CHMS was founded in 1999 and serves children age 18 months to six years and their families in Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia. CHMS provides a high-quality Montessori education to young learners that helps them develop independence, confidence, and socialization.
CHMS’ core values are the embodiment of its philosophy: practicing safety, strengthening community, building character, and adhering to Dr. Montessori’s principles.
CHMS is a full member of the American Montessori Society (AMS).
CHMS’s Arlington campus, located in the Old Dominion neighborhood between Glebe Road and Old Dominion Drive, serves toddler and preschool children aged 18 months to six years old. The one-acre fenced-in campus features one building with five classrooms and a large enclosed playground, and a large parking lot for drop-off/pick-up activities. Neighboring CHMS families access our campus via vehicle, bike, and on foot.
CHMS’s Alexandria campus, located in the Del Ray neighborhood at the intersection of Mt. Vernon, Commonwealth, and Hume Avenues, serves toddler and preschool children aged 18 months to six years old. The fenced-in campus features two buildings with five classrooms and a nature-focused playground. An on-site parking lot also accommodates drop-off/pick-up activities. Neighboring CHMS families access our campus via vehicle, bike, and on foot.
We have had such a wonderful year at CHMS and it couldn't have been a better experience for our Saige. From the warmth and brilliant care of Saige's teachers, to the tremendous management and conscientiousness of Ms. Denise, Mr. Jad, and the entire management team, to the kindness and hard work of all of the staff, we will miss CHMS very much. We will always be part of the CHMS family, and are so happy Saige gets to spend this summer with you.
Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for taking such good care of our daughter. Saige--and we--will never forget the home she found at CHMS.
During the 2.5 years our son was at CHMS, the teachers were incredibly supportive and nurturing, encouraging his growth and independence while working with him on essential skills at a pace that allowed him to reach his full potential. Beyond laying a strong educational foundation, we were particularly impressed by the emphasis placed on positive interactions with peers and being a respectful member of the community. We are deeply grateful for the care and dedication of everyone at CHMS!
We are so grateful for the time our son spent at CHMS, and for the incredible growth we saw throughout his two years there. The school really nurtured his love for learning, and greatly helped foster his social skills and independence. While he started preschool nervous and shy, he graduated from CHMS a confident, happy kid who was beyond prepared for kindergarten.
His Montessori Guides were truly wonderful; they were exceptionally caring, warm, and supportive. And the administration is very dedicated to making the school a special place. I particularly loved that music classes were a part of the curriculum, and that all students perform in winter and fall concerts. We are also deeply appreciative of the community the CHMS administration creates, and for the friendships our family has made!
Sam has adjusted so well to CHMS. We are excited to see how he is developing his skills and language and new friendships. We love the activities CHMS has held including the monthly playdates. Thank you for putting these together. I also appreciate the love and kindness from the teachers. Sam's teacher sends such thoughtful emails helping to guide Sam through toilet training, etc. I never have worried during a workday about Sam, I know he is well taken care of and that he is enjoying school and learning.
We have always appreciated the values at CHMS in terms of activating discipline, a love for learning, and building character in children. While we appreciate the Montessori method in terms of encouraging independent learning, we are happy that CHMS staff still provides ample guidance and appropriate boundaries in terms of both behavior and academics. After having one child spend her pre-elementary years here, we have complete trust that our second child will also be fully prepared for kindergarten.
We have sent all of our children to CHMS for preschool and could not be happier with our decision. With three of our children now in 1st and 3rd grades, it is abundantly clear that CHMS prepared them well for kindergarten and beyond. The rich and robust curriculum at CHMS, in addition to the nurturing and caring disposition of the CHMS teachers, staff and director, provided our children with an excellent foundation as they transitioned to elementary school. We highly recommend CHMS to those who are considering preschool options in the area.
