Our History

Rogers Park Montessori School was founded by ten Rogers Park parents in September of 1966 in a converted space at St. Ignatius parish and has provided quality education to the children of Chicago ever since. 

In 1975, the school moved its site to Bethany Lutheran Church at 1244 W.Thorndale. RPMS gradually expanded to offer a Toddler class, five pre-school classes, and after school care for working families.  The RPMS elementary program launched in 1991 and in three years, the class grew rapidly from its initial enrollment of 7 students to a class of 18.

In 1994, RPMS opened a 9-12 program and a year later, with the continued growth of the elementary program, new space was leased at 1020 West Bryn Mawr in the Edgewater Presbyterian Church. This building housed our 6-9 and 9-12 classrooms and after-school elementary program.  Our tremendous growth and separate buildings created the need to look for a single site to house both our programs. This search spanned over 10 years.

Finally in 2004, RPMS purchased and began construction on our current home, a 47,000 square foot educational facility at 1800 West Balmoral. Thanks to the hard work, support and continued energy of RPMS parents, a state-of-the-art school that incorporates the Montessori philosophy into its design opened in January 2006. It includes Montessori programming from Toddler to Middle School, a gym, library, multi-purpose room, green roof, playgrounds and green space.  1800 W. Balmoral Virtual Tour