How many Montessori schools in Mexico City
Mexico City has around 22 schools running a substantive Montessori programme in 2026, of which 9 hold international Montessori accreditation through either AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) or AMS (American Montessori Society). The Montessori cluster is heavily weighted to the early years and primary stages: 16 of the 22 schools end at age 12 with the completion of the Montessori second plane (the elementary or 6 to 12 cycle). Only 6 schools deliver a Montessori adolescent programme (the third plane, 12 to 18) through to upper secondary; the remainder transitions pupils into traditional Mexican or bilingual schools at the end of primary. The Mexican Montessori movement traces its origins to the 1950s and has produced a small but distinctive segment of the city's education market.
The Mexico City Montessori cohort skews to Mexican upper-middle and professional families looking for an alternative to mainstream Mexican private schooling for the early years. A smaller cohort of international expatriate families, particularly from the US, the Netherlands and Scandinavia, choose Montessori for the cross-border continuity it offers their younger children. The Montessori segment is small relative to the bilingual or IB segment but distinctive: parents seeking the prepared environment, mixed-age classrooms, and the materials-based approach Maria Montessori designed in Rome in the early 20th century.
AMI and AMS accreditation in Mexico
The two international Montessori accrediting bodies operate in Mexico through slightly different routes. The AMI (Association Montessori Internationale), founded by Maria Montessori herself in 1929, is the more orthodox tradition and requires the use of authentic Montessori materials, three-year mixed-age cycles, and AMI-trained teachers (formed through AMI training centres). Mexico has 4 AMI-recognised schools in Mexico City and around 8 nationally. The AMS (American Montessori Society) is the larger US-based body and operates a slightly broader interpretation of Montessori methods. Mexico has 5 AMS-recognised schools in Mexico City and around 14 nationally. Around 13 additional Mexico City schools use the Montessori name without formal AMI or AMS accreditation. Parents looking for the most authentic delivery should focus on AMI-recognised schools; parents comfortable with a broader Montessori-influenced approach have a wider AMS choice.
The Montessori approach in Mexico City interacts with the SEP regulatory environment in a structured way. Schools delivering the Montessori second plane (6 to 12) must also deliver the SEP-mandated Mexican core curriculum in Spanish, which constrains the pure-Montessori day to around 75 per cent of school hours. The remainder is used for SEP-mandated Mexican history, geography, civics and Spanish language. Schools delivering the Montessori third plane (12 to 18) typically transition to a more conventional upper school structure to meet SEP Bachillerato requirements. Families wanting a continuous Montessori experience through to age 18 in Mexico are limited to 6 schools city-wide.
Considering a Montessori school in Mexico City?
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Illustrative example schools
The four schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each runs a substantive Montessori programme with an established Mexico City presence.
Colegio Montessori de la Ciudad de Mexico in Lomas de Chapultepec is an AMI-recognised Montessori school running the first plane (3 to 6, Casa dei Bambini) and the second plane (6 to 12, elementary). One of the longest established Montessori schools in Mexico City, with AMI-trained teachers and authentic Montessori materials throughout.
Casa de los Ninos Montessori in San Angel is an AMS-recognised early years and primary Montessori school in the southern delegaciones. Runs the first and second planes (ages 3 to 12) with a strong community character and a tight cohort size.
Colegio Lancaster Montessori in Vista Hermosa offers a Montessori-influenced early years and primary stage as part of the broader Lancaster School. Not AMI or AMS accredited but uses Montessori materials and the prepared environment approach for the 3 to 6 and 6 to 9 cycles.
Montessori del Pedregal in the Pedregal de San Angel runs the full first and second planes (ages 3 to 12) with AMI affiliation. A useful southern delegacion option for families wanting the orthodox Montessori tradition.
Fees and the three-year-cycle investment
Montessori school fees in Mexico City run MXN 110,000 to MXN 220,000 a year for the early years (3 to 6 Casa dei Bambini), and MXN 160,000 to MXN 280,000 a year for the elementary (6 to 12 second plane). Fees are positioned slightly below the premium international school tier and roughly in line with the mid-market bilingual tier. AMI-recognised schools tend to charge at the upper end of the band because of the AMI-trained teacher cost and the authentic materials investment, which is significant: a complete set of AMI primary materials for one classroom costs around USD 25,000 to USD 40,000. Sibling discounts of 5 to 10 per cent are widely available across the Mexico City Montessori schools.
The Montessori three-year cycle (the mixed-age classroom from 3 to 6, then 6 to 9, then 9 to 12) is a structural commitment that families should factor into the fee planning. The pedagogy is designed to work over the full cycle, with the third-year child taking a mentoring role in the classroom and consolidating learning by teaching younger pupils. Families withdrawing after one or two years lose this dimension. Our Mexico City fees guide walks through the all-in cost picture including transport and lunches.
Where Montessori families live
Mexico City Montessori families cluster around three residential corridors. Lomas de Chapultepec, Bosques de las Lomas and Polanco host the largest concentration, anchored on Colegio Montessori de la Ciudad de Mexico and several smaller Montessori-influenced primary options. San Angel, Coyoacan and the Pedregal de San Angel in the south host a secondary cluster, with Casa de los Ninos Montessori, Montessori del Pedregal and several independent Montessori homes. The Vista Hermosa and Naucalpan corridor in the northwest hosts the third cluster, with Colegio Lancaster Montessori and several smaller AMS-recognised early years settings. Families considering a school commute should note that Montessori benefits compound when school is close to home: late starts disrupt the prepared environment, and most Montessori schools start the morning work cycle at 08:30 sharp.
Admissions and the observation visit
The Mexico City Montessori school year runs from August to June. Most Mexico City Montessori schools follow a child observation admissions process rather than a written assessment. The standard pattern is a parent information session, followed by a child observation visit to the prepared environment for 60 to 90 minutes, followed by an offer or waitlist decision. The observation visit is designed to see how a child engages with the prepared environment and with the mixed-age classroom dynamic, and is used in both directions: the school assesses the child, and the family assesses whether the Montessori approach matches their expectations. Most Mexico City Montessori schools open applications for the August intake in November and prioritise mid-cycle entry at the start of each three-year band (age 3, age 6, age 9). Entry mid-cycle is possible but discouraged because of the disruption to the established classroom community.
Frequently asked questions
How many Montessori schools are there in Mexico City?
Mexico City has around 22 schools running a substantive Montessori programme in 2026, of which 9 hold international Montessori accreditation through either AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) or AMS (American Montessori Society). 16 of the 22 end at age 12; only 6 schools deliver the Montessori adolescent programme through to upper secondary.
What is the difference between AMI and AMS Montessori?
AMI (Association Montessori Internationale), founded by Maria Montessori in 1929, is the more orthodox tradition and requires authentic Montessori materials, three-year mixed-age cycles, and AMI-trained teachers. AMS (American Montessori Society) operates a slightly broader interpretation. Mexico City has 4 AMI-recognised and 5 AMS-recognised schools.
How much do Montessori schools cost in Mexico City?
Montessori school fees run MXN 110,000 to MXN 220,000 a year for the early years (3 to 6 Casa dei Bambini), and MXN 160,000 to MXN 280,000 a year for the elementary (6 to 12). AMI-recognised schools tend to charge at the upper end of the band because of the AMI-trained teacher cost and the authentic materials investment.
Can my child do Montessori through to age 18 in Mexico City?
Only 6 Mexico City Montessori schools deliver the third plane (12 to 18) through to upper secondary. The remaining 16 end at age 12, with pupils transitioning to traditional Mexican or bilingual schools for the secondary years. Families wanting a continuous Montessori experience through to age 18 are therefore restricted to a small cluster.
How does Montessori admission work in Mexico City?
Most Mexico City Montessori schools follow a child observation admissions process. The standard pattern is a parent information session, followed by a child observation visit to the prepared environment for 60 to 90 minutes, followed by an offer or waitlist decision. Schools prioritise mid-cycle entry at the start of each three-year band (age 3, age 6, age 9).
