URBAN MONTESSORI CHARTER

Urban Montessori Charter is a Title I public charter elementary school that is part of the Alameda County Office of Education school district, located in Oakland, CA with about 448 students offering grade levels from Kindergarten to 8th Grade. A Title I school provides supplemental financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families. Its purpose is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education. With about 15 teachers, Urban Montessori Charter has a student/teacher ratio of about 29:1. The national average for public schools is about 15:1. A lower student/teacher ratio is a key factor that determines how much a teacher can devote his/her time to each individual student thus improving, or reducing (in the event of a higher student/teacher ratio) the attention each student is given for their educational needs.

Urban Montessori Charter School (UMCS), located in the Maxwell Park neighborhood of Oakland, California, is a tuition-free public charter school serving students from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade. The school distinguishes itself by blending the Montessori method—which emphasizes student-led, hands-on learning and multi-age classrooms—with a strong focus on social justice and design thinking. By integrating these pedagogical approaches, UMCS aims to foster critical thinking, creativity, and a sense of community responsibility among its diverse student body.

The school is deeply committed to the principles of equity and inclusion, actively striving to reflect the demographic diversity of Oakland. In addition to core academics, UMCS prioritizes the development of the "whole child," incorporating arts, movement, and emotional intelligence into the daily curriculum. Through its unique model, Urban Montessori seeks to empower students not only to master traditional academic subjects but also to become empathetic, innovative problem-solvers equipped to navigate and improve the world around them.

For more information, contact Urban Montessori Charter at (510) 842-1181 or visit the school personally to speak with a faculty or administrative member about any specific questions you may have.