• Private Schools
• Find Schools
• Ontario Schools
• Mississauga Schools

Mississauga and Halton-Peel Montessori schools

Find the top Montessori schools and programs in Mississauga.

On this page, we cover private schools in the Mississauga area that offer Montessori programs and support. This includes Montessori schools in Etobicoke, Erindale, Malton, Meadowvale, Clarkson, Lorne Park, Streetsville, Port Credit, Erin Mills, Hurontario, Sheridan, Erindale, Credit Valley, and Lakeview.

For a more complete guide to Montessori education, including a discussion of curriculum and teaching practices, start with our introductory guide.

There are lots of private Montessori schools in Mississauga. These schools vary in terms of their classroom practices, curricular approaches, program offerings, and special needs support. The schools listed below reflect this diversity. They can be filtered for a wide range of features.

2. Choosing a school

For general advice on how to choose and evaluate private schools, check out our choosing a school guide and our expert advice guide. For advice on choosing Montessori schools (including preschools), see our Montessori choosing guide. You can also read our guides to questions to ask private schools and questions students get asked at school interviews.

Private school expos

Private school expos are a great starting point for finding a school, at any level. We have annual private school expos in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, and Halton-peel. These expos allow you to speak with lots of private schools in Canada, many of which are Montessori schools, all in one place. Find a Montessori school near you.

Parent discussion forum

Another great resource in your school search is the Our Kids parent discussion forum. The forum is an ideal place to discuss options and debate topics related to Montessori schools. Our community of parents, education experts, school officials, and alumni can help answer your questions and stimulate your thinking.

Open house events

Attending open houses is a great way to learn more about schools. For general advice on open house visits, check out our guide on school visits.

3. Tuition at Mississauga Montessori schools

The cost of Montessori schools in Mississauga tends to be lower than the cost of other private schools in Mississauga. In fact, Montessori schools are usually on the lower side of private school tuition in general.

Private school tuition can range from $5,000 to over $30,000 per year for day students. There are no public Montessori schools in Mississauga, though some public schools use certain Montessori principles.

Many schools offer needs-based financial aid, such as bursaries or tuition relief. Other schools, though not as many, offer scholarships, which are given based on merit—for instance, in academics or athletics. You can learn more about need- and merit-based financial aid in our dedicated guide. You can also read our guide on preschool costs.

Below, you’ll find the range of costs for Montessori private schools in Mississauga (including Etobicoke and Port Credit):

Academics

Special needs support

Mississauga Montessori schools often have mixed-age classes witgh lots of interaction, student-to-student teaching, and group and independent work. Below, the Montessori philosophy and teaching approach is discussed in more detail. For more comprehensive coverage, see our main Montessori school guide.

Montessori philosophy

The Montessori philosophy of education is unique. Some of the main principles of this philosophy are the following:

Student-centred: Similar to Waldorf and Reggio Emilia schools, students are free to move around the class, choose their own work, and determine the pace of their studies. This can make for a dynamic learning environment. Kids often choose work that’s engaging and stimulating, in this setting, which can give rise to a love of learning.

Uninterrupted work time: Montessori schools give kids lots of uninterrupted work time, especially at the elementary level. In many schools, they’re given at least one 3-hour, uninterrupted work period to focus on their chosen work, free of interruptions. Uninterrupted work periods are believed to improve children’s concentration, self-discipline, and work habits.

Concrete learning: Learning tends to be concrete and hands-on. At the primary and elementary level (and sometimes at the secondary level), kids work with lots of different concrete materials, including “manipulatives”—or self-correcting puzzles. They also work with blocks, rods, spindle boxes, and many other materials. Concrete learning engages many of the senses. And, research has shown that it can speed up learning, especially for younger kids.

No external rewards: In primary and elementary school, kids aren’t given tests or assignments, or graded on any of their work. Kids also aren’t praised very much, and when they are praised, it’s for effort—not outcome. Progress is assessed informally, through observation and developmental rubrics, rather than formally, through grades or report cards.

Montessori teaching approach

Montessori teachers rarely provide direct instruction. They almost never stand at the front of the class and lecture to all the students. And when they do lecture, the lectures are usually short, interactive, and engaging.

More often, though, teachers move around the class, and give lessons to or guide students. They usually work with students one-on-one or in small groups. They often encourage students to repeat and practice activities, and they plan projects to meet each student’s learning needs. Their primary role is to connect students with their work, rather than to impart knowledge to them. Teachers are thus viewed more as “guides” or “mentors” than “teachers” in the traditional sense.

Montessori schools, in Mississauga and nearby Oakville and Milton, have mixed-age classes, with kids aged 0-3 (toddler), 3-6 (primary), 6-9 (lower-elementary), 9-12 (upper elementary), and so on. The mixed-age classroom informs the teaching approach and learning environment, from preschool to high school. 

Most Montessori classes have lots of group work. Kids work together in small groups on projects and tasks, with some guidance from the teacher. Kids help each other, and older kids often mentor their younger classmates, by helping with them with their work and modelling appropriate behaviour.

This can reinforce knowledge and skills learned in the classroom, for both older and younger kids. This approach can be great for children with special needs.

Montessori in Mississauga

Montessori schools in Mississauga are numerous, probably bolstered by the fact that Montessori got its North American beginning in Richmond Hill. Mississauga Montessori schools listed with Ourkids.net are by and large accredited with the Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators (CCMA).

Not all schools using the name Montessori follow Maria Montessori's original teachings to the same degree, so check into each school closely to see how authentically it follows the Montessori approach.

Principles of integrity, co-operation, responsibility, and respect are modeled by teachers, emulated by students, and practiced by all."

Some schools focus on the classroom environment, student-centered academics or the freedom of learning and interaction that Montessori opens up while others preach a very strict adherence to the exact principles espoused by the movement's founder. These include the above but may also include a focus on learning by touch, teachers as mentors and a variety of other strategies that adhere very closely to Maria Montessori's teachings.

True, Montessori education focuses on three-year age-groupings that encourage learning as a deeply social process. Montessori schools, in fact, go against the notion of small class sizes espoused by other private schools.

In a Montessori classroom, a number of age groups are all included and older students are encouraged to take on a teacherly role. A wide variety of research confirms the benefits of Montessori's emphasis on independent thinking, self-motivation and social learning.

Mississauga's Montessori schools are indeed varied, including schools that are faith-based as well as traditional Montessori classrooms. When choosing a school be sure that you understand its implementation of the Montessori method and philosophy. There are a variety of approaches possible and you may be able to find a school in Mississauga that ideally matches your own understanding of the Montessori method.

Parents and students praise the many benefits of Montessori learning. As one parent has said, "Principles of integrity, co-operation, responsibility, and respect are modeled by teachers, emulated by students, and practiced by all."

Luminary Montessori graduates include Google co-founder Larry Page, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales and many other creative leaders in a variety of fields. Obviously, this presents an education with a variety of unique benefits for children.

Meet with Mississauga's top ranked private schools and the best boarding schools across Canada at the Halton-Peel Private School Expo and Toronto Private School Expo in October. These one-day events are a must for any parent or student considering an alternative education.