Children's Kiva Montessori School

Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1

Charter School 142 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

Children’s Kiva Montessori School (CKMS), located in Cortez, Colorado, is a tuition-free public charter school that serves students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Dedicated to the Montessori philosophy, the school emphasizes a student-centered approach that fosters independence, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning. By utilizing multi-age classrooms and specialized Montessori materials, CKMS provides an environment where students can progress at their own pace, guided by teachers who act as facilitators rather than traditional lecturers.

The school is deeply integrated into the unique cultural and geographic landscape of the Four Corners region. Beyond its academic curriculum, Children’s Kiva Montessori places a strong emphasis on character development, community responsibility, and environmental stewardship. By blending the structured, hands-on Montessori method with a focus on local community engagement, the school aims to cultivate well-rounded, self-directed individuals who are prepared to contribute positively to both their local community and the global society.

142

Total Students

12.2

Full-Time Teachers

11.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

59.9%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Children's Kiva Montessori School
Demographic	Student Count
White	60
Hispanic	28
Two or More	15
American Indian	39

White
60 (42.3 %)
American Indian
39 (27.5 %)
Hispanic
28 (19.7 %)
Two or More
15 (10.6 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1
Phone:	(970)564-9377
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	142
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	12.2
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	11.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	73
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	12

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 12

Grade 1 17

Grade 2 14

Grade 3 22

Grade 4 13

Grade 5 13

Grade 6 21

Grade 7 15

Grade 8 15