Frequently Asked Questions

For more information about our school, our philosophy encompassed by our vision, mission and core values, please visit our page: About Peace Montessori School

Our fees and tuition are competitive with other private schools in the Apex, Cary and south Raleigh areas. Please visit our Tuition and Fees page for the most up-to-date rates.

Yes. We offer scholarships for existing families that are in need of financial assistance. Scholarship applications are granted on an as-needed basis. Please contact us for information about our scholarship program.

Our parents sign a contract before enrolling, which locks in their tuition rate for the entire school year. From early August to mid June, the monthly tuition rate remains unchanged. If your child stays with us for the next school year, you will sign another contract, which may have a slight increase for the next academic year.

We are proud that nine out of ten staff members have had the American Montessori Association training and have their certifications. The school is comprised of all teachers with the exception of the Toddler Program that has an AMS Certified Lead and an Assistant Teacher. The school is a member of the International Montessori Council. Peace Montessori School meets all criteria for an AMS School Accreditation. However, due to the high cost of membership we choose instead to offer scholarships for existing families that are in need of financial assistance. Our teacher's would love to meet you! Please contact us to schedule a school tour. You can read more about our dedicated staff on our teachers' bio page. Please note that we choose not to join the AMS due to cost. However, we do meet or exceed all standards for full American Montessori Society accreditation (see AMS School Accreditation Standards and Criteria PDF). For more information regarding AMS school accreditation requirements please visit the American Montessori Society website.

At Peace Montessori School, you truly get what you pay for. We are proud to offer a 5:1 ratio for the Toddler House (ages 2-3), about 10:1 for the Children’s House (ages 3-6), and about 8:1 ratios in our Lower and Upper Elementary Programs.

The preschool industry is known for low retention, but because we offer a rich and rewarding work environment for our staff, we are proud to report that all of our teachers have been at Peace Montessori for 6 to 9 years. We are not just a school environment, but rather a family of teachers that respect and care about each other and the school.

Peace Montessori School is conveniently located to serve families in areas in and around Apex, Cary and South Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina. Please check our map and directions page for specific location and address information.

Peace Montessori has a 7000 sq. ft. facility that can house up to 85 children, which provides a more intimate environment for our families. The school started with one Children’s House (ages 3-6) in 2003. The school then added additional classrooms as needed. A second Children’s House, Toddler House, Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary with plans to expand to the 7th grade (age 13) in 2013-14. All preschool programs are half-day programs (8:30-12:00). Kindergarten and Elementary programs are classified as N.C. Non-public programs and are in session for full school days (8:00-3:00). These programs meet and exceed State and National standards. To get a preview of our facilities, explore our photo gallery.

At Peace Montessori, we sanitize and clean the school daily. Sanitizing means that we use child and environmentally safe agents to kill bacteria and viruses. At the minimum, after lunch and at the end of the day, we clean the tables, chairs, bathroom counters, toilets, flusher, faucets, doorknobs, and much more. Please ask about it during your tour. We go far beyond State requirements. In fact, our school is so clean that our parents have remarked often how wonderful it is that the school is always sparkling and fresh-smelling. They also report how much less often their child becomes sick compared to their last school. Cleanliness is one of our top priorities. We also have a professional cleaning company that cleans and refurbishes the entire school mid-year and during the summer. This includes the cleaning of the carpeting, tiled floors, and windows.

Yes, the school has two play areas. One large play area for preschool children through elementary. It contains a covered deck area for outdoor eating and working, a garden area and two large play structures, a sand box and a fossilized soil box for aspiring archeologists. The Toddler Program has a separate age appropriate area with slides, a playhouse and sandbox.

When a family moves from the area or a student moves on to elementary school, new students are enrolled. That's why summertime and December/January are the times of year when we see the most movement, but we do have openings and enroll new students all year long. Learn more about enrollment.

The two Children’s Houses at Peace Montessori are a mix of children ages 2.8 to 6 years old. A child can work with older children in one subject, younger children in another, and still have social interaction with children his or her own age. The older children can teach the younger ones, showing them how well they've mastered a task and displaying their patience and willingness to help others. The younger children look up to the older ones, fostering maturity and emotional growth. In addition, a child can grow academically as fast as she or he is able to master each concept. Children are not held back and have more time in any area as needed.

We have many school enrichment programs to offer our students. We offer Spanish, Yoga, and Nature programs. All of our programs are once a week and run about 30 minutes. In addition, our elementary classes offer Art and Physical Education weekly as well.

Only our Toddler classroom is set up for children who are not yet toilet trained, therefore, our two Children’s Houses (ages 3-6) are for toilet-trained students only. A toilet-trained child is one who wears underwear only and can appropriately use the toilet. A successfully toilet-trained child is able to push down and pull up his or her own shorts and underwear unassisted. Our teachers can assist children who need help with clothing like with buttons and zippers if needed. Occasional accidents are normal, but in general, should not happen daily. If your child needs encouragement to go to the bathroom, please let us know so we can ensure she/he is asked often.

Bringing lunch only affects our Kindergarten and Elementary Programs who bring a bagged lunch from home. Peace Montessori provides a morning dry snack for all classrooms and parents sign up to add to the snack options by supplying dairy and fresh fruit selections. The only food that is not allowed is peanuts. Peace Montessori is a peanut-free school.

In the early 20th century, Maria Montessori developed an innovative approach to early childhood education that has stood the test of time. To learn more about Montessori education, please visit our About Montessori page.