Why choose us

In 1963, Beverley and Jim McGhee, Sr. founded Alexander Montessori School in Miami to create the kind of early childhood education they wanted for their own children.

Led by Beverley McGhee’s background as a professional educator, the school began with a clear purpose: to give young children an exceptional educational head start in a caring, high-quality environment.

Alexander Montessori School grew from a belief that education should help children become confident, independent learners and thinkers. Inspired by Maria Montessori’s philosophy, the school developed around the idea that academic growth has its highest value when it helps children contribute meaningfully to the world around them.

As interest in the school continued to grow, Alexander Montessori School expanded with the opening of the Ludlam Road campus in 1969.

This milestone marked an important step in the school’s development, allowing it to serve more families while strengthening its Montessori learning environment.

In 1973, Alexander Montessori School added its Old Cutler Road campus, extending its ability to serve more children and families across the Miami area.

The new campus reflected the school’s steady expansion and long-term commitment to providing a nurturing, high-quality educational experience.

The construction of Breier Hall in 1984 marked another significant moment in the school’s physical growth.

As Alexander Montessori School continued to evolve, facility investments like this helped strengthen the day-to-day student experience and support a vibrant school community.

In 1984, Alexander Montessori School founded the Montessori Teacher Training Institute (MTTI), deepening its commitment to authentic Montessori practice.

By investing in educator preparation and professional growth, the school strengthened the quality and consistency of its Montessori approach for future generations of students.

Beginning in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, Alexander Montessori School undertook a long-term renovation of the Ludlam Road campus from 1992 through 2003.

This period of renewal reflected both resilience and forward planning, ensuring that the campus continued to meet the needs of students, families, and faculty for years to come.

In 2000, James McGhee II was named Co-Head of School, marking an important moment in the school’s leadership journey. His appointment reflected a thoughtful continuation of the McGhee family’s vision for Alexander Montessori School and helped support the school’s ongoing growth while preserving its strong Montessori foundation.

Alexander Montessori School celebrated 40 years of history and impact.

From one preschool class, it had grown into a multi-campus school serving more than 560 students, with Toddler Houses, Children’s Houses, and an Elementary Campus. By then, some children of alumni were experiencing the same Montessori foundation their parents once knew.

In 2003, Alexander Montessori School was accredited by the American Montessori Society through Third Grade, an important recognition of the quality and integrity of its Montessori program.

Today, the school remains distinguished as the only AMS-accredited Montessori school in Miami, giving families a distinctive choice when looking for a trusted Montessori school in Florida with recognized academic quality.

In 2006, Alexander Montessori School expanded again with the addition of its Palmetto Bay campus. This milestone helped the school serve more families while extending its distinctive educational approach to another community.

During the 2006–2007 school year, Green Door was established, followed by Peach Door in 2007–2008, adding further capacity and flexibility.

In 2007, Joyce McGhee was named Co-Head of School, further advancing a period of leadership transition at AMS. Together, these milestones highlighted continuity across generations and a shared commitment to preserving the school’s mission, values, and child-centered Montessori approach.

In 2017, Alexander Montessori School completed a second major renovation of the Ludlam Road campus, highlighted by the addition of a LEED building.

This investment reflected the school’s continued commitment to modern, high-quality learning environments designed to support students well into the future.

This was a transformative milestone for Alexander Montessori School as they became a proud member of International Schools Partnership - ISP.

Becoming an ISP school was Alexander Montessori School's gateway to a dynamic global network of world-class schools. It provided access to unparalleled opportunities for our students to collaborate across continents, engage in innovative learning projects, and develop the skills to thrive as true global citizens. The world just became our classroom.

More than sixty years after its founding, Alexander Montessori School continues to thrive as a joyful, rigorous learning community serving over 560 students. From Toddler through Grade 5, students grow in independence, confidence, curiosity, and academic strength across multiple campuses.

With deep roots in Montessori philosophy and a clear focus on the future, the school continues its tradition of helping children learn to love to learn.

Since its founding in 1963, Alexander Montessori School Miami has built a lasting legacy of joyful, purposeful education. What began as one educator’s vision has grown into a school where children are known, nurtured, and challenged to become independent learners and thoughtful individuals. Rooted in Maria Montessori’s philosophy, Alexander Montessori continues to cultivate curiosity, confidence, empathy, and a lifelong love of learning.

That legacy is reflected not only in generations of returning families, but also in the school’s outcomes and daily experience. Students consistently perform above national norms, benefit from individualized guidance, and are prepared for success in the next stage of their education. With its caring community, bilingual opportunities, and commitment to helping each child reach their potential, Alexander Montessori continues to honor its history while preparing students for life.

Alexander Montessori School offers more than a Montessori-inspired experience; it provides an accredited Montessori journey that begins in Toddler and continues through our Lower Elementary. At every stage, children learn in calm, purposeful environments designed to foster independence, curiosity, concentration, and self-direction. Through hands-on materials and a concrete-to-abstract progression, students build understanding with confidence as they grow.

As one of the oldest and largest independent Montessori schools in South Florida, Alexander Montessori stands apart for its combination of history, scale, accreditation, and full age range. Accredited by the American Montessori Society and additional accrediting bodies, the school supports children from 18 months through Grade 5 with a consistent approach that helps each learner progress academically, socially, and emotionally. This continuity allows families to experience a complete Montessori learning journey in one trusted school community. 

Alexander Montessori students consistently perform one to two grade levels above national norms, reflecting the strength of a Montessori education designed around each child’s pace, readiness, and potential. Through individualized pathways, flexible grouping, and hands-on learning, students build deep understanding and are encouraged to move confidently beyond standard grade-level expectations.

Progress is measured through quarterly STAR Reading and Math assessments, which are nationally normed and adaptive, giving teachers clear data to personalize instruction and extend challenges for advanced learners. School results show strong achievement across grade levels, with over 90% of students meeting or surpassing national benchmarks in Reading and Math and 94% performing at or above grade level. Together, these outcomes show how Alexander Montessori helps children achieve visible progress every day and build lasting readiness for future success.

Alexander Montessori prepares students not only to succeed in the classroom, but also to thrive in the next stage of their education. In Grades 4 and 5, the school’s Middle School Prep experience helps students strengthen organization, time management, study habits, and subject-area depth, giving them the confidence and readiness needed for a smooth transition to more demanding academic environments.

That preparation continues beyond graduation. After Alexander, students typically go on to leading Miami college preparatory schools, including Palmer-Trinity School, Gulliver Schools, Ransom Everglades School, and Riviera Schools. With a strong academic foundation and the personal responsibility developed through Montessori, students leave Alexander ready for future challenge and success.

Alexander Montessori School offers a thoughtful, individualized approach to language learning across early and elementary education. In Preschool, children can join a Spanish Immersion program designed to develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills through multisensory Montessori learning and daily exposure to the language, making it a strong fit for families searching for Spanish immersion school in Miami.

For students who are developing English proficiency, AMS also provides ESOL support from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 5, with focused instruction in comprehension, oral expression, reading, writing, and pronunciation. Together, these programs help students grow into confident communicators while strengthening academic readiness and cultural understanding.

At Alexander Montessori School, Montessori-trained teachers play a central role in helping each child grow with confidence. Rooted in the Montessori Method, the teaching team uses careful observation, dynamic assessment, and flexible grouping to create individualized pathways that respond to each student’s readiness, pace,  and potential within a leading Montessori curriculum in  Miami that families value.

The teacher-and-assistant model gives every learner close attention through observation, feedback, and goal-setting. Families stay informed through regular conferences, nationally normed assessments, weekly progress updates from Preschool to Grade 3, and real-time tracking in the Learning Management System for Grades 4 and 5.

Students build essential life competencies alongside academic growth through the Montessori Method. From the earliest years, they develop independence, concentration, responsibility, communication, and critical thinking as they learn to manage routines, solve problems, and take ownership of their work in calm, purposeful environments.

As they grow, these qualities deepen through inquiry, project-based learning, and daily classroom life. Across the school, Alexander Montessori nurtures curiosity, empathy, responsibility, and perseverance, helping students become confident, compassionate, and self-directed learners prepared to thrive in school and beyond.

The Montessori Teacher Training Institute (MTTI) extends Alexander Montessori School’s long-standing commitment to authentic Montessori education by preparing the next generation of teachers. As the first Montessori teacher education program in Florida for certification through the American Montessori Society, MTTI offers an Early Childhood training course rooted in the Montessori Method and led by distinguished, experienced faculty.

Accredited by MACTE and affiliated with the American Montessori Society, MTTI combines respected credentials with a strong philosophical foundation. The program explores core areas such as Practical Life, sensorial learning, language development, and early mathematics, helping adult learners understand how Montessori nurtures independence, order, self-discipline, and joyful learning. Graduates go on to teach in the United States and abroad, reflecting the depth and reach of Alexander Montessori’s educational legacy.

At Alexander Montessori School, students can extend their learning through a variety of clubs, athletics, and enrichment programs. Options may include Robotics, Lego Lab, Minecraft Masters Club, art, ballet, basketball, soccer, volleyball, cheer, fencing, and other activities that support creativity, teamwork, and physical development.

Students also have opportunities to shine through academic competitions such as the Spelling Bee and Science Fair, while Student Council helps them build leadership, responsibility, and public speaking skills. Together, these experiences encourage students to discover new strengths and grow with confidence.

Alexander Montessori School offers four campuses across the Miami area, giving families access to beautiful, age-appropriate learning environments while staying connected through one school community. The school’s locations include Palmetto Bay Campus for ages 1½–6, Old Cutler Road Campus for ages 2–6, Red Road Campus for ages 3–6 and the Administrative Office, and Ludlam Road Campus for Grades 1–5 / ages 6–12.

Each campus supports a distinct stage of the Alexander journey. Palmetto Bay and Old Cutler Road serve younger children in nurturing Toddler and Preschool settings, while Red Road offers Preschool in a historic South Miami location near Coral Gables. Ludlam Road is home to Elementary and Middle School Prep, with expansive grounds and dedicated learning spaces for older students.

Together, the campuses reflect Alexander Montessori’s commitment to accessibility, care, and a thoughtfully prepared environment for every age, making the school a strong choice for families looking for a Montessori School South Miami experience rooted in individualized learning, community, and authentic Montessori education.

The Alexander Parents Association (APA) helps create a warm, engaged school community where families can connect, contribute, and take part in school life. Through social events, volunteer opportunities, and community traditions, the APA fosters meaningful relationships and a strong sense of belonging across Alexander Montessori School.

From parent gatherings and celebrations to fundraising and special initiatives, the APA plays an important role in enriching the school experience for families and students alike. Its focus is on building community, encouraging involvement, and supporting the shared values that make Alexander a connected and welcoming place to grow.

ISP schools are a shared ecosystem of innovation and ambition. Students embark on a dynamic and personalised learning journey, guided by the transformative Learning.First™ approach, unique only to the ISP family of schools. They learn through 5 pillars enriched by worldwide collaborations, solving real-world problems with peers across continents.

This powerful combination of academic achievement, multilingual learning and international opportunities creates unparalleled future pathways, preparing students for top universities and global careers.