School Spotlight: Montessori School of Huntsville
- The Montessori School of Huntsville educates children to prepare them for a life of purpose, integrity, and academic accomplishment.
School Spotlight: Montessori School of Huntsville
School Spotlight: Montessori School of Huntsville
Find out more about Montessori School of Huntsville and its two locations in Huntsville via this Q&A with Head of School, Jay Stark.
Locations and Contact InfoÂ
S. HSV Campus: 15975 Chaney Thompson Road SE, Huntsville, 35803
Hampton Cove Campus: 284 Miller Lane, OXR, 35763
Phone: 256-881-3790
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Grades/Ages of Students: Toddler through 8th grade
Public or Private? Private. We are accredited by SAIS and Cognia and are a full member of the American Montessori Society.
Tuition Info: https://www.montessorihuntsville.org/admissions/tuition/
Religious affiliation, if any: None
Teacher/Student Ratio: All of our classrooms have at least one Montessori teacher recognized by the American Montessori Society along with either a co-lead teacher or an assistant teacher. With our two to three teacher classroom team structure, we are able to support classroom communities with 12-14 at the toddler level and 20-30 at the early childhood and elementary levels.
School mission: The Montessori School of Huntsville educates children to prepare them for a life of purpose, integrity, and academic accomplishment. We develop independent learners, critical thinkers, and tomorrow’s leaders​.
What is your school’s predominant educational philosophy?
The Montessori educational philosophy supports and nurtures children’s innate love for learning while fostering independence, motivation, critical thinking and problem-solving.
What sets your school apart from other area programs?
Our Montessori learning environments are meticulously designed to serve children in all areas of their development–cognitive, emotional, social, and physical. Our classrooms are equipped with the full complement of scientifically-designed, self-correcting Montessori materials. More than simply materials or the physical space, a Montessori learning environment also encompasses the culture of learning and community in the classroom. Children learn from one another in a multi-age program, generally spanning three years. Multi-age classrooms provide opportunities for leadership, peer learning, and time to work deeply with the curriculum, as children work at their own pace, gaining proficiency and demonstrating mastery in content areas.
Our lead teachers hold credentials recognized by the American Montessori Society. Montessori teacher training cultivates an expert understanding of child development, differentiation, and observation, as well as a deep respect for the child’s process of learning and self-construction. This gives the teacher the necessary framework to recognize the unique potential of each child, while guiding them through the curriculum at their own pace.
What extracurricular opportunities exist for your students?
From the toddler program through the 8th grade, children at MSH enjoy year round play and learning in our beautiful Outdoor Classrooms. Our extracurriculars are integrated into the classroom learning environment to the greatest extent possible, providing rich opportunities at all levels to explore art, music, and Spanish.
What advice do you have for parents looking for a school for their child(ren)?
The first step is to have a clear understanding of your family’s values and the goals you have for your child’s education. When visiting a prospective school, observe the school and classroom environment if possible and ask lots of questions to get a sense of whether the school’s values and mission are aligned with yours. Since most schools are not able to bring families in for in-person tours and observations at this time, take advantage of virtual tours and videos highlighting the school’s facilities and programs and bring as many questions and curiosities to the school’s admissions team as you need to make the right choice for your child and your family.
Describe your admissions process.
Our admissions process begins with a tour of one of our campuses or attendance at a virtual open house. Right now we are offering virtual tours and a follow up meeting with a member of our admissions team. Following the admissions meeting, families are invited to apply for enrollment and enrollment interviews are scheduled. The admissions process is designed to ensure that our programs are in alignment with the family’s goals for their child and to establish the family-school partnership that is essential to our school’s culture.
Upcoming Open House or Special Events
On Saturday February 19th from 10:00 AM – Noon, we would like to invite families with rising kindergarten through 8th grade children to come view our South Huntsville campus and speak with members of our administrative team. The event information can be found on our Facebook page.
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Take Me To…
Rocket City Mom is a website about raising children in and around Huntsville, Alabama. Started in late 2010 by a local mom and newcomer to Huntsville, Rocket City Mom has grown into a thriving community of local parents and now boasts a staff of four, thirteen regular contributors, and tens of thousands of Tennessee Valley readers making it the #1 Parenting Resource in North Alabama.