MSNV At A Glance

MSNV At A Glance 

A snapshot of our programs, community, and approach to learning.
Two MSNV elementary students lying on the floor reading a book together.

The Basics

Ages Served

Toddlers through Grade 8

Programs

Preprimary (18 months-3 years), Primary (3-6 years), Elementary (Grades 1-6), and Middle School (Grades 7-8)

Campuses

Valleybrook and Sleepy Hollow (Falls Church) and Hillbrook (Annandale)

Educational Approach

Montessori-based, developmentally informed

Class Experience

Small class sizes with an average 8:1 student/teacher ratio 

How Learning Works at MSNV


A Thoughtful Progression

Students move through clearly defined stages of learning, with environments and expectations designed to grow alongside them.


Hands-On and Engaging

Learning is active and meaningful, encouraging curiosity, problem-solving, and collaboration.


Independence with Support

Children are guided to take responsibility for their work while receiving the structure and support they need to succeed.


A Purposeful Middle School Experience

Our two-year Middle School program focuses on academic readiness, independence, and identity during these pivotal years.

OurCommunity

Parents assisting students during cooking class

Strong partnerships between families and faculty

Student and teacher reading together

Teachers who know students well and support them as individuals

Students making sandwiches as part of community service initiative

A school culture grounded in respect, responsibility, and care for others

Outcomes thatMatter

Student looking happily up from textbook

Students develop confidence in their abilities and a love of learning

Student examining globe

Graduates are well prepared for a range of high school options

Student kneeling in garden, smiling up at camera

Children leave MSNV feeling known, capable, and connected

5 FAQs on Montessori Education

What is Montessori?
Montessori is a system of education started by Maria Montessori. Montessori believed that the goal of education should not be to fill a child with facts from a preselected course of study, but to cultivate his own natural desire to learn.
Who was Maria Montessori?
Dr. Montessori was the first woman to graduate from the University of Rome Medical School. She was a physician, an engineer, a social anthropologist and an educator. Through her work with children, Maria Montessori redefined the whole idea of education from passive role to active exploration.
What are some characteristics of a Montessori classroom?

Dr. Montessori believed that “education is a natural process” and that “it is not acquired by listening to words” but by “experience in which the child acts upon his environment.” The environment of the Montessori classroom is carefully prepared to allow for this natural process of education to occur. Some characteristics of the Montessori classroom are: 

  • mixed age grouping
  • child chooses own work
  • child sets own learning pace
  • children encouraged to teach and help each other
  • teachers give individual or small group instruction
  • teachers serve as guides
  • allows for maximum freedom within responsible limits
Is it for all children?
The Montessori method is an “approach to learning” that has been successfully used with infants through children up to 18 years of age from all ability levels. The needs of each individual child must always be examined to determine if it is a good placement for the child.
Are current theories and research in education included?
Montessori is not a static system of education. It is as much a philosophy as it is a specific method. Montessori teachers remain active learners, utilizing a variety of resources including recent research and theory if it will enhance the environment created for the children.

OurCampuses 

Nestled in beautiful wooded and meadow environments, our campuses reflect a long tradition of community vision and collaboration. Through a strong cooperative spirit and the dedication of our expert faculty, MSNV remains committed to providing an exceptional Montessori education for every child.

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Hillbrook Campus

Set in a quiet, wooded area, away from noise and distraction, the MSNV facility was designed to reflect the Montessori approach to education. It was created by two architect-parents especially for children: furniture, apparatus and even the sinks have been selected to fit shorter bodies and smaller hands.

Valleybrook Campus

As a complement to the wooded Hillbrook campus, Valleybrook is the school in the “meadow.” Located in Falls Church, Virginia, the Valleybrook campus includes a completely renovated building. Designed by an award-winning architect, large, light-filled Montessori classrooms and green technology including a green roof. The Valleybrook building and grounds are specially designed to meet the needs of children ages 2 to 6.

Sleepy Hollow Campus

Nestled amidst the picturesque landscape of one of Falls Church’s most established neighborhoods, this new campus serves students in our Primary program and expands the school’s programming opportunities.