FAQ

List of 11 frequently asked questions.

• How do I place my child on the waiting list?

  Your child will be placed in our active waiting pool once we receive an admissions application along with the application fee.

• May I come and visit?

  Covid-19 Update: At this time we offer Virtual School Showings and other virtual prospective parent events. In-person tours of the campus are available on request and are conducted after school hours on weekdays, and on Saturdays.

• Where are you located?

  Austin Montessori School has three campus locations in Austin, Texas.
  
  The Sunset Trail campus (16 months to 12 years) is located at 5006 Sunset Trail, Austin, 78745.
  
  The Great Northern campus (2 1/2 to 9 years) is located at 6819 Great Nothern Blvd, Austin, 78757.
  
  The Gaines Creek campus (Adolescent Community for 12 to 15 years) is located at 5677 Oak Blvd, Austin, 78735.

• What is the tuition?

  Please refer to the Tuition and Fees page for the tuition and fee schedule.

• How many children are in a class?

  Our Youngest Children's Communities for toddlers (16 months to 2 years, 10 months) have 12 children in each of our two classes.
  
  COVID-19 update: In keeping with CDC guidelines during the pandemic our Children's House and Elementary classrooms are limited to 18 children. Our Adolescent community is currently a hybrid program. Please see our Fall 2020 Operating Plan for more information.

• What is AMI?

  The Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) is one of our accrediting agencies. AMI was established in 1929 by Dr. Maria Montessori to maintain, propagate, and further her ideas and principles for the full development of the human being. AMI functions as the source of complete Montessori training and as a center for continuing research and development.

• Is this a year-round program?

  The majority of our school offers a 9 ½ month program, beginning in mid-August and continuing through the end of May. 
  
  We also offer a year round program for the Children's House level (3 to 6 years) at both our north and south campuses. We refer to this option as All-Day/All-Year Children's House. 
  
  Our Elementary students (aged 6-12) can enjoy our Slow Austin Summer Program which is offered for 8 weeks during June and July.

• Can my child come three days a week?

  In our community, children do best with a regular, predictable schedule.  Therefore, all of our programs are five days per week.

• Do you have a kindergarten program?

  AMI Montessori classrooms offer a three year age range starting with the Children's House for 3-6 year olds.  The Children's House includes what would elsewhere be termed the kindergarten year.  This final year from 5 to 6+ years allows children to fully integrate all of the foundational work that was begun in the previous two years.  Children of this age benefit from the daily opportunities for leadership and mentoring of younger children.

• What is the best age to start a child in Montessori?

  In our Youngest Children's Community, we primarily place children in the 16-19 month range.  
  
  In the Children's House level, the majority of spaces will be offered to children between 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 years.
  

• How hard is it to transition a child from Montessori to a traditional school program?

  Our children do best remaining in the Montessori program through middle school. However, the characteristics and skills that your children develop in a Montessori community will stay with them for life and will carry them into a new environment with strength of character and confidence.