The IMC accreditation standards provide clear, actionable guidelines for policies, procedures, and practices that schools are expected to adopt and maintain.
IMC accredited schools can receive dual accreditation through both IMC and NCPSA. Earning an NCPSA certificate delivers immediate national recognition, giving current and prospective families confidence in your school’s academic credibility.
Fostering Best Practices: The Purpose of IMC School Accreditation
The primary goal of the IMC’s school accreditation program is to equip Montessori school leaders—administrators and trustees alike—with a deep understanding of essential Best Practices for effective leadership and sustainable school development. IMC recognizes that fully implemented Montessori programs earn public trust through their impact on children’s lives. To that end, our Best Practices focus on the core operational areas that uphold the quality and integrity of the educational program and ensure the health and safety of students and staff.
Informing Families’ Choice: Understanding IMC Accreditation Standards
A secondary but vital purpose of IMC accreditation is to serve the public by helping families identify Montessori schools that meet recognized standards of excellence. Accreditation signals a school’s voluntary commitment to ongoing improvement and external review, though it does not guarantee specific student outcomes or eliminate all risks. Unlike mandatory licensing, IMC accreditation is a voluntary process designed to exceed minimum requirements and promote high standards within the global Montessori community.
| Accreditation Fees | Annual Membership Dues and Accreditation Fees | Additional Fees | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accreditation Application | $275 | School Membership Annual Dues | $770 | One-year Accreditation Extension | $250 |
| Guided Accreditation Journey | $2,400 | Accredited School Annual Dues | $570 | Teacher Portfolio Review (non-MACTE credentialed teachers) | $600 (per portfolio) |
| Guided Re-accreditation Journey | $1,500 | NCPSA Joint Diploma for Accredited Schools | $75 | Satellite Location Annual Dues (per satellite) | $250 |
| Onsite Visit (Estimated Cost) | $3,000-$5,000 |
The value of IMC & NCPSA Dual Accreditation
The International Montessori Council (IMC) is fully recognized by the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA). This allows IMC-accredited schools to seamlessly receive dual accreditation through a single self-study process, saving you time while expanding your school’s prestige. This dual status offers powerful benefits, including potential access to US state funding and the option to feature the highly respected NCPSA seal on graduation certificates—a feature highly valued by both domestic and international families..
Our Accredited Schools:
- AMARE Montessori School, TN, USA
- ANH Montessori School, AR, USA
- Bowman School, CA, USA
- Cattoira Montessori School, FL, USA
- Christian Montessori Academy, OK, USA
- Desert Garden Montessori, AZ, USA
- Foothill Montessori of Salt Lake, UT, USA
- Ghent Montessori School, VA, USA
- IMS of Hong Kong, CHINA
- Innovation Montessori Ocoee Charter School, FL, USA
- Knoxville Montessori School, TN, USA
- LakeCreek Montessori TX, USA
- Montessori Academy, TN, USA
- Montessori Children’s School of Key West, FL, USA
- Montessori Educational Center, LA, USA
- Oneness Family Montessori School, MD, USA
- Pines Montessori School, TX, USA
- Providence Montessori School, KY, USA
- Przedszkole Montessori “Chatka” Natolin, WAW, POLAND
- Sun Grove Montessori School, FL, USA
- The Montessori School of Tokyo, TKY, JAPAN
- Village Montessori of Bluemont, VA, USA
- Western Pennsylvania Montessori School, PA, USA
- YNZ Montessori High School, Oranjestad, ARUBA
Our Candidate Schools:
* Jakarta Montessori School, Indonesia * Catskill Montessori School, NY, USA *
* Montessori del Sol, Cayman Islands * The Children’s House of Nashville, TN, USA *
* Casa Dei Montessori, TN, USA * Clementine Montessori, PA, USA * Fairbanks Montessori, AK, USA * Renaissance Montessori Academy, CO, USA * Community Montessori School, TN, USA * Alden Montessori School, TX, USA * St. Maarten Montessori, Sint Maarten * English Montessori School, Poland * Green Montessori School, Indonesia *
Building your Montessori Muscles
So I really don’t workout but I heard it said once that working out isn’t how you feel when you get started but how you feel with the results. That’s a lot like the IMC Accreditation! Getting started is the hardest part but the results are definitely worth it! Our school is fitter, healthier and stronger because of IMC Accreditation. The hard work really does pay off…it builds your Montessori muscles!
Patty Sobelman, Principal of Pines Montessori School