OUTDOOR CLASSROOM
Students can choose to work with Montessori materials in the classroom courtyards or practice natural gross motor movements, such as balancing on a beam or walking a labyrinth.
Wildscape
Students have many opportunities to explore our 5-acre wildscape, learning about plants, insects, and other wildlife who visit this wondrous space.
GARDENING AND ANIMAL CARE
Our students fully engage in caring for our goats, Bailey and Patches, and our chickens on a daily basis. Students are also active participants in planting, maintaining, and growing fruits and vegetables in our gardens.
Preparing Children to Thrive in a Changing World
At The Montessori Academy of Arlington, education is designed to prepare children for a future where adaptability, critical thinking, collaboration, and initiative are more important than ever. Serving children from infancy through sixth grade, TMA’s fully AMS-accredited Montessori program empowers students to become independent learners who ask questions, solve problems, and think creatively. Through mixed-age classrooms, hands-on materials, real-world experiences, and daily opportunities to practice leadership and peaceful conflict resolution, children develop the confidence and flexibility to navigate change. The result is an education that cultivates not only academic excellence but also the character, resilience, and lifelong learning mindset needed for success in an uncertain world.
Learning Happens through purposeful activity
Children work with specially designed learning materials, manipulating and investigating them to master the lessons they embody.
abstract ideas in concrete form
Montessori materials make abstract concepts tangible. The Binomial Cube physically represents the equation (a+b)³ = a³+3a²b+3ab²+b³, allowing children to build understanding through hands‑on exploration.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR Outdoor learning
We are lucky to have a safe and secure 13-acre campus which provides students with many opportunities to work and play outside. Each classroom also has an exterior door, so students have daily access to the prepared outdoor learning environment.
Committed professionals
Our committed and credentialed professionals foster a child’s cognitive, physical, and social/emotional well-being, leading children to become enthusiastic, intrinsically motivated learners.
TMA at a Glance
TMA prepares students for a future that is complex, connected, and constantly evolving. Our graduates are resilient, curious, and equipped with the skills and mindset to thrive wherever life takes them.
Highly Committed Teachers
29% of our teachers are in their second decade of service at TMA, while the average tenure of lead classroom teachers at TMA is 9 years. The average tenure of all teaching staff at TMA is 7.5 years.
TMA is fully accredited by the American Montessori Society. We are 1 of only 4 fully accredited schools in the DFW area. There are only 13 schools in Texas that hold this level of accreditation.
Our Global Community
Maria Montessori championed equality, inclusion, and respect for every individual. Today, students and staff from more than 20 countries help make TMA a diverse and thriving global community.
“The child who has never learned to work by himself, to set goals for his own acts, or to be the master of his own force of will is recognizable in the adult who lets others guide his will and feels a constant need for approval of others.”
– Maria Montessori, Education and Peace
A Walk through Early Childhood
What does a typical day look like?
Indoor Classroom
Students engage in academic and other purposeful work using hands-on, scientifically developed materials.
Outdoor Classroom
Students engage in academic work, gardening, animal care, gross motor development, and imaginative play.
TMA Programs
Lower and Upper School
Developmental stages of learning are at the core of a Montessori education. Our Lower School is designed for children between 6 weeks and 6 years of age, and our Upper School is for children between 6 and 12 years old. Within each school, there are programs designed to enhance learning for each specific developmental stage.
The Montessori Continuum: Process to Purpose
Montessori education is designed to evolve as children grow. At TMA, learning intentionally progresses from process‑focused exploration in the Lower School to purposeful, product‑based mastery in the Upper School—meeting students at each stage of development while preparing them for what comes next.
Lower School (Infant, Toddler, Early Childhood)
The Lower School emphasizes the process of learning. Within a prepared Montessori environment, children engage in self‑directed, hands‑on experiences that build foundational academic, social, and executive‑function skills. Teachers guide learning through careful observation, allowing children to explore, repeat, and discover without pressure to produce a final product.
Upper School (Elementary)
In the Upper School, learning becomes more goal‑driven and demonstrative. Students apply foundational skills through project‑ and product‑based work with clear expectations for mastery. Teachers act as guides, creating individualized academic work plans that empower students to manage their time, collaborate with peers, and pursue interests. While fully aligned with authentic Montessori practice and AMS standards, the Elementary program also incorporates elements that support a smooth transition to more traditional educational settings.
Latest Posts
If you want to learn more about how children learn in a Montessori classroom, please read some of our blog posts, all of which can be found under Parenting Resources.
FAQs
We have gathered some of the most frequently asked questions in one place to make finding information easier for prospective parents.
Tuition varies by program. Our Tuition and Fee Schedule is available online.
To protect the health of all children and to satisfy state regulations, current medical information for each child is required prior to enrollment. These records, which must meet state immunization and hearing and vision screening requirements, need to be updated when new screenings or immunizations are given. An annual physical is required for children in the Infant, Toddler and Early Childhood programs.
The state of Texas allows certain immunization exemptions and we follow all state guidelines.
The path after TMA looks different for every graduate. Students continue their educational journeys in a variety of settings, including public, private, and parochial schools, with families selecting the environment that best matches their child’s interests, goals, and aspirations.
Some students pursue strong athletic programs, others seek specialized opportunities in the arts, and many choose rigorous college-preparatory schools. While their destinations may differ, they leave TMA with a common foundation: independence, confidence, critical thinking skills, and a strong sense of responsibility.
Rather than preparing students for one specific school, a TMA education prepares them to thrive wherever their journey leads. Through authentic Montessori experiences, graduates develop the adaptability, problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and love of learning that help them successfully transition to new environments and embrace future opportunities.
4 Easy Steps to Admission
Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your child. Our admissions team is here to provide guidance, answer your questions, and help you determine whether TMA is the right fit for your family.
Schedule a TOUR
All tours are scheduled online and take place during the morning work cycle so families can observe students engaged in meaningful work in the classroom. Parents will have time to ask questions and learn more about tuition, fees, and the admissions process.
Apply Online
After your visit, we’ll follow up with next steps and, if appropriate, an invitation to apply. Applicants will meet with the Head of School, and Early Childhood and Elementary applicants will also participate in shadow days.
Meet with the Head of School
Meeting with the Head of School provides an opportunity for us to learn more about your child and family, answer questions, and discuss how TMA can support your child’s growth and development.
Complete Online Enrollment
Once accepted, families receive an offer to enroll and complete their online enrollment forms. Enrollment is complete after the non-refundable $325 Registration Fee and first tuition payment are received.
What do parents say about TMA?
We are happy with TMA, my child has been attending the school and he has learned so much. The school environment is clean and has so much for my son who loves to be in outdoors. Teachers and the administrators are helpful.
Great Schools
After touring over a dozen preschools, TMA came out on top for us. We love the focus on teaching important life skills and building character, not just behavior. The teachers interact with the students in a way that helps them to become independent and thoughtful little people.
Google Reviews
This is a GEM in the middle of the metroplex, with acres of nature surrounding the school. Kids are given a unique opportunity to experience and enjoy nature in a caring environment, while learning so much, both in and out of the classroom. Our child really likes it here.
Niche Reviews
TMA is a great school that helps students gain independence, learn concepts deeply, and become well-rounded citizens of the world. The teachers are dedicated, and the campus is beautiful and inviting. TMA is a great place to be!
