History

The Montessori Community School, a non-profit organization with a parent/staff governing board, was formed in 1980. At that time, a group of dedicated parents banded together to keep their children's preschool, then the Chapel Hill Montessori School in operation when the proprietors decided to close.

In 1981, the school grew from two to three primary or preschool classes. In 1982, a lower elementary class (6-9 years) was initiated. In 1984, a toddler class was opened and MCS received its first child care license. That same year the school moved to a custom-designed facility at its current site on Pope Road, built through the efforts and commitment of a group of parents who formed the Montessori Partnership of Chapel Hill. In 1984, an upper elementary classroom was established (9-12 years), and in 1986 a fourth primary or preschool class was opened.

During the early 1990's, the school was able to become full owners of its current buildings and site. In 1995, MCS added a library/conference room onto the administration building and began a second lower elementary class. The following year, the school finished a new elementary building and paved and enlarged the parking lot. In 1995, a fifth primary class was added and in 1996, an all-day Montessori primary class (8:15-5:45) was begun. In the spring of 1999, a new multi-purpose building housing a small gym and late-day elementary classroom was completed.

Today MCS enjoys an enrollment of 250+ students and 35 full- and part-time support staff. We have one toddler class, five primary children's house classes, two lower elementary classes, two upper elementary classes and one adolescent class.

In the fall of 2005 we opened our first adolescent community classroom (13-14 years). In the fall of 2006 we completed the construction of a new building facility that now serves the adolescent community and one upper elementary class. The newly completed construction also includes two newly constructed wetlands, a rainwater catchment and drip irrigation system, a full-size playing field, as well as other features that will make us more environmentally friendly and enrich our outdoor campus.