The Montessori House of St. Johns
An authentic Montessori school in the St. Johns neighborhood of Portland, Oregon
The Montessori House’s mission is to provide a nurturing environment for the holistic development of children, from walking-age to six years old. Each child is recognized as a unique individual, as well as an integral part of our community. We are here to nurture the human potential.
The Montessori House aims to guide the child along his or her own individual path of construction while nurturing the social responsibility needed to live within a cooperative community. It is our goal to provide an environment that recognizes the authentic nature of the child.
We are proud to be a Preschool for All (PFA) "Pilot Site" for the 2025–2026 school year. This will be our second school year with PFA.
We are a unique program that offers inclusive, authentic Montessori environments with a focus on creative expression, environmental stewardship, and place-based education. We are committed to creating high-quality, equitable learning environments for the children in our neighborhood, as well as a vibrant community for parents. We have an in-home toddler community and three Primary (preschool) classrooms located within the former Pioneer United Methodist Church. Each environment is prepared with Montessori materials, guided by a Montessori AMI trained guide and at least one assistant.
The Montessori guide (teacher) is trained to prepare the environment with activities that match the laws of development and promote the children’s needs and desire for independence, language acquisition, social interaction, movement, and cognitive stimulation, as well as personal and environmental care.
We strive to have a strong, supportive, and vibrant learning community. We hope to create lasting relationships with the children and their families that are built on trust and mutual respect.