Chiaravalle Montessori

School Name
Chiaravalle Montessori
“Chiaravalle,” which means “valley of light,” is the name of the Italian town where the educator Maria Montessori was born.
Pronunciation: CARE-uh-VOLLEY

Location/Facilities
Chiaravalle Montessori is located in Evanston, Illinois, two blocks from Lake Michigan, in a historic school designed by architect Daniel Burnham and the LEED Platinum North Wing. The school leases additional space for Middle School one block north.

Founded
1965

Affiliation
Non-profit Independent Coeducational Day School

Grade Levels
16 months — Grade 8

Academic Calendar
10-month school year
Optional summer programs

Middle School students lead Community Meeting

Educational Philosophy
The Montessori curriculum focuses on supporting a child’s innate love of learning. Students have freedom of choice within well-defined limits. Highly qualified Montessori-trained teachers act as guides and catalysts, helping each individual child grow in self-confidence and become an independent learner.

Mixed-age classrooms allow younger students to learn from older peers; older students reinforce their knowledge by sharing it with younger classmates. The rich and varied curriculum is designed to promote self-discovery and the development of social skills as well as academic achievement.

Chiaravalle Montessori strives to nurture and develop diversity and equity by creating a learning environment that includes and values differing perspectives and welcomes students, families, faculty, and staff with identities not limited to age, ethnicity, family structure, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic background. We are committed to creating a community that is inclusive and welcoming.

Read our Anti-Bullying policy.

Student/Faculty Ratio
1:5 to 1:12
Varies by program

Enrollment
345 students
50 Infant/Toddler [ages 0-3]
110 Early Childhood [ages 3-6]
185 Grades 1-8 [ages 6-14]

Geographic Representation
73% Evanston
9% Chicago
7% Wilmette
11% other communities

Student Diversity
35.5% students of color
In 20-21, the national average at independent day schools was 30.9%

Since 2010, Chiaravalle 8th grade graduates select: