Murray-LaSaine Montessori

691 Riverland Drive
Charleston, SC 29412

363 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 8th

School Overview

Murray LaSaine Montessori School, located on James Island in Charleston, South Carolina, is a unique public educational institution that operates under the Charleston County School District. Unlike traditional elementary schools, it is renowned for its commitment to the Montessori method, which emphasizes child-led learning, hands-on activities, and multi-age classrooms. This approach is designed to foster independence, critical thinking, and a deep love for learning within a structured yet flexible environment that encourages students to progress at their own pace.

The school serves a diverse community of students and is highly regarded for its dedicated faculty and focus on holistic development. Beyond academic rigor, Murray LaSaine places a strong emphasis on social-emotional growth and community involvement, often utilizing its natural surroundings on James Island to enhance the educational experience. As a choice-based program within the district, it attracts families seeking an alternative, student-centered curriculum that balances traditional core subjects with the specific philosophical tenets of Montessori education.

363

Total Students

23.5

Full-Time Teachers

15.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Murray-LaSaine Montessori
Demographic	Student Count
White	300
Hispanic	15
Black	37
Two or More	10
American Indian	1

White
300 (82.6 %)
Black
37 (10.2 %)
Hispanic
15 (4.1 %)
Two or More
10 (2.8 %)
American Indian
1 (0.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Charleston 01
Phone:	(843)762-2765
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 8th
Total Students:	363
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	23.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.4
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* 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

Pre-Kindergarten 54

Kindergarten 42

Grade 1 39

Grade 2 53

Grade 3 37

Grade 4 39

Grade 5 41

Grade 6 23

Grade 7 15

Grade 8 20

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for Murray-LaSaine Montessori
Grade	Student Count
Pre-Kindergarten	54
Kindergarten	42
Grade 1	39
Grade 2	53
Grade 3	37
Grade 4	39
Grade 5	41
Grade 6	23
Grade 7	15
Grade 8	20

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for Murray-LaSaine Montessori
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	186	51.2%
Male	177	48.8%

Nearby Elementary Schools (Within 10 Miles)