Maria Montessori Education Centre

What Maria Montessori Education Centre does

Maria Montessori Education Centre Ltd. (MMEC) is a private, non-profit Montessori school operating two campuses in Calgary, Alberta, delivering authentic Montessori education from toddler age (19-36 months) through junior high (Erdkinder, Grades 7-9) to Calgary families. Founded in 2012, MMEC maintains CCMA accreditation (initially granted 2012, re-accredited 2023) and is recognized by the Alberta Ministry of Education as an accredited private school, allowing it to align with the Alberta Program of Studies while qualifying for partial Alberta Education funding. The school is governed by a Board of Directors led by President/Chair Servejit Massey, with Amanda Kershaw serving as Principal (K-9).

MMEC's instructional model is centered on prepared Montessori environments, multi-sensory materials, and a cosmic education curriculum delivered by MACTE-trained guides holding Alberta Teaching Certificates. Programmatic offerings include the Toddler Community (max 12 children per class with a 1:6 adult-to-child ratio), the multi-age Casa Program (ages 3-6), Lower Elementary (Grades 1-3), Upper Elementary (Grades 4-6), and the Erdkinder adolescent program (Grades 7-9) featuring land-based Odyssey trips, plus before-and-after school care. The owned main campus is the ~20,000 sq ft Chief Crowfoot School in Saint Andrews Heights (purchased 2017), supplemented by a satellite campus at cSPACE King Edward opened in January 2017 that hosts Casa and Toddler programs.

MMEC's revenue model is tuition-based with annual subscription billing; 2026/27 tuition ranges from approximately CAD $6,270 (Casa half-day) to CAD $15,731.50 (Toddler full-day), augmented by government-set parent fees for Toddler/Casa programs, a non-refundable $90 application fee, a $1,500 refundable program deposit, before-and-after care fees (CAD $2,100-$5,170 per child per year), and partial Alberta Education funding. Customer acquisition is direct-to-consumer via Parent Information Sessions (held November-January), formal application and family interview, rolling enrollment with priority given to children with prior Montessori experience and siblings of current students, and community-based marketing through the mmec.ca website, newsletters, and open houses. With ~31 employees across the two campuses and no disclosed revenue, MMEC operates at a small, local, capacity-constrained scale focused on quality and authenticity rather than expansion.

Name

Maria Montessori Education Centre

Legal name

Maria Montessori Education Centre Ltd.

Website

https://mmec.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MMEC is a non-profit, CCMA- and Alberta Ministry of Education-accredited private Montessori school operating two campuses in Calgary, delivering authentic Montessori education from toddler age through Grade 9 (Erdkinder) to Calgary families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Education Services

NAICS

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

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Montessori K–12 Schools (EDAJABAD)

Keywords

• Private montessori school
• Early childhood education
• Montessori elementary program
• Before and after care
• Junior high education

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Parent Fees: Primary revenue from tuition payments for Toddler, Casa, Elementary, and Erdkinder programs. Tuition rates vary by program (half-day vs full-day) and include Alberta-set Parent Fees for childcare programs. Partial funding received from Alberta Education as an accredited private school.
2. Before and After Care Services: Extended care programs for kindergarten and elementary students: Before Care ($2,100/year), After Care ($3,570/year at Main Campus, $2,100/year at cSPACE), and combined Before and After Care ($5,170/year).
3. Application Fees: Non-refundable $90 application fee due with each application submitted.
4. Program Deposits: $1,500 deposit per child due upon acceptance, retained until child completes full program cycle (Primary, Elementary, or Erdkinder cycle).
5. Alberta Education Funding: Recognized as an accredited private school by Alberta Ministry of Education, following Alberta Program of Studies and qualifying for partial funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Maria Montessori Education Centre is a non-profit private Montessori school delivering authentic Montessori education to children from 19 months through Grade 9. It operates Toddler, Casa, Elementary, and Erdkinder programs, plus before and after school care, at two Calgary campuses, using prepared environments, multi-sensory materials, and cosmic education aligned with the Alberta Program of Studies.

Product overview

Maria Montessori Education Centre offers a comprehensive Montessori education system from toddler age (19 months) through junior high (Grade 9). The portfolio includes five core programs: Toddler Community, Casa Program, Elementary Program, and Erdkinder Program (Junior High), each with half-day and full-day options. Supporting offerings include Before and After Care Program and Curriculum resources aligned with Alberta education standards. The school operates across two campuses in Calgary with multi-age classroom structures implementing authentic Montessori methodology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Toddler Community Program Montessori program for children 19-36 months featuring practical life activities, language enrichment, sensory materials, and independence development. Maximum of 12 children per class with 1:6 adult-to-child ratio, taught by Toddler-trained Montessori Guides.
• Full Day Toddler Program Extended-day Toddler Community program operating 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, staffed by Montessori Guides meeting Alberta Human Services requirements for children 19-36 months.
• Casa Program Multi-age Montessori preschool for children ages 3-6 featuring mixed-age Casa classrooms, self-directed learning with Montessori materials, and sensitive period-based curriculum. Staffed per Alberta Family Services ratio requirements.
• Full-day Casa Program Extended Casa program for 3-4 year olds from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm at Main Campus (or 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at cSPACE), including work periods, outdoor play, noon meal, and rest time. Five-year-old kindergarteners attend 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.
• Elementary Program Montessori elementary education divided into Lower Elementary (Grades 1-3) and Upper Elementary (Grades 4-6). Features integrated curriculum with Great Lessons, multi-age groupings, and detailed observation-based assessment.
• Erdkinder Program (Junior High) Montessori adolescent program for Grades 7-9 focusing on transition to adulthood through real-world occupations, land-based Odyssey trips, community engagement, financial management, and managerial student roles.
• Before and After Care Program Extended care for kindergarten-aged Casa children and Elementary students from 7:00 am to 8:30 am and 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm at Main Campus (or 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm at cSPACE), with optional drop-in care subject to 24-hour notice.

Quantifiable outcome

• CCMA re-accreditation achieved in 2023, maintaining accreditation since 2012
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• cSPACE ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017MMEC opened an additional primary campus at cSPACE King Edward in January 2017. Programs are housed in the former King Edward School and are part of an innovative creative community of collaborators. Multiple non-profit organizations share the building, bringing vibrancy to the building and surrounding community.
• St. Andrew's Heights Community AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the St. Andrew's Heights Community Association on playground replacement project (scheduled for spring 2027, approximately $350,000). The City of Calgary and Parks Foundation also involved. The Association fundraises and donates funds toward the new play structure.
• City of CalgaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Calgary involved in new play structure project collaboration with MMEC and St. Andrew's Heights Community Association. City contributes minimal amount to playground project.
• Parks FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParks Foundation involved as grant provider for playground replacement project. MMEC hopes to receive a grant through the Parks Foundation for the new play structure.
• AISCA (Alberta Independent Schools Association)minorOthersAISCA has launched 'Grow the Choice' campaign to educate the public on the value of independent schools in Alberta. MMEC participates in this initiative to help minimize misconceptions about independent education.
• Usborne BooksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnnual Usborne Book Fair held at MMEC where families can purchase books. 25% of retail sales go toward free books for classrooms and school library. Usborne provides customized website for MMEC orders.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Calgary Waldorf School: Calgary private school offering Waldorf education from early childhood through Grade 9. Comparable as a Calgary alternative-pedagogy school competing for the same parent segment interested in non-traditional education methods.
• Renert School: Calgary-based private K-12 school offering personalized learning programs. Comparable as a Calgary private school targeting families seeking alternatives to the public system, though with a different pedagogical foundation than Montessori.
• Calgary Montessori School: Another long-established CCMA-accredited private Montessori school in Calgary offering Casa through elementary programs. Directly comparable in pedagogy, accreditation posture, and target demographic of Calgary families seeking authentic Montessori.
• Clearwater Academy: Private school in Calgary offering a continuous K-12 pathway with strong pedagogical positioning. Comparable as a Calgary private school competing for the same tuition-paying family segment.
• West Valley Montessori School: Calgary-based Montessori school serving toddler, casa, and elementary-aged children. Comparable in target customer (Calgary families), Montessori methodology, and program structure.

Broad incumbents

• West Island College: Calgary private high school serving Grades 7-12, partially overlapping MMEC's Erdkinder Grade 7-9 segment. Comparable for the junior-high private-school choice set in Calgary.
• Calgary French & International School: Long-standing Calgary private school offering preschool through Grade 12 with bilingual and international programming. Comparable as a Calgary private school alternative targeting premium tuition-paying families.
• Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School: Established Calgary-area private K-12 school. Comparable as a Calgary-area premium private school competing for families willing to pay tuition for non-public education, though with a more traditional academic positioning.
• Foothills Academy: Established Calgary private school serving students with learning disabilities and ADHD through individualized programming. Comparable as a Calgary private school alternative but with a specialized, special-education focus rather than Montessori.

Others

• Alberta Montessori Schools (CCMA member network): Provincial peer network of CCMA-accredited Montessori schools across Alberta. Comparable through shared accreditation standards, training pipelines, and overlapping parent communities in the Alberta Montessori ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maria-montessori-education-centre

Compliance2 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 Maria Montessori Education Centre