Our Story & Philosophy
Built on the belief that children already know how to learn.
Founded in Hockessin, Delaware in 1989, CACC Montessori School has spent nearly four decades building a community where children lead their own discovery. We follow Dr. Maria Montessori's philosophy faithfully — because we've watched it work, year after year, child after child.
The Method
Freedom within a prepared environment
The Montessori method gives children freedom to explore an environment designed to meet their developmental needs. Through careful preparation, observation, and individual program planning, each child is drawn into concrete, sensory-motor learning — not pushed.
Dr. Montessori's philosophy creates a carefully balanced environment that harmonizes freedom and structure. Materials facilitate progressive learning through hands-on exploration. Each child's innate potential is honored, and their “sensitive periods” — windows of natural readiness — are recognized and met with the right materials at the right moment.
“Children don't work for external rewards. They learn because they're interested in knowledge — and the result is a love of learning they carry for life.”
Dr. Maria Montessori
“Any child who is self-sufficient reflects in his joy and sense of achievement the image of human dignity, which is derived from a sense of independence.”
1870 – 1952
How We Compare
A different understanding of what learning looks like
The differences go deeper than method. They reflect a fundamentally different view of the child.
Traditional
Montessori
Teacher has dominant, active role in classroom
Teacher has an unobtrusive, observational role
Traditional
Teacher has dominant, active role in classroom
Montessori
Teacher has an unobtrusive, observational role
Teacher acts as primary enforcer of external self-discipline
Environment and method encourage internal self-discipline
Traditional
Teacher acts as primary enforcer of external self-discipline
Montessori
Environment and method encourage internal self-discipline
Instruction conforms to the adult's teaching style
Instruction adapts to each child's learning style
Traditional
Instruction conforms to the adult's teaching style
Montessori
Instruction adapts to each child's learning style
Same-age grouping throughout
Mixed-age grouping across three-year spans
Traditional
Same-age grouping throughout
Montessori
Mixed-age grouping across three-year spans
Most teaching done by teacher; collaboration discouraged
Children are encouraged to teach, collaborate, and help each other
Traditional
Most teaching done by teacher; collaboration discouraged
Montessori
Children are encouraged to teach, collaborate, and help each other
Curriculum structured by adults with little regard to the child's interests
Child chooses own work from personal interest and ability
Traditional
Curriculum structured by adults with little regard to the child's interests
Montessori
Child chooses own work from personal interest and ability
Child is guided to concepts by the teacher
Child formulates own concepts from self-teaching materials
Traditional
Child is guided to concepts by the teacher
Montessori
Child formulates own concepts from self-teaching materials
From a CACC Family
“After observing numerous preschool programs, we found CACC Montessori School was the perfect school for our family. All 3 of my children have bloomed into confident, hard-working, respectful kids. We are very thankful for this excellent program.”
Michelle · Former CACC Parent