Montessori schools in Iowa
11 statewide. 6 are on the state’s Students First ESA list. Schools that report a Montessori program or belong to a Montessori association.
Montessori schools in Iowa at a glance
- Share of the state’s private schools
- 4%, 11 of 274
- Towns
- 9; the most in Cedar Rapids (2) and Decorah (2)
- Counties
- 6 with at least one
- Students
- about 310 in all; the typical school has 38
- Smallest and largest
- Montessori Children's House, 13 students; Summit Schools, 111 students
- Students per teacher
- 7.3 typical, 2.3 to 11.1 across 10 schools
- Not taught by any
- high school
- Co-ed or single-sex
- all co-ed
- Association members
- 8, most often the American Montessori Society
- Verified tuition
- Montessori School of Iowa City $10,693
- State program
- Education savings account, $8,148 per student for 2026-27
How Students First ESA works
- Nonsectarian11
- Pre-K (and up)8
- Elementary (K to 5)11
- Middle (6 to 8)4
- Under 505
- 50 to 1492
- Montessori schools55%
- All private schools in Iowa89%
Where these facts come from
- Grades, size, affiliation, co-ed, membership, college-going: NCES Private School Universe Survey 2023-24, downloaded September 20, 2026.
- Program list: Iowa Students First Education Savings Account schools, list read October 26, 2026, checked November 4, 2026.
- Award and rules: Iowa Students First Education Savings Account, official page, read October 11, 2026.
- Tuition for 1 school: each school’s own website, last read October 1, 2026.
By city
The 11 largest
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Summit Schools ✓ | PreK-8 | 111 |
| Cedar Valley Montessori School | PreK-Transitional 1st | 51 |
| Quad City Montessori School ✓ | PreK-6 | 39 |
| Montessori School of Iowa City ✓ | PreK-4 | 38 |
| Northeast Iowa Montessori School ✓ | PreK-6 | 23 |
| Ne Iowa Montessori School | PreK-7 | 21 |
| Montessori Children's House | PreK-2 | 13 |
| Montessori School of Marion ✓ | PreK-Transitional 1st | 9 |
| Essential Montessori | PreK-Transitional K | 9 |
| Golden Elementary Montessori ✓ | 2-5 | 5 |
| Cottontail Creek Montessori School | PreK-Transitional K | 5 |
Put the next Students First ESA window in your calendar
Open now, until November 15, 2026 Iowa Students First ESA: 2026-27 half-year ESA application window.
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