Madrid Montessori

Madrid Montessori is an American school in Madrid's El Viso neighborhood, serving children from 18 months through 12 years, and operates according to Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) standards. The school's guiding principle is that education should be grounded in a sound pedagogical approach that respects each child as an individual and is organized around developmental needs. The elementary program uses an integrated curriculum developed by Maria Montessori and her son Mario, in which math, language, and physical sciences are explored both individually and in relation to one another. In elementary, learning is enriched through field-based experiences and going out into the community, which is considered an important part of the program.

Madrid Montessori teaches arts and music as essential components of daily life. The environment supports creative expression through drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, and musical activity, with instruments readily available for students. Madrid Montessori offers a popular extracurricular music program using the Willems method from age 3 to develop musical potential and creativity, with some instruments taught in weekly individual lessons starting around age 5.

Infant Community is a bilingual environment, with two adults who each speak their native language: one in Spanish and one in English. In the Children's House, there is a slow immersion approach to English; the primary social language among the children is Spanish, and the Guides at the Children´s House level speak in English, while remaining fully bilingual. In Elementary, the primary language of instruction is English, and students also receive lessons in Spanish language, culture and history; by the end of the six-year Elementary cycle students are on the path to being fully bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish.

There is a strong social dimension to daily life, including group singing, movement, and music, with group meetings and collaborative activities integrated into the day. In Elementary, a group meeting concludes the morning work cycle, and students participate in social and collaborative projects throughout the day. The program also includes weekly Physical Education at a municipal sports center and regular outdoor activities in nearby parks, as well as garden-based and informal outdoor playtime.

Meals are a central, health-focused aspect of the day: ingredients are organic, meals are vegetarian and nutritionally balanced, and bread is freshly made daily with sourdough; no processed foods, colorants, or preservatives are used, and fresh organic fruit is provided daily. Children eat in their classrooms and help prepare and serve meals; families are invited to join once a year. The school teaches children to care for the garden and participate in composting and waste sorting, with seasonal planting tasks to connect meals with their origins. There is an Extended Day program with nap options for some children (1:00–3:00 PM on select days, and Fridays 1:00 PM pickup), plus outdoor time in the ‘Secret Garden' and other garden spaces. Additionally, weekly Physical Education occurs at the municipal sports center, and children sometimes spend afternoons at nearby Berlin Park for organized outdoor activities.”