A preschool tour goes by fast, and it’s easy to leave with a good feeling but few real answers. These ten questions will help you cut through the polish and get a genuine sense of what daily life will actually look like for your child.
1. Is the School Accredited, and by Whom?
Ask specifically whether the school holds accreditation from the American Montessori Society (AMS) or a comparable Montessori accrediting body. “Montessori-inspired” is a very different claim than “AMS-accredited.”
2. What Training Do the Lead Teachers Have?
Look for Montessori-specific credentialing, not just a general early childhood degree. Ask how many years of Montessori classroom experience the lead teacher in your child’s age group has.
3. What Does a Typical Work Cycle Look Like?
Authentic Montessori classrooms protect a long, uninterrupted work period — typically two to three hours. If the daily schedule sounds more like a series of short, teacher-directed activity blocks, that’s a meaningful difference from the Montessori model.
4. How Are Age Groups Organized?
Genuine Montessori classrooms mix ages across a three-year span rather than grouping strictly by birth year. Ask how mixed-age grouping works in practice at the school.
5. What’s the Teacher-to-Child Ratio?
Ratios affect how much individual attention and observation each child realistically receives, especially during younger age stages like Infant and Toddler Community.
6. How Do You Support Toilet Learning (Potty Training)?
This is a practical, everyday question that reveals a lot about a school’s overall philosophy — ask whether the approach is child-led and how closely the school partners with families during this transition.
7. What Enrichment Is Offered Beyond the Core Curriculum?
Ask specifically what’s included in tuition versus offered as an add-on — music, physical education, world languages, and outdoor or gym time all vary significantly between schools.
8. How Do You Handle Conflict and Discipline?
Listen for language around “grace and courtesy” and natural consequences rather than time-outs or punitive discipline — this is a core part of authentic Montessori philosophy.
9. How Will I Know How My Child Is Doing?
Since Montessori classrooms don’t rely on traditional grades or worksheets, ask how the school communicates progress — through conferences, written observations, or portfolios of a child’s work.
10. What Are Your Hours, Schedule Options, and Tuition Structure?
Confirm half-day versus full-day availability, holiday and closure calendars, and exactly what’s included in tuition before you fall in love with a program that doesn’t fit your family’s logistics.
Bring This List to Petite Maison Montessori
We welcome every one of these questions — and encourage you to ask them. Our AMS-accredited campuses in Aliana/Richmond and Cinco Ranch, TX are led by Montessori-trained, certified teachers who are happy to walk you through exactly what a day looks like for your child.
Bring your questions and schedule a tour of Petite Maison Montessori today.