“MRM is a uniquely vibrant independent school in Duluth Minnesota that nourishes the whole child from toddlers through 8th grade. Our students build life skills and independence through experiential and environmental learning, thrive socially in a fun, diverse, and supportive community, and succeed academically in an enriching and individualized educational environment. At MRM we care about your child’s whole self: cognitive, physical, social, and emotional.”

Wendy Fisher, Head of School


What you will find at Many Rivers Montessori

We are a nurturing community of students, teachers, and families coming together under a shared mission and common values to grow a generation of students who will change the world. The 100-year-old Montessori method, along with the latest evidence-based educational practices, undergird everything we do at Many Rivers Montessori. MRM emphasizes academics, social-emotional learning, and making education both enriching and fun.

Our Programs

For children 16 months through 8th grade

The Amity Creek Toddler Community serves children aged 16 months through 3 years. A nurturing and home-like environment promotes independence and connection, as well as emotional and physical safety. The Toddler Community is a half-day or full-day, 5-days-a-week program.

The Children’s House Communities provide concrete, hands-on learning opportunities to children aged 3 through the kindergarten year. We offer half- or full-day options until the Kindergarten year, which is full day. The program emphasizes ever-increasing independence, acquiring a strong academic foundation and building strong social-emotional skills.

The Lower Elementary (Grades 1–3) and Upper Elementary (Grades 4–6) communities offer guided, child-led learning, cultivating the love of knowledge, work, independence, and compassion. Each individual student works and learns at their own pace, with the goal to meet expected academic and social-emotional benchmarks by the end of each three-year cycle.

The MRM Middle School provides an intimate, high-quality, authentic Montessori educational environment for grades 7-8 that ensures students reach their full potential through independence, academic preparation, and social-emotional development. The students gain experience managing thriving micro-economies, planning extensive trips, and serving as leaders and mentors in the school community.

Mission


Many Rivers Montessori empowers our students to transform the world. Through world-class Montessori education, a focus on the whole child, and an inclusive and fun community, we cultivate independent, academically prepared, and socially responsible citizens who will be lifelong learners and creative problem solvers.

Our Values

We have the courage and passion to dream big, and we’re willing to sacrifice, serve, and work hard toward an audacious goal that really matters.

We are a place of joy and laughter.

We are intentionally creating a kind, compassionate, inclusive and welcoming community that reaches out to the world around us.

We live in a beautiful, extreme, and distinctive natural playground. We love being part of it. 

Our respect for all means justice is at the heart of everything we do.

We meet each child where they are at, and empower them to follow their passion and realize their academic, social and moral potential.

“I was seeking community for myself and my family and I found community through MRM.” 

~ Sari Mundon, MRM parent and Lower Elementary Assistant


Our Montessori Foundation


Our school is guided by the principles and pedagogy of Dr. Maria Montessori. She defined the goal of education as “the development of a complete human being, oriented to the environment, and adapted to his or her time, place and culture.” The prepared learning environments nurture the independence of the students, create an abiding respect for self and others, foster curiosity, and instill a love of learning and exploration.

Dr. Montessori believed that children learn through purposeful activities. The prepared classroom provides a developmentally appropriate environment that supports and inspires the child’s innate desire to learn, and where the choice of meaningful work is expected and respected.

The Montessori philosophy is rooted in the natural world. One way we honor this is with our vegetable garden, where the children will work to grow food that can be used in the school community, or donated to local food banks. Our students experience extended outdoor free play in all weather we fully embrace our unique North Country climate.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are goals that our entire school community works toward. With daily lessons of Grace and Courtesy, our children grow to understand and respect one another and to appreciate each other’s differences. Many Rivers Montessori offers financial aid to help make a Montessori education affordable for all.