Questions to Ask on a Montessori School Tour

The most revealing questions on a Montessori tour are about how the teachers were trained, how long children stay with the same class, whether you can watch children actually working, and how the school supports both a struggling child and one who is ready to leap ahead. Below is a practical checklist you can bring with you, grouped by what each set of questions helps you see.

Questions about authenticity

• Are your guides AMI-trained, or trained through another recognized program? Which one?
• Is the school accredited or recognized by a Montessori body?
• Do children use the full set of Montessori materials, and choose their own work?

Questions about the classroom

• May I observe a classroom while the children are working, not just between activities?
• Are classrooms mixed-age, and how long do children stay together?
• How much of the day is uninterrupted work time?

Questions about your child

• How do you support a child who is struggling with something?
• How do you challenge a child who is ready to move ahead?
• How do you handle conflict and big feelings between children?

Questions about the partnership

• What do you ask of families at home?
• How, and how often, do you communicate with parents?
• What does the transition into the school look like for a young child?

Questions about the arc ahead

• How far does your program extend, and what comes after the early years?
• Where do your students tend to go next, and how do they do?

What to notice while you are there

Beyond the answers, pay attention to the children. Are they absorbed and calm? Do they move with purpose and put their own work away? Do the adults observe and support quietly rather than direct constantly? A tour is as much about watching as asking, and the room will tell you a great deal.