Saved Schools

Spokane Public Montessori

Spokane Public Montessori, nominated by an anonymous organization, is an elementary/middle school in Spokane, Washington, that describes itself as a public district school serving learners from a primarily urban/suburban/rural area.

Location Spokane, Washington

Governance Public District School

Grades Pre-Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle

Students 413

Locale Other, Rural, Suburban, Urban

Principal Rhonda Turnipseed

Demographics

Percentage of students*

100%

English Learners

21%

Free/Reduced Lunch

2%

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black 1%

American Indian/Alaska Native

Asian 1%

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Hispanic or Latino 4%

White 85%

2+ Races

Why Spokane Public Montessori was nominated

Spokane Public Montessori implements a public Montessori model that is rooted in human development and centers independence and agency within a social community to foster a sense of purpose and collective responsibility.

Student experience design

The mission of Spokane Public Montessori is to provide a quality public Montessori education in a culturally, racially, and economically diverse school community. Montessori emphasizes learning through all five senses, not just through listening, watching, or reading. Children in Montessori classes learn at their own, individual pace and according to their own choice of activities from hundreds of possibilities. Learning is an exciting process of discovery, leading to concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of learning. Montessori classes place children in three-year age groups (3-6, 6-9, 9-12, and so on), forming communities in which the older children spontaneously share their knowledge with the younger ones. Montessori represents an entirely different approach to education.

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Individual Learning Paths

5+ years

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

5+ years

Multi-age Classrooms

5+ years

Peer To Peer Support

5+ years

Restorative Practices

5+ years

All Practices

Advancement On Mastery

Student Advisories

Anti-racist Practices

Assessments For Deeper Learning

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Community And Workforce Partnerships

Family And Community Support Services

Competency/mastery-based Education

Culturally Responsive Practices

All Courses Designed For Inclusion

Individual Learner Profiles

Mental Health Services

1:1 Mentoring

No Tracked Classes

Project-based Learning

Performance Based Assessment

Reallocation Of Resources For Students Most In Need

School-based Enterprises

SEL Curriculum

SEL Integration School-wide

Service Learning

Student-led Conferences

Students Access Their Own Data

Student-led Goal Setting

Self-paced Learning

Students Develop Projects

Trauma-informed Practices

Career Prep

key reasons for innovating

Demonstrate what’s possible for other schools

Increase student agency

Respond to stakeholder demand or advocacy

Date Updated: 4/1/2026

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.