Age 5 · The capstone year of Montessori Early Childhood
Montessori Kindergarten in Poway
Kindergarten is the third and final year of our preschool and kindergarten classroom. After two years of hands-on learning, 5-year-olds become the leaders of the room, take their reading, writing and math further, and get ready for 1st grade, all with teachers who already know them well.
Prefer to talk first? Call (858) 673-1756
- WASC accredited
- Full member of AMS
- Nonprofit since 1989
- 1:12 ratio
- 5.0 ★ on Google
Kindergarten at CMS
Kindergarten at a glance
One classroom, three years
Why kindergarten is the capstone year
In a Montessori classroom, children ages 2½ to 5 learn side by side for three years. Each year builds on the last, and kindergarten is where it all comes together.
Independence
Children build independence and coordination through practical life work like pouring, sweeping and preparing food, and refine their senses with Montessori materials.
Foundations
They learn phonetic sounds, begin reading and writing, and explore counting and the decimal system with concrete, hands-on materials.
Leadership and mastery
Kindergartners put those skills to work: reading and writing with more confidence, deeper math, and leading and helping the younger children in the room.
The kindergarten curriculum
What kindergartners learn
Reading and writing
Children move from phonetic sounds to reading words and writing their own, at their own pace, with individual lessons from their teacher.
Mathematics
Concrete Montessori materials make the decimal system, addition and subtraction something children can see and hold, not just memorize.
Science and culture
Science, geography, art and music help kindergartners explore the natural world, other cultures and their place in it.
Leadership and grace and courtesy
As the oldest in the room, kindergartners model kindness, help younger friends and take responsibility for their classroom every day.
More to look forward to
New classes and big milestones
🎨 Art class
Kindergartners add art to their week with our art teacher, who teaches kindergarten through 5th grade, so children start the same art program they will continue in elementary.
⚽ Physical education
P.E. joins the schedule in kindergarten, alongside the Spanish and music classes children have had since preschool.
🖼️ Kindergarten Art Show
Kindergartners share their artwork with families at our Kindergarten Art Show, a proud moment for young artists.
🎓 Kindergarten graduation
We celebrate the end of the three-year cycle with a kindergarten graduation ceremony for children and their families.
Next stop: 1st grade
Ready for elementary, on the same campus
Kindergarten prepares children for a smooth move to 1st grade. Families join a Moving Up Night to get ready for the change, and children continue in our Grades 1–3 classrooms with the same Montessori approach, plus digital literacy, on the same Poway campus where they have grown up.
Questions
Kindergarten questions
How old does my child need to be for kindergarten?
Kindergartners must be 5 years old by September 1. Many children join us earlier, in preschool or pre-K, and stay through kindergarten.
Is kindergarten a separate classroom at CMS?
No. Kindergarten is the third year of our multi-age preschool and kindergarten classroom. Kindergartners stay with teachers who know them well and take on leadership roles with the younger children.
Can my child join CMS for kindergarten only?
Yes, families are welcome to apply for kindergarten, including children coming from other preschools or TK, if space allows. Because kindergarten is the third year of our multi-age classroom, many families start with us in preschool or pre-K.
What are the kindergarten hours?
The kindergarten day runs 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Before- and after-school care is available from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
What enrichment classes do kindergartners have?
All preschool and kindergarten students have Spanish and music. Kindergartners also add art and P.E.
Is Country Montessori a private school?
Yes. Country Montessori School is a nonprofit private school in Poway, WASC accredited and a full member of AMS, serving children from age 2½ through 5th grade.
How much is kindergarten tuition?
Current kindergarten tuition is listed on our Tuition & Fees page.
Where is the school located?
Our nearly 3-acre campus is at 12642 Monte Vista Rd in northwest Poway, a short drive for kindergarten families from Rancho Bernardo (RB), Rancho Peñasquitos (PQ), Scripps Ranch and 4S Ranch.
See a kindergarten classroom in person
Visit during the morning work period to watch kindergartners read, write, work with math materials and help younger classmates.
12642 Monte Vista Rd, Poway · (858) 673-1756