Our Vision

Students empowered to share their unique gifts with the world.

Our Mission

Desert Sky Montessori provides all children an environment for joyful exploration that fosters self-discovery and a life-long love of learning.

Our Philosophy

The learning environment at Desert Sky is based on Dr. Maria Montessori’s philosophy on the development of the whole child. Dr. Montessori recognized that children have an innate desire to learn and given the proper environment, will thrive intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically. A Montessori classroom thrives due to its “prepared environment,” as Dr. Montessori termed it. This is achieved not only with the classroom filled with Montessori materials and authentically trained teachers, but also by creating a social setting and atmosphere where children can reach their fullest potential. Desert Sky is open to all children and proudly adopts an educational approach that specifically addresses the community’s diversity to ensure that truly, no child is left behind.

Our Story

Desert Sky Montessori was founded with love, perseverance, a passion for Montessori education, and… a couple of epic donut sales. Early in 2014, a handful of parents came together to discuss an alternative to traditional elementary education in Bend for their Montessori preschoolers. For the following two and a half years, our founding Board grew from three to more than twelve members. The board worked tirelessly to spread the word about the opportunity for a tuition-free Montessori school in Central Oregon. In the fall of 2016, after three rounds of applications, the Bend-La Pine School District voted unanimously for our approval, granting us the charter. Thus, the first and only tuition-free Montessori elementary school in Central Oregon was created. 

After receiving a grant from the Anjulicia Foundation and two grants from the Oregon Department of Education, plus many successful fundraisers, Desert Sky was able to purchase full classroom sets of Nienhuis Montessori materials and secure its original location in the Bend River Plaza. Desert Sky opened on September 6, 2017, with four classrooms ranging from kindergarten to 3rd grade.

In 2018, Desert Sky Montessori grew to include our second location at One World Center, thus making space for our brand-new Upper Elementary classroom and a preschool. Our school expanded to include kindergarten to 6th grade students in seven beautiful and authentic Montessori classrooms.    

In 2022, Desert Sky Montessori moved to our current location on OB Riley Road, thus uniting all staff and students under one roof. Our original vision of creating a public Montessori school on one campus is now a reality, and we’re one step closer to our goal of adding a middle school in the (hopefully near) future.