Ronald Knox Montessori School: real learning starts when children follow their hearts

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What do you get when you mix a three year old with blue and yellow paint? When will the little hand point to the ten? Why do clouds stay up in the sky?

For children from 15 months through six years of age, the answers can be found at the Ronald Knox Montessori School (RKMS), in Wilmette, Illinois. Located just 19 miles north of downtown Chicago and nestled within 23 acres of open property in a quiet residential neighborhood, RKMS provides a nurturing, stimulating environment where curious children flourish.

Since 1963, this parent-owned and professionally operated non-profit has dedicated itself to the Montessori educational philosophy. At the heart of our beliefs is the notion that the greatest learning occurs when children are allowed to choose their own path to development. At RKMS, children are encouraged to explore a world of activities under the watchful eyes of competent, Montessori-trained teachers. In this setting, children cultivate concentration, motivation and self-discipline along with a life-long love of learning, high self-esteem and respect for others and the world around them.

Our Mission:

The mission of Ronald Knox Montessori School is:

to follow the philosophy and guiding principles of Dr. Maria Montessori and to uphold the standards of the American Montessori Society
to create a nurturing, stimulating environment that is responsive to a child's needs and tendencies at each stage of his or her development

to help each and every child reach his or her full potential by attending to his or her total development - intellectual, social, physical and emotional
to instill a lifelong love of learning in our children along with a profound respect for themselves, each other and the world around them
to foster a strong community of parents, faculty and administrators for the benefit of the children, and to promote stewardship of the school

To take a tour of our classrooms, please click on the "visit our children's house" link on the bottom of this page, or click here to download Flash

Accreditations: Accredited by the American Montessori Society, RKMS classrooms are supervised by a Directress who is certified by either the American Montessori Society or the Association Montessori International.