Old Town Montessori School in Alexandria

Posted: August 2, 2026

Both of our daughters attended OTMS and had a wonderful experience. They grew in some many ways during their time there. My wife also attended the school in the 1980s. The school is well run and the staff have created a safe, supportive and nurturing environment. One of the greatest strengths of the school is the intentionally in which they foster community. The children respect one another and care for another in a way that is truly special. The school has been AMI certified since the 1980s and is a truly authentic Montessori experience. I highly recommend OTMS without any reservation. We are so grateful to the staff for the love and care they showed toward our daughters.

Posted: June 11, 2026

OTMS is a very special place, and sending our child there was easily one of our best decisions. Academically he has a deep understanding of complex mathematical concepts, can write in cursive, and is curious about everything. But more importantly he just LOVES the school, his teachers, and his friends. Its a warm, cozy environment with teachers who go above and beyond. They also offer drop in aftercare which has made the school work so well for our family (and my son loves it too and complains if we pick him up too early!). I cant recommend it highly enough.

Posted: June 6, 2026

We had two children attend this preschool, and we could not be happier with our experience. The teachers are exceptionalevery recommendation they made had a meaningful impact on our childrens growth and development. They were incredibly patient and thoughtful, tailoring their approach to each child as they adjusted to school and helping them build confidence at their own pace.

What stands out most is the sense of community. The school truly feels like a family, and its clear that the teachers and staff genuinely care about every child. Mrs. Ivanis goes above and beyond to help the families and students. The environment strikes the perfect balance between academics and play. It is calm and nurturingnot overstimulatingwhile providing plenty of opportunities for outdoor exploration and active play.

By the time our children left, they were reading, writing, doing basic math, and, most importantly, they loved learning. They also developed valuable social skills, including kindness, cooperation, and how to work well with other children.

I cannot say enough positive things about the teachers and the environment they create. They are incredibly kind, patient, and dedicated to helping each child thrive. My two kids have very different personalities, and both thrived here. We are so grateful for the foundation they provided for our children and would wholeheartedly recommend this preschool to any family.

Posted: June 6, 2026

Our son switched to OTMS for his final pre-K year and we have been so impressed with how much his confidence and basic reading/writing skills have improved throughout the year, laying a strong foundation for kindergarten. The school leadership does a great job of communicating with parents if there are any behavioral or academic issues to work on and the teachers provided thoughtful feedback at the parent/teacher conferences. The school also does a great job of fostering community with several school wide events throughout the year.

Posted: September 16, 2025

Our family cannot express how much we loved having our child at OTM. Mrs. Ivanis, the teachers, the community and the school itself are truly exceptional. Having experienced two other Montessori schools in the area and visited many others, we believe OTM stands above them all.

Posted: January 4, 2020

The teachers and admin are very good at their jobs. Our child engages with the lessons and activities, has become an independent little person who listens to instructions and can think for himself at a young age. The school enables students to learn about friendship, compassion, and how to be an interactive social being.

Posted: January 4, 2020

Posted: January 18, 2018

My older daughter attended OTMS for 3 years, and our younger daughter is enrolled in her first year there. We could not be happier with the school and its teachers. My older daughter was more than prepared for Kindergarten, having learned to read and write in preschool, as well as math and geography. My younger daughter who is currently enrolled loves her teachers and I'm amazed every day at the things she's learning and what an independent 3 year old she's becoming. I cannot recommend this school highly enough.

Posted: January 18, 2018

Posted: January 15, 2018

This is our 6th year at OTMS. Our second daughter is now in her lunch bunch year at OTMS and our son will start in September. OTMS is a special school. I feel very lucky that my children have had the opportunity to attend OTMS. The teachers are phenomenal. My children have learned over the years advanced math skills, reading, and to write (both print and cursive). Not to mention learning the map of the world. In addition, they have learned respect for both their elders and their peers. The playground is very fun and the kids love it! OTMS is a very warm and loving school. I highly recommend sending your children to OTMS!

Posted: January 15, 2018

My older son went all the way through his kindergarten year at the school, and he is excelling now at reading, math and writing. The teachers are phenomenal, and implement the highest standards in the Montessori method. The entire staff is extremely loving and nurturing, and have created an environment where my kids are both challenged and excited to go to school everyday. My youngest just started his first year here, and we could not be happier ! Youll be so happy youve chosen this school.

Posted: January 15, 2018

Old Town Montessori is more than a school. It really is an extended family. One of our children went through all three years and our other child is in the school now. While there have been some bumpy changes in the last two years (it seems that may have been the cause of some of the negative reviews here) the school has settled into a wonderful faculty and the children are benefiting from the incredible closeness of this lovely two-room school in the heart of Old Town. Additionally, our older child - who had to deal with the school in its evolution - reads rings around other kids in first grade and I know it's because of the wonderful methods and encouragement she received at OTMS. We highly recommend this school.

Posted: January 15, 2018

Posted: January 14, 2018

Our child attended for presechool and kindergarten levels. Upon completion our child reads, writes cursive, completes basic math and has a passion for geography and the arts. I am so impressed by the organized, predictable structure of the classroom that is so key to early childhood education and development.

Posted: December 8, 2017

Old Town Montessori School is an annex to one of the most revered Montessori schools in the Washington DC area: Aquinas Montessori. This school has been educating children for 50 years, preparing them for successful learning careers and successful lives. This has kept Aquinas and OTMS as a top choice for parents wanting the best for their children.

Posted: November 1, 2017

The Montessori approach was a great fit for my son. His attention span, imagination and persistence has been well supported. They do not believe in busy work or homework. It's a joyful place.

Posted: November 1, 2017

Posted: April 13, 2017

If your child is creative and outgoing this is definitely not the school for them. The classroom activities are boring and basic. The teachers are taciturn and rigid; and the classrooms are dark and cramped. I was told the class size was small-well I do not consider 19 children to be a small class size given there is one teacher and an assistant, and considering the high tuition charged by this preschool. Overall my daughter had a terrible the experience at this school.

Posted: March 30, 2017

As non-US citizens, I was excited to enroll my older son in the Old Town Montessori school after reading good reviews and visiting the school for an information session. Well, It was clear after only two months that this school was not at all what we expected. They are very anti-family friendly, not allowing any siblings to come to any events. My son was so bored with his classroom work that he ended up hating going to school which made every morning a battle. The activities in the class are very basic and my son was doing the same thing for over three months (pouring water/rice from one container to another, stacking blocks etc). I ended up having to teach him at home myself after school so that he would keep the knowledge he had already gained in a play-based daycare in Canada. Had I known beforehand what this school truly offers, I would never have signed my son up here. Very disappointed.

Posted: March 11, 2011

My son has attended this school for two years. He is very happy in general. The school can appear to be rigid but you come to appreciate this as they are very security conscienous. The administrator greets every child by name and takes extra time to ensure they are comfortable and safe. It does seem that there is a certain type of child that fits the Montessori mold. If your child is more "spirited" and active, then it will be a challenge. I would say the vibe has changed since Ms. Fonderiest left. The new teacher is missing something in the genuine department -- my son is very sensitive and can sense the disconnect. Overall, this is a fine school and you will be amazed at the subjects your child is exposed to. It is organized, clean and efficient. If your child is a montessori "fit", it will work out perfectly.

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Henry	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	0.5 mi
2	Fords Landing	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	0.7 mi
3	Rivergate	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	0.8 mi
4	Midtown Alexandria Station	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	1.5 mi
5	Belle View	Condominium/Townhouse	Alexandria	VA	2 mi
6	Burgundy Woods	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	2.3 mi
7	Reserve at Potomac Yard	Apartment Complex	Alexandria	VA	2.3 mi
8	Beverly Hills	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	2.5 mi
9	Hollin Hills	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	3.1 mi
10	Shirlington	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Arlington	VA	3.3 mi
11	Wilton Woods	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	3.3 mi
12	Twenty400	Apartment Complex	Arlington	VA	3.5 mi
13	Huntley	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	3.9 mi
14	Grove at Huntley Meadow	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	4.2 mi
15	Cameron Station	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	4.2 mi
16	Oakbrooke	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	4.8 mi
17	Collingwood on the Potomac	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	5.1 mi
18	Hollin Hall Village	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	5.3 mi
19	Hayfield Farms	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria/Kingstowne	VA	5.3 mi
20	Riverside Gardens	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	5.4 mi
21	Stratford Landing	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	5.4 mi
22	Waynewood	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Alexandria	VA	5.5 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Old Town Alexandria	Alexandria	VA	0.7 mi
2	National Harbor	Fort Washington	MD	2.2 mi
3	Pentagon City	Arlington	VA	3.7 mi

Base	Distance
Bolling AFB Joint Base Anacostia	3 mi.
Mark Center Alexandria	4.1 mi.
Coast Guard Headquarters DC	4.5 mi.
Pentagon	4.6 mi.
Henderson Hall	4.7 mi.
Fort McNair	4.8 mi.
Washington Navy Yard	5.6 mi.
Fort Myer	5.6 mi.
Marine Barracks Washington	5.9 mi.
Fort Belvoir	8.4 mi.
Andrews AFB	8.6 mi.
Defense Health Headquarters Falls Church	9.7 mi.
Walter Reed Medical Center	13.9 mi.
Indian Head Naval Base	16.4 mi.
NRO Chantilly	22.3 mi.
Fort Meade NSA	26 mi.
Quantico Marine Base	28.6 mi.
Dahlgren NSWC	31.9 mi.
US Naval Academy	32.6 mi.
Annapolis Naval Station	33.6 mi.
Coast Guard Curtis Bay	37.5 mi.
Fort Detrick	48.3 mi.

Old Town Montessori School

Alexandria, VA 22314

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