.

Sometimes, though, teachers will just sit back and observe kids work. Often, this will be group work, where small groups of kids come together (of their own accord) to work on different tasks and projects.

The belief is that classmates often do a better job of teaching than the main teacher. In particular, older kids can excel at teaching and mentoring their younger peers, and modelling appropriate behaviour to them. The teacher, in these situations, will intervene or provide guidance only when absolutely necessary.

To learn about how Montessori education evolves through the years, read our Montessori curriculum guide. To learn how it might be suitable for kids with special needs such as gifted children, read our Montessori and special needs guide.  

Montessori schools in Ontario

There are plenty of Montessori schools, preschools, and daycares in Ontario. This includes schools in Toronto, Ottawa, Brampton, Mississauga, London, Kingston, St. Catharines, Oakville, Milton, Pickering,  Scarborough, Brantford, Unionville, Stouffville, Aurora, and Vaughan. Parents will thus have a lot of options when selecting a school.

Some schools are more traditional, and follow the Montessori philosophy to the letter. Other schools are more supplemented, and combine the Montessori philosophy with more modern curricular approaches and materials. Remember, each Montessori school has a unique approach. In choosing a school or preschool, it’s best to look for one that’s the right fit for your child in terms of philosophy, culture, values, and the like.

Ontario has plenty of great public and private schools. It's also home to some first-rate post-secondary institutions. These include the University of Toronto, Queen’s University (in Kingston), Western University (in London), McMaster University (in Hamilton), and the University of Waterloo (in Kitchener-Waterloo).