Frequently Asked Questions

All aspects of our school’s education and operations are designed to be respectful of children and to fulfill children’s needs for holistic development. All of our teachers are trained by the Association Montessori Internationale. Our classrooms have all of the scientifically developed Montessori materials, and we adhere to the guidelines of the AMI, including allowing children ample opportunity for uninterrupted concentration.

Yes, children at CMS develop a great love for learning, and they are focused. CMS graduates go on to prestigious schools and careers; many graduates attribute their success to their time at CMS, where they developed the curiosity, solid work habits and collaboration skills that last a lifetime.

When you visit, you will have an opportunity to tour our campus and see children at work and play throughout the school. Our mixed-age classrooms are set up quite differently from traditional classrooms. The teacher is not at the front of the room, but rather moves throughout the room, giving lessons to individual children or small groups. Independent and collaborative work creates a busy hum of activity as children engage in a variety of different activities, each of which is designed to build a specific skill. Allow about 45 minutes to one hour for your visit.

Our internal tuition scholarship awards are based on a family’s demonstrated financial need, number of children enrolled at CMS, commitment to the school, and the availability of funding. To be considered for the scholarship students must have visited, applied and been admitted to the school.

Families wishing to apply for scholarships must do so annually by submitting materials in the Spring. Applications are open during the month of February.

To learn more about the scholarship program, please contact the school.

We are also an approved EAO school and members of the MOScholars program. This program provides options for eligible families, allowing them to seek alternative educational services at approved, non-profit Education Assistance Organizations (EAOs). It was established by the Missouri General Assembly in 2021 to provide educational opportunities and resources to Missouri students and families.

More information and our current tuition rates can be found here. 

Consistent routines offer young children feelings of security and safety. With predictable daily routines, children feel comfortable quickly and can begin to learn and flourish at school. For this reason, AMI schools, such as Chesterfield Montessori School, offer part-time enrollment for the Toddler and Primary Programs in the form of 1/2 days, from 8 AM to 11:30 AM, five days a week. As your child wakes each weekday, they will know all that comes next, and you will find eventual ease in morning routines.

CMS benefits from the involvement and support of the parent community, and there are many opportunities for parents to contribute. These include joining the parent social committee, becoming a parent mentor, helping with purposeful field trips for the elementary students, assisting teachers with making materials and accompanying children to the symphony. Learn more about family invovlement here

CMS has an annual fundraising campaign, the Pink Tower Campaign, which raises money to support a number of initiatives for the benefit of children. For more information on the Pink Tower Campaign, click here.

CMS follows a traditional private school calendar. All of our programs are five days per week. 

• For information about options for extended care before and after school, click here. 

Yes, CMS has a catered lunch program available. This lunch is available every school day, and is paid for separately. The lunches are tasty and healthy, and are prepared as part of a “farm to school” philosophy, using largely locally grown food. Contact the school for more information.

We are a nut-free school and have been for several years. There are no nuts served at school, and our lunch program is nut free. We also ask that all parents refrain from sending food with nuts to the school including in their children’s lunches.

We are a Great Place to Work®-Certified™ school, meaning we are recognized as an employer who creates an outstanding company culture and work experience. We are the only school in Missouri to hold this distinction and one of only two Montessori schools nationwide. 

We are proud that we've been certified for three consecutive years. We know there is always room to grow, and we’re grateful that we get to take that journey as a unified team each and every day.

Montessori education is a mixed-age, child-oriented, hands-on approach to education, first developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, starting in 1907. The education is non-departmentalized, and provides an opportunity for children to follow their interests and experience uninterrupted concentration. Below is a list of resources for further information:

• Association Montessori Internationale
• Secret of Childhood, by Maria Montessori
• Montessori Today, by Paula Polk Lillard
• Children: The Challenge, by Rudolf Dreikurs
• Montessori From the Start, by Paula Polk Lillard
• Endangered Minds, by Jane M. Healy

Here at CMS, we offer several “Montessori Evenings for Parents” events throughout the school year. These evenings offer an opportunity for parents to learn about the Montessori method of teaching from our own teachers, as well as from national and international experts in the field.

About once each month, parents can join our head of school for a “Morning Coffee.” These informal events include discussion of Montessori education, and, occasionally, an actual demonstration of lessons and materials by the children.

Of course, one of the best ways to learn about Montessori education is to observe a classroom in action. We encourage both current and prospective parents to visit the classrooms to see the dynamic, purposeful learning that takes place every day in a peaceful, respectful atmosphere.