Lakewood Montessori Middle’s mission is to guide the development of adolescents in the areas of academics, community and self in a public Montessori learning environment which fosters independent thinking and engaged learning. They envision an environment that fosters Maria Montessori’s idea of valorization for all students, which includes joy, self-discipline, independence and the ability to work with others.

Montessori education consists of multi-age, interdisciplinary, child-centered learning environments; its curriculum is designed to foster independent and self-directed learning based on student interest. Peer-reviewed research suggests the Montessori approach effectively accelerates academic and social development.

Lakewood Montessori Middle is also a Dual-Language Immersion school. These programs use two languages for literacy and content instruction for all students. The schools provide the same academic content and address the same state standards as traditional educational programs where instruction is in only one language. Elementary DLI programs provide instruction to cohort groups of students in the two languages over an extended period of time, from kindergarten through fifth grade. Instruction in the DLI program language (Spanish in the case of all DPS programs) ranges from 90% in kindergarten to 50% percent of the time by fifth grade. Students not in the dual-language cohort classrooms benefit from cultural immersion experiences and weekly Spanish instruction. The only entry point to the DLI cohort is kindergarten.

There is a considerable body of research that outlines the benefits of DLI programs for students, including higher academic performance, greater cognitive development and mental flexibility, increased creativity and divergent thinking, high levels of proficiency in the program language and in English, positive cross-cultural attitudes and behaviors and enhanced career opportunities.

Enrollment: 300