Montessori School of Denver

What Montessori School of Denver does

Montessori School of Denver (MSD) is a private non-profit independent school founded in 1964 and located on a five-acre campus at 1460 South Holly Street, Denver, Colorado. It is the oldest Montessori school in Denver, holding accreditations from the American Montessori Society (AMS), National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS), and Colorado Diversity Network. MSD serves approximately 350 students across five program levels — Toddler (ages 2-3), Primary/Kindergarten (ages 3-6), Lower Elementary (Grades 1-3), Upper Elementary (Grades 4-5), and Middle School (Grades 6-8) — supported by 90+ faculty and staff with Montessori credentials.

The school's core technology is the documented Montessori methodology, delivered through self-correcting sensorial materials, multi-age classroom structures following Dr. Maria Montessori's planes of development, and a proprietary Vertical Farm hydroponic shipping-container classroom co-developed and patented with CropBox. Digital infrastructure includes Transparent Classroom for student progress tracking, Schoology as the Middle School LMS, Microsoft Office 365, Zoom, Khan Academy, Common Sense Media, and a Mighty Networks-hosted Virtual Campus. Enrichment programming spans a Specials curriculum (PE, music/theater, art, Spanish, library, handcraft), the Urban Farm, Summer Camp, and Before/After School Enrichment.

MSD operates a tuition-driven non-profit business model with revenue primarily from annual tuition subscriptions, supplemented by Before/After School Care, hot lunch, Summer Camp, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) sales from the Vertical Farm, and an Annual Fund with Special Funds solicitations managed through a Blackbaud donor platform. Pricing is structured by program tier with annual billing cadence; a $150 non-refundable application fee and a $250 Work Bond requiring 25 hours of parent volunteer service act as commitment mechanisms. Financial aid of $700,000 is distributed annually, with typical awards covering 35-50% of tuition. Go-to-market combines a traditional admissions process (inquiry, campus tour, open house, student visit, online application) with strong community-led referral mechanics — 250+ parent volunteers contribute nearly 10,000 hours annually, serving as the dominant acquisition channel.

Name

Montessori School of Denver

Legal name

Montessori School of Denver

Website

https://montessoridenver.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Montessori School of Denver is a 60-year-old non-profit independent school on a five-acre Denver campus, serving approximately 350 students aged 2-14 through Toddler, Primary, Elementary, and Middle School programs with documented Montessori curriculum, proprietary Vertical Farm, and enrichment programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Private K-8 Montessori Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Montessori K–12 Schools (EDAJABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Montessori Preschools (EDACABAC), Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM)

Keywords

• Montessori education
• Private K-8 school
• Preschool programs
• Primary education programs
• Childhood enrichment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Primary revenue source from tuition payments for Toddler through 8th Grade programs. As a non-profit independent school, MSD relies on tuition to support the educational model and covers academic materials, field trips, overnight trips, and daily snacks.
2. Before and After School Care: Additional fee-based services including before/after school care and hot lunch programs available at additional cost.
3. Annual Fund and Donations: Voluntary donations supporting the school's Annual Fund and Special Funds, with parent participation expectations through the Work Bond Program.
4. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Farm Products: Food grown in the Vertical Farm sold through CSA program and pop-up farm stands. Products including lip balms, hand salves, and bath salts made by Middle School students sold at Maria's Market.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Montessori School of Denver is an independent, non-profit Montessori school that delivers documented Montessori education to children ages 2 through 14 on a five-acre Denver campus. Its core offerings span Toddler, Primary/Kindergarten, Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, and Middle School programs, supplemented by enrichment including a patented Urban Farm (Vertical Farm hydroponics), Specials (PE, music, art, Spanish, library, handcraft), Summer Camp, and Before & After School Enrichment. Tuition is the primary revenue source, with financial aid and an Annual Fund rounding out the funding model.

Product overview

Montessori School of Denver is an independent Montessori school offering a comprehensive educational program from Toddler through 8th Grade. The school operates as a unified program anchored in Montessori philosophy with multiple interconnected program levels: Toddler Program (ages 2-3), Primary/Kindergarten (ages 3-6), Lower Elementary (Grades 1-3), Upper Elementary (Grades 4-5), and Middle School (Grades 6-8). Enrichment is provided through the Specials Program (PE, music/theater, art, Spanish, library, handcraft), Urban Farm Program, and Before/After School Enrichment and Summer Camp offerings. Student Support & Wellness services round out the educational experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Toddler Program Early learning environment for children ages 2-3, built for exploration and practical life skills, featuring a dedicated playground, garden area, and outdoor workspaces for each classroom.
• Primary / Kindergarten Program Preschool and Kindergarten programs for ages 3-6 that focus on helping students make thoughtful choices, develop concentration, and engage in caring and purposeful interaction with their environment.
• Lower Elementary Program Program for Grades 1-3 (ages 6-9) offering a rich curriculum based on individual understanding that is challenging, collaborative, and interwoven with real-world application.
• Upper Elementary Program Program for Grades 4-5 (ages 9-11) that expands the curriculum to focus on confidence and achievement, reinforcing responsibility, service ownership, and integrity.
• Middle School Program Middle school program for Grades 6-8 (ages 11-14) designed with emphasis on social-emotional growth, strong core academics, and global education at the forefront.
• Urban Farm Program Comprehensive urban farming program incorporated into all program levels featuring seven outdoor soil raised beds, two hydroponic tower gardens, and a state-of-the-art Vertical Farm in an upcycled shipping container capable of growing 1,000+ plants.
• Specials Program (Enrichment) Enrichment program providing classes including physical education, music and theater, art, Spanish, library sciences, handcraft, and the Urban Farm program in addition to regular classroom studies.
• Summer Camp Summer camp program offering various activities including toddler exploration, primary camp with continent studies through art and stories, and elementary musical theater with script writing and original song recording.
• Before & After School Enrichment Extended care program providing before- and after-school enrichment activities for enrolled students.
• Spanish Language Program Comprehensive Spanish curriculum from Toddler through Middle School incorporating Montessori philosophy and aligning with national proficiency standards, including cultural celebrations such as Día de los Muertos and Cinco de Mayo.
• Student Support & Wellness Academic and social-emotional support services including school psychology, learning specialists, occupational therapy, and DEIB coordination across all program levels.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350 students served across Toddler through 8th Grade programs on five-acre campus
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CropBoxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development partner for the Vertical Farm hydroponic system. The Vertical Farm is a state-of-the-art hydroponic farm housed in an up-cycled shipping container, created and patented by MSD and CropBox for use as a Montessori classroom, capable of growing 1000+ plants using cutting edge technology.
• Montessori Education Center of the Rockies (MECR)minorOthersAccredited Montessori teacher training center whose curriculum MSD teachers use and where some staff complete Montessori certifications.
• Colorado Diversity NetworkminorOthersRegional network supporting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging initiatives. MSD's DEIB Coordinator and Director of Student Support serve as executive team members, facilitating professional development for ACIS-accredited schools.
• Family Diversity ProjectsminorOthersOrganization whose traveling exhibit on diverse families was hosted at MSD as part of community engagement and DEIB programming.
• Keystone Science SchoolminorOthersScience education organization whose curriculum is delivered by MSD's Upper Elementary program during field-based programming.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Primrose Schools: Nationally franchised private preschool and early elementary network with multiple Colorado locations. Comparable as a large-scale private early-childhood education provider competing for the same Denver-metro families with younger children.
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Large publicly-traded provider of early childhood education and care with Denver-area centers. Comparable as a broad-based private education operator competing for the same working-parent families seeking premium childcare and early learning.
• Kent Denver School: Established private K-12 college-prep school in Englewood, CO with a longer history and broader programming than MSD. Comparable as a premium Denver-metro private independent school competing for the same family demographic, though non-Montessori.

Direct peers

• Guidepost Montessori: Large national Montessori network operating accredited Montessori schools across multiple states, including Colorado. Direct competitor serving families seeking Montessori education from early childhood through elementary using the same pedagogical approach as MSD.
• Aspen Academy: Private K-8 school in the Denver metro area with comparable enrollment scale, tuition tier, enrichment programs, and accreditation profile to MSD. Direct competitor for Denver-metro families evaluating private K-8 options.
• Boulder Country Day School: Private independent K-8 school in Boulder, CO with similar tuition model, multi-age classroom approach, and emphasis on individualized learning. Competes for Denver metro families seeking premium private K-8 education.
• Hope Montessori Academy: Multi-location Montessori school in the Colorado Front Range using AMI/AMS-aligned pedagogy. Comparable in serving toddler-through-elementary students in the same Denver metro area with the same Montessori curriculum philosophy.
• Children's Garden Montessori School: Independent Montessori school serving Denver-metro families with infant-through-elementary programs. Comparable as a Denver-area competitor offering the same Montessori methodology for the same age range, positioning similarly on tuition tier and family demographics.
• Alexander Dawson School: Private independent K-12 school in Lafayette, CO serving families across the Denver metro. Comparable as a non-Montessori private K-8 alternative in the same geographic market with similar tuition scale and enrichment programming.

Regional players

• Cottonwood Classical Academy: Public charter school in Albuquerque, NM using a classical pedagogical model. Comparable as an alternative K-12 pedagogical-model school competing for families seeking non-traditional education, though operating in a different geographic market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/montessorischoolofdenver
• Instagraminstagram.com/montessorischofdenver
• Pinterestpinterest.com/montessoridenvr
• Xx.com/msdrocks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Montessori School of Denver