Families moving to Toronto with school-age children will be happy to know that Canada has some of the highest standards of education in the world. In addition to an excellent public school system, major cities like Toronto also have a great selection of Montessori schools and private academies offering alternative styles of education.

The Montessori method emphasizes autonomous learning, with slogans like “follow the child” and techniques like a “prepared environment.” Rather than dictating lessons and concepts to the students, Montessori education allows the children to explore and discover for themselves. This way they learn by experience instead of just instruction. And moreover, they are free to explore for themselves and to pursue their own innate interests and passions.

We are living in an era of enormous technological progress, and an increasingly global economy, and nowhere is that more evident than in a city like Toronto. So many parents and teachers are growing dissatisfied with the methods of mainstream education. So they are turning to Montessori schooling and other alternatives to acquire the necessary skills for the future, like creativity, adaptability, open-mindedness and global stewardship.

For those who are looking for a different type of education, here is a comprehensive list of Montessori schools in Toronto and the GTA.

Montessori Schools in Toronto (in alphabetical order)

Alive Montessori

A pre-school and elementary school founded in 2001 with no religious affiliation. The goal at Alive Montessori is to provide the best possible start for children through proper education, instilling a life-long love of learning in every child. They aim to create a safe, caring and fun environment where every child will learn and will become more and more confident as he or she gains in abilities.

Address: 2 Wembley Rd, Toronto, ON M6C 2E9

Tel: (416) 602-1151

Bannockburn School

Toddler, Primary and Elementary Montessori programs honour the principles and methods established by Dr. Maria Montessori, and offer an enriched curriculum that exceeds provincial standards and inspires a love of learning. Children ages 18 months to 12 years choose purposeful work in nurturing, child-centered environments that cultivate independence, imagination and intellectual curiosity.

Address: 12 Bannockburn Ave, North York, ON M5M 2M8

Tel: (416) 789-7855

Tuition / Fees: Contact the school for tuition information

Beaches Montessori School

Offering a bright and spacious learning environment with two toddler classrooms (18 months – 3 years) and one Casa classroom (3-6 years). Beaches Montessori strives to provide a calm, safe space for children to grow and learn with independence and confidence. Their dynamic curriculum is based on core Montessori principles, enhanced with classes in music, French and outdoor activities in a beautiful backyard.

Address: 950 Kingston Road, Toronto, ON M4E 1S7

Tel: (416) 901-2992

Tuition / Fees: Contact the school for tuition information

Atelier Kids Early Learning Center

Programs for 1-4 year olds are inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy of Italy and follow the inquiry-based curriculum document “How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years”, outlined by the Ministry of Education. This ensures an optimal transition into the Ontario school system.

Address: 15 Oakmount Road, Toronto, ON M6P 2M3

Tel: (416) 604-2442

Tuition / Fees: Contact the school for tuition information

Avalon Children’s Montessori School

Offering a curriculum based on the needs of the children, providing opportunities and experiences for intellectual, social, physical and emotional growth.  Avalon provides a quality Montessori education for children up to grade 8.

Elementary School: 2181 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4E 1E5

Tel: (416) 686-6621

Casa School: 31 Wood Glen Road, Toronto, ON M1N 2V8

Tel: (416) 690-7744

Tuition / Fees: $6,395 to $20,150/year

Bright Scholars Academy

A Montessori network with four campuses in Mississauga and Oakville, with programs for children from the ages of 18 months up to 5 1/2 years old.

Bright Scholars Academy Cooksville: 3180 Kirwin Ave‎, Mississauga, ON L5A 2K7  (905) 896-4553

Bright Scholars Academy Meadowvale: 5920 Montevideo Rd‎, Mississauga, ON L5N 3J5  (905) 542-1895

Heritage Montessori Oakville: 1289 Marlborough Ct‎, Oakville, ON L6H 2R9  (905) 842-3061

Bright Scholars Academy Streetsville: 24 Falconer Dr‎, Mississauga, ON L5N 2P7  (905) 826-3595

Tuition / Fees: Contact the schools for tuition information

Bond Academy

A private school for all ages, including a Montessori program for preschoolers. Montessori at Bond believes that before a child can take advantage of a good education, he or she needs to discover how to learn. Only then can we aid a child in the development of basic skills and in his or her ability to judge, think and create. Montessori at Bond introduces your child to the joy of learning by providing a framework in which intellectual and social discipline can develop.

Address: 1500 Birchmount Rd, Scarborough, ON M1P 2G5

Tel: (416) 266-8878

Tuition / Fees: Montessori Casa ages 3-6, full time $13,000/year; half day $7,000/year

Casa Vera Montessori School

Casa Vera Montessori School opened on September 2005 and has one Toddler classroom (16 months to 2,5 years) and one Casa classroom (2.5 to 6 years). Children and their families are an integral part of the education and the school. The real happiness and success in children’s life can be created only through very close interaction between the school and the family.

Address: 2000 Keele St, Toronto, ON M6M 3Y4

Tel: (416) 850-9705

Tuition / Fees: Contact the school for tuition information

Central Montessori Schools

Central Montessori School is a non-denominational, co-educational private school that offers a Montessori learning environment enhancing each child’s unique learning style. CMS consists of five Montessori schools in Toronto and the GTA. The Maplehurst campus also offers a French immersion program.

York Mills: 18 Coldwater Rd, North York, ON M3B 1Y7  (416) 510-1200

Thornhill: 72 Steeles Ave W, Thornhill, ON L4J 1A1  (905) 889-0012

Willowdale: 157 Willowdale Ave, North York, ON M2N 4Y3 (416) 250-1022

Sheppard: 200 Sheppard Av E, North York, ON M2N 3A9  (416) 222-5940

Maplehurst: 181 Maplehurst Ave, North York, ON M2N 3C1  (416) 222-9207

Tuition / Fees: Contact the schools for tuition information

The Clover School

First opened in 1996, the Clover School is now a vibrant community of hundreds of children, parents and committed educators, who are excited to learn together and truly love being at school. The school has two campuses in Toronto.

Midtown Junior Campus: 3180 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M6A 2A9  (416) 781-4449

Midtown Elementary Campus: 585 Cranbrooke Ave, Toronto, ON M6A 2X9  (416) 781-4449

Tuition / Fees: Toddler and pre-primary full day from $20,500/year; pre-primary half day from $12,700/yr; primary full day from $17,400/yr; elementary from $20,400/yr

Cornerstone Montessori Prep School

The mission of the Children’s Primary Centre and Cornerstone Preparatory School is to educate students who, for the glory of God, are capable of achieving at or above grade level with reasonable effort in a traditional learning environment that prepares students for higher education while developing and implementing a Christian world view that permeates all of life.

Toronto Campus, Children’s Primary: 177 Beverley Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1Y7  (647) 493-8660

Don Mills Campus, Prep School: 33 Mallard Road, Don Mills, ON M3B 1S4  (647) 977-5584

Tuition / Fees: Toddlers $18,000/year; Casa program $16,500/yr; Junior and senior school $13,750/yr

Ellesmere Montessori School

Founded in 1973, Ellesmere Montessori School has been serving children and families for over 45 years. The private school is nestled within the walls of West Ellesmere Community Church in Scarborough, Ontario, providing Montessori education for ages 18 months to 12 years.

Address: 37 Marchington Circle, Scarborough, ON M1R 3M6

Tel: (416) 447-1059

Tuition / Fees: Toddlers half day $12,700/year, full day $15,700/yr;  Casa and elementary half day $9,100/year, full day $11,600/yr; discounts for siblings

Ellington Montessori School

Ellington Montessori School is not a chain or a franchise. Theresa Nobilski started this small school in 2012 and still owns it today. Programs are available for children ages 1-6.

Address: 40 Cowdray Ct, Scarborough, ON M1S 1A1

Tel: (416) 759-8363

Tuition / Fees: Contact the school for tuition information

Guidepost Montessori

Guidepost Montessori in Toronto, part of an international network, is a new Montessori community opening in Fall 2020. At the heart of the school is a belief that children thrive when given freedom and responsibility in Montessori environments prepared especially for them.

Tel: (437) 637-0321

Tuition / Fees: Contact the school for tuition information

High Park Gardens

Part of the Mildenhall Montessori family, with two Young Peoples’ Community classes, three Casa, and one Elementary (ages 6-12) class. The Montessori program is enhanced with French, music, art, and physical activity.

Address: 35 High Park Gardens, Toronto, ON

Tel: (416) 763-6097

Tuition / Fees: Contact the school for tuition information

Humberside Montessori School

Humberside Montessori School is enthusiastically committed to the acknowledgement and the support of the wholesome growth and development of all aspects of the human personality during the formative years of childhood. Montessori programs at four levels: Primary level (Casa) for children 2.5 to 6 years of age, Lower Elementary level for children 6 to 9 years of age, Upper Elementary level for children 9 to 12 years of age, and the 2-year Adolescent Program for children 12 to 14 years of age.

Address: 121 Kennedy Ave, Toronto, ON M6S 2X8

Tel: (416) 762-8888

Tuition / Fees: Contact the school for tuition information

Manor Montessori School

Manor Montessori has a unique French program to ensure that students are ahead of students from other schools when they enter mainstream schools. The school also encourages physical activities with skating, skiing and swimming programs.

Address: 909 Mt Pleasant Rd, Toronto, ON M4P 2Z6

Tel: (416) 488-4218

Tuition / Fees: Toddlers half day $12,700/year, full time $19,100/yr; Casa half day $11,900/yr, full time $17,100/yr; Elementary $20,300/yr

Maria Montessori School

Founded in 1975, this is one of the oldest Montessori schools in Toronto, operating in the same Leaside neighbourhood location for more than 40 years. Currently the school serves children from 16 months to 12 years of age with a Young Children’s Community (toddler), three Casa and two Elementary communities. Total enrollment is about one hundred and thirty children.

Address: 125 Brentcliffe Rd, East York, ON M4G 3Y7

Tel: (416) 423-9123

Tuition / Fees: Contact the school for tuition information

Mildenhall Montessori

Mildenhall includes three Montessori schools in the Toronto area, Mildenhall, Taddle Creek and High Park Gardens. They are all committed to educating children who will thrive in a diverse, ever changing, global community. Mildenhall School, in the Etobicoke neighbourhood, has two Casa classes, one Lower Elementary, one Upper Elementary, and a Middle School. The Montessori program is enhanced with French, music, art, and physical activity.

Address: 35 Ourland Avenue, Toronto, ON

Tel: (416) 259-2822

Tuition / Fees: Contact the school for tuition information

Montessori Jewish Day School

Montessori Jewish Day School is an inclusive, pluralistic, egalitarian school dedicated to instilling respect for the individual and for the community. MJDS provides an engaging Jewish educational experience that embraces the diversity of Jewish practice, integrates Hebrew, and responds to a child’s natural search for spiritual and intellectual growth.

Address: 55 Yeomans Rd, North York, ON M3H 3J7

Tel: (416) 784-5071

Tuition / Fees: Contact the school for tuition information

Pine Lake Montessori School

Pine Lake Montessori School offers an educational experience unlike any other to families living in the Toronto area. As an accredited Montessori school licensed by the Ministry of Education, they ensure to offer a safe, nurturing, and quality educational experience, with programs for children 18 months to 9 years of age.

Address: 255 Sheppard Ave W, North York, ON M2N 1N2

Tel: (416) 227-9100

Tuition / Fees: $1,350-1,550 /month

Taddle Creek Montessori School

Part of the Mildenhall Montessori family, Taddle Creek is located in the Annex neighbourhood of downtown Toronto, surrounded by the cultural opportunities of the AGO, ROM, and University of Toronto, to name just a few.

Address: 39 Spadina Rd, Toronto, ON M5R 2S9

Tel: (416) 413-9493

Tuition / Fees: Contact the school for tuition information

Waterfront Montessori Children’s Centre

Located on Algonquin Island, WMCC is part of the Toronto Island Residential Community. They offer pre-school students the unique experience of connecting with nature each and every day. Children can walk to school in a car-free neighbourhood, explore the many areas of the island, and enjoy a playground that backs onto a meadow.

Address: 18 Wyandot Ave. Algonquin Island, Toronto, ON M5J 2M9

Tel: (416) 203-1017

Tuition / Fees: Contact the school for tuition information

Waverly Road Montessori School

Waverley offers a happy and caring place for children to learn, while supported by Montessori teachers and assistants, with the freedom to explore and discover through self-initiated activities. The school offers two separate programs for Toddlers (18 months to 2.5 years old) and Casa children (2.5 years old to 5 years old).

Address: 129 Waverley Rd, Toronto, ON

Tel: (416) 351-1600

Tuition / Fees: Contact the school for tuition information

Westside Montessori School

Located in the heart of downtown Toronto’s Kensington Market, Westside Montessori School is an ideal environment for then urban family. Housed in a historical mansion on a beautiful tree-lined residential street, they offer a nurturing and educational programs for Toddlers (18 to 30 months), Children (2½ to 6 years old) and Elementary students aged 6 to 12 (Grades 1-6).

Address: 95 Bellevue Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2N8

Tel: (647) 430-5321

Tuition / Fees: Contact the school for tuition information

Additional References

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PHOTO CREDIT: Natalia Zhuravleva (Wikipedia)