Creative Montessori School Photo #1

Creative Montessori School

Creative Montessori School is located on a two-acre campus in the heart of Homewood within walking distance to Homewood Park and the public library.
Convenient to both downtown Birmingham and over-the-mountain suburbs, CMS offers its students an unparalleled private school education in a warm and loving atmosphere where the focus is on the individual child.
Always ahead of its time, CMS has been nurturing confident and enthusiastic learners since 1968, when visionary educator Barbara R. Spitzer opened our school with 18 students in a church basement. At that time, CMS became the first Montessori school in the Birmingham area; the first private school in the area to be purposely racially integrated from inception; and the first area school to offer science, world geography, and foreign language to preschoolers.
Today, CMS enrolls 225 students at the toddler, preschool, and elementary levels (18 months through 6th grade) from 21 different zip codes.
A Montessori education helps each child develop his or her fullest potential and cultivates a life-long love of learning.
For more information on Creative Montessori School, visit cmskids.org.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Top Ranked AL School
  • School Type: Montessori School
  • Grades: Nursery/Preschool-8
  • Enrollment: 252 students
  • Average class size: 24 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Creative Montessori School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Alabama for:

Category
Attribute

School Overview

School Membership(s)School Assoc.
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Nursery/Preschool-8
Year Founded
1968
Summer School Offered
Yes

Student Body

Total Students
252 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
27%
State avg.: 25%
Students by Grade
Creative Montessori School Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
34 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
7:1
National avg.: 13:1
Average Class Size
24 students
List of Courses Offered
Classroom Dress Code
Casual

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Tuition Notes
Tuition varies by program level. Please visit cmskids.org/admissions for our current tuition rates.
Admissions Director
Nancy Chiodo

School Notes

  • Creative Montessori School (CMS) is dedicated to providing an authentic Montessori environment for our students. We value each child`s unique potential and nurture our students` inherent ability to meet challenges with divergent thinking skills, self-confidence, adaptability, and resilience.Children at CMS learn all the same things that children in a traditional school will learn - plus practical knowledge such as conflict resolution, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship. It is how they learn and how they feel about learning that is quite different and truly valuable.Montessori classrooms are designed to foster intellectual curiosity by facilitating individualized, independent, purposeful work within a warm and peaceful setting. The result is children who fall in love with learning. Students are allowed to learn at their own pace under the caring and thoughtful guidance of a professionally trained Montessori teacher.Founded in 1968, CMS is Birmingham`s first Montessori school; the first local private school to be racially integrated from inception; and the first to offer science, world geography, and foreign language to preschoolers. Today, CMS enrolls students from 21 zip codes, and is located on a 2-acre campus in the heart of Homewood. Our affordable tuition makes exceptional education accessible to families with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Creative Montessori School's ranking?
Creative Montessori School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Alabama for: Largest student body.
When is the application deadline for Creative Montessori School?
The application deadline for Creative Montessori School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

School Reviews

  5.00 out of 5  (3 reviews)
5  
Both of my children attended CMS from pre-school through eighth grade and the experience was truly fantastic. The Montessori method and environment nurtured their innate curiosity and love of learning, which was equally inspiring for both students and parents. As my oldest has transitioned to college and my youngest to high school, I continue to witness the profound impact of a Montessori foundation on their present and future pursuits. CMS not only equipped them academically but also socially and emotionally, preparing them effectively for success as teenagers and young adults.
- Posted by
5  
We currently have three children at CMS, and our experience has been nothing short of spectacular. The teachers and administrators actually care and provide a safe and loving environment for our kids to learn and grow!
- Posted by
5  
We are so pleased with our experience at CMS. My daughter is so pleased with herself when she completes her required lessons. She's has so much pride in herself. The community is strong and the school fosters a strong love of learning and compassion for other students.
- Posted by

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Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Top Ranked AL School
  • School Type: Montessori School
  • Grades: Nursery/Preschool-8
  • Enrollment: 252 students
  • Average class size: 24 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Birmingham, AL is $9,139 for elementary schools and $12,264 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in Birmingham, AL is 87% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).

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