A philosophy created by Dr. Maria Montessori that tailors the child’s education to their specific needs at a given time. It is an approach that emphasizes independence, freedom within limits, and respect for the whole child.

The term charter refers to a free, public school operated independently of the local school board, often with a curriculum and educational philosophy different from the other schools in the system. Charter schools are required to follow all state and federal guidelines.

Montessori environments provide hands-on, self-paced, child-centered learning. Students are grouped in multi-age classrooms. In our elementary classrooms, each classroom has two professionally trained teachers who possess one or more of the following credentials: Montessori Teacher Certification, Florida State Teacher Certification, and/or Montessori training. Our Middle School programs offer a more traditional academic experience while maintaining core Montessori philosophies.

In the Montessori classroom, students concentrate intently on their work, speak in calm tones, and demonstrate respect for their peers, their work, and their environment. Montessori encourages children to work independently. Children move freely about the environment and often assist each other with their tasks. Children may choose their work, when they do it, and often with whom they do it.

In order to be successful in the Montessori environment, the Montessori child should develop independence, self-discipline, initiative, self-motivation, concentration, and order. In fact, they must be able to do so as this is a fundamental expectation in the Montessori classroom. Children must also have the ability to concentrate and not be distracted by what others in the room are doing. Intrinsic motivation is a hallmark of a Montessori student. If a child is not a self-starter, it will be challenging to succeed in the Montessori classroom. Therefore, some children may need a curriculum or environment that is more suited to their individual needs and offers a more structured and less stimulating environment.

Statistically, those who are in Montessori classrooms over a long period of time, make a smooth adjustment and are very successful. They usually enter their new environments with a positive sense of self-confidence because they have developed a true love of learning.

CMCS serves students in 1st through 8th grades.

Once your child(ren) have been accepted, specific information will be provided.

School hours are 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM*. Based on level, pick up (dismissal) times vary. CMCS does not provide bus transportation. We do provide Before and After Care Programs at an additional fee. Additional information may be obtained through the school office. After School Enrichment Programs are also offered for an additional fee.

Parent involvement is critical for student success in school, and all families are expected to give 15 hours of volunteer participation.

CMCS accepts lottery applications for the upcoming school year starting in January. CMCS accepts students on a first-come, first-served basis, unless the number of applications exceed the number of seats available in any class, at which time a lottery will be conducted. To be considered, interested applicants should submit their application in person or by US Postal Service (USPS) by February 14th. 

In accordance with HB7029 (Controlled Open Enrollment), CMCS must provide seats to students that reside in Pasco County before accepting students from other counties.

The lottery is held on February 15th unless it is a non-school day. Parents are notified of their child’s acceptance no later than the first week of March. If a child is selected in the lottery and has a sibling applying, the sibling will have the option of first right of refusal only if there is spot in that grade level.

Although requests for specific teachers are NOT accepted, parents are welcome to provide special information about their child, which they feel would assist school administration in making placement decisions. This information should be submitted in writing to the Assistant Principal.

We are proud to have a diverse group of exceptional Montessori and State Certified teachers. Given the non-competitive nature of the Montessori philosophy, there is great collaboration among all the classrooms. Routines and procedures may be different from classroom to classroom according to the teachers’ styles, needs of the students, and schedule. No two classrooms are the same; however, the teachers cover the same Montessori and core academic curriculum.

Dr. Montessori believed in the “gifted” potential of all students; therefore, CMCS does not offer a formal gifted program. The curriculum is open-ended and presents many opportunities for problem solving and critical thinking. Regardless of exceptionality, children are always challenged by our rigorous academic program.