On this page, we cover private Montessori schools (ecole Montessori) in Montreal. This includes accredited and certified schools Montessori schools in downtown Montreal, Old Montreal, Mount Royal, Outremont, Westmount, Anjou, Rigaud, St. Laurent, Pointe-Claire, Hampstead, Lasalle, GriffinTown, Côte-Saint-Paul, Verdun, West Island, South Shore, Nuns Island, and Ville Marie. It also includes schools in Laval, Longueuil, Sherbrooke, Kirkland, and Dollard-des-Ormeaux.
For a more complete guide to Montessori education, including a thorough discussion of the Montessori school philosophy and curriculum, check out our introductory guide.
There are lots of private Montessori schools in Montreal. 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.
For general advice on how to choose and evaluate private schools, check out our choosing a school guide, as well as advice from top education experts. For advice on choosing Montessori schools (including preschools), see our Montessori choosing guide. You can also learn about choosing the right preschool, in our dedicated guide.
Private school expos are a great starting point for finding a school. The Montreal private school expo allows you to speak with many private schools, including some Montreal Montessori schools and programs. Find a Montessori school near you.
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.
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.
The cost of Montessori schools in Montreal tends to be lower than the cost of other private schools in Montreal. 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 Montreal, though some public schools use certain Montessori principles.
Many Montessori 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 check out our guide to preschool costs.
Below, you’ll find the range of costs for private Montessori schools in Montreal and the GMA:
| Tuition (day school) | Students receiving financial aid | Grade eligibility for financial aid | Avg. aid package size (annual) |
|---|
Primary curriculum | Secondary curriculum | Curriculum pace | Academic culture | Average class size | Language immersion | Special needs support | Tech integration |
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Legend:
There are some great Montessori schools (ecole Montessori) and daycares in Montreal and the Greater Montreal Area (GMA), in Quebec. This includes schools in Mount Royal, Westmount, Dollard, Hampstead, and Cote Saint-Luc.
Montreal Montessori schools typically have mixed-age classes with lots of interaction, student-to-student teaching, and group and independent work. They also normally have teachers who are trained by a Montessori accrediting or certifying institute such as the American Montessori Internationale or Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education.
Below, the Montessori philosophy and teaching approach is discussed in more detail. For more comprehensive coverage, see our main Montessori school guide.
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. There is no set curriculum. 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: Learning tends to be concrete and hands-on. At the preschool and elementary level (and sometimes at the secondary level), Montessori kids work with lots of different concrete materials, including “manipulatives”—or self-correcting puzzles.
They also work with blocks, rods, spindle boxes, and many other materials, and do lots of practical life activities. 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 preschool and elementary school, kids aren’t given tests or assignments, or graded on any of their work. Montessori kids 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 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 Montreal and the Greater Montreal Area (GMA) , 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. Montessori 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. Such an approach can be especially effective for children with special needs.
The Montessori system was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in the last century and has since then been accepted worldwide. The Montessori philosophy is based on the fact that children are naturally curious and a belief that, given the opportunity to "figure things out," they will learn on their own.
Classroom materials provide the means for children to develop and learn at their own pace. The Montessori method is successfully used in thousands of schools around the world. The Montessori Foundation and the International Montessori Council help to nurture, inspire, and support the development of strong, successful Montessori schools around the world.
The Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators (CCMA) is the primary regulating body in Canada for accredited Montessori Schools. Schools that wish to be accredited by CCMA must adhere to strict criteria.
Montessori schools in Montreal, including in downtown Montreal, old Montreal, Outremont, and Saint-Laurent, provide a positive and fulfilling learning experience for young children. These schools meet children's developmental needs and prepare them to enjoy a lifetime of learning.
Children learn social skills, moral values, and language skills, both in French and English in these schools. Montessori education offers lifelong benefits: schools bolster a child's development and offer a unique learning system with a great track record.
