Montessori Academy West Adams — children working in the prepared environment
  West Adams · Los Angeles, CA 90016

Montessori Academy
West Adams.

A vibrant, diverse Montessori campus in the heart of South LA. Daily Mandarin & Spanish, 1:5 teacher ratio, and the largest outdoor yard in the area — 7 AM to 6 PM, year-round. No waitlist.

Schedule a Free Virtual Tour (323) 795-0200
Ages 2 – 1st Grade
1:5 Teacher Ratio
Mandarin & Spanish Daily
No Waitlist
7 AM – 6 PM Year-Round
2019
Campus opened
1:5
Teacher ratio
9,000
Sq ft outdoor yard
107
Student capacity
2
Languages daily

Programs

Every stage of early childhood, at one campus.

From first steps to first grade — one building, one community, one continuous Montessori journey. All programs run 7 AM–6 PM, year-round.

Toddler Montessori program West Adams
Ages 2 – 3

Toddler Program

Independence-first environment for 2–3 year olds. Practical life, sensorial exploration, language foundations in English, Mandarin, and Spanish. Potty training supported — not required to enroll.

Learn more
Primary Montessori program West Adams
Ages 3 – 6

Primary & Preschool

The core Montessori Montessori Work Cycle. Mixed-age classrooms (3, 4, and 5 year olds together) with individualized lessons in reading, writing, mathematics, sensorial materials, and daily bilingual instruction.

Learn more
Transitional Kindergarten West Adams
Ages 5 – 7 · ★ All 3 campuses

Transitional Kindergarten & Kindergarten

Our TK/K program runs at all three campuses. Continues the Montessori method with state TK curriculum integration — no school transfer needed. Compare with public TK in California.

Learn more
Full time part time schedule West Adams
Flexible Scheduling

Full-Time, Part-Time & Half-Day

Choose any 3 days, full Monday–Friday, or half-day mornings. All schedules run within our 7 AM–6 PM window. Year-round, no summer gap.

Compare schedules
Potty training program West Adams
Ages 2+

Potty Training — Included

Children do not need to be potty trained to enroll. Our trained educators support the potty training process as part of the Montessori practical life curriculum — no extra charge.

Learn how it works

Why This Campus

What makes the West Adams campus distinct.

Largest outdoor yard of our three campuses

~9,000 sq ft of outdoor space — more than any of our other campuses. Children spend significant time outdoors daily: gross motor play, garden work, and exploration.

Daily Mandarin & Spanish from age 2

Both languages woven into every day — not alternating, not weekly. Songs, conversation, circle time, and instruction in both languages from the first day of enrollment.

One of LA’s most diverse Montessori communities

West Adams is one of the most culturally rich neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Our campus reflects that — a true community of families from across South LA, united by the Montessori approach.

Library, music room & seasonal garden

Dedicated spaces for music, reading, and hands-on garden work. Children have access to these enrichment spaces as part of their regular weekly schedule.

AMS · AMI · NAMTA certified teachers

Every teacher holds Montessori certification from a recognized body. Average experience: 5–15 years. These are educators who chose Montessori — not teachers placed into a Montessori school.

Year-round, 7 AM–6 PM — no exceptions

No summer learning gap. No early-release days. No scramble for holiday care. One consistent program, 50 weeks a year, at the same hours working families actually need.

Our TK Program Why Montessori Works

Daily Language Classes

Mandarin & Spanish classes. Every child. Every day.

50% of language acquisition capacity develops before age 5. That window doesn’t stay open long. At West Adams, children receive dedicated 30-minute daily language classes in Mandarin and Spanish — every child, every day, fully included in tuition. They learn vocabulary, songs, cultural celebrations, and conversational phrases at the exact age when language learning is effortless.

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Mandarin (Putonghua)

Daily instruction, songs, circle time, and conversation in Mandarin from age 2. Children develop listening comprehension, vocabulary, and natural accent through age-appropriate 30-minute daily classes — not rote memorization.

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Spanish

Spanish runs alongside Mandarin throughout the day. West Adams is a naturally Spanish-speaking community — our Spanish instruction connects to the real language children hear outside the classroom, reinforcing acquisition at every level.

Both languages run daily — not alternating, not weekly. Every child, every day.

West Adams Montessori Academy outdoor yard — largest of three campuses

The Outdoor Environment

The largest outdoor yard of our three campuses.

~9,000 sq ft outdoor space

In Montessori, the outdoor environment is as carefully prepared as the indoor classroom. Our ~9,000 sq ft yard at West Adams gives children space to run, build, dig, and explore in ways that simply aren’t possible in a smaller urban footprint.

The seasonal school garden gives children a direct connection to where food comes from. Outdoor time runs daily — weather permitting — as part of the structured morning program, not just as recess.

see the Yard

A Day in the Classroom

What a typical day looks like at West Adams.

The Montessori Work Cycle is the heart of Montessori. Here’s how it unfolds in the West Adams prepared environment — a classroom structured for independence, not instruction.

7:00 AM
Early drop-off & free choice

Children arrive. The prepared environment is open — Montessori materials on shelves, activities available for self-selection. Teachers observe, not direct.

8:30 AM
Morning circle & daily language classes

Group circle in Mandarin and Spanish — songs, calendar, weather, and vocabulary. This is where the language acquisition happens naturally, in context, not through drills.

9:00 AM
Montessori Work Cycle begins

The uninterrupted Montessori Work Cycle. Teachers present individualized lessons one-to-one or in small groups — targeting each child’s current sensitive period for language, mathematics, or sensorial exploration. Children choose their own work and sustain focus without interruption.

12:00 PM
Lunch & outdoor time

Children bring their own lunch. Our ~9,000 sq ft outdoor yard opens for gross motor play, garden work, and social exploration. Outdoor time is structured, not free-for-all — the prepared outdoor environment has its own set of activities.

1:30 PM
Afternoon programs & nap (toddlers)

Toddlers nap. Preschool and primary children continue individualized work, music, library, or special programs (Webby enrichment available optionally). Teachers update each child’s individualized learning record.

3:00–6:00 PM
Extended day & pick-up

No extra fee for extended hours. Children continue in the environment until pick-up. Families can collect any time from 3–6 PM — no minimum hours charged.

Tuition & Enrollment

What does Montessori Academy West Adams cost?

We don’t publish exact rates online because they vary by schedule and age group. Contact us for current tuition — and ask about subsidies if cost is a factor. We accept MAOF, CalWORKs, and Crystal Stairs childcare assistance.

Half-Day
Contact us

Morning sessions, any 3 days or 5 days/week

Most Popular
Full-Time
Contact us

7 AM–6 PM, Mon–Fri, year-round. Extended hours included.

Call for current tuition rates

Neighborhoods We Serve

The West Adams campus serves the heart of South Los Angeles.

Located at 4449 W. Adams Blvd — easily accessible from all surrounding neighborhoods.

West Adams
View Park
Leimert Park
Crenshaw
Mid-City
Jefferson Park
Ladera Heights
Culver City (Hayden Tract)
Baldwin Hills
Lafayette Square
Ruhi Khan, Director of Montessori Academy

Meet the Leadership

Ruhi Khan & Vanessa Verastegui

Ruhi Khan has led Montessori Academy since 2014, growing it from one campus to three. She oversees the educational philosophy and culture across all campuses. At West Adams, day-to-day campus life is led by Vanessa Verastegui, Campus Director — a Montessori educator with deep roots in the West Adams community.

Together, they ensure that the Montessori method isn’t just a label — it’s the actual operating principle of every classroom, every day.

Read Ruhi’s full profile jill@montessori-academy.com

Parent Reviews

What West Adams families say.

5.0  ·  West Adams campus reviews

“The diversity of this campus is unlike anywhere else we toured. Our daughter has friends from every background, and she’s picking up Mandarin and Spanish faster than we ever imagined. The yard space is incredible for kids this age.”

WA
Google Review · 2026

“We needed 7 AM drop-off because of our commute. Montessori Academy was the only school that matched our schedule without extra fees. Two years in and my son is reading at a 1st grade level — he’s four.”

WA
Google Review · 2025 · 2 years enrolled

“Vanessa and the team at West Adams have built something genuinely special. The outdoor space, the language programs, the way they know every child individually — this is what a real neighborhood school should feel like.”

WA
Google Review · 2025
Our TK Program

Facility

4449 W. Adams Blvd, Los Angeles

~5,000 sq ft indoor · 9,000+ sq ft outdoor · Private parking lot · Electric lock entry

Dedicated library
Music room
Garden we grow & eat from
9,000+ sq ft outdoor yard
Electric lock entry
Private parking lot
Nap facilities for toddlers
Classroom fish tank
Petting zoo experience
Hatching chicken eggs experience
1-to-1 daily academics
Winter & Summer performance shows
Cap & Gown graduation ceremony
Alumni reunions for graduates
Class photos twice a year
Individual classrooms with large windows & natural light
Themed bathrooms with child-sized toilets & sinks

Optional enrichment (yoga, dance, gymnastics) available through Webby at additional cost.

Annual Events & Community

A school year full of celebrations, in-house field trips, and community milestones.

Every season brings something special. From in-house field trips where experts come directly to campus, to cultural celebrations that reflect our diverse community — Montessori Academy turns every month into a memory.

Cultural Celebrations

  • Halloween Parade & Festivities
  • Día de los Muertos Activities
  • Diwali & Holi Activities
  • Lunar New Year Parade
  • Valentine’s Day Friendship Celebration
  • Día De Los Niños / International Children’s Day
  • Black History, Hispanic Heritage, Women’s History, AAPI & Native American Heritage Month
  • Mother’s Day & Father’s Day Celebrations
  • Earth Day Celebration
  • Egg Hunt during Spring Break (we stay open!)

In-House Field Trips

  • Cabrillo Marine Aquarium — puppet show, live sea creature touch tanks
  • Mobile Zoo of Southern California
  • Bug Gals — live insect education
  • LAPD & CHP community safety visits
  • CHP visit & Toys for Chips holiday donations
  • Bubble Mania science event
  • School bus, public transit bus & trash truck day
  • Natural History Museum (in-house presentation)

School Milestones

  • Class photos twice a year — fall & spring
  • Read Across America — Dress-Up Week & Literacy Celebration
  • Children’s Happy Teeth — Special Guest & Puppet Show
  • Annual Winter Show (December)
  • End-of-Year Performance (June)
  • Maria Montessori’s Birthday Party (August)
Licensed CA #197494220
AMS · AMI · NAMTA certified teachers
1:5 teacher-to-child ratio
Mandarin & Spanish daily from age 2
Year-round · 7 AM – 6 PM
9,000 sq ft outdoor yard

Common Questions

Everything families ask before enrolling.

We accept children ages 2 through 1st grade (approximately age 7). This includes Toddler (age 2–3), Primary/Preschool (3–6), and Transitional Kindergarten/Kindergarten programs.
7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday, year-round. No school-year-only schedule — we are open 50 weeks a year including summers, with only observed holidays off.
Yes. Both Mandarin and Spanish are taught daily, woven into daily routines, songs, circle time, and instruction from age 2. West Adams, like our Culver City campus, runs full daily daily language classes in both languages.
No. We currently have open enrollment with available spots. Families can schedule a tour and typically start within days to weeks of completing paperwork.
No. Our educators support the potty training process as part of the Montessori practical life curriculum at no extra charge. Children do not need to be trained before their first day.
Yes. Childcare subsidies and vouchers are accepted at our West Adams campus. Learn more about the MAOF childcare subsidy program →
Both have merits. Public TK is free but runs ~8 AM–3 PM with a 1:12 ratio and is English-only. Montessori TK runs 7 AM–6 PM year-round, 1:5 ratio, with daily Mandarin and Spanish. For working families, the full-day program and ratio difference often make Montessori the more practical choice. Read our full comparison →
Call us at (323) 795-0200, email jill@montessori-academy.com, or use the online tour scheduler. We offer virtual tours, Zoom tours, and family drop-in days where your child plays with classmates.

After the Primary Program

Where do West Adams graduates go?

Children who complete our Primary program at West Adams are typically accepted into the kindergarten programs of their choice — public and private — at an advanced level. Many families continue through our on-site TK and Kindergarten (through 1st grade) before transitioning to elementary school.

For families who want to continue Montessori through elementary school, our Downey campus accepts students through 3rd grade and is our only location offering infant care (from 6 weeks).

Explore the Downey campus

Open Enrollment — No Waitlist

see the West Adams campus this week.

virtual tours, Zoom tours, or a family drop-in day where your child plays with classmates. No pressure, no sales pitch.

Schedule a Free Virtual Tour Montessori vs. Public TK
(323) 795-0200
jill@montessori-academy.com
4449 W. Adams Blvd, LA 90016

Programs at West Adams

Explore programs by age at this campus

Every Montessori Academy program runs year-round, 7 AM–6 PM, with daily language classes included at no extra cost. CA Lic #197494220.

Toddler Program — West Adams

Ages 2–3. Practical life, sensorial exploration, and Mandarin & Spanish in Mid-City LA.

Learn more → Transitional Kindergarten — West Adams

Age 4. Private year-round TK with Mandarin & Spanish. A better alternative to LAUSD free TK.

Learn more → No Potty Training Required — West Adams

Toilet independence taught within the curriculum. No prior training required for enrollment.

Learn more → daily language classes — West Adams

Bilingual instruction woven into every program at no extra cost.

Learn more → Mommy & Me — West Adams

Parent-and-child sessions for ages 18 months–3 years.

Learn more →