THE DAYCROFT DIFFERENCE

At Daycroft, we share Maria Montessori’s belief that children learn best when they learn in their own way and at their own pace. Education here is student-centered—not only in appreciating our students’ differences and accommodating their individual learning styles, but also in the way our students are responsible for their own learning.

“Daycroft gives children the solid foundation they’ll need to be successful in their future endeavors.”

—Terri Middleton, mother of Lauren, Mark, Paul, and Jake

Learn more about our mission, values, and vision, and consider these Daycroft educational advantages:

A personalized learning plan, continually updated, for your child. At Daycroft, there is no “one size fits all” approach to learning.

Responsibility and accountability, challenge and achievement. At Daycroft, your child will commit to, and take ownership of, the tasks of carrying out his or her assignments. As our students eagerly seek out and meet new challenges, they steadily develop their skills and talents and achieve their full potential.
Low student-to-teacher ratio at all grade levels. This enables Daycroft teachers to accommodate their students’ individual learning styles. Daycroft’s student-to-teacher ratio is 9:1 or less in elementary school, 8:1 or less in kindergarten, and 10:1 or less in preschool and 4:1 or less in our toddler classrooms.
Multiple ages and grades in each classroom. Each of Daycroft’s elementary school classrooms includes two grades, and our preprimary school classrooms accommodate a range of early-childhood ages. This lends continuity to the Daycroft educational experience as your child progresses through the curriculum. Also, older children serve as mentors to younger children in our classrooms. We provide an ideal balance of teacher direction and student choice. At Daycroft, your child takes the first exploratory steps on his or her learning path, yet is guided at all times by attentive, professional teachers.
Cultural diversity. In Daycroft’s truly diverse environment, your child learns alongside students from many ethnic, racial, religious, and economic backgrounds. This helps open your child’s eyes to the wider world and prepares him or her for success and leadership as a global citizen.
A strong partnership between your home and the school. Parental participation is encouraged throughout your child’s experience at Daycroft. This enriches your child’s education and creates a Daycroft community extending beyond our students, teachers, and administrators.

Welcome to Daycroft School!

We are excited that you are here to learn more about Daycroft School and how we might be a fit for your child.

As a Montessori school with over 50 years of history in Ann Arbor, our mission is to empower each child with confidence, compassion, and a lifelong love of learning. Our natural setting on the western side of Ann Arbor is truly a magical place for children to learn, explore, and bond as friends. We celebrate the differences in our community and recognize that this diversity enhances our students' learning experience and their understanding of the world they live in.

Daycroft provides a personalized learning environment that appreciates individual differences, nurtures the whole child, and enables students to develop at their own pace and achieve their full potential. Inspired by principles first developed by Maria Montessori, education at Daycroft is student-centered, not only in appreciating individual differences but also in enabling students to take significant responsibility for their learning. Daycroft supports the intrinsic motivation to learn. Kids love coming to school and thrive when they move on to other educational settings. Our parents report back that Daycroft students are well-prepared when they move on in their next chapter of learning due to their time management skills, their ability to self-advocate, and their curiosity to learn and care for others.

It is a joy to be a part of the Daycroft community as both a leader and a parent where my child is thriving, growing, and loves going to school every morning and hates to leave at the end of the day. I invite you to explore our website to learn more about the Daycroft Difference and why we are sought after by so many families to nurture and educate their children.

Warmest regards,

What is the difference between a Montessori and traditional education:

Montessori Education emphasizes hands-on, individualized learning along with freedom of choice in activities, while traditional education focuses on a more structured, teacher-directed curriculum.
Montessori Education encourages independence and self-directed learning, while traditional education focuses on group learning and following instruction.
Montessori Education focuses on developing a student's potential and encourages exploration, while traditional education focuses on the acquisition and memorization of facts.
Montessori Education employs specialized materials designed to engage the student more actively, while traditional education may use more traditional materials.
Montessori Education usually takes place in a multi-aged classroom, while traditional education usually takes place in a same age classroom setting.