Montessori Academy of Chicago

What Montessori Academy of Chicago does

Montessori Academy of Chicago (MAC) is a privately held, nonprofit Montessori school founded in 2007 and headquartered in a 48,000 sq ft facility at 1335 W Randolph St in Chicago's West Loop. The school delivers full-spectrum Montessori education from infancy (6 weeks) through 8th grade across four sequential programs — Nursery (6 weeks–3 years), Primary (3–6 including kindergarten), Elementary (grades 1–6, split into Lower and Upper), and Middle School (grades 7–8) — using mixed-age three-year classroom cycles, hands-on Montessori materials, and prepared environments across 17 classrooms plus a 4,000 sq ft gymnasium. Programming runs year-round, full-time from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, and is delivered by an all-Montessori-credentialed lead teacher corps with an 88% retention rate, many holding advanced degrees. The curriculum layers authentic Montessori methodology with Lucy Calkins' Units of Study (Columbia Teachers College), the RULER SEL framework (Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence), TPRS Spanish instruction from infant classrooms onward, SPARK physical education, and an on-site Achievement Resource Center providing in-network OT, speech/language, and social work services with Blue Cross Blue Shield and United Health Care.

The school monetizes primarily through annual tuition billed monthly (including field trips, insurance, security fees, and organic catered meals from Organic Life), supplemented by non-refundable application fees and a $1,000 non-refundable enrollment deposit. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via a West Loop-focused admissions funnel: website, Calendly-scheduled private tours, biweekly Admissions Coffee Chats, an inquiry form, and Transparent Classroom-hosted applications, with ParentSquare serving as the post-enrollment parent portal. Growth channels include organic referrals through an active parent community (FoMAC 501(c)(3), MACPAC, room parent programs), the Niche Best Schools Badge 2025, AMS accreditation, and ISACS/AIMS memberships. Operational technology is conventional ed-tech SaaS — ParentSquare, NWEA MAP assessments, Transparent Classroom, Calendly, PayPal, smart boards, and a student laptop lab — with no proprietary technology platform or disclosed AI/ML capability.

Name

Montessori Academy of Chicago

Legal name

Montessori Academy of Chicago

Website

https://montessoriacademychicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Montessori Academy of Chicago is a private, nonprofit Montessori school founded in 2007 in Chicago's West Loop, serving children from 6 weeks through 8th grade with year-round full-day programming delivered by Montessori-credentialed teachers, including an on-site clinical Achievement Resource Center and enrichment offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Montessori K–12 Schools (EDAJABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Montessori Early Learning Academies (EDACADAA), Montessori Preschools (EDACABAC)

Keywords

• Montessori education
• Private preschool education
• Elementary school programs
• Infant daycare services
• Middle school education

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Annual tuition fee billed monthly for convenience. Tuition is not based on student actual attendance or reduced during holidays or break periods. Includes field trip fees, individual student insurance, and special security assessments for most programs. Based on a full-time 12-month program, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm.
2. Application Fees: Non-refundable application fee required at time of application submission. Enrollment confirmed with additional $1,000 non-refundable deposit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Montessori Academy of Chicago is a private, year-round Montessori school offering full-day educational programming for children from 6 weeks old through 8th grade. The school delivers authentic Montessori curriculum across four academic levels (Nursery, Primary, Elementary, Middle School) complemented by enrichment classes, the Achievement Resource Center for student support, extracurricular activities, and Montessori Model United Nations. Operating from a 48,000 sq ft facility in Chicago's West Loop, the Academy provides extended-day programming from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm with organic meals included.

Product overview

Montessori Academy of Chicago operates as a unified educational institution offering comprehensive Montessori education from infancy (6 weeks) through 8th grade. The core product portfolio includes four main academic programs: Nursery School (6 weeks-3 years), Primary School (ages 3-6 including kindergarten), Elementary School (grades 1-6), and Middle School (grades 7-8). These are complemented by enrichment offerings (Spanish, Art, Music, Physical Education, Technology), the Achievement Resource Center (ARC) providing therapeutic and support services, extracurricular activities, and the Montessori Model United Nations program. The school utilizes a 48,000 sq. ft. facility with 17 classrooms and a 4,000 sq. ft. gymnasium, offering year-round full-day programming from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nursery School Program Early childhood education program for children aged 6 weeks to 3 years, featuring infant, toddler, and pre-primary classrooms with Montessori-based curriculum focused on independence, language and cognition, care of self and environment, socio-emotional health, and motor skills development.
• Primary School Program Montessori program for children ages 3-6 including kindergarten, featuring mixed-age classrooms with Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Math, and Culture curriculum areas. Includes Extended Day lessons for older students.
• Elementary School Program Authentic Montessori elementary program for grades 1-6, divided into Lower Elementary (1st-3rd) and Upper Elementary (4th-6th) mixed-age classrooms. Features Cosmic Education approach integrating traditional skills through hands-on experiential learning, including the Columbia University Reading & Writing Project.
• Middle School Program Dynamic middle school program for grades 7-8 following the Houston Montessori Center model. Includes trans-disciplinary themes, cooperative learning projects, Microeconomy business curriculum, and academic partnership with Brickton Montessori School.
• Enrichments Full array of enrichment classes including Spanish (starting in infant rooms), Art, Music (Orff, Kodály, Dalcroze methods), Physical Education (SPARK curriculum, FitnessGram), and Technology programs for Elementary and Middle School students.
• Achievement Resource Center (ARC) Student support department providing Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Pathology, Social Work/Counseling Services, and school-based programming including classroom education, small group lessons, and staff/parent education. In-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield and United Health Care.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates accepted to top Chicago private schools including Northside Prep, Francis W. Parker School, Lane Tech, Whitney Young, Culver Academy, St. Ignatius, Loyola Academy, Wolcott School, Beacon High, British International, and Latin School of Chicago.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Organic LifecoreOthersOrganic Life provides fresh, organic catered lunch and snacks for students, included in tuition. The partnership ensures healthy, quality meals for all students throughout the school day.
• Nature's Classroom Institute (NCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCI is the nation's premier outdoor environmental education program. Students at every grade level, starting at 1st grade, visit NCI's Wisconsin campus for a whole week every year for immersive outdoor learning experiences.
• North Shore Pediatric Therapy (NSPT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSPT clinicians collaborate with Academy faculty to present parent education events on topics such as developmental milestones, sleep tips, and picky eating strategies.
• Brickton Montessori SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Brickton Montessori School's middle school program, which employs the same Houston Montessori Center curriculum. Students collaborate and work on group presentations together.
• Yale Center for Emotional IntelligencecoreTechnology or IntegrationThe Academy implements RULER, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence's evidence-based social-emotional learning curriculum school-wide, including classroom charters and emotional regulation tools.
• Columbia University Teachers CollegecoreTechnology or IntegrationImplementation of Lucy Calkin's Units of Study Reading & Writing program, developed at Columbia University's Teachers College. Program based on over 30 years of research.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School: Independent Chicago private school serving preschool through 8th grade. Comparable independent single-campus private school competing for overlapping West Loop family base.
• Francis W. Parker School: Independent Chicago preK-12 school, one of the Academy's documented graduate destinations. Comparable selective-admission, high-tuition private school competing for the same family segment.
• Latin School of Chicago: Independent, non-Montessori preK-12 Chicago private school competing for the same West Loop families. Comparable tuition tier, feeder school profile, and parent demographic, but uses a traditional progressive pedagogy.
• Catherine Cook School: Independent Chicago preschool through 8th grade school in Old Town. Comparable single-campus urban private school, similar tuition tier and family demographic, but uses a progressive rather than Montessori pedagogy.
• British International School of Chicago, South Loop: International private school in Chicago offering early years through secondary. Comparable premium urban tuition tier and target demographic of professional urban families.

Broad incumbents

• LePort Montessori: Multi-site Montessori operator with programs from infant through elementary. Comparable pedagogy and dual-language immersion offerings, but operates as a larger network rather than an independent single-campus school.
• Guidepost Montessori: National Montessori network with multiple Chicago-area campuses serving infants through elementary. Comparable AMS-aligned pedagogy but operating a multi-site chain model rather than a single flagship campus.

Direct peers

• Near North Montessori School: Chicago-based, AMS-accredited Montessori school serving infants through middle school with mixed-age classrooms and year-round programming. The closest direct comparable by pedagogy, age range, and urban Chicago family base.
• Baker Demonstration School: Independent, AMS-accredited school in Wilmette serving toddlers through 8th grade in Chicago's North Shore market. Comparable Montessori pedagogy, age range, and family demographic, with similar enrichment and SEL programming.
• Montessori School of Lake Forest: Independent AMS-accredited Montessori school serving toddlers through 8th grade on Chicago's North Shore. Closely comparable on credentialing, parent community engagement, and tuition model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/montessoriacademychicago

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Academy of Chicago