Montessori Academy for Peace Decatur IL (2026 List)

About Montessori Academy for Peace

Montessori Academy for Peace is located at 4735 East Cantrell Street, Decatur, IL 62521, serving families on the city’s east side. It serves students in prekindergarten through grade 8, extending Montessori learning from early childhood into middle grades. Enrollment is 639 students, giving the campus a broad magnet-school scale within Decatur Public Schools. The student–teacher ratio is 16:1, based on reported enrollment and classroom staffing. The student body is 53% male and 47% female. According to state assessment data, 6% of students are proficient in math and 11% are proficient in reading. Montessori Academy for Peace operates as a public magnet school in Decatur School District 61, using multi-age classrooms, student-led work, and Montessori materials as part of its instructional model. Its program anchor gives the campus a specialized role among Decatur’s public options, with admission tied to the district magnet process. Local housing values average $104,867, keeping Decatur’s residential market accessible compared with many Illinois communities. Compared with standard neighborhood campuses, Montessori Academy for Peace offers a distinctive public-school pathway for families reviewing a best elementary school in Illinois option.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 6%

Reading 11%

State average proficiency is 6% in Math and 11% in Reading.

39

Full-time Teachers

16 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

639

Total Students

$66456

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 46.79%

Asian 0.78%

Hispanic 1.41%

Black 31.77%

Two+ Races 18.94%

Native Am. 0.16%

White

46.79%

Asian

0.78%

Hispanic

1.41%

Black

31.77%

Two+ Races

18.94%

Native Am.

0.16%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 639

47.26%

302 Female

52.74%

337 Male

Student Population

639 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 16 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

639 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Montessori Academy for Peace Contact Information

Address

4735 E Cantrell St, Decatur, IL 62521

View on Map

Phone

(217) 362-3390

Call Now

Website

http://www.dps61.org

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 9:15 AM - 3:35 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 9:00 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Decatur Public Schools’ 2025-2026 calendar update includes Montessori Academy for Peace families and has May 26, 2026, as a semester two half-day. The update will help families plan transportation, after-school care and end-of-year routines as the school year winds down. The calendar notice is especially helpful for Montessori Academy for Peace students because the campus serves multiple age groups, PreK through middle grades, so family scheduling is important across different daily routines.

FAQ

Q1. What is the difference between Montessori Academy for Peace and a traditional campus?

Ans. At Montessori Academy for Peace, students learn through student-led lessons, hands-on materials, multi-age classrooms and independent work habits every day.

Q2. How do families apply to the Montessori Academy for Peace?

Ans. Montessori Academy for Peace is in Decatur’s magnet process, so families apply through the district lottery during the application window.

Q3. What is the age range of the students at Montessori Academy for Peace?

Ans. Montessori Academy for Peace has tuition-based PreK for three and four year olds and placement is through the magnet lottery process.

Q4. What does Montessori Academy for Peace have to offer?

Ans. Middle-grade options at Montessori Academy for Peace include choir, Spanish, band, string orchestra, sports and student interest activities.

Q5. Why do parents choose Montessori Academy for Peace for their children?

Ans. Montessori Academy for Peace could appeal to families looking for public Montessori learning with independence, responsibility, cooperation and hands-on exploration.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

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What Parents Say