If you have a current kindergartner enrolled in Helena Public Schools, now is the time to join the lottery for a first-grade Montessori slot!
It’s simple to apply:
Names will be drawn April 8, 2025. Selected applicants will be called that evening. All others will receive an email the next day.
Please note: Vacancies in 1st, 2nd and 3rd Montessori grades are filled from the waiting list for their lottery year. Placements may be made in the 4th or 5th grade, upon administrative approval.
In Fall 2025, the Montessori Charter School will add a second kindergarten classroom at Smith Elementary! Our first kindergarten class opened this school year at Central Elementary.
Students will be admitted to our growing Montessori kindergarten program via a lottery to be held later this spring. All students registered to start kindergarten at a district elementary in Fall 2025 are eligible to apply.
Watch for additional information and a kindergarten Montessori application form to be posted here soon!
Montessori has been a popular option for Helena families since the program was established in our district 45 years ago.
Montessori offers students the opportunity to learn independently and explore within a structured environment to build independence and executive functioning skills.
Due to the popularity of this long-standing program, students are admitted via a lottery program.
Today our Montessori Charter School has pods at Broadwater, Central and Smith elementary schools, serving a total of 10 classrooms and 198 students.
Montessori classrooms differ from traditional classrooms in the following respects:
Students have the opportunity to mentor their peers, thereby reinforcing learning concepts. Parent and caregiver volunteers are encouraged to contribute in the classroom to offer the support needed to facilitate the individualization of work.
Decisions about Montessori are best made in terms of what fits each family’s needs. Montessori is not available at all neighborhood schools, so a child might have to travel outside their neighborhood to attend.
When choosing Montessori, parents should be comfortable with the idea of their children using hands-on learning materials and learning methods different from those that they may have experienced in elementary school. Finally, parent participation is strongly encouraged as a key to student success!
We do not guarantee bus transportation for Montessori students. If you live on the east side and accept an east side placement(Smith or Central) or live on the west side and accept a west side placement (Broadwater) and a bus route is already in place then your student may be eligible. There will not be east to west side bussing or west to east side bussing available.
For information on the Montessori method, visit About Montessori Education or helenamontessori.org