Our Story
Montessori Center School has a rich history founded in a passion for education and rooted in Montessori teaching philosophy. As we celebrate 60 years of Montessori excellence, we look forward to what lies on the horizon as our school continues to grow and flourish.
Founded 1965
Montessori Center School was founded in 1965 by a group of four American Montessori Internationale teachers with an enrollment of 55 students and 8 teachers. The original campus was located at 2028 Alameda Padre Serra in Santa Barbara and administered by Margaret and Neil Waterfall as a for-profit corporation.
MCS expands to elementary
In 1972, MCS was turned over to a group of active and dedicated parents and teachers within the community. The school incorporated as a nonprofit organization and was renamed Montessori Center School. Having built a reputation for excellence in early childhood and elementary education, MCS grew to over 125 children and 12 full time staff members. The school was able to establish a dedicated staff with a strong board of trustees and active board committees and had involvement from all corners of the community to ensure vital operations ran smoothly.
MCS moves to Hope Elementary campus
With notable growth of the school's enrollment, in 1975, MCS hired its first full-time school director, Margaret McCleery Cota. Under her guidance, the school enhanced its campus resources including a library and toddler programming, and eventually moved into a larger campus on the Hope Elementary School grounds.
By 1982, MCS enrollment had grown to 230 students with a staff of 36. With larger enrollment of students, MCS specialist programming was founded offering music, art and physical education.
MCS moves to garden campus on North Fairview Avenue
The Fairview campus that we know and love today became MCS’ home in 1997. Since then, we have added a multi-purpose building to the campus, additional primary and toddler rooms, among other campus enhancements. With over 60 years of Montessori excellence, our teachers, students, and community have become multi-generational with families continuing to return to Montessori Center School!
MCS launches one-of-a-kind Spanish immersion program
The fall of 2024 marked the launch of our one-of-a-kind Montessori Spanish immersion program. The inaugural classroom is a kindergarten and first grade cohort where children learn in a resource rich Montessori environment and will become bilingual and biliterate by 6th grade. As the program’s success grows, we will add a grade level each year as we expand the program for more children to enroll.
