West Side Montessori School

What West Side Montessori School does

West Side Montessori School (WSMS) is a private, nonprofit Montessori early childhood institution founded in 1963 on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It enrolls 233 students for the 2025-2026 academic year across three program tracks — Infant/Toddler (ages 3 months to 3 years), Twos, and the Multi-Age program (ages 3 through 6) — delivered at two physical campuses: the flagship 309 West 92nd Street brownstone (purchased in 1974) and a state-of-the-art Infant/Toddler and Twos Center opened in 2020 at 212 West 95th Street. Instruction is delivered by 41 teachers, 24 of whom are Montessori-certified with another 14 in training, at student-teacher ratios of 1:4 (Twos) and 1:5 (Multi-Age). Curriculum relies on classic hands-on Montessori materials covering language, math, sensorial development, practical life, and cultural awareness, with no disclosed use of AI or digital learning technology.

The school's business model is built on two revenue streams. The primary stream is recurring tuition for early-childhood enrollment, augmented by extended-day offerings (Late Afternoon Program) and seasonal programs (Vacation Schools/Summer Camp); 20% of families receive tuition assistance. The second stream is the WSMS Teacher Education Program (WSMS-TEP), which delivers accredited credentialing across Infant/Toddler, Early Childhood, Elementary, and Administrator tracks, a Master's Program in partnership with Manhattanville College, a Montessori Inclusion Endorsement, and professional development — enrolling 100+ student teachers annually. The institution is governed by a Board of Trustees, is accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS) and the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), and holds memberships in ISAAGNY, NAIS, and the Parents League of New York.

WSMS markets itself through its website (wsmsnyc.org), organic social channels (Facebook, X, Instagram), and community referrals within the Upper West Side; its teacher education program doubles as a marketing and recruitment channel that sustains a self-replenishing pipeline of credentialed Montessori educators. Total headcount is 64 employees, revenue is not publicly disclosed, and there are no parent companies, subsidiaries, funding rounds, or acquisition history — consistent with its status as an independent nonprofit.

Name

West Side Montessori School

Legal name

West Side Montessori School

Website

https://wsmsnyc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

West Side Montessori School is a nonprofit Montessori early childhood institution on NYC's Upper West Side, enrolling 233 students ages 3 months to 6 years across two campuses with 41 teachers, and operating the WSMS-TEP teacher credentialing program training 100+ educators annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education

NAICS

Child Care Services (624410), Educational Services (61)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Montessori Early Learning Academies (EDACADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Montessori Preschools (EDACABAC)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Montessori education
• Private preschool
• Teacher certification
• Early childhood programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Private Montessori school tuition for Early Childhood programs serving children ages 3 months through 6 years, including Infant Toddler, Twos, and Multi-Age programs. 20% of families receive tuition assistance.
2. Teacher Education Program (WSMS-TEP): Montessori teacher education programs including Infant Toddler, Early Childhood, Elementary, and Administrator credentials, plus Master's program with Manhattanville College. Educates 100+ student teachers annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

West Side Montessori School delivers private Montessori early childhood education to children ages 3 months through 6 years through its Multi-Age Program, Twos Program, and Infant Toddler Program across two Upper West Side campuses, with extended-day care via the Late Afternoon Program and Vacation Schools/Summer Camp. The school also runs WSMS-TEP, a Montessori Teacher Education Program offering credentialing in Infant Toddler, Early Childhood, Elementary, and Administrator tracks, plus a Master's program in partnership with Manhattanville College.

Product overview

West Side Montessori School offers a comprehensive Montessori early childhood education program for children ages 3 months through 6 years, consisting of the core Multi-Age Program, Twos Program, and Infant Toddler Program. Extended care is provided through the Late Afternoon Program (LAP) and Vacation Schools/Summer Camp. The school also operates WSMS-TEP, a separate Teacher Education Program that offers credential programs (Infant Toddler, Early Childhood, Elementary, Administrator), a Manhattanville Master's Program, Montessori Inclusion Endorsement, and Professional Development services. The institution serves approximately 233 students with 41 teachers and is accredited by AMS and NYSAIS.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Childhood / Multi-Age Program Core Montessori early childhood program for children ages 3 months through 6 years, featuring multi-age classrooms with a 1:5 student-teacher ratio. Curriculum covers language, math, sensorial development, practical life, cultural awareness, physical activity, music, and art. Offered at the main campus at 309 West 92nd Street, New York, NY 10025.
• Twos Program Specialized Montessori program for two-year-old children with a 1:4 student-teacher ratio, providing age-appropriate Montessori activities and care.
• Infant Toddler Program Montessori program for infants and toddlers from 3 months old, located at the Infant Toddler Center at 212 West 95th Street, New York, NY 10025.
• Late Afternoon Program (LAP) Extended-day program for children needing care beyond regular school hours, offered as an add-on to the core early childhood programs.
• Vacation Schools / Summer Camp Summer camp and vacation school programs offered during school breaks for currently enrolled students, using the school's Upper West Side facilities including rooftop play space.
• WSMS-TEP (Teacher Education Program) Montessori teacher education program offering credential programs in Infant Toddler, Early Childhood, Elementary, and Administrator tracks, plus a Manhattanville Master's Program and Professional Development. Educates 100+ student teachers annually.
• Montessori Credential Programs Professional certification tracks including Infant Toddler, Early Childhood, Elementary, and Administrator credentials offered through WSMS-TEP.
• Manhattanville Master's Program Graduate degree program offered in partnership with Manhattanville College, allowing students to earn Montessori credentials while working toward a master's degree.
• Montessori Inclusion Endorsement Endorsement program within WSMS-TEP focused on inclusive Montessori education practices for educators.
• Professional Development and School Consultation Continuing education, professional development, and school consultation services for Montessori educators offered through WSMS-TEP.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1:4 to 1:5 student-teacher ratio
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Manhattanville CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSMS-TEP partners with Manhattanville College to offer a Master's Program in conjunction with Montessori credential programs. Student teachers can earn their Montessori credentials while working toward a master's degree through this partnership.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Montessori School of New York: Manhattan-based Montessori school offering early childhood programs. Direct competitor for NYC families seeking Montessori early childhood education within a similar price and accreditation tier.
• Brooklyn Heights Montessori School: NYC-based independent Montessori school serving infant through elementary-aged children with AMS affiliation. Comparable as a New York City Montessori school competing for the same urban, education-oriented family demographic, though located in Brooklyn rather than the Upper West Side.
• Sterling Montessori Academy: Independent Montessori school in the NYC metro area serving preschool through elementary students with AMS accreditation. Comparable program scope, Montessori methodology, and independent-school positioning.
• Montessori Training Center of New York (Affiliated with AMS): AMS-affiliated adult Montessori teacher training organization competing with WSMS-TEP for aspiring Montessori educators seeking credentialing in the NYC region. Comparable curriculum scope and AMS-aligned certification.

Broad incumbents

• The Town School: Independent nursery-through-grade-8 school on Manhattan's Upper East Side serving a similar affluent NYC private-school family demographic. Comparable on admissions competition and tuition tier even though pedagogical approach is not Montessori.
• Guidepost Montessori: Large multi-site Montessori network operating across multiple U.S. markets, including NYC-area campuses. Comparable Montessori curriculum and methodology, but with significantly greater geographic scale and capital backing than WSMS.
• Grace Church School: Highly regarded Manhattan independent school (N-Grade 8) and NYSAIS member. Competes with WSMS for the same well-educated Upper Manhattan parent segment, despite a more traditional Episcopal/progressive pedagogy.
• The Calhoun School: Independent NYC progressive school (N-Grade 12) on the Upper West Side. Direct neighborhood peer and competitor for families choosing between progressive/independent education options within walking distance of WSMS.

Others

• The Parents League of New York: Industry body and referral network for NYC independent school families. WSMS is a member and uses Parents League channels indirectly for admissions; functionally a peer ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Dwight-Englewood School: Independent K-12 school in northern New Jersey competing for affluent tri-state families who might otherwise consider NYC private preschools like WSMS. Comparable independent school positioning and tuition tier, though broader grade range and suburban location.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wsmstep
• Facebookfacebook.com/West-Side-Montessori-School-Teacher-Education-Program-1754453871447588
• Instagraminstagram.com/wsms_tep
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west-side-montessori-school

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 West Side Montessori School