A group of people is working to set up a Montessori high school in South Bend.
South Bend already has several options for Montessori schools for younger children, including one that’s part of the city’s public district. This new school would be only the fifth Montessori high school in the state.
South Bend Montessori High School co-founder Eileen Mariani said high schools are rarer in part because the Montessori method is less fleshed out for older kids. She said the approach is not for every student.
“This would be for the student that would like to take charge of their education. They want to be a part of designing their coursework.”
Co-founder Eric Oglesbee said students are meant to use the city as a classroom. He said the school is also meant to be part of the community.
“We think the school should not just be this little isolated school that’s doing its own thing but that we’re enmeshed in our community and we’re working to make the community better wherever we can.”
The school is planning to launch in the fall out of a former preschool at First Presbyterian Church on Colfax. The school will start with 18 freshman. It is a private school.
Oglesbee said they’re working with Indiana to be able to use state vouchers. He said a third of each class is reserved for low-income students and one third for students that will need some financial aid. Yearly tuition is $12,800.
