The first nationwide randomized study of children enrolled in public Montessori preschools found that students showed stronger learning outcomes by the time they reached kindergarten. Compared with children who attended non-Montessori programs, Montessori students performed better in reading, memory, and executive function. The results also carry clear implications for education policy, since the Montessori programs produced these gains while operating at significantly lower cost. The study followed 588 children across two dozen programs in different parts of the country, underscoring the importance of tracking these outcomes through later grades and into adulthood.

Stronger Outcomes at Lower Cost

Researchers from the University of Virginia, the University of Pennsylvania, and the American Institutes for Research led the new national analysis. Their findings show that public Montessori preschool programs serving children ages 3 to 6 deliver stronger early learning outcomes than traditional preschool options, while also reducing costs for school districts and taxpayers. The research represents the first randomized controlled trial of public Montessori education and was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Nearly 600 children were followed across 24 public Montessori programs nationwide.

By the end of kindergarten, children who were randomly selected through a lottery to attend Montessori preschools outperformed their peers in reading, executive function, short-term memory, and social understanding. At the same time, Montessori programs cost about $13,000 less per child than conventional preschool programs. This figure does not include additional savings that may come from higher teacher satisfaction and lower turnover, trends supported by other research. These results stand in contrast to earlier preschool studies, which often found short-term benefits that faded by kindergarten.

Researchers Highlight Enduring Benefits

"These findings affirm what Maria Montessori believed over a century ago -- that when we trust children to learn with purpose and curiosity, they thrive," said Angeline Lillard, Commonwealth Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. "Public Montessori programs are not only effective but cost-efficient."

Karen Manship, coauthor and Managing Director at the American Institutes for Research, noted that Montessori programs are already widespread in public education. "Montessori preschool programs are already being used in hundreds of U.S. public schools, and our research shows that they are having a positive impact in key areas of early learning," she said. "These findings provide valuable evidence to policymakers and educational leaders who are seeking to deliver better outcomes with increasingly limited resources."

David Loeb of the University of Pennsylvania emphasized the historical roots of the approach. "Montessori began in the low-income housing of early 20th century Rome," he said. "This research shows it still delivers on that promise for America's children today."