Our school
A Small School with a Clear Purpose
Rochester Montessori School is an independent school serving children from 18 months through Grade 8. Our classrooms are intentionally small, our campus expansive, and our community closely connected.
Students at RMS grow into confident, capable young people through a balance of independence, academic challenge, and thoughtful support. They are known well by their teachers, trusted with responsibility, and guided to think deeply and act with integrity.
Our mission and vision
Mission
Rochester Montessori School guides the child to develop independence, critical thinking, and deep respect toward self, others, and the environment.
Vision
Cultivate life-long learners who forge a better world.
These statements shape daily practice—from classroom structure to expectations for students and staff alike.
Montessori and the International Baccalaureate at RMS
RMS carries out Montessori education with fidelity across all levels, grounding classrooms in developmental design, careful observation, and purposeful independence.
Beginning in Grade 6, students engage in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme as part of our identity as an Authorized International Baccalaureate World School. The IB framework deepens academic rigor through interdisciplinary study, global contexts, and criteria-based evaluation.
Together, Montessori and IB form the structural foundation of the RMS educational journey.
To learn more about these cornerstones:
A connected community
RMS families are culturally diverse and highly engaged. The Rochester Montessori Community Connection (RMCC) supports opportunities for families to gather, volunteer, and build relationships through events such as Harvest Festival, Soup Night, International Festival, and the annual Book Fair.
Multi-age classrooms foster collaboration and mentorship across age levels. Students learn to lead, support, and work alongside one another in a culture of mutual respect.
A campus that extends learning
Situated on a 15-acre nature campus, RMS integrates outdoor learning into daily life. Students care for gardens and beehives, explore environmental science firsthand, and benefit from outdoor spaces adjacent to classrooms.
A working kitchen, art and music spaces, and flexible learning environments support both academic and community life.
Our size allows for regular class trips, Montessori “Going Outs,” and meaningful community partnerships.
Professional standards and accreditation
RMS employs Montessori-trained Guides across all levels and IB-trained educators in Middle School. Classrooms follow standards set by the American Montessori Society (AMS) and Association Montessori International (AMI).
RMS is an Authorized International Baccalaureate World School (MYP) and is engaged in the accreditation process with the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS).
A brief history
Founded in 1968, Rochester Montessori School has served families in the Rochester community for more than five decades. What began as a small Montessori program has grown into a comprehensive school serving children from toddler through adolescence, while remaining grounded in its founding principles.
Our history reflects stability of mission, thoughtful growth of programs, and continued commitment to educational excellence.
What our community is saying
“I am so grateful to my incredible teachers at RMS for creating such an amazing, nurturing environment which fueled my love of learning. My experiences and the friendships at RMS made the transition into high school easy. Academically, I was more than prepared to take on advanced classes over the past few years, and interpersonally, I am able to communicate well with teachers and peers.”
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Madelyn Tung-Mabry, RMS Class of 2019, High School Class of 2023