Helping children reach their full potential since 1973.

School tours are available Monday through Friday between 9 am – 10 am.

General Info

Grade Levels: Pre-K, K-3

Quick Info

Staff
The excellence you’ll find at Foothill Montessori is the result of the strong support and trust of our parents, and the dedication, training, and commitment of our teachers.

Our teachers strive to inspire a child’s curiosity, encourage critical thinking and instill a joy for life-long learning. Our programs for pre-K and K –Grade 3 age children are conducted in a warm, loving, nurturing environment, where children are gently encouraged to solve problems themselves with a teacher serving as a mediator.

Pre-K Classrooms
We offer classrooms that are carefully created and painstakingly prepared environments where every element of the curriculum, the materials, and the classrooms are designed to engage the young learner: the materials are child sized and the equipment is laid out in an orderly fashion on low shelves that are accessible for children. This allows the child to become independent. Our equipment is aesthetically pleasing and is meticulously cared for which encourages the children to take care of it too.
K-3rd
In keeping with the Montessori philosophy, children of different age levels are mixed in the same classroom. While the work done at the Pre-K level is more on an individual basis, as the child gets older, he begins to work in a group. The “work cycle period” gets longer and work becomes more visible to the adults.

As children begin to work in small groups, their progression continues to be determined by each individual child’s development. Additionally, at this level, we incorporate the TUSD curriculum into the Montessori curriculum.

Visit Us
We urge you to call us to schedule a campus visit to observe a Montessori classroom in session and have your enrollment questions answered by the school’s director. This will provide you with a greater understanding of the valuable and positive impact Foothill Montessori can have on your child. Tours are available M-F. Schedule a tour today!

About Us

Foothill Montessori School was established in 1973 and continues its success today in helping children reach their full potential. Our school, our staff, our students, reflect the cultural diversity of Irvine, Tustin, North Tustin and Orange communities which we serve. At Foothill Montessori we have a strong tradition of placing the needs of each child at the center. You will find authentic Montessori principles in practice with the focus on the needs of the child from the moment the child enters our classrooms. Each step in the child’s education is seen as a progressive building block.
Foothill Montessori School was established in 1973 with a vision to create a school based on authentic AMI (Association Montessori International) Montessori principles. Located in North Tustin, our school serves children within Irvine, Tustin and Orange School Districts. At Foothill Montessori School, we pride ourselves on our Casa de Bambini (House of Children) and its family-like community. Our school offers a calm and caring environment, carefully prepared to meet the nurturing and developmental needs of pre-k children. For the older children in the elementary classroom, we provide a more academically rigorous environment aligned with the Orange County Education Department standards.

According to Dr. Montessori, education should be an aid to life. Our environments aid the process of ‘self-construction’ that children are intensely engaged in during the first 6 years of life, through a wide range of materials under the guidance of our experienced and committed team. All children are taught on an individual basis and progress at their own level. We strive to create a happy family atmosphere within which we help every child to develop to his or her potential.

The Montessori curriculum consists of Practical Life (Foundations for Learning), Sensorial activities (Skills for Learning), Language (Communication Skills), Mathematics (Number Concepts), and Culture (Exploration of the Wider World). Furthermore, a great emphasis is placed on the development of social skills which enable the children to interact with others in a positive and constructive way.

The curriculum at Foothill Montessori is divided into four main areas. Practical life area not only gives the child the opportunity to practice life skills but also helps them develop concentration and coordination of mind and body. The sensorial materials capitalize on the fact that the children use their senses to learn. Through these materials, they learn to order and classify the physical properties of the world. The materials for mathematics, for example, help children learn and understand the concepts by using concrete materials.

Children are prepared to write and read from the very beginning through a series of activities that gradually build all the individual skills required. Our Kindergarten graduates easily achieve public school grade 1-2 level. Moreover, they acquire a joy of learning, self-control, organization, and time management skills which current research suggests are more highly correlated with school and life success than even IQ.

Grace and courtesy lessons and a daily emphasis on respecting the rights of friends and teachers foster a benevolent environment where pro-social skills emerge naturally.

Families discover our school primarily through referrals. This word of mouth approach means that we enjoy a loyal following of extremely satisfied families from Irvine, Tustin and Orange. Kindergartener’s graduate from our school having achieved our academic standards which are equivalent of grade 1 or 2 level in public schools.

Montessori Principles that Contribute to Our Success:

  • Movement and learning are closely connected; movement enhances learning.
  • Placing children in mixed age groups, corresponding to planes of development, allowing them to relate to children who are both older and younger.
  • Observation of the child reveals the proper timing for the presentation of new information and experiences.
  • Attending to sensitive periods of development guides the choice of classroom activities in which a child will be engaged.
  • The classroom experience should build on the desire of the young child to master his or her environment.
  • The use of self-correcting materials allows children to manipulate and explore at their own pace.

Location

18692 East 17th Street,
North Tustin, CA 92705

School Hours

M-F: 7 am – 6 pm
Weekends: Closed

OUR MISSION

” We strive to create a happy family atmosphere within which we help every child to develop to his or her potential.”

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Testimonials

 

What Parents are Saying

“I can’t say enough good things about this precious school. Mr. and Mrs. Mudan truly care for the well-being of all of the children who attend FMS. The Montessori method and its teachers prepared our son very well for school–first grade was a breeze for him. Most importantly, the method instilled a love of learning, which is the basis for all future learning. We are so grateful to have found this wonderful school.”
Jan S.

“I am absolutely blessed to witness the growth of my son and countless other students that had the opportunity to learn from Foothill Montessori in Tustin.

If you live in the area, you owe it to yourself to consider your child attending this school. Mr. Mudan and his staff are hungry to teach and establish a strong foundation for our children.

I feel fortunate that we could send both kids to this establishment of 35+ years.”

Tommy M.

“My son began school here a year and a half ago when he was two. His growth socially, verbally and in problem-solving has been amazing. I am so happy with the experience.
I love that this place is in an old North Tustin home type structure. The structure and the people feel warm and nurturing. There is a great deal of learning and joy. Our son is really happy here. For our family it was the right move.
Scott M.

Years Established

Students

Get In Touch

Location: 18692 East 17th Street, North Tustin, CA 92705

Telephone: (714) 731 5653

School Hours: Monday-Friday

  • Drop off between 8-8:30 AM
  • Pickup between 3-3:30 with some aftercare until 5pm

Email: Use the contact form below