At NKMA, we work in a collaborative partnership with parents, faculty, and children to combine the innovative Montessori philosophy and its resulting pedagogy with experiential learning. This transformational approach to education allows our students to become joyous learners, of high academic prowess, and encourages their development into caring, respectful, responsible, curious and compassionate individuals. NKMA is an authentic Montessori school and is fully accredited by the American Montessori Society. We currently provide programs for children ages 2 through 6th grade. Children can begin as young as 2, and then enter the Early Childhood Program at age 3. Lower Elementary is comprised of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade while Upper Elementary is 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. Children are guided by degreed and certified teachers who embrace the Montessori philosophy espoused by Maria Montessori and the American Montessori Society (AMS). NKMA is committed to individualized instruction, appealing to each child’s unique traits and focusing first on what Maria Montessori recognized as a child’s natural tendency to be a curious, self-motivated and eager learner. Students are provided a rich and robust curriculum, steeped in diverse, multicultural experience, and grounded in developmentally appropriate practices. Our teaching faculty, administrative team, and support staff provide a safe, secure environment that feels like an extension of home. Focusing on core values of respect, courtesy, compassion, curiosity, tolerance, and appreciation for differences. The collaborative triad of parent, faculty, and child creates an environment where emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills are recognized as equal in value to academic accomplishment. By providing a Montessori curriculum that includes English and Foreign Language, Literature, Math (including Geometry and Algebra), political and cultural Geography, Physical and Life Sciences, Music, Movement and Art, Physical Education, Environmental Studies, as well as Peace and Conflict Resolution, students tackle work that ultimately stretches them beyond that which is typically supported in a conventional classroom by Common Core Standards.