Parents ask · Choosing a school
What is the difference between Montessori and daycare?
Daycare is care with activities; a Montessori school is an academic program with a defined curriculum and a school year — which at Mills runs 180 days and continues through fifth grade.
The confusion is understandable, because for a two-year-old the hours can look identical and many Bay Area families are paying comparable monthly amounts either way. Mills is open 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, which is full daycare coverage, but the day inside those hours is structured as school.
The clearest practical difference is what happens at five. Daycare ends. A Montessori school that goes to fifth grade does not.
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Other things parents ask
How do I know if a Montessori school is genuine? Should we stay for Montessori kindergarten or move to public school? Is Montessori elementary worth it, or should we switch at six? What should I ask on a Montessori school tour? Does Montessori accreditation matter when choosing a school? Is Montessori good for a very active child?
Still deciding?
Call the school office at 650-616-9000, or come and watch a morning.