10 questions to ask on a Montessori tour — and the answers that should worry you

"Montessori" isn't a trademark — any school can use the word, whether or not it follows the method. So on a tour, your job isn't to confirm the brochure; it's to check whether the practice matches the label. Bring this list, watch the classroom more than the marketing, and note not just what they answer but how readily they answer it.

1. "Is your program AMS-accredited, an AMS member, or Montessori-inspired — and can you show me?"

Reassuring: a specific, current answer — "We're an AMS member; here's our listing" — that doesn't blur membership into accreditation. Worry: "We're fully Montessori" with nothing concrete, or a badge on the wall they can't explain. Membership and accreditation are very different bars — see is it real Montessori?

2. "What Montessori training do the lead teachers in this room hold?"

Reassuring: named credentials from a recognized body (AMS, AMI, or a MACTE-accredited program) for the actual lead guide, not just the director. Worry: a vague "all our teachers are trained," or only the head of school is credentialed while classrooms run on assistants.

3. "May I observe a classroom during the normal work period?"

Reassuring: yes — and you see a calm room of children choosing their own work, teachers moving quietly between small groups. Worry: observation isn't allowed, or the room looks like a conventional class — whole-group instruction and worksheets all morning.

4. "How long is the uninterrupted work period?"

Reassuring: roughly a three-hour work cycle in a Primary (3–6) room — the block that lets deep concentration develop. Worry: the morning is chopped into short, heavily scheduled segments. The long work cycle is core Montessori, not a scheduling preference.

5. "Are the classrooms mixed-age, and what's the span?"

Reassuring: genuine multi-age groupings, typically three-year spans (a 3–6 Primary, a 6–9 lower elementary). Worry: single-grade classrooms marketed as Montessori. Mixed ages are how the peer-teaching and self-pacing actually happen.

6. "What's the full cost — tuition plus materials, registration, aftercare and lunch?"

Reassuring: a clear all-in figure and a written fee schedule you can take home. Worry: "it depends," or fees that only surface after you've enrolled. Sticker tuition often isn't the real number — compare on our tuition page.

7. "How do you handle discipline and conflict between children?"

Reassuring: language about grace and courtesy, natural consequences, and redirecting a child toward purposeful work. Worry: a system built on rewards and punishments, or a staff member who can't describe an approach at all.

8. "Where do your children go next, and how do you support that transition?"

Reassuring: an honest picture of exmissions or the move to elementary, and real support through it. Worry: dodging the question — or overselling guaranteed placements at sought-after schools.

9. "What has teacher turnover looked like the last few years?"

Reassuring: a straight answer — low turnover, or honest context for any churn. Worry: defensiveness. Stable, experienced guides are one of the strongest quality signals a school has.

10. "Who owns and runs the school?"

Reassuring: a clear answer — an independent nonprofit, or a named owner and head of school. Worry: reluctance to say, or a for-profit chain that's vague about who's actually in charge locally. Ownership shapes priorities; you deserve to know it.

Before you even book the tour

Half of this you can check from your couch. Verify a school's accreditation claim yourself with our accreditation check, see how openly each school discloses its staff and pricing on its profile in the directory, and read what the labels actually mean first. Walk in already knowing what they claim — and spend the tour finding out whether it's true.