Why Choose Us

Central Montessori Academy is an independent, nonprofit Montessori school for children from toddler through the 6th grade. We are located in the Northwest suburbs of Greater Cincinnati.

We offer:

• Individualized instruction and progression on the child’s level
• Immersion in the Montessori philosophy through 6th grade
• Small class sizes and low student-to-teacher ratios
• Montessori-certified teachers
• Preparation for the 21st century through helping students to be creative and forward thinkers
• Superior quality academic standards without the stress of continuous testing

If this sounds like the educational beliefs and environment you’d prefer for your child, then perhaps Montessori at CMA will suit your needs.

Whatever your child’s age, call us to talk about your goals, or to arrange a tour of our classrooms. We may be just the home you’re looking for. You’re invited to visit, just to see what we’re about!

• Arrange a No-Obligation Tour

Why CMA? An Authentic Montessori Education

At CMA we provide an educational experience rooted in authentic Montessori Philosophy and Pedagogy. This includes:

• Rich and dynamic hands-on learning experiences
• A warm and nurturing environment with a professional and well-developed Montessori faculty
• Home-like learning environments, natural play areas, woods and gardens, that the children assist in caring for, promoting responsibility and independence
• An innovative learning environment that fosters deeper thought and stimulates questioning and student-led research
• Opportunities for parent involvement in many parts of the school culture

Why Montessori?

Comparing Montessori and Traditional Education

Traditional Approach	Montessori Approach at CMA
Children grouped chronologically, one age group per class	Age span of three years in a class
Heavy emphasis on grades and marks	Self-development as prime motivation
Much information dispensed by teacher and lecture	Children learn by direct contact with content, e.g., mathematics models, sensory materials, maps, etc.
Teacher corrects student errors	Materials are self-correcting
Class, as a group, studies one subject at a time	Children study various subjects individually or in small groups in various parts of the classroom
Schedule of classes lasting 45 to 50 minutes each	Child follows their “inner teacher”; they are allowed long blocks of time for concentration and work completion
Relatively frequent interruptions: bells, teacher interruptions	Relatively few interruptions allowing for sustained study and concentration
Class seated at desks much of the time	Students work at tables, or on the floor, with freedom of movement

A Montessori educational environment emphasizes:

• Kindness: children are treated with respect, and teachers model kind and respectful words. The children learn to respect themselves, each other and their environment.
• Individualized attention and work plans are created for each student to meet their needs.
• Opportunities to engage children with nature in their day-to-day learning.

Self-Directed Environment

The Montessori approach gives children the opportunity to be independent and to have some choice in what activities they find motivating and want to complete first.

Montessori enables children to learn how to:

• Manage their time
• Be self-motivated
• Be an active part of a community
• Problem-solve
• Socialize with adults and peers
• How to handle conflict

In a traditional classroom environment, children are given their next activity or must move on to another subject even if they have not finished their work. In a Montessori classroom, there are long work periods that allow the children to engage and focus for longer periods of time.

Education for Life

The abilities to cooperate and collaborate with others, and to talk and problem-solve, are skills that are necessary today and into the future.

For more information:  

Main Differences Between Montessori School & Public School

Montessori Builds Innovators

https://hbr.org/2011/07/montessori-builds-innovators

How does Montessori compare to other private school options?

Central Montessori Academy gives the child a sense of self and independence that no traditional environment can provide. Montessori education teaches children to think outside the box, to be creative and confident. These skills are essential in this fast-paced and competitive world. In the Montessori environment, there are many opportunities for children to solve problems, socialize, and help one another.

How does CMA compare with other area Montessori options?

Faculty – Certified and Consistent
At Central Montessori Academy all of the lead teachers have Montessori Certification and are dedicated to educating young children. Other schools may have just one “lead” Montessori certified teacher in the classroom. Our classroom instructors and assistants are all Montessori certified, or are aspiring Montessori teachers.

The teachers at CMA tend to stay at CMA. Low teacher turnover keeps our program strong and dedicated to the authentic Montessori education. Some teachers have been here 15- 20 years while the average of all teachers is around 8 years. This is beneficial to the student since the child has the same teacher for three years which makes the child and teacher relationship strong. We understand that each child is unique and the teachers adjust the studies to provide individual plans,  which is why the student-teacher relationship is so important to remain consistent when possible.

AMS Affiliation
Central Montessori Academy is affiliated with the American Montessori Society (AMS) and is on the path to accreditation. This affiliation with AMS shows that our program provides authentic Montessori experience and has all certified Montessori teachers.

Arts Programs and Enhanced Student Services
CMA is one of the rare independent Montessori schools in the Greater Cincinnati area that offers enhanced student services, such as intervention specialists, OT, SLP, reading specialists and instruction in foreign language. In addition, we are committed to continuing our art and music programs. Our music teacher offers piano, clarinet and voice lessons on or off site.

How does CMA prepare students for success in high school and beyond?

Our program gives a child the skills and abilities to enter any academic program after their time at CMA. Children who leave CMA are ahead of their peers in all areas and have the joy of learning and self-motivation to succeed in any learning environment. Children who go through the entire program through 6th grade have an excellent sense of themselves and are confident and caring individuals.

Test Results
On standardized tests, children who began in our program as Montessori preschoolers consistently have scored in the top 15% of students nationwide. Our students’ success goes well beyond the tests, as they often take on leadership roles in their junior/senior high school years and frequently return to CMA to perform community service.