Our Campus

A Campus Designed for Learning


At Rochester Montessori School, the campus is not separate from the curriculum—it is part of it.


Situated on 15 acres of rolling hills and native prairie in Rochester, Minnesota, RMS provides space for movement, exploration, and environmental study that extends well beyond classroom walls.

The outdoors as classroom

Outdoor learning is woven into daily life. Classrooms open directly to patios and terraces, making nature immediately accessible rather than occasional.


Students learn in and from the land through:


  • Community gardens
  • A chicken coop
  • Active beehives
  • Native prairie exploration
  • Outdoor science study


Three age-appropriate play structures and a large playing field support physical development and collaborative play.


This environment fosters stewardship, curiosity, and a tangible connection to the natural world.

The school building: a child-centered, prepared environment

At Rochester Montessori School, our large, welcoming classrooms are filled with natural light. They are carefully prepared for student-centered learning. Orderly and engaging, they offer the student opportunities for independence.


Each classroom has access to a patio or terrace and features furniture sized specifically for each age range. A variety of materials are available to give students freedom of exploration and to allow them to learn through self-correction. 


Our students also have access to:


  • Gym
  • Library
  • Art studio
  • Music studio

Learning rooted in place

The RMS campus provides daily access to nature, movement, and open space. Students transition easily between classroom and outdoor learning areas, allowing scientific observation, environmental study, and physical activity to become part of the regular rhythm of the school day.


Gardens, prairie space, and living systems such as the beehives and chicken coop provide tangible opportunities to observe growth, ecosystems, and responsibility in action. The campus supports exploration without distraction and reflection without confinement.


The physical environment reinforces the habits we cultivate: independence, care for the environment, and respect for shared spaces.

Land acknowledgemnt

Rochester Montessori School is located on the ancestral homelands of the Dakota Nations.


We acknowledge that the Dakota people continue to live and thrive in Minnesota, including the Prairie Island Indian Community, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, the Upper Sioux Community, and the Lower Sioux Indian Community.


We honor the land with gratitude and commit to stewardship, equity, and ongoing learning as members of this community.