Welcome to the Grand Rapids Montessori Schools


GR Montessori @ Fountain (PK-8)
Nikki Jones, Principal
Jason McGhee, Assistant Principal
159 College Ave. NE
p. 616-819-2405 f.616-819-2406
Breakfast 8:50 A.M. Start Time 9:06 A.M.
Dismissal 4:01 P.M.		 GR Montessori @ North Park (PK-6)
Robin Sorge, Principal
3375 Cheney Ave. NE
p. 616-819-2848 f.616-819-2849
Breakfast 8:50 A.M. Start Time 9:10 A.M.
Dismissal 4:01 P.M. 




GR Montessori @ Central (9-12)
Nikki Jones, Principal
Jason McGhee, Assistant Principal
421 Fountain St. NE
p. 616-819-2310 f. 616-819-2400
Breakfast 7:10 A.M. Start Time 7:25 A.M.
Dismissal 2:10 P.M.

What is Grand Rapids Public Montessori?

  • A district-wide program located on two campuses with two elementary schools, a middle school and a high school serving more than 700 students from PK3 to 12th grade.
  • Grand Rapids Public Schools has a 40 year history of public Montessori education, one of the longest-running public programs in the US.
  • Our elementary schools in the program consistently outperform other GRPS and neighboring districts on all standardized tests.
  • The current Montessori High School has one of the best graduation rates in the region, graduating more than 90% of its students. 

What is The Montessori Method?
Dr.  Maria Montessori, the Italian pediatrician who founded the method believed self-motivation to be the key to learning.  Therefore, the Montessori teacher acts as a facilitator whose role is to stimulate interest in all facets of a child-centered learning environment.  Montessori education recognizes the importance of all developmental areas, including social, emotional, physical and intellectual needs.

Characteristics of a Montessori Program

An individualized approach to education, which recognizes individual learning ability, interest, style and pace
-Promotion of self-esteem encouraging independence and self-sufficiency
-Encouragement of respect for one another and for the environment
-Creation of structured environment within which there is freedom of choice in learning
-Use of positive, gentle and consistent approach with the child
-Creation of an environment rich in learning opportunities for the child’s absorbent mind.
 
Uniquely designed Montessori materials and teacher-made materials, are used to meet the young child’s learning needs
 
-Manipulative - The child learns by doing
-Concrete - The child can touch, feel and move objects to learn their characteristics
-Sequenced - Learning begins with the simple and progresses to the complex.  This assures success and enhances self esteem.


"And so we discovered that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being.”
Maria Montessori