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Mission Statement

The mission of City Garden Montessori Charter School is to provide a high-quality education to a diverse student population, following the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori, and to cultivate young people who value and respect themselves, others, the environment and the world community.

In the process of nurturing our students to be competent, creative, lifelong learners who practice compassion, respect, nonviolence and sustainability, we will strengthen families, the neighborhoods we serve and the City of St. Louis as a whole.

Montessori Philosophy

Note: The following essay is excerpted from The Montessori Way by Tim Seldin and Paul Epstein, copyright 2003 by The Montessori Foundation. www.montessori.org

There are more than four thousand Montessori schools found throughout the United States. Montessori schools are also found in North and South American nations, throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Some schools only offer early childhood programs; others offer early childhood through elementary or secondary. Most are private or independent schools, founded either by an individual teacher or a parent board. There are a growing number of public school programs, and many home schools implement aspects of the Montessori approach.

Elementary Charter School Program

City Garden Montessori Charter School is a tuition-free, public elementary school, serving the Botanical Heights, Forest Park Southeast Shaw, and portions of the Southwest Garden and Tiffany neighborhoods in the City of St. Louis. The elementary charter school is located at 2109 S. Spring Ave. We opened in the Fall of 2008 with grades kindergarten through 3rd. Each year one grade level will be added until we are a fully-functioning K-6th grade elementary school.

Preschool Program

City Garden Montessori School operates two preschool locations: 1082 S. Newstead and 2109 S. Spring Ave. Both preschools are private, tuition-based schools serving children ages 2 ½ to 5 years old. Both the preschool and the elementary charter school serve a target geographic area resting within the following boundaries: Grand to Kingshighway, from Highway 40 to Magnolia Ave. (along Tower Grove Park). City Garden preschool is currently accepting applications only from children who reside within its target area. We are aware that the need for high-quality early childhood education is a great need in our city, and are sorry that we cannot accommodate everyone who would like to attend our school!

History of City Garden

City Garden Montessori School has operated a small preschool in the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood since 1995. It was founded by Trish Curtis and Mary Mitchell with an intent to provide high-quality early educational experiences to children in the City of St. Louis for a very affordable price. City Garden is rooted in the value of simplicity, creating a wonderful, nurturing environment with minimal space and funding, utilizing resources that seem to “arise” from the surrounding community.

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