At Mountain City Public Montessori our mission is to serve the needs of all students. The Montessori method is purposely designed so that no learner is left on the margins and there are some key elements of the pedagogy that specifically meet diverse needs.

Mixed age classrooms allow children to learn from each other and act as mentors to their younger peers. A wide range of materials is available at all times, so children can work on the skills they need to practice, even if they are at different levels in different subjects. Stigma is reduced because the children are surrounded by peers who are working at different levels, and children can find partners with complementary skills. Students who struggle academically still have opportunities to lead younger students, maintaining their identity as an important person in a learning environment.

The mixed-age classrooms also provide a supportive environment to gifted students because they are in contact with different age partners, practice leadership and collaboration skills, and can discover at their own pace. All students have the opportunity to follow their curiosity, work with advanced materials, develop and complete their own research projects, and dive deep into the concepts and North Carolina Standards for their age. Montessori teachers are prepared to adapt the curriculum throughout the year and provide varieties of materials so that all students are encouraged to continually develop. The wide range of activities in the classroom, including academics, art, interpersonal skill development, caring for plants, animals and the physical environment, etc. allow all students to find niches where they are successful and places where they can grow.

Students spend three years in the same classroom, with the same teacher. Practices such as observing, conferencing with students, providing choices, maintaining a calm and orderly environment, and building collaborative relationships with students and families, allow educators to deeply understand their students and tailor learning goals and activities to meet their needs. As children move through their three-year cycle, they progress from learners to mentors among their peers.

Hands-on materials and activities appeal to a variety of learning styles and engage multiple senses so that learning is never one-dimensional. This allows for multiple ways for students to engage with the curriculum content.

Teachers conference with students to develop individually-tailored learning goals, called work plans, that allow them to practice needed skills in topics of interest. 

Freedom to move, work in different positions, individually or in groups means that children are not punished for following the needs of their growing bodies. 

A full time Exceptional Children's teacher will be employed by MCPM in order to meet the needs of all kinds of learners within the classroom environment.

Mountain City Public Montessori will open its doors to all students, providing equal opportunities and helping reduce gaps between students with different incomes and races in the Asheville area. We will also proudly meet the needs of students with exceptionalities, including students identified as having learning disabilities or being academically or intellectually gifted, because Montessori education recognizes that each child learns differently and at their own pace.

You are welcome to review the Handbook of Parents' Rights and NC Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities for more information regarding Special Education Services.