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Parent Corner

How to Choose a Montessori School

Choosing the right school is a deaply personal journey that can shape your child’s growth and future. It’s not just about academics—it’s about finding a place that aligns with your family’s values and fosters a love of learning. Here’s what to consider when exploring schools that truly fit your child’s needs.

Here is What toLook For

The name and philosophy of Maria Montessori are open to all, which means any school or daycare can adopt Montessori materials and call itself a Montessori program. While this creates a wide variety of options, it also means quality can vary. Thankfully, many schools stay true to the Montessori approach—and with the right guidance, you can find one that does.

Whether or not Alden Montessori ends up being your ultimate choice, we are here to help you choose the right school for your family! Here are key things to look for when choosing a Montessori school for your child.

School Licensing

A quality Montessori school should hold a license or accreditation from a reputable Montessori organization. Among the most respected are:

AMI (Association Montessori Internationale)
AMS (American Montessori Society)
IMC (International Montessori Council)

In addition to Montessori-specific credentials, the school should also be licensed by the appropriate state child care regulatory agency. We are licensed by the Texas Health and Human Services – Child Care Regulation.

It’s important to understand the distinction between licensing and accreditation:

Licensing is mandatory, regulated by state or local government agencies to ensure health and safely standards.
Accreditation is a voluntary process conducted by independent organizations to ensure the quality of programs.

Alden Montessori School is currently pursuing accreditation through the International Montessori Council (IMC)

School Leadership

To operate as a true Montessori school, the Head of School or Directors should hold an accredited Montessori credential and have hands-on classroom experience. In our view, school owners should also meet these same standards, as their leadership profoundly impacts the integrity of the Montessori philosophy. This experience is essential for providing teachers, parents, and students with the guidance and support they need—something best delivered by those deeply rooted in Montessori principles. Additionally, directors are required to hold a state-issued Director’s Certificate from child care licensing authorities. We encourage families to ask to see these certifications, as the quality of your child’s Montessori education is directly tied to the knowledge and dedication of the school’s leadership.

At our school, both Heads of School (the owners) are degreed, Montessori credentialed, have taught at both Elementary and Primary levels, and hold a Director’s Certificate from Texas Health and Human Services – Child Care Regulation. Our Operations Director holds a Montessori credential, has classroom experience, and holds a Directors Certificate from Texas Health and Human Services – Child Care Regulation.

Montessori Credentialed Teachers

The lead teachers in our Toddler, Primary, and Elementary programs are required to hold an accredited Montessori credential at the level they teach, ensuring they bring authentic Montessori principles into the classroom. In addition, our Elementary teachers must also hold a bachelor’s degree to meet the highest standards of academic excellence.

We take pride in the fact that every one of our lead teachers is Montessori credentialed and brings a wealth of experience, passion, and dedication to fostering a nurturing and enriching learning environment for every child.

Stability of the Staff

Many schools may appear beautiful at first glance, yet struggle with internal challenges. When evaluating a school, be sure to ask how long the directors have been in place, how many have served in the past five years, and the tenure of each teacher. While occasional staff changes are natural—teachers may move due to life events—frequent turnover can be a red flag.

At our school, staff departures are rare. Of course, life sometimes intervenes: a spouse may be transferred, a new baby may arrive, or a relative may require full-time care. Even in these uncommon situations, rest assured—we consistently attract talented educators eager to join our team.

Parent Recommendations

We’re proud to have a community of dedicated and engaged parents. If you’d like to hear directly from them, just ask—we’ll be happy to connect you with a few who can share their experiences.

If you’re visiting us for a tour, you might even receive a spontaneous recommendation from a parent during drop-off!

Reviews

While no company can completely prevent occasional malicious reviews from former employees or competitors, the overall feedback should be overwhelmingly positive. If you come across a negative review, we recommend asking the school directly about it during your interview—how they respond can tell you a lot about their values and transparency.

Alden is proud to have excellent reviews! Currently, Google Reviews is experiencing technical issues, and some schools with elementary programs have been temporarily removed from listings, making it challenging to restore them. Rest assured, we are actively working to resolve this.

Montessori Tenets

Ask About the School’s Commitment to Core Montessori Principles
When evaluating a Montessori school, it’s important to understand how closely it adheres to the foundational tenets of the Montessori philosophy. Consider asking about the school’s approach to the following:

Respect for the child
The absorbent mind
The prepared environment
Freedom within limits
Hands on experiential learning
Mixed-age classrooms (with Kindergarten as an essential component)
Fostering independence
Holistic development

These principles are central to authentic Montessori education. Alden embraces all of them, creating an environment where children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Your Final Choice

Choose the Montessori school that best aligns with your core priorities. While the ideal school may be less convenient in terms of location or slightly more expensive than others, it could be well worth the investment. Once you’ve answered the key questions, the process of selecting the right school may feel far less overwhelming than you initially thought!

If you need any help choosing a school, just ask! Even if we are not your choice, our mission is to help each parent find the right school for their child.