Montessori Elementary School

Maria Montessori at Marsh (Montessori Elementary School) is a public magnet preschool through 8th-grade school located at 2021 Hawthorne Drive in Rockford, Illinois, serving around 610–636 students.The school delivers a Montessori-style, student-centered curriculum across multi-age classrooms, emphasizing independence, choice, and self-paced learning. Classrooms focus on core areas—such as math, language, sensorial exploration, cultural studies, and practical life—supporting growth through personalized work plans and collaborative cycles.With a student–teacher ratio of about 16:1, Montessori at Marsh ensures individualized support.Recent improvements in proficiency reflect 11% growth in reading and 5% in math on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness, with over half the students showing measurable growth in both subjects.

Montessori Program’s Unique Approach: The school continues to foster a vibrant Montessori environment—centering multi-age classrooms, individualized work cycles, and a thoughtfully prepared learning space that supports autonomy and emotional belonging.

Q1: What grades does the school serve? A1: Maria Montessori at Marsh offers Pre-Kindergarten (age 4) through 8th grade, fostering continuity from early childhood through middle school as part of its magnet program. Q2: What is the student–teacher ratio? A2: Approximately 16 students per teacher, which encourages personalized learning and direct student support. Q3: How is the Montessori instruction structured? A3: The learning model centers around multi-age classrooms and student-directed work cycles. Students select, complete, and store tasks independently while teachers provide targeted small-group or one-on-one instruction. The curriculum spans areas like math, language, sensorial exploration, cultural studies, and practical life skills. Q4: How has academic performance changed recently? A4: Significant gains were observed between 2022 and 2023—reading proficiency increased by 11%, math by 5%, with 52% of students showing reading growth and 58% showing math growth on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness. Q5: What are the school’s daily hours? A5: On the last day of the school year (June 6, 2025), the day ran 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. For regular hours, it’s recommended to contact the school office directly, as standard hours aren’t posted online.