Where We Found Our Inspiration: A Peek Into Other Montessori High Schools
Starting a high school from scratch—especially one without a building yet—takes more than vision. It takes trust. And one of the questions we get asked the most at AtlasMHS is: What does a Montessori high school even look like?
With fewer than 150 Montessori high schools in the entire country, chances are, there isn’t one down the street you can visit. That’s been one of our biggest challenges—and motivators. So today, we wanted to bring you behind the scenes and share three incredible Montessori high schools that have helped shape our thinking and affirm that this path does work—and can be truly transformative.
1. Roadstead Montessori High School (Norfolk, VA)
This small high school blew us away with how deeply it integrates the real world into student life. At Roadstead, students don’t just memorize facts—they analyze primary sources, launch projects, connect with professionals, and learn through doing. They describe their goal as “supporting each adolescent’s path to social independence.” That phrase stuck with us. That’s what we want, too. A place where teens feel empowered, not just prepared.
2. River Montessori High School (South Bend, IN)
River was launched in 2020 with the belief that high school should be joyful, inclusive, and rooted in community. They designed their 9th-grade year as a “hybrid” year—a bridge between middle school and high school that gives kids time to grow into independence. Their student body is diverse, and they’ve prioritized being an affirming space for LGBTQ+ students and those who didn’t fit into the traditional high school mold. Sound familiar? It’s the kind of environment we hope to create here in Vancouver.
3. Butler Montessori High School (Darnestown, MD)
Set on a 22-acre campus, Butler’s high school blends academics with deep experiential learning. Students pursue internships, career exploration, service projects, and more. But what really inspired us was how students get to design parts of their learning path—with guides supporting them every step of the way. Their program shows what’s possible when teens are trusted with responsibility and freedom. It’s Montessori done right—without losing academic rigor.
What This Means for Atlas
While we don’t have a campus (yet), we do have a clear vision—and it’s been shaped by schools like these. We’re not reinventing the wheel; we’re joining a growing group of educators and families who believe high school can be done differently:
- With real-world learning, not just test prep
- With community and belonging, not just class periods
- With flexibility and mentorship, not just rigid schedules
These schools gave us the blueprint—and now we’re working to bring it to life right here in Vancouver. We hope this peek behind the curtain helps you see the school we’re building, even before the walls go up.
Have questions? Want to chat about how Atlas might be the right fit for your teen? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us
– The AtlasMHS Team
Check out what teachers and parents have to say about River Montessori High School