50+ Years Following the Child
Arbor Montessori School was founded in 1970 by ten newly-trained Montessori teachers. The school was originally called Montessori Child Development Center and served 45 children through its four locations around the greater Atlanta Area.
Arbor’s thriving Primary program led the Board of Trustees to develop its first strategic plan, paving the way to opening an elementary program in 1976. The school community continued to grow and thrive, creating an urgent need for a larger space. A dedicated search led to the purchase of 2998 Lavista Road, which would become Arbor’s main campus location.
In honor of the original building's completion in 1987, the school's name was changed to Arbor Montessori School, as a reflection of the beautiful wooded campus. The Lavista Campus became the home of two Primary classrooms and the Elementary classroom, while the other two Primary classrooms remained at their prior Emory location.
By 1996 the school had grown to include two Upper Elementary classrooms. Steered by many dedicated community members, the administration moved forward to establish a Montessori middle school program. The original building was renovated and expanded to fit the growing student community. In 1997, the Adolescent Program began, one of the first of its kind. It is known and used as a model for Montessori middle schools nationwide.
In 2014, Arbor opened its first Toddler community; in 2026, students from this inaugural Toddler class will begin graduating from our full program. Arbor opened its second permanent campus at 1434 Scott Boulevard in 2016, replacing the leased campus space at Emory. By popular demand, a second Toddler class was added the newly renovated Scott Campus in 2017. Today, Arbor Montessori is one of only three schools in the metro Atlanta area to provide a Montessori education from toddler through adolescence.
Arbor's Legacy
