Now Offering a 10% Military Discount! Talk with our School Director to learn more.
- Overview
- Programs
- Our Team
- Accreditation
- Private Kindergarten Montessori Program (6-7 years)
- Reviews
About Our Montessori School in Falls Church, VA
We are a boutique private Montessori school, dedicated to providing our students with an exceptional early childhood education.
Our Story
As a boutique private school, Falls Church Montessori intently focuses on a small number of students and families, over a long period of time. We value the importance of nurturing authentic relationships with the students and families we serve. It is through these well-built connections that we are able to deliver a truly extraordinary learning experience.
Since our founding in 1983, Falls Church Montessori has been committed to delivering a fresh and unique early childhood experience- for both students and their families. We remain earnestly devoted to this innovative approach to learning.
Today, we are the area’s only fully accredited Montessori school. Our staff are career professional teachers- with decades of experience. Our facilities and classes are light filled, designer inspired spaces- and are among the area’s finest.
With continual investment in our principles- both material and substantive- we are dedicated to providing the very best in early childhood education. Falls Church Montessori offers students opportunities to develop to their infinite potential. The FCM school environment and class atmosphere, provides an unrivaled total learning experience, where student development and learning thrive.
Our Programs
Our programs are specifically tailored for students 12 months thru 7 years. We are intently focused on taking a low-volume, super long-term oriented approach, in all that we do. This outlook on education, is extraordinarily well matched, with the Montessori method of teaching.
Toddler Program (Ages 12 months – 2 years) –
The Falls Church Montessori Toddler Program recognizes that these early months of a child’s life are among the most important – they are the foundation upon which all future learning is constructed. As such, our Toddler Program is carefully designed to meet each child’s unique developmental requirements, interests, and abilities. Specifically, our Toddler Program focuses on supporting and advancing the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of each child. This enables our students to progress as rapidly as possible, learning to their full potential. Falls Church Montessori toddlers routinely exhibit early and consistent signs of impressive growth, particularly in regards to speech and language development.
Pre-Primary Program (2 – 3 years) –
Through a mixed age group environment, social and emotional growth, as well as values of independence and responsibility, are inspired. Core academic disciplines of math, language, science, practical life and sensorial serve as the foundation for the class curriculum.
Primary Program (3 – 6 years) –
The Falls Church Montessori Primary Program approaches students as the grown and intelligent individuals they are. The curriculum places an emphasis on interest driven education. Students are encouraged to work on lessons they are curious about, and by doing so, generally learn at a much faster pace. Where traditional preschool programs typically manage children in heavily orchestrated and confined environments dominated by toys and quantified by rote memorization, the Falls Church Montessori Primary Program encourages children to engage in practical skills development based on initial prompts and guidance from highly trained professionals. Students are provided the tools to build and refine their own unique approaches to problem-solving.
Kids Cafe Preschool Cooking Program
Cooking Up Confidence, One Recipe At A Time!
Kids Café is a hands-on cooking program where children explore new foods, build confidence, and develop essential life skills through fun, guided kitchen experiences.
Program Highlights:
- Designed for ages 3+
- Weekly sessions over a 12-week program
- Hands-on cooking activities and kid-friendly recipes
- Builds teamwork, sharing, and communication skills
- Encourages problem-solving and following directions
- Supports early math, literacy, and critical thinking
- Includes a take-home cooking kit for continued fun
Talk to your School Director today to learn more and enroll.
Programs Offered
Our Team
Nayana Ranasinghe
School Director
Nayana completed her Montessori and Early Childhood Education training in Colombo, Sri Lanka. With a deep passion for nurturing young minds, she brings both international perspective and heartfelt dedication to her role. Outside of her professional life, Nayana enjoys traveling, listening to music, and spending time in the kitchen exploring her love for cooking. As the Director of Falls Church Montessori, Nayana is committed to guiding students, parents, staff, and the wider school community through times of growth and transition. Her goal is to uphold and enhance the school’s longstanding reputation for excellence, safety, and high-quality early childhood education.
Ms. Kelly
Teacher of the Year
Kelly Trejo joined Falls Church Montessori (FCM) in March 2023 as an assistant teacher, initially supporting the Toddler classroom. Her dedication, enthusiasm, and love for early childhood education quickly became evident, and she later transitioned into our Montessori classroom, where she now works alongside a lead teacher. Kelly holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential in Early Childhood Education and has also earned her Montessori Assistant Certification. She is committed to lifelong learning and continues to pursue professional development by earning continuing education credits each month. In recognition of her outstanding performance, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to the FCM community, Kelly was honored with the Teacher of the Year award. She is deeply valued by her students, colleagues, and families for her warmth, consistency, and positive impact in the classroom.
Accreditations
Cognia
Based on a set of rigorous research-based standards and evidence-based criteria, the accreditation process examines the whole institution–its policies, programs, practices, learning conditions, and cultural context–to determine how well the parts work together to carry out the institution’s vision and meet the needs of every learner. Accreditation isn’t about passing a one-time inspection. Rather, accreditation recognizes education providers that demonstrate and sustain their commitments to continuous improvement and better learner outcomes.
School Resources
The Falls Church Montessori Kindergarten Program is structured on a full day, tri-partite academic framework. Students in this program will participate first, in the Early Montessori session.
During this period, typically 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. a mixed age group class, children ages 3-6, will interact and work in a traditional Montessori environment. Following a recess and lunch break, our Kindergartners begin their afternoon academic session. In this more intimate of settings, only our oldest and most advanced students will get time to further hone their skills, in a class environment intended to prepare them for 1st Grade.
During this session, our students are provided increased one-on-one attention, our most challenging academic curriculum, and highest behavioral expectations and standards. Following a break for snack, students will transition from this Afternoon Montessori class, to the Montessori Liberal Arts part of their day. During these afternoon hours, culture, art, community projects and lessons take priority.
This part of the curriculum, is intended to ensure our students get a well-rounded and full educational experience. Not surprisingly, this last pre-grade school program results in dramatic growth in our students.
Students at this level are routinely reading at grade school level, able to complete advanced math exercises – including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division – and evidence strong social and emotional maturity.
Past students of Falls Church Montessori have developed a strong track record of impeccable performance at public and private grade school institutions across the Washington Metro area.
Reviews from Parents
Falls Church Montessori Preschool
Leave us a Review
We want to learn about your experience with Falls Church Montessori Preschool. Please take a moment to share your experience with us and let us know how we are doing.
Schedule a Time to Tour Our School
Our online scheduler is currently unavailable in this browser.
