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Montessori + IB
Our Elementary program combines the depth of Montessori with the structure of the International Baccalaureate.
Two systems that work together for your child
The prepared environment, the materials, the developmental sequencing, and the role of the teacher as a guide.
The concepts, skills, and assessment structures that let a school demonstrate its outcomes against a standard used by thousands of schools worldwide.
Montessori supplies the HOW.
IB supplies the WHAT and WHY.
The IB does not prescribe what every child must study. It provides a framework schools apply within their own philosophy — which is precisely why it fits a Montessori school without changing what happens in the classroom.
The same ideas, in two languages
The IB formalizes a philosophy our classrooms already practice. It gives us external benchmarks to evaluate our curriculum against global standards, a network of thousands of schools that matters directly to our international community, and a clear pathway for families moving on to secondary education. It does not change what we believe — it gives it a shared language.
Why we chose this path
Respect for each child's pace
Developmentally responsive learning
Hands-on learning
Inquiry-based learning
Cosmic education
International-mindedness
Grace & courtesy
Caring & principled
Teacher as guide
Facilitator of learning
Prepared environment
Structured inquiry
Child-led learning
Student agency
MONTESSORI PRINCIPLE
SHARED IB CONCEPT
What it looks like in practice
The three-hour work cycle. Children choose their work and settle into long, uninterrupted concentration. A guide observes, then gives an individual lesson where it is needed. This is Montessori, unchanged.
A line of inquiry. The same children are exploring a question that runs across subjects — how water shapes where people live, say — connecting geography, science, and history rather than treating them as separate hours.
Making thinking visible. Students document what they found and explain it to others: a TED-style Talk, an essay, a Science Fair prop. Reflection and practice are parts of the work, not an add-on.
Beyond the classroom. Model UN delegates in New York and Rome, seasonal residencies on a working farm in the Poconos, and the city itself as a place to study.
Who our students grow to be
The IB learner profile describes ten attributes that place the child — not the syllabus — at the centre of learning. They read like a description of what Montessori has always aimed for.
These are the capacities universities and employers look for: people who think critically, communicate clearly, lead with empathy, and keep learning throughout life.
Inquirers
Knowledgeable
Thinkers
Communicators
Principled
Open-minded
Caring
Risk-takers
Balanced
Reflective
What this means for your family
➡︎ Continuity when you move. IB World Schools operate in more than 160 countries. If your family relocates, your child’s education has a recognizable shape in the next city — the hardest part of moving becomes considerably easier.
➡︎ A globally understood standard. An internationally recognized framework trusted by schools and universities worldwide — and a clear way for us to show you how your child is progressing.
➡︎ A pathway into secondary school. Familiar ground for admissions teams at leading schools, and a clear articulation from Hopscotch into the next stage of education.
➡︎ Whole-child development. Confidence that your child is growing not only academically, but as a kind, responsible, capable person.
➡︎ A globally understood standard. An internationally recognized framework trusted by schools and universities worldwide — and a clear way for us to show you how your child is progressing.
➡︎ A pathway into secondary school. Familiar ground for admissions teams at leading schools, and a clear articulation from Hopscotch into the next stage of education.
➡︎ Whole-child development. Confidence that your child is growing not only academically, but as a kind, responsible, capable person.
About our candidate status
We are working through the IB’s authorization process for the Primary Years Programme: developing our curriculum documentation, training our teachers, and preparing for a verification visit. Our candidacy covers Elementary — kindergarten through 6th grade, ages 5 to 12. Our Preschool programs continue as they are, on the same Montessori foundation. Authorization is not automatic, and we will share our progress with families as it happens.
Hopscotch Montessori VIA 57 is a candidate school* for the Primary Years Programme (PYP). This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy — a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education that Hopscotch Montessori believes is important for our students.
*Only schools authorized by the International Baccalaureate can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org.
*Only schools authorized by the International Baccalaureate can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org.