Palm Harbor Montessori Academy

Palm Harbor Montessori Academy is a FCIS and FKC accredited Montessori school serving children ages 12 months to 15 years.
We offer a competitive, individualized academic program dedicated to providing students with an authentic Montessori education.
Our beautiful campus features prepared classroom environments with authentic Montessori materials and five spacious acres with state-of-the-art pool facilities, secured playgrounds, a soccer field, basketball court and gardens.
We invite you to visit us and discover what makes our school so special.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Top Ranked FL School
  • School Type: Montessori School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-8
  • Enrollment: 207 students
  • Acceptance rate: 90%
  • Average class size: 16 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Palm Harbor Montessori Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Florida for:

School Overview

Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-8
Year Founded
1983

Student Body

Total Students
207 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
13%
State avg.: 46%
Students by Grade
Palm Harbor Montessori Academy Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
11 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
19:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
80%
Average Class Size
16 students
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Casual and closed toe shoes

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Tuition Notes
Tuition ranges from $6,300 - $16,500 for traditional and year-round programs.
% on Financial Aid
35%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$2,000
Acceptance Rate
90%
National avg.: 85%
Admissions Director
Sheryl Chelena
Admissions Associate
Ellen Kealey

Sports

Total Sports Offered
7 sports

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
21 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Art Club, Coding Club, Cooking, Gardening, Gymnastics, Keyboarding, Rhythm Band for Toddlers, Soccer Shots, Soccer/Disc Golf, Spanish Club, Swim Club, TotStart Tennis Academy, Yearbook

Arts and Music Programs:
Art Class, Music Class, Spanish Class

Recreational Athletic Programs:
Basketball, Flag Football Club, Physical Education, Soccer, Swimming

School Notes

  • Palm Harbor Montessori Academy is an accredited independent, co-education school. It is a collaborative, peaceful community of children, parents, faculty and administrators where children are honored and diversity is respected. PHMA is a place where love of learning is celebrated, educational programs are individualized and creativity abounds.
  • PHMA participates in the Coordinated Childcare, Step up for Students and John McKay Scholarship programs.
Student-Teacher Ratio:
  • Infants: 1:5
  • Two-Year-Old: 1:10
  • Three-Year-Old: 1:15
  • Four-Year-Old: 1:20
  • Five Year Old and Up: 1:25
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate of Palm Harbor Montessori Academy?
The acceptance rate of Palm Harbor Montessori Academy is 90%, which is higher than the national average of 84%.
What sports does Palm Harbor Montessori Academy offer?
Palm Harbor Montessori Academy offers 7 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cross Fit, Flag Football, Gymnastics, Soccer, Swimming and Tennis.
What is Palm Harbor Montessori Academy's ranking?
Palm Harbor Montessori Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Florida for: Highest percentage of faculty with advanced degrees and Most extracurriculars offered.
When is the application deadline for Palm Harbor Montessori Academy?
The application deadline for Palm Harbor Montessori Academy is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

School Reviews

  5.00 out of 5  (4 reviews)
5  
Our son started here when he was 16 months old. He is still there and has learned SO much. Now our 2 year old daughter is also a student. She started when she was 16 months old as well. We absolutely love all of the teachers there. Both of our children are receiving a phenomenal education. The entire staff knows and loves our children. We would highly recommend this school.
- Posted by
5  
From the start 2 years ago, the staff at Palm Harbor Montessori Academy have been great. Carol and Theo have helped us with the transition from public school to the PH MA appear seamless. The attention our son gets, and the education is priceless. Our daughter who is in 3rd grade coming from a public school just started writing In cursive. This year our son in kindergarten will be writing in cursive. The teachers really do care about the students and it shows with the smiles we get from the children. I can't see us putting our kids In any other school. Thanks to all at PHMA.
- Posted by
5  
Palm Harbor Montessori? Where do I begin? We moved here mid term last fall. Our twins had attended a Montessori program in Port Orange, Fla. - which had been sold and came under different structure with the sale (non Montessori). Thank goodness we were moving anyway and connected with PHMA -- and they took us in for VPK 2 months into the school year (thanks!). Everybody from the teachers to the administration to the lady I call the ultimate upbeat ambassador of PHMA - Miss Shelley - are top of the line in every facet possible. The teachers have a true gift here ... they have the ability to "read" children within moments, identifying strengths and encouraging our kids to "run with it". These are individuals who have a deep, deep passion for what they do. They love kids and they love to teach and the ultimate reward for them at the end of the day is to see the kids' eyes light up when they grasp a concept. Yes, there IS structure ... but there is also freedom within that classroom structure for kids to look around and find something they're curious about - I sat in class for an hour once to witness it all. Fascinating. Our twins did VPK and it was an enormous success and Kindergarten won't know what hit it when our twins get there ... thanks to this foundation. We currently have our twins in the summer camp program and they come home happy, smiling, full of stories and EXHAUSTED because they are having so much fun. Also, our 2 year old has begun with the youngest group at PHMA and after only one quivering-lip day in the beginning, she now sprints to her teachers and waves goodbye to us, smiling ... she's totally on board with this new experience, thanks to the adults and the sweetheart kids she spends her day with. I am thrilled that our 3 kids are excited to be around new people ... new kids, new adults ... I'd describe the whole experience as some sort of educational cocoon that allows them a comfy space to grow without any negatives pelting them from the outside. I HIGHLY recommend PHMA and we are far from done working with them.
- Posted by
5  
We just moved to Palm Harbor, FL and decided to send our son (who is in the 1st grade or Junior Elementary) and our daughter (who is in the primary classroom) to PHMA. We could not be happier. There transition to a new school has been easy and we have been happy with the school both academically and socially.
- Posted by

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Top Ranked FL School
  • School Type: Montessori School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-8
  • Enrollment: 207 students
  • Acceptance rate: 90%
  • Average class size: 16 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Pinellas County, FL is $10,201 for elementary schools and $12,713 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in Pinellas County, FL is 80% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).

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