City Garden Montessori School operates two preschool locations: 1082 S. Newstead and 2109 S. Spring Ave. Both preschools are private, tuition-based schools serving children ages 2 ½ to 5 years old. Both the preschool and the elementary charter school serve a target geographic area resting within the following boundaries: Grand to Kingshighway, from Highway 40 to Magnolia Ave. (along Tower Grove Park). City Garden preschool is currently accepting applications only from children who reside within its target area. We are aware that the need for high-quality early childhood education is a great need in our city, and are sorry that we cannot accommodate everyone who would like to attend our school!

The preschool on Newstead has operated for about 15 years and is a licensed daycare. The hours of operation at “Newstead” are 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Children are eligible to attend morning-only classes or to enroll for full-days, although there are a limited number of full-day slots. The child’s schedule may be flexible (i.e., it could be Monday, Tuesday and Friday, or M-F, or any variation in between), depending upon availability at the school.

The “Shaw” preschool, at 2109 S. Spring, opened in Fall, 2007. It is located in the lower level of Tyler Place Presbyterian Church in the Shaw neighborhood. The hours of operation are 8:30-11:30 a.m. (morning only), Monday through Friday. Children may attend up to five mornings per week. The child’s schedule may be flexible, depending upon availability at the school.

In both its preschool and elementary programs, City Garden offers an innovative educational program:
• Montessori education
• Multi-age classrooms
• Individualized curriculum
• Individualized and small group instruction
• Low student-teacher ratio
• Joyful and exploratory learning
• Preparing children for life in the global community
• Emphasis on the natural world
• Designed to reach children of all ability levels and backgrounds

CGMS also offers a unique school culture:
• Respect is at the core of all relationships and learning
• Neighborhood-based
• Committed to diversity
• Small school size, family-like setting
• Emphasis on community service
• Practicing and teaching nonviolence
• Valuing simplicity and sustainability
• Striving to be a resource to families and to the community

Children in City Garden’s preschool classrooms do not wear uniforms; they are encouraged to dress in comfortable play clothes. Their mornings will include: two work periods during which they choose “work” that they are familiar with and/ or receive lessons on new “work;” participating in a “class meeting” that might consist of a discussion about the change of seasons, upcoming special events or a group lesson on, for example, the rain forest; snack; clean up and time outdoors. If a child stays in the afternoon at the Newstead location, he or she will eat lunch, take a nap and experience a more relaxed environment in the afternoon that might include a snack, time outdoors, artwork, and working in the classroom on activities of his or her choice.

City Garden aims to provide a nurturing, family-like atmosphere for young children, where they can develop confidence and independence while acquiring needed social, physical, academic and emotional skills.