Welcome to Seton Montessori School

Tonight, Portillo’s in Willowbrook is hosting Seton's Meals That Matter fundraiser to benefit the Hinsdale Humane Society! Enjoy your favorite Chicago-style eats, and a portion of the proceeds will go directly toward helping animals in need. D
The Katherine Melsa Endowed Scholarship Fund honors Katherine’s lifetime commitment to the education of young children while financially supporting new Montessori certification candidates as they prepare to take on this critical work. Seton M
Seton’s Upper Elementary students had an unforgettable week last month! Our adventurous group embraced the outdoors, made lasting memories, and grew together as a class. From bunking in cozy dorms to hiking, learning wilderness skills, and taki
Savor a tasty dinner tonight and make a difference! Present this post at checkout or use the promo code 𝗖𝗥𝗤𝗭𝗗𝟰𝗖 for online orders, and a portion of your purchase will contribute to this month’s Meals That Matter organization, the Americ
Treat yourself to something delicious for dinner! Show this post at checkout or use the promo code for mobile orders, and a portion of your purchase will go towards supporting Seton’s cause. Every meal makes a difference—thank you for y
Each year the whole Seton community gathers together to celebrate International Day of Peace. From the Toddler House to Elementary, everyone shared in the spirit of peace and unity. Our Upper Elementary students presented their recent journal reflect

Seton at a Glance

Seton Montessori School, located in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, is a lab school for Seton Montessori Institute. Our mission is to prepare children and adults to become thoughtful, effective agents for peace and progress in themselves, their communities, and the world.

Founded in 1965, Seton Montessori School serves children from two months through twelve years of age. The Seton campus was designed to provide opportunities for learning in the natural world. Situated on 6.5 acres, our campus includes wooded areas, outdoor playscapes, and a variety of animals.

Seton Montessori School is accredited by American Montessori Society (AMS), has a gold circle of excellence rating with ExceleRate Illinois, is registered with the Illinois State Board of Education, and the American Camp Association accredits our summer camp program.

In our nearly 60 years of operation, Seton has prepared thousands of children for a life of learning, adventure, and discovery!

Our Programs

A teacher explains an art project to a group of 3 students.

The Montessori Approach

Seton’s Montessori classroom environments are based on a dynamic blend of freedom and structure. Children are encouraged to choose their activities from among a wide variety of prepared materials in a carefully planned and structured environment. The emphasis is on cultivating awareness, independence, and responsibility in a multi-age community.

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An older black and white photo of young children in a classroom.

The History of Seton

Founded in 1965 by a group of parents with Celma Pinho Perry, Seton Montessori School was built to Celma’s specifications as a Children’s House. After five exciting and successful years as a one-room schoolhouse, a second environment was added. Another five years of service, and a third room was built. The school grew in size again in 2000, adding two additional classrooms, a multi-purpose room, and office space. The school now offers a parent resource room, state-of-the-art classroom designs, as well as classic and well-maintained Montessori materials.

  • In 1978, a house adjacent to Seton’s campus became available, and it was made into the Montessori Infant & Toddler Community. This building was completely rebuilt in 2008 as a state-of-the-art facility, now welcoming infants as young as two months of age. The programs held at the Community focus on children less than three years old, which forms a perfect complement to Seton’s founding focus on children aged three to six.

    Additionally in 2008, Seton acquired and renovated a property directly behind the Main Building and the Seton Montessori Elementary Community was started. In 2011, an addition was added to the facility, more than doubling the size of the Elementary Building and providing the highest quality learning environments for both our Lower and Upper Elementary students. The building boasts many environmentally conscious features including a “green roof” and “Living Lab” classroom used by the entire Seton Community for biological and zoological studies.

    Seton now offers a programs for children and families from prebirth through their elementary years.