As the capital of Ohio, Columbus is a populous city with over 80 private schools. Despite its size, Columbus has a community feel and is sometimes labeled the “biggest small town in America.” The community aspect goes along well with the Montessori method, which focuses on child-led learning within a community. If you’re looking for a new school for your child, you might consider one of the top Montessori schools in Columbus.
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How Much is Montessori School Tuition in Ohio?
Montessori education is an investment in your child’s future. Even though a Montessori school isn’t the right fit for every student, there are many benefits to choosing a Montessori education. One study measured the Montessori method's impact on children’s socio-emotional development and learning. The study's results revealed that children in Montessori schools had higher academic success and creative skills.
Despite the benefits of Montessori education, many wonder if it’s worth the tuition. The average cost of a private Montessori school in Ohio is around $8,000, which is higher than that of non-Montessori private schools. Montessori schools are typically more expensive than other private schools due to the small class sizes, teacher certifications, and cost of Montessori materials. The reviews from some of the top Montessori schools in Columbus show that if you find a Montessori school where your child can thrive, it’s worth the extra cost.
Top Montessori Schools in Columbus
When you’re searching for the best Montessori schools in your area, it can take time and research to find a quality school. To help you get started, here are the top Montessori schools in Columbus.
St. Joseph Montessori School
- 933 Hamlet St, Columbus, OH 43201
- Highly rated for excellent education, nurturing environment, and caring teachers
- Contact school for tuition
St. Joseph Montessori School offers a Montessori program for toddlers, elementary, and middle school students. For over 50 years, this school has provided a Montessori-based and faith-based education to students in the Columbus community. St. Joseph Montessori is accredited by Ohio Catholic Schools and affiliated with the American Montessori Society, Columbus Catholic Dioceses, and the National Catholic Educators Association.
Of their 30 teachers, 22 are Montessori certified, and 60% have more than ten years of teaching experience. In addition to their academic programs, they provide enrichment programs such as art, library, and Spanish.
Columbus Montessori Education Center
- 979 James Rd, Columbus, OH 43227
- Highly rated for caring community, peaceful environment, and excellent teachers
- Infant $20,300
- Preschool $15,525
- Children’s house $11,500-$14,000
- Lower elementary $11,700
- Upper elementary $11,700
Columbus Montessori Education Center provides a Montessori program for children 6 weeks through 6th grade. For over thirty years, this education center has provided a nurturing environment for a diverse population in Columbus.
Each of the programs at Columbus Montessori Education Center includes mixed-age classrooms and a prepared classroom environment. The school has a strong focus on being a catalyst for social good and helping the community.
Villa Montessori Preschool Columbus
- 8999 Gemini Pkwy Ste a, Columbus, OH 43240
- Highly rated for excellent staff, caring environment, and open communication
- Contact school for tuition
Villa Montessori Preschool Columbus has a program for infants, toddlers, pre-primary students, and primary students up to 6 years old. Their programs encourage self-discovery and include beautifully prepared environments for students to discover and explore.
At Villa Montessori Preschool, children get to participate in classes such as music, gardening, and art. Their curriculum is a combination of the Montessori and Reggio methods.
Guidepost Montessori at Worthington
- 125 Dillmont Dr, Columbus, OH 43235
- Highly rated for a safe environment, caring staff, and beautiful classrooms
- Contact school for tuition
Guidepost Montessori at Worthington has programs for children 12 weeks to 6 years. This school is a part of the Guidepost Montessori network which has well-established Montessori schools across the country.
Each Guidepost campus offers a carefully prepared Montessori environment and individualized learning. The classrooms are spacious with lots of natural light, and children are able to explore the classroom environment independently.
Community Montessori Columbus
- 5400 Karl Rd, Columbus, OH 43229
- Highly rated for beautiful facility, excellent staff, and clear communication
- Partial day $8,325
- Full day $11,100
Community Montessori Columbus offers an affordable program for children 2.5 to 6 years old. Part of the mission of Community Montessori is to provide an accessible Montessori education to a diverse group of families in Columbus, and one of the ways they accomplish this is by offering sliding-scale tuition payments.
Community Montessori focuses on social and environmental responsibility and provides students with a fully-implemented Montessori program. In addition to their Children’s House program, they offer extended care and a 10-week summer session.
Notable Montessori Alumni
If you're considering sending your child to a Montessori school, then you're probably curious about the people who have graduated from Montessori schools and what they've been able to achieve. Several prominent and highly successful individuals are Montessori alumni!
Steph Curry, Chelsea Clinton, Taylor Swift, and Jeff Bezos are all names you're sure to recognize. These are all Montessori graduates, speaking to the ways that this education style can prepare your child for success in their future. Other notable Montessori alumni include Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who are Google's founders, Anne Frank, and Will Wright, the creator of the mega-hit Sims video game series.
With Montessori being so popular, some false or unverifiable claims about Montessori alumni have arisen online. You may see some publications claiming that Beyoncé, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and George Clooney are Montessori alumni. The American Montessori Society has not been able to verify that any of these individuals attended a Montessori school; in fact, they were able to disprove that George Clooney went to one!
Conclusion
Finding a highly-rated Montessori school in your area and within your budget is not always easy. There are plenty of factors to consider when looking for the right school, but reviews from other parents are one of the best ways to narrow down your search. No matter how old your child is, we hope you found a potential school on our list of top Montessori schools in Columbus.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©iStock.com/AaronAmat.