McKinley Montessori Academy

Our organization is Montessori Association of Covina. It is a private, non-profit corporation for education for infants through grade school begun in 1982. The organization has dedicated itself under the vision of its founders to offer an authentic education based on the Montessori Method for over thirty years.
We offer Montessori Private, State Preschool and LAUP funded programs in Azusa, El Monte, Hacienda Heights, Baldwin Park and Pomona. Additionally, we now offer Transitional Kindergarten for those children whose 5th birthday falls between July 1 and October 2nd of the current fiscal year.
In addition to our Montessori curriculum we have diversified our program to expand your child’s learning experience by adding learning centers that also follow principals and practices of Early Childhood Education and Child Development, both of which are popular methods of early childhood development, preparation and practice in our culture.
You might observe that our classrooms have a low 1:8 teacher/child ratio. In our Montessori classroom emphasis is given to the three R’s: Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. We use the Desired Results multi-component monitoring tool to establish a set of Program Standards for our preschool programs. We use the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) to measure the quality and integrity of our indoor and outdoor environments and to determine if they work in conjunction with our curriculum and lesson plans to maintain measureable standards. In addition, we’ve developed our own internal monitoring system to ensure that all children experience a balanced environment in which freedom to choose and develop independently and one-on-one teacher interaction are both offered. This is a proven system which helps them to acquire the skills needed to face their future challenges in grade school and years beyond with confidence. We have three parent conferences per year to keep parents informed on their children’s progress and two annual parent education events to educate the community of our mission, program services and unique environment and method of development. Finally, we conduct a year-end comprehensive review of our program in the key areas mentioned above to identify and implement improvements to any gaps that are found.
This unique combination of using the Montessori method as a core foundation for learning and pre-kindergarten preparation and the exploration of creativity and social development through the principles and practices of Early Childhood Education and Child Development methods provides your child a broad range of learning materials and experiences in a rich learning environment unlike that found in many private or public preschool programs found anywhere. The Desired Results monitoring tool, ECERS, and Program Standards further ensure that the quality and progress of our program and your child’s rate of growth and development will remain strong and monitored to keep parents informed of their children’s progress and growth.
Our well-balanced environment will provide many unique learning experiences and a “well-rounded” development for your child. This will help strengthen his/her foundation and enthusiasm for future learning and success in life.
Children who have been educated using the Montessori Method grow into competent learners who know how to learn and love learning. The solid foundation begun early in life creates self-confident, contributing adults.

“…they will be witnesses of the unfolding of the human soul and to the raising of a New Man who will not be the victim of events, but will have the clarity of vision to direct and shape the future of human society.”
- Dr. Maria Montessori

Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide an authentic education based on the Montessori Method for infants through grade school in a carefully prepared, nurturing environment, which aids in the development of each child's unique potential in all areas of life; so as to prepare the young child not just for school but for life.

Lic. # 198016871 & 198017610