About CMH
A long-standing record of progress
From solid experience and a rich history of tradition, our legacy is one of continual growth and development.
In 1972, after receiving full, formal Montessori training from Xavier University and finding a lack of good Montessori options in Cincinnati, Lucia Brown and Ann Smith took the initiative to open one of their own – Children’s Meeting House.
From 13 students, CMH quickly developed into a full Montessori school, with preschool and kindergarten programs for three- to six-year-olds and a junior elementary program for six- to nine-year-olds.
As CMH quickly outgrew this original space, a promising new start close to historic Loveland was found within a converted dairy barn surrounded by the Grailville’s 300+ acres. In 1976, the doors were opened to our new “Country School” – and five years later, a senior elementary program for nine- to twelve-year-olds was added.
Enrollment increased exponentially, and again plans were made to expand – with the outright purchase of seven Grailville acres, fundraising for new construction and the development of our prolific outside space as a learning lab. In 2003, CMH completed the move into our current building and surrounding grounds. At the heart of our campus, our main building contains advanced technological resources, generous multipurpose space and naturally lit, oversized classrooms designed to make students feel at home with soft textures, rugs, plants, pets and more.
With this juxtaposition of outdoor amenities and upgraded facilities, we cemented our position as a leader in nature-based education throughout Greater Cincinnati.
Our Mission
To foster the development of the whole child by implementing the philosophy, practices and curriculum of Dr. Maria Montessori. To nurture each child’s lifelong love of learning and honor the diversity of individuals. To instill self-confidence, independence, self-discipline, respect, and personal and social responsibility. To create partnerships with families for the benefit of each child, and cultivate a genuine sense of community.
Our entire culture promotes independent thinking and work – with measurable academic results.
Since 1972, CMH has shared a rich tradition of Montessori education with generations of students and families, a heritage of excellence we’re proud to uphold and continue. At every level, our Montessori program has been intentionally designed to spark ideas, diligence and a desire to learn more. When students can fearlessly explore ideas at their own pace – both concrete and abstract, complex and simple, rudimentary and refined – they grow into confident, capable, independent thinkers who have a history of becoming world-leading innovators, movers and shakers.
From science, math and reading to language, cultural studies and arts, each class and teacher instills every academic essential with meticulous balance and purpose.
Where We Shine
Why Children’s Meeting House
We prepare your child for the future. Minus regular exams, formal report cards or nationally mandated tests, our students are constantly, closely evaluated to benchmark overall development and progress, while empowering them with real-world test-taking skills.
Our students are consistently high achievers, both while at CMH and beyond. In the past decade alone, several have gone on to win National Merit Scholarship awards, and a recent CMH student graduated from Loveland High School as its valedictorian.
If some of our methods seem unconventional, know that CMH and Montessori itself are anything but. For 40+ years, we’ve proven to be a nexus of serious scholarship and schoolwork – not a new age or untested alternative – made real with intellectual creativity, engagement and results.
What constitutes achievement? It’s not the same for every child. Montessori learning was specifically designed to adapt to the individual, for every lesson and level. We acknowledge that success is different for every child – then inspire that result, whether it’s academic performance or social development.
Still have questions?
"*" indicates required fields
