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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Isn’t Montessori education just for young kids?
Not at all. People may be familiar with Montessori education for young children as that is a common age for many Montessori schools. Montessori is a wonderful approach and amazingly successful for those ages! However, hands-on and active learning continues to be a critical element for children far beyond their fifth year. In fact, Montessori approaches are credited with inspiring the creativity of many successful CEOs. Look at the comments of employers today; what they desire are creative, independently motivated thinkers. Therefore, colleges now often list flexible programs with independent learning projects. The Hillsboro School offers this experience to students while they are still in high school.

What about testing? Will the Hillsboro School prepare students for high-stakes tests?
Students at the Hillsboro School are high achievers. While we do not focus on testing or “teaching to the test,” standardized testing skills and strategies is one genre of learning that we teach our students. We want our students to succeed in all areas. High school students are guided and advised on how to improve their standardized testing skills. 

What about cost? Are there any scholarships available?
While every attempt is made to keep our tuition as low as possible, the Hillsboro School is dedicated to keeping our classes small to ensure very close learning relationships between teachers and students. We are pleased to offer financial aid for Kindergarten through 12th grade on an as-needed basis.

Are you accredited?
We are currently in the accreditation process and are members of the Alabama Independent School Association, the American Montessori Society, and the International Montessori Council. We hold our faculty and staff to a high standard as we go through the accreditation process. This is not a problem for your child’s advancement to college. Colleges and universities have a wide array of factors to evaluate for student admission: coursework, standardized test scores, letters of reference, written essays, personal interview, and more. We have personally spoken with large and small, public and private colleges and each has assured us that having accreditation is not required for your student to be accepted.

What if my child doesn’t have experience in a Montessori setting?
The Hillsboro School is a place of learning where we follow the child. We have curated an application and interview process that explains how it all works. Montessori education works for everyone. Through engaging in conversations we can work with families to determine if The Hillsboro School would be a good fit for your child.