Best Montessori Schools in Chicago, Illinois (2026)

    There are 53 Montessori schools in Chicago, Illinois on MontessoriCity (November 2026). Published tuition runs from about $667 USD/mo to $2,785 USD/mo (median $1,820 USD/mo, from the 13 schools that publish a price). The highest-ranked are Sauganash Montessori School (5.0★, 22 Google reviews), Northshore Academy for Children (5.0★, 15 Google reviews) and Creative Minds Child Development Center (4.9★, 39 Google reviews). Families can book free tours at several schools with one request.

    We ranked every school by Google rating and review volume using a Bayesian average, so consistently well-reviewed schools rise to the top. Each school shows evidence of a Montessori program — browse by area or postal code below. Updated November 2026.

    53Schools
    4.6 ⭐Avg rating
    53All listings
    November 2026Updated
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    Top Montessori Schools in Chicago

    1. Sauganash Montessori SchoolPhoto: Sauganash Montessori School · Google
      #1

      Sauganash Montessori School

      Chicago, Illinois

      Casa$10,600–$20,900 USD/yr

      5.0· 22 reviews

    5. Montessori MagpiePhoto: Montessori Magpie · Google
      #5

      Montessori Magpie

      Chicago, Illinois

      5.0· 7 reviews

    18. Ancona SchoolPhoto: Tim Hamlett · Google
      #18

      Ancona School

      Chicago, Illinois

      CasaAdolescent$21,840–$29,870 USD/yr
    19. Bennett Day SchoolPhoto: Bennett Day School · Google
      #19

      Bennett Day School

      Chicago, Illinois

    22. CHICAGO MONTESSORIPhoto: CHICAGO MONTESSORI · Google
      #22

      CHICAGO MONTESSORI

      Chicago, Illinois

    Showing the top 25 of 53 Montessori schools. See the city pages below for every school near you.

    Best Montessori Schools in Chicago, Illinois at a glance

    • Chicago's Montessori schools average 4.62★ across 23 rated schools, versus 4.70★ site-wide.
    • 18 of 53 schools in Chicago hold official Montessori accreditation (AMI, AMS, or Montessori Canada).
    • The most-reviewed school in Chicago has 68 Google reviews.
    • 13 of 53 schools in Chicago publish a tuition range.
    • Published tuition in Chicago ranges $667 USD/mo–$2,785 USD/mo, median $1,820 USD/mo — see the full breakdown on the tuition page.
    • Accreditation breakdown in Chicago: 13 AMS Member, 5 AMS Accredited.

    Top 10 ranked list

    Top 10 Montessori schools in Chicago

    Areas of Chicago

    North Side(29)Downtown & The Loop(11)West Side(6)South Side(6)

    Browse Chicago by postal area

    60640(5)60622(5)60607(5)60631(3)60618(3)60605(3)60625(3)60611(2)60614(2)60643(2)60613(2)60646(2)60642(2)60609(1)60654(1)60630(1)60636(1)60660(1)60641(1)60657(1)60647(1)60615(1)60656(1)60628(1)60610(1)60612(1)60659(1)

    Nearby cities in Illinois

    Oak Park(6)River Forest(2)Forest Park(2)Evanston(2)Skokie(5)Wilmette(3)Elmhurst(2)Hinsdale(2)Lombard(3)Northbrook(3)

    Explore wider

    Chicagoland(68)

    Montessori guides & tools

    Find My School — free matching toolHow to spot an authentic Montessori schoolHow much does Montessori cost?Is this school accredited?Montessori vs Waldorf vs ReggioIs Montessori worth it?All Montessori guides

    Frequently asked questions

    How many Montessori schools are in Chicago?

    Chicago, Illinois has 53 Montessori schools in our directory as of November 2026; 23 of them have Google reviews. 5 are AMS-accredited, according to the AMS and AMI school directories. We only list schools that show evidence of a Montessori program.

    How much does Montessori school cost in Chicago?

    Of the 53 schools here, 13 publish tuition. Their published fees run from about $667 USD/mo to $2,785 USD/mo, with a median of $1,820 USD/mo. By program: Infant (8 weeks to 15 months): $2,410 USD/mo–$2,785 USD/mo; 2-Year-Old Room: $1,580 USD/mo–$2,230 USD/mo; Primary (3 to 6 years): $1,915 USD/mo–$2,165 USD/mo. These are sticker prices before any subsidy. For the others, ask the school; you can ask about tuition in a free tour request. Full breakdown: montessoricity.com/tuition/chicago.

    Which Montessori program is right for my child's age?

    Montessori classrooms group children in three-year age spans: Toddler or Nido (about 18 months to 3 years), Casa / Primary / Children's House (3 to 6), Lower Elementary (6 to 9) and Upper Elementary (9 to 12). Not every school offers every stage. Each school's page lists its programs; ask about openings for your child's age when you book a tour.

    How do I book a tour of a Montessori school in Chicago?

    On MontessoriCity, add the schools you like to your tour list and send one free tour request (montessoricity.com/book-tour). Each school replies to you directly with tour times, and you can compare replies, tuition and tour dates in a free parent dashboard. It costs families nothing, and you can pick as many schools as you want.

    How are the Montessori schools in Chicago ranked?

    Only by Google rating and number of Google reviews, using a Bayesian average: score = (v·R + 10·C) / (v + 10), where R is the school's rating, v its review count and C = 4.7 the average rating across the directory. A school with a few perfect reviews can't outrank one with hundreds of strong reviews. Schools can't pay to rank higher, and claiming a listing doesn't change its position.

    What are the highest-rated Montessori schools in Chicago?

    By our ranking, the top 3 are Sauganash Montessori School (5.0★, 22 Google reviews), Northshore Academy for Children (5.0★, 15 Google reviews) and Creative Minds Child Development Center (4.9★, 39 Google reviews). Ratings change, so check each school's page for the current numbers and reviews.

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    Ranking methodology: schools are ordered by a Bayesian average — score = (v·R + 10·C) / (v + 10), where R is the school's Google rating, v its review count, and C = 4.7 the review-weighted average rating across the directory. This prevents a school with one 5-star review from outranking consistently well-reviewed schools. When results are otherwise equal, schools with more complete, recently verified profiles come first. This is based on profile quality only; no school can pay for a higher position. Every public school in the directory is ranked; we only list schools that show evidence of a Montessori program.

    Rankings can't be bought. Schools are ordered by Google rating and review count. When results are otherwise equal, schools with more complete, recently verified profiles come first. This is based on profile quality only; no school can pay for a higher position.