Sands Montessori Preschool (CPS)

A Cincinnati Public School

Sands Montessori was the first public elementary Montessori school in the United States. The first site opened in 1975 and was located in Mt. Adams. It was named Children’s House and opened with an enrollment of 200 students. The program opened to satisfy a desegregation suit against the Cincinnati Public School District and was called an Alternative Program. Nancy Rambusch, who introduced Montessori to the United States in the early 60’s, designed the program.

The success of the Montessori school prompted the expansion of the program. A second and third site (Children’s House West and Children’s House Central) were opened. They were located in small areas of Oyler and Heberle Schools.

All three locations were combined in 1979 and moved to the Sands Elementary building at 940 Poplar Street. The name was changed to Sands Montessori School.

• Sands Montessori was also the first Cincinnati Public School in the City of Cincinnati to have a Chinese Sister School . Sands Montessori and Jing Hang Lu School in Liuzhou City , China became partners. The school and the Cincinnati Sister City Organization hosted the first delegation of city officials, government official and teachers from Liuzhou City .
• The school raised $76,000 from private donations and grants to begin a preschool program. The money was used to construct 2 preschool classrooms at the Poplar Street site. The 3-6 program has expanded to seven classrooms at present. There are twelve 6-9 classrooms and nine 9-12 rooms for a total of approximately 670 students.
• The school was one of the first schools to organize a Community Garden . The Sands Montessori Parent Organization, staff members, the Cincinnati Civic Garden Center and neighborhood individuals collaborated to get the project implemented in the West End .
• Parent involvement at Sands Montessori has always been among the highest in the district. Teachers, staff members, administrators, the Parent Organization, and students share in the credit of the success of Sands Montessori School .
• Sands Montessori became a School of Excellence from the very beginning and continues to excel.

In August 2002 the district moved the school from the West End of Cincinnati to the Mount Washington area on the Far East side of the city.

The success of the Montessori program proves that when you create a balanced school social system for children – one that carefully mixes children by age, race, income and neighborhood , they will thrive and be successful. Poor children can overcome their poverty when their basic needs are met at an early age and they are exposed to the rich and diverse culture in which they live.

The school is a win-win situation for everyone – the children, parents, school system, neighborhood and the future of our City.