Standardized Test Proficiency in Public Montessori Schools

Abstract

Although Montessori is the most common unconventional education model, no multi-state study has compared standardized test proficiency of Montessori schools with districts. Here we report on this for the 10 states/regions with the most public Montessori schools (n = 195). In 3rd grade, Montessori schools were less proficient in math but more proficient in ELA. In 8 th grade they were also more proficient on ELA and showed a trend to greater proficiency in math. Black, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students at Montessori schools were more proficient on ELA tests, and performed better or similarly on math tests, at both grade levels. Achievement gaps were generally smaller. Difference in percent proficient in 8 th grade controlling for 3 rd grade was consistently greater at Montessori schools than in districts. Potential reasons for the different performance of Montessori schools are discussed.

“My Name Is Sally Brown, and I Hate School!”: A retrospective study of school liking among conventional and Montessori school alumni

“…These data suggest Montessori students might have a more positive subjective experience in school than conventional students. Previous research has demonstrated positive academic outcomes for Montessori students (e.g., Ansari & Winsler, 2014, 2020; Brown & Lewis, 2017; Culclasure et al, 2018; Denervaud et al, 2019; Dohrmann et al, 2007; Lillard & Else‐Quest, 2006; Lillard et al, 2017; Mallett & Schroeder, 2015; Snyder et al, 2021). Considering the relation between school liking and academic achievement observed in conventional school students, Montessori alumni's higher school liking scores might explain, at least in part, their higher academic achievement.…”

Montessori metoda odgoja i obrazovanja - pregled istraživanja od 2017. do 2022. godine

“…Iako je ovo upravo jedna od onih spomenutih varijabli istraživanja koje nisu nužno vezane za Montessori pedagogiju, vrijedno ih je spomenuti. Lillard i u ovom segmentu vrši istraživanje (Snyder, Tong i Lillard, 2022), i to prvo koje je uključivalo više država/regija (10) koje imaju najveći broj javnih Montessori škola. Istraživanje je provedeno nad učenicima 3. i 8. razreda.…”

An Association Between Montessori Education in Childhood and Adult Wellbeing

“…One is that the sample was largely female and White, which is often the case for internet survey samples ( Smith, 2008 ; Peytchev, 2011 ; Boulianne, 2013 ). Other studies that have tested for gender differences in Montessori outcomes typically have not found them ( Lillard and Else-Quest, 2006 ; Culclasure et al, 2018 ), and children of color particularly thrive in Montessori schools ( Ansari and Winsler, 2014 , 2020 ; Brown and Steele, 2015 ; Brown and Lewis, 2017 ; Culclasure et al, 2018 ; Lillard et al, in press ; Snyder et al, 2021 ). Ansari and Winsler (2014 , 2020) found that only Hispanic children thrived, but many other studies show Black children thrive in Montessori as well.…”