Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School

Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School is a classic Montessori school for children six weeks to 18 years of age that follows Dr. Maria Montessori's method and philosophy.
In the spirit of Montessori education, all children are treated with dignity and respect.
Care for ourselves, care for others, and compassionate activism are the touchstones of belief at AGBMS. Here children are encouraged and challenged to develop their own unique gifts.
Teachers are certified by the Illinois State Board of Education and have obtained their American Montessori Society Credential.
The school serves as an official practicum and observation site for Illinois State University and National Louis University.
It is also affiliated with and designated as a model by the American Montessori Society.
The American Montessori Society accredits AGBMS.  AGBMS is approved, registered, and recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education.
The National Council for Private School Accreditation accredits AGBMS.
AGBMS has received the Gold Circle of Quality from Excel eRate Illinois.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • School Type: Montessori School
  • Grades: Nursery/Preschool-12
  • Enrollment: 100 students
  • Average class size: 20 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

School News

School Overview

Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Nursery/Preschool-12
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Learning Programs Supported
Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Speech/Language Delays
Year Founded
1984
Summer School Offered
Yes
Summer Program Details

Student Body

Total Students
100 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
41%
State avg.: 34%

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
21 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
10%
Average Class Size
20 students
List of Courses Offered
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
no dress code

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Tuition Notes
Tuition varies according to programs. Please contact Info@agbms.org
Summer Program Cost Notes
Partial enrollment allowed
Admissions Director
Julissa Zenteno
Admissions Associate
Kim Roscoe

Sports

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
7 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Cooking Club, Cue Club

Arts and Music Programs:
Art, Kolor Me Kids

Recreational Athletic Programs:
Physical Education, Soccer, Yoga

School Notes

  • Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School is a classic Montessori school accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS). All AGBMS teachers are AMS certified. AGBMS was founded in 1986 by a group of dedicated educators and parents who aimed to build a school where children could experience the best Montessori education. These parents, some of whose children were hard of hearing, also wanted a place where all children could learn together regardless of their ability to hear. Today, about 10% of our students are deaf or hard of hearing, and they work side-by-side with hearing students, who make up 90% of our students.
  • We are named for the great inventor who was also a teacher of the deaf and married to a deaf woman, Mabel Hubbard Bell. Mr. Bell vigorously supported educational advances and invited Dr. Maria Montessori to bring her progressive methods to the United States. The Bells started one of the first Montessori schools in the parlor of their home, with Mabel Bell as one of its first teachers.
  • Whether you're looking for a preschool to jump-start your child's education, or an alternative to a traditional elementary school that provides a more individualized, holistic education, we invite you to come on in and explore all that Montessori offers children ages six weeks to 18 years. Our student/teacher ratio is, on average, 15:1 - compared to a national average public school ratio of 18:1. Our enriched curriculum includes foreign language, music, art, physical education, and individualized reading instruction. And our new state-of-the-art facility, completed in the fall of 2008, is beautifulandrespects the environment by adhering to 'green' building standards.
  • AGBMS has been designated as a model site by the American Montessori Society (AMS) and serves as an official practicum and observation site for National Louis University, Illinois State University, and Northern Illinois University. Our teachers are all certified by the AMS, and many have won national awards for excellence. Read on- and then stop in for a visit! Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School is located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, serving Wheeling, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Des Plaines, Buffalo Grove, Northbrook, Glenview, and other surrounding communities.
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School offer a summer program?
Yes, Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
What sports does Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School offer?
Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School offers 7 interscholastic sports: Dance, Field Hockey, Flag Football, Indoor Soccer, Soccer, Track and Field and Volleyball.
When is the application deadline for Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School?
The application deadline for Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

School Reviews

  5.00 out of 5  (3 reviews)
5  
I have my two children enrolled in AGBMS. My little one started when she was 8 months old and now she is currently in second grade. My son started at the age of 3 and now he is in 5th grade. They both love the school so much and what it has to offer. They continuously receive a high-quality Montessori education. Their school is their second home--the community they are part of is something that I know is what is best for them. This school and the friends they have made will last for a lifetime. I highly recommend this school as a safe and amazing learning environment.
- Posted by
5  
Our children have attended AGBMS for several years and are very happy with their school...so we are too. When we visited the school for the first time, we were impressed by the beautiful building and the warm and welcoming environment. The school has a large playground and lots of green space around it and chickens and other animals that the children take care of with the help of the teachers. The teachers are great and respond very individually to each child and we enjoy seeing our children grow and thrive here.
- Posted by
5  
We've taken our son from Northbrook school district and placed him at AGBMS. We worried that a cookie-cutter approach to education, even at a good public school, was not the best approach to our son's education and development. Although we transferred him during his school year, he acclimated to the new surroundings immediately. And how could he not? AGBMS is a warm, friendly, family-like place. Visiting the school prior to enrolling our son, I was impressed by the staff: down-to-earth (none of the private school pretentiousness), friendly, professional, engaged, and clearly loving what they do. But that was, more or less, what I expected. It's the children that I was not prepared for. I observed elementary- and middle- school children in the classroom. They were curious, self-assertive, helpful, and playful - going about their learning business with a sense of purpose and enjoying the process. They'd ask questions of the older students or offer help to the younger ones. They worked at their own pace at tasks they chose earlier in the day. The teachers offered help and direction, working with children individually or in small groups. I knew it was the right place for my son. He enjoys going to school now and talks about day's events excitedly, when I pick him up after school. Learning is now more fun than a chore for him.
- Posted by

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • School Type: Montessori School
  • Grades: Nursery/Preschool-12
  • Enrollment: 100 students
  • Average class size: 20 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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The average private school tuition in Cook County, IL is $10,654 for elementary schools and $17,869 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in Cook County, IL is 90% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).

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