Skip to content
DaycarePal
Montessori

Montessori Schools in Lake Forest, CA

A Montessori school teaches in mixed-age rooms where children choose their own work; the name is not protected, so ask how closely each school follows the method. Montessori programs that post tuition in California charge a median of $341 a week for full-time preschool (2026).

Montessori schools in Lake Forest
12
daycare centers
11
in-home daycare
1
take infants
5
State license records

All Montessori schools in Lake Forest

Showing 1 to 12 of 12

Providers on paid plans are listed first, then those with Montessori in their name, then A to Z by name. We do not rank daycares.

How this list is made: Lake Forest daycares whose name or own description says Montessori. The word Montessori is not protected, so any school may use it; ask whether lead teachers hold a Montessori credential. A daycare without this tag may still follow Montessori methods; ask.

Montessori

What Montessori school costs in Lake Forest

Montessori preschool tuition posted on daycare websites in Lake Forest, per week (2026)
$341
The median of 38 daycares that post a full-time rate; half post between $287 and $458. Posted rates run above the 2022 survey: they are newer, and mostly from centers.
of the 12 here take toddlers or babies
5
By the ages on the state record or the school's own website. Many Montessori programs start at age 2½ or 3; ask about a toddler room.
Preschool-age care at a center in Orange County, per week (2022)
$254
The Orange County median for full-time care. At a home daycare it is $279 a week.

Posted rates: tuition that daycares publish on their own websites, 2026, full-time rates only, one rate per daycare. County prices: U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022 (median full-time weekly price).

Before you enroll

Choosing a Montessori school in Lake Forest

  1. 1

    Ask about credentials

    Ask whether lead teachers hold a Montessori credential, and from which training center.

  2. 2

    Watch a work period

    A Montessori room has a long, quiet work period with children choosing materials. Ask to observe one.

  3. 3

    Check the license

    Listings show the California license and the state's inspection record where we hold them; a listing with no license record matched says so.

  4. 4

    Ask about cost and hours

    Many Montessori programs run half days. Ask about full-day and extended-day options and fees.

Nearby

Montessori schools in nearby towns

Mission Viejo7 · 3 miRancho Sta Margarita4 · 4 miIrvine29 · 7 miLaguna Niguel5 · 8 miSan Juan Capistrano3 · 10 miTustin4 · 10 miDana Point3 · 12 miNewport Beach3 · 12 miSanta Ana4 · 13 mi

More in this area

More daycare in Lake Forest

All daycares in Lake Forest46Montessori Schools in CaliforniaInfant Daycare in Lake Forest11In-Home Daycares in Lake Forest27Preschools & Pre-K in Lake Forest4Early Morning Daycare in Lake Forest3Part-Time Daycare in Lake Forest4

Questions

Questions

How many Montessori schools are in Lake Forest?

12 Montessori schools and programs are listed in Lake Forest, by name or by their own description.

What is the difference between Montessori and daycare?

A Montessori school follows Maria Montessori's method: mixed-age rooms, hands-on materials and long blocks of time where children choose their work. A daycare may follow any approach. Many Montessori schools are licensed as child care, and some run full days for working parents.

How much does Montessori preschool cost?

Montessori programs that post their tuition charge a median of $280 a week for full-time preschool across the US (247 programs, 2026). Half-day programs cost less; ask each school.

Is every school called Montessori the same?

No. The word Montessori is not protected, so any school may use it. Ask whether lead teachers hold a Montessori credential, for example from AMI or AMS training.

Are Montessori schools licensed in California?

Every listing here comes from the California child care license records.

What ages do Montessori programs take?

It varies. Many start at 2.5 or 3 years; some take toddlers or infants. Each listing shows the ages it serves.