About Oak Hill Montessori Community School
Since 1964
Building upon the 60-year legacy of Oak Hill Montessori, Oak Hill Montessori Community School (OHMCS) was founded in 2021 as a Minnesota Charter School. We proudly offer authentic Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) accredited Montessori education for children ages 16 months – 8th grade.
Our Upper School serves Kindergarten through 8th grade students, tuition free, making the Montessori pedagogy accessible to all. The Lower School serves our earliest learners (Toddler and Pre-K) through a tuition based program.
We are proud to be a different point-of-view in education; driven by the motivation of students. We present challenging academics while valuing social skills as much as reading and mathematics.
Our facility and seven acre campus were specifically designed as a Montessori learning environment, meeting the developmental needs of students and inspiring them to learn both in the classroom and during free play.
Utilizing Montessori principles, teachers often work in small groups, or one-on-one with children, providing an individualized approach to each student’s growth.
Mixed age classrooms allow older children to serve as leaders while younger students are able to observe their role models.
Children of all ages experience Art, Music, Spanish and nature based outdoor programming in addition to a traditional Montessori curriculum.
Our responsive and caring faculty are empowered to create opportunities of discovery, observation, and reflection for their students, both on campus and in the broader world.
Our Mission
Our Vision
Preparing every student for tomorrow by nurturing the love of learning today.
Creating a space for students, families, and community members to thrive as they collaborate to learn, to celebrate, and to serve one another.
Our Values
Independent thinking and self-reliance through purposeful work
Inclusivity in our community and a sense of belonging for all
Compassion for others and the environment around us
A vision for peace through social change
Oak Hill Montessori Community School is proud to be an AMI accredited school, the original organization created by Dr. Maria Montessori in 1929. All lead teachers are licensed teachers who have completed Montessori training in addition to a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Why Montessori Matters
Montessori education is designed to support the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally. Grounded in more than a century of research and real-world success, the Montessori method helps children become independent thinkers, capable collaborators, and lifelong learners.
Studies show that Montessori students often demonstrate stronger executive function skills, greater intrinsic motivation, and higher levels of academic achievement and well-being compared to peers in traditional settings. With mixed-age classrooms and hands-on materials, Montessori environments foster curiosity, concentration, and confidence—empowering children to take ownership of their learning.
“I am so proud to work for a Montessori Charter School, offering high quality Montessori Education to families of all different economic backgrounds. As a teacher, it is easy to see behind the scenes how much passion the OHMCS staff have and how much love and attention goes into making each child have a wonderful school experience. I wish all children would have access to a Montessori Education!”
- Children’s House Guide
Commitment to Equity
OHMCS Equity and Anti-Bias, Anti-Racist (ABAR) Commitment Statement
Oak Hill Montessori Community School is committed to the following actions:
To Integrate: age-appropriate anti-bias, anti-racist education at all levels of our school.
Some examples include:
Use of gender-neutral and pronoun inclusive language.
A welcoming and open approach to student dialogue about ABAR topics.
Thoughtful selection of texts and resources used in classrooms, with focus placed on centering people of the global majority.
Ensuring that students’ cultural food requirements are honored.
To Communicate: equity and inclusion practices to families through classroom emails, community gatherings, parent education events, and resources made available.
Some examples include:
Inclusion of personal pronouns in staff email signatures, use of correct pronouns in students and family member communication.
Sharing texts and resources used with families through weekly classroom emails, including how ABAR work is integrated in the classroom.
Communication of local community events and activities that promote and include ABAR learning, and reflects an inclusive view of the Shoreview and Twin Cities populations.
To Prioritize: Anti-Bias Anti-Racist Professional Development and training for staff. We are working currently to set initiatives for ABAR goals that can be worked toward consistently.
Some examples include:
Annual ABAR book discussion group among OHMCS staff since 2020.
ABAR-focused Professional Development selections offered to staff.
Current drafting of specific ABAR goals that include consistent reflection and progress monitoring.
To Apply: a lens of equity and inclusion to strengthen all programs, policies, and practices including recruitment of families and staff members of the global majority.
Some examples include:
Reflection and review of school ABAR practices and existing policies.
Policies and procedures that emphasize respect, integrity, and inclusion, with a focus on community building.
Presentation of food served in a neutral manner.
We recognize that the above statement of our school’s Equity and ABAR commitment requires consistent effort and reflection as a staff and faculty. While such a statement is important for communication of our school values, the commitment to the work itself is most vital to our entire learning community.
What is a charter school?
Charter schools in Minnesota are public, tuition-free, and open to all. They operate independently under a charter—a performance contract—with an authorizing organization (an authorizer) that holds them accountable for academic and operational excellence. Oak Hill Montessori Community School is proud to be authorized by MOCHa (Minnesota Office of Charter Authorizing). MOCHa helps ensure that our school stays aligned with authentic Montessori principles while meeting the rigorous standards of public education.