Where a love of learning begins.
Mills Montessori guides children from age two through fifth grade in a calm, carefully prepared classroom on the hill above South San Francisco. Come see a morning for yourself — it explains more than any website can.
Open enrollment year-round, subject to availability — you are not waiting on a single admissions season.
The essentials, up front
- Ages two through fifth grade. One school, from first steps away from home to real elementary work.
- Open 7:30 am – 6:00 pm, Monday–Friday. Built around Peninsula commutes.
- Tuition published openly. No inquiry form standing between you and a number.
- Teaching the Montessori method since 1988.
Questions? Call the school office at 650-616-9000
A single path, from age two to fifth grade
Montessori classrooms are built around how children actually grow — in long, uninterrupted stretches of concentration, with materials they choose themselves and older children to learn from. Here is what that looks like at each stage.
Toddler
A first, gentle step away from home. Small hands learn to pour, scoop, carry and tidy — the practical work that builds concentration and confidence. Potty training is not required.
Explore this programAges 3–4Preschool & Pre-K
Children choose their own work and follow their curiosity. Teachers show them how rather than doing it for them, so independence becomes a habit long before it becomes a skill.
Explore this programThe kindergarten yearKindergarten
The capstone of the early years, where reading, writing and mathematics come together and the oldest children lead the classroom they have grown up in.
Explore this programThrough 5th gradeElementary
Montessori that doesn’t stop at five. Children stay in the environment that formed them and go deeper — research, collaboration and real academic work.
Explore this programMost Montessori schools stop at kindergarten. We don’t.
The hardest moment for a Montessori family is the year the school runs out of grades and a child who has spent four years learning to direct their own work is handed a worksheet. Mills goes through fifth grade, so the method has time to finish what it started.
- Elementary through 5th gradeChildren stay in the environment that formed them instead of starting over somewhere new.
- Mixed-age classroomsYounger children learn by watching; older children learn by teaching. Both are the point, not a compromise.
- Enroll when you actually need toOpen enrollment runs year-round, subject to availability, with a $200 new-student fee — not a season of applications and deposits.
- A day that fits a real commuteMorning, full-day and extended full-day schedules, with doors open from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm.
Preschool I tuition
| Schedule | Morning 9:00–12:00 | Full day 9:00–2:30 | Extended 7:30–6:00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days / week | $1,200 | $1,400 | $1,750 |
| 4 days / week | $1,150 | $1,325 | $1,600 |
| 3 days / week | $1,100 | $1,300 | $1,500 |
Preschool II and Kindergarten are one rate at every schedule; Elementary is full day or extended full day only. Tuition may be paid in full for a 5% discount or in ten installments. A $200 enrollment fee applies to new students, plus an annual materials fee of $300 (preschool) or $450 (kindergarten and elementary). See the full tuition table →
Families who have been driving up this hill since the eighties
Read them yourself — we would rather you heard it from parents than from us.
To find a school that has an excellent academic standard, caring and qualified teachers, a creative and creativity-inducing environment, and parents and children like is simply miraculous. Mills Montessori is that school.
The Mueller FamilySan Francisco, CAVerbatim, from the school’s Yelp reviewsIn the span of six years, I have had three children enrolled in the school and I have been very impressed of their levels of success in academics and social skills. I am very thankful for all the years that you have provided my children wonderful beginnings.
Gigi D.San Francisco, CAVerbatim, from the school’s Yelp reviewsWe are so grateful we found your amazing school on the hill. Little did I know when I would drive by 24 years ago on my way to work what a big part of our lives it would be. They are both thriving and absolutely love school.
Benda S.San Francisco, CAVerbatim, from the school’s Yelp reviewsThe school on the hill, minutes from everywhere you already go
Mills sits on Hillside Boulevard above South San Francisco, reachable from both Highway 101 and Interstate 280. We serve many families working in the biotech corridor just below us, and we are a short drive from San Francisco, Kaiser and SFO.
Three steps, and none of them are complicated
The best way to judge a Montessori school is to stand in the back of a classroom on an ordinary Tuesday and watch what the children do when no one is directing them.
Come and see a morning
Tours run during the school day, because a quiet classroom at 4 pm tells you nothing. Call 650-616-9000 or request a time online and we will find a morning that suits you.
Apply when you are ready
Complete the enrollment application with a $200 new-student fee. Because enrollment is open year-round, you apply when your family needs a place — not on a school’s calendar.
Settle in
We agree a start date and a schedule that fits your week, and your child begins the gentle settling-in that Montessori classrooms are designed for.
The school on the hill
Photographs of our own celebrations and grounds — the school as it actually is, not a stock photograph of somebody else’s.
The things parents ask us first
- What ages does Mills Montessori serve?Mills Montessori serves children from age two through fifth grade — toddler, preschool and pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and elementary. Many Montessori schools stop at kindergarten; children here can stay in the same environment through their elementary years.
- What are your hours?The school is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, and closed weekends. Morning, full-day and extended full-day schedules are available so families can match the day to their commute.
- How much is tuition?Published rates run from $1,100 to $1,750 depending on the program, the number of days per week and the length of the day. Tuition may be paid in full for a discount — 5% before May 1st, 3% after — or in ten installments. There is a $200 enrollment fee for new students, and an annual materials fee of $300 for preschool or $450 for kindergarten and elementary.
- When can we enroll?Mills has open enrollment throughout the year, subject to availability — you are not limited to a single admissions season. The school year runs late August through June, and three optional summer sessions are offered.
Start a conversation
You do not need a form to find our prices — they are published in full. Use this when you want a tour, a place, or an answer about your own child.
Request a tour or ask a question
The school office replies to these directly. If you would rather talk now, call 650-616-9000.
Come see a morning at Mills
Tours are available year-round, during the school day, by appointment. We would love to show you around the school on the hill.