Ecole Montessori 21 is the Paris Jaures campus of the Montessori 21 network, a bilingual French and English Montessori school that opened in 2016 beside the Bassin de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement. It welcomes children from age 3 to 12 across nursery and elementary, organised into the mixed age settings that define authentic Montessori practice. It is one of the bilingual Montessori options families weigh in the wider Paris international schools market, set in an increasingly residential part of the north east of the city.
This profile sets out the Montessori programme, the bilingual model, the fee band and how admission works. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so what follows is an editorial reference rather than a prospectus.
Ecole Montessori 21 at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | Montessori method, bilingual French and English; aligned with the French national curriculum |
|---|---|
| Stage range | Nursery and elementary, ages 3 to 12 |
| Founded | 2016 (Paris Jaures campus) |
| Accreditation | French Ministry of Education registered; member of the French Montessori association and the Association Montessori Internationale |
| Fee band | Mid tier (see Paris fees guide) |
| Campus area | 74 quai de la Loire, 19th arrondissement, Bassin de la Villette |
Curriculum and academics
Ecole Montessori 21 organises its pupils into four mixed age settings, two for children aged 3 to 6, one for 6 to 9 and one for 9 to 12, which is the structure the Montessori method relies on so that younger children learn from older peers and older children consolidate by teaching. Teaching is bilingual French and English, with the elementary classes covering the French national programme stages from CP through CM2 alongside the kindergarten sections. The school is a member of both the French Montessori association and the Association Montessori Internationale, the body founded to safeguard the method Maria Montessori developed. Parents new to the approach can read our guide to Montessori schools for how the prepared environment and self directed work translate into measurable progress.
Each child receives individual academic follow up tracking both learning and social and emotional development, which reflects the network's stated aim of widening access to Montessori education in France while keeping its values of kindness, excellence and co education. The programme runs to the end of primary, after which families transfer to a secondary school, so this is a school chosen for the early and middle childhood years rather than a route to a leaving qualification.
Planning the move after Montessori primary?
Use our fee calculator to plan the total cost of Paris schooling across the early and later years, free and independent.
Ecole Montessori 21 fees
Ecole Montessori 21 sits in the mid part of the Paris market. Our Paris school fees guide places the smaller bilingual private schools in the mid tier of roughly 11,000 to 18,000 euros a year, well below the premium internationals. The Montessori 21 network states an aim of widening access to the method, so fees at the lower end of that range are consistent with its positioning, though exact figures are set by the school.
Budget for the costs that sit above headline tuition. Expect a registration charge, lunch provision and the usual spend on materials and outings. Because the school runs only to age 12, families should also plan ahead for the cost of the secondary school they intend to move to, which may sit in a higher tier.
Admissions and intake
Ecole Montessori 21 admits children into its nursery and elementary settings subject to availability. The school runs a September to June French academic year and meets prospective families to assess whether the Montessori approach and the bilingual programme suit the child, with placement guided by age and, for older entrants, current level in French and English. The mixed age structure means availability depends on movement within each setting.
Families relocating to the north east of Paris are advised to enquire early, as the school is comparatively small and individual settings can fill. Contacting the school ahead of a move clarifies the documents required and the availability in the relevant age group.
Location and who goes there
The campus sits at 74 quai de la Loire on the Bassin de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement, a waterside part of north east Paris that has become steadily more residential and popular with younger families. The location is well served by the metro and within walking distance of the canal basin, parks and the cultural venues around La Villette. Most families live in the surrounding 19th, 10th and 18th arrondissements rather than commuting across the city.
For the wider picture of how the Montessori, bilingual and international schools sit across the city and its suburbs, including fee tiers and neighbourhoods, see the Paris schools hub and our overview of Montessori schools in Paris.
Ecole Montessori 21 reviews
No verified parent reviews of Ecole Montessori 21 have been submitted to GlobalSchoolGuide yet. We hold back from publishing a star rating until we have enough verified first hand accounts to represent a school fairly, and we never fabricate ratings. If your family attends or has attended the school, please consider sharing your experience through our school reviews page to help other relocating families.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Ecole Montessori 21 fees?
The school sits in the mid Paris band, broadly 11,000 to 18,000 euros a year, with the network stating an aim of widening access to Montessori education. Budget also for registration, lunch and materials, and plan ahead for secondary school costs.
Is Ecole Montessori 21 a good school?
It applies the Montessori method through mixed age settings and is a member of the French Montessori association and the Association Montessori Internationale. Suitability depends on whether the method and a primary only school in north east Paris fit your family.
What ages does Ecole Montessori 21 take?
Children aged 3 to 12, across two settings for ages 3 to 6, one for 6 to 9 and one for 9 to 12, after which families move to a secondary school.
Where is Ecole Montessori 21 located?
At 74 quai de la Loire on the Bassin de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement of Paris.
When do Ecole Montessori 21 applications open?
The school runs a September to June year and admits subject to space in each age setting. Enquire early because the school is small.
