American Montessori Society (AMS) Accreditation Update

The New School has reached another important milestone this summer: we are now an AMS-Verified School, which serves as a key step on our journey toward full AMS Accreditation, the highest distinction a Montessori school can achieve.

What AMS Verification and Accreditation Mean

The AMS Verification process evaluates how faithfully a school implements Montessori principles across its classrooms, curriculum, and staff. It examines the quality of our teachers’ Montessori training, their teaching experience, and their skill in facilitating meaningful, individualized learning within an intentional and academically robust curriculum. Ongoing professional development is also assessed.

Full AMS Accreditation entails a comprehensive review of curriculum, leadership, governance, and operations. Our pursuit of this accreditation reflects our commitment to continuous improvement and to delivering education that is not only aligned with Montessori best practices but also informed by current, research-based pedagogical standards.

Core Principles of AMS Accreditation

AMS accreditation is grounded in principles that guide all aspects of Montessori education:

Authentic Montessori Curriculum
Programs foster independence, self-direction, and a love of learning, while providing a carefully sequenced and rigorous framework that supports each child’s intellectual, social, and emotional growth.

Prepared Environment
Classrooms are intentionally designed to support exploration, creativity, and developmentally appropriate challenges, giving students opportunities to engage meaningfully with materials and concepts.

Highly Trained Teachers
Educators bring deep Montessori training, classroom experience, and ongoing professional development, enabling them to guide each child’s learning thoughtfully and effectively.

Individualized Learning
Each child’s abilities, interests, and pace are honored, with a focus on holistic growth, meaningful engagement, and guided achievement.

Community and Ethical Practice
Strong, respectful relationships among students, teachers, and the broader school community foster collaboration, empathy, and a culture of responsibility.

A Commitment to Quality

Our pursuit of full AMS Accreditation reflects more than a process—it reflects a promise: to provide an educational experience where each child is challenged, supported, and inspired to reach their fullest potential. By continually refining our programs and embracing the best of Montessori principles alongside research-based practices, we strive to create a school community where curiosity thrives, creativity flourishes, and every student is empowered to become a confident, capable, and compassionate learner.

We look forward to keeping our families informed and sharing updates as we continue this exciting journey toward full accreditation.