About the Montessori Program in FCPS

FCPS will offer a new Montessori program in the West Potomac pyramid. The program will begin in the 2025-26 school year, starting with multi-age classrooms at the pre-K and kindergarten levels. 

The program will be located at Bucknell Elementary School. Families of 3, 4, and 5 year olds are invited to apply through a lottery process. Eligible families must have a verified residence in the West Potomac pyramid — Belle View, Fort Hunt, Groveton, Hollin Meadows, Hybla Valley, Stratford Landing, or Waynewood elementary schools. 

Riverside Elementary School is a split feeder school with students residing in boundaries that feed both the Mount Vernon High School Pyramid and the West Potomac pyramid. Students who are zoned for Riverside Elementary School and reside in the West Potomac pyramid are also eligible. 

Use the FCPS Boundary Locator System to find which school your student is zoned to attend. 

Bucknell families may choose to access this program that will be offered within their base school. Families zoned for Bucknell must complete the lottery application to indicate their interest. Four- and five-year olds who are zoned for Bucknell will have automatic acceptance. Three-year olds who are zoned for Bucknell will be entered into the lottery. The program is free and transportation will be provided. Funding for this program is provided by the U.S. Department of Education’s Magnet Schools Assistance Program.

The program will expand each year to include the next grade level. For example, in School Year 2026-27, there will be Montessori classrooms available for first grade students. 

The Montessori Approach

Dr. Maria Montessori created the Montessori way of learning in the early 1900s by studying how children grow and learn. This method helps kids become curious, creative, and excited to learn for the rest of their lives. In a Montessori classroom, the whole room is set up to help students learn using Montessori-specific hands-on materials. Students have a lot of choice in their learning, which helps them stay motivated and become more independent.  

Montessori Learning Environments 

One special feature of the Montessori approach is having children of multiple ages in one classroom. Children learn valuable social skills — such as cooperation and empathy — through interactions with peers of different ages. Additionally, the multi-age environment allows students to learn at their own pace, while developing a sense of community. 

The Montessori classroom is carefully organized with hands-on materials, encouraging students to explore and work independently. These learning tools are designed to use different senses, helping students understand new ideas by experiencing them in a concrete way before moving on to more abstract thinking.

In a Montessori classroom, teachers are experts at really getting to know each child. They watch how each student learns and then create lessons and activities that are just right for them. Montessori teachers receive specialized training. 

Lottery Application 

The lottery application for the 2025-26 school year Montessori program at Bucknell Elementary School will be available Monday, March 10, through Thursday, May 1, 2025. 

Complete the lottery application

Questions?

Contact Lawrence Caines
Director, Magnet Schools Assistance Program
Department of School Improvement and Supports