Montessori Toddler, Preschool & Elementary School in Palos Verdes

- Authentic Montessori, Close to Home 

For nearly five decades, families in Palos Verdes and across the South Bay have trusted Peninsula Montessori School with their children's education. Located on Hawthorne Boulevard in Rancho Palos Verdes, our campus serves children from 18 months through 5th grade in a calm, purposeful learning environment, where each child is known, supported, and challenged.

Peninsula Montessori School is a true Montessori program, not Montessori-inspired. Our lead teachers are AMS or AMI certified, and our classrooms are designed around the principles and practices of the Montessori method.

A day at our Palos Verdes campus is shaped by meaningful work, engaging lessons, and opportunities to connect with others. Students learn in spacious classrooms filled with hands-on Montessori materials and work alongside children of different ages, creating a community where they can learn from both their teachers and one another.

Throughout the day, children participate in individual and small-group lessons, explore subjects at their own level, collaborate with classmates, spend time outdoors, and take part in enrichment activities. Rather than following a one-size-fits-all routine, teachers carefully observe each student and provide guidance that responds to their interests, abilities, and stage of development. 

From our toddler program and preschool through upper elementary, our Palos Verdes campus offers a continuous Montessori education designed to support children as their interest, abilities, and academic needs evolve. 

Toddler Program, Ages 18 Months to 2.5 Years

A warm introduction to Montessori learning where young children build language, movement, practical life skills, and a growing sense of capability in a carefully prepared environment. 

Preschool (Pre-Primary), Ages 2.5 to 5

Children explore early literacy, mathematics, cultural subjects, and practical life through hands-on Montessori materials that make learning active, engaging, and meaningful.

Kindergarten & 1st Grade (Transition), Ages 5 to 7

As children move toward more advanced academic work, they continue using concrete Montessori materials while strengthening their understanding of language, mathematics, and the wider world.

2nd & 3rd Grade (Lower Elementary), Ages 7 to 9

Students investigate big questions across history, science, geography, language, and mathematics, connecting ideas through research, discussion, projects, and hands-on exploration.

4th & 5th Grade (Upper Elementary), Ages 9 to 11

Older students take on increasingly complex work through in-depth research, collaborative projects, and meaningful leadership opportunities as they prepare for the transition to middle school.

Learn more about our programs

Learn more about our Curriculum

• Authentic Montessori education since 1978, nearly five decades of serving families in Palos Verdes and the South Bay

• Lead teachers certified through AMS or AMI with an educational approach rooted in authentic Montessori principles

• Experienced Montessori guides who understand child development and guide each student individually
• A continuous Montessori education from toddler through 5th grade, allowing children to grow within a familiar school community
• Small classes and multi-age learning environments that support meaningful relationships and individualized guidance
• Enrichment built into the school experience, including Spanish, physical education, music, computer science, and other hands-on learning opportunities
• Extended care, available 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., to provide flexibility for working families
• A connected parent community that helps families build lasting relationships with the school and one another

Peninsula Montessori School's Palos Verdes campus serves families throughout the Palos Verdes Peninsula and the South Bay. Families join us from Rancho Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills Estates, Rolling Hills, San Pedro, Lomita, Torrance, Redondo Beach, and surrounding communities.

Parents looking for an authentic Montessori school or preschool often choose Peninsula Montessori because our Palos Verdes campus offers a long-term path, starting in our toddler program at 18 months and continuing through preschool, kindergarten and 5th grade. Rather than transitioning to a new school every few years, children can continue learning within a familiar Montessori community, guided by educators who come to know their strengths, interests, and development over time. 

The best way to experience Peninsula Montessori School is to visit our Palos Verdes campus in person. Schedule a tour to see our Montessori classrooms, observe the thoughtfully prepared learning environments, and meet the educators who guide our students each day.

Tours are available on weekdays and space can fill quickly. We encourage families considering a Montessori school in Palos Verdes or the surrounding South Bay to schedule a visit and discover whether Peninsula Montessori School is the right fit for their child.

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