At Aquinas Montessori School in Alexandria, Virginia, including our Old Town and Mount Vernon campuses, we offer more than just an education—we provide an environment where children thrive. Rooted in a time-tested method, Montessori education nurtures independence, curiosity, and a deep love of learning.

The Origins and Global Reach of Montessori Education

Montessori education began in 1907 when Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator, opened the Casa dei Bambini (Children’s House) in Rome. Her groundbreaking approach, described in her book The Montessori Method, quickly spread worldwide—across Europe, the Americas, and nearly every continent.

In 1929, Dr. Montessori founded the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) to support the growing global community of schools and educators inspired by her philosophy.

Today, Montessori is the most widespread educational method in the world, with schools on every continent except Antarctica and a vast library of literature translated into dozens of languages.

In the early 20th century, Montessori gained quick popularity in the U.S., only to experience a temporary decline. However, in the 1960s, a powerful resurgence began—led by visionary educators like our own founder, Kathleen Futrell. Inspired by Dr. Montessori’s child-centered philosophy, they established schools dedicated to providing high-quality, meaningful education.

Since then, Montessori has flourished in the U.S., with thousands of schools and an ever-growing body of research affirming its effectiveness. Families in Alexandria, Virginia, Old Town, and Mount Vernon continue to benefit from this tradition through our AMI-recognized Montessori programs for children ages 2.5 to 12 years.