- Dr Maria Montessori
What We Offer
A Joyful Place to Learn
Our inviting and peaceful school community will nurture your child with a social, cultural, and academic experience that brings out the very best of who they are. See your child delight in the joy of learning as they follow their own path in our authentic Montessori bilingual classrooms for children ages 2-12.
Together, let’s plant the seeds that will blossom into a life of confidence, creativity, and connection.
Who We Are
About Montessori International Academy
All families are welcome here! Our mission is to provide Orange County families with a truly authentic Montessori bilingual and cultural program for toddlers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary children. Joining our community will offer your child a social, developmental, and academic journey that will bring out their unique potential.
Our Team
Every teacher at Montessori International Academy considers the happiness, learning, and safety of your child to be their first priority.
Our Campus
We are centrally located in Orange County, close to Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, and Orange, just off the 55 on Dyer Road.
The Arts
Our arts program includes music, dance, theatre, and visual arts integrated into the curriculum at every level.
Our Legacy
We embrace kindness and compassion, bilingual learning, and the authentic Montessori approach. Founded by Principal Sumiyo Sumikawa in 2010.
Why Montessori
- awaken your child’s unique identity
- inspire with advanced academic learning in all areas
- establish crucial executive function skills like planning, organizing, focus, and perseverance!
Why Japanese
- nurture your child with respectful, responsible, cooperative Japanese culture
- easy to pronounce and easy to understand with only 5 simple vowels
- an accessible alphabet
- our in-house Japanese master chef!
Why Bilingual
- encourage rapid brain development
- facilitate learning other languages later on
- foster cultural understanding
- prepare your child to be a citizen of the world!
For All Age Groups
Explore Our Programs
From curious toddlers to confident elementary students, our goal is to nurture each child’s natural love of learning. Here, your child is free to explore, discover, and grow — not just in knowledge, but in character. Learn more about the program that’s right for your child!
Toddler
Age 2-3: Our authentic Montessori classrooms are thoughtfully prepared to nurture your child’s first steps towards independence. Each day, your little one will grow more capable, confident, and proud — in an environment designed just for them.
Preschool
Age 3-5: Our Montessori preschool classrooms will spark your child’s natural curiosity and love of learning. Your preschooler is eager to take on more complex tasks that build foundational executive functions like concentration, organization, and problem-solving.
Kindergarten
Age 5-6: The kindergarten year is a remarkable time of growth and learning, especially for your Montessori child! A joyful transition into advanced academics sets the stage for a lifetime of inspired learning.
Elementary
Grade 1-6: Our Montessori elementary experience offers your child unparalleled opportunities to become the master of their own life. The unforgettable Montessori lessons will inspire your child as they discover how they learn best and reach far beyond grade-level curriculum requirements.
After School
Program
Age 3-adult: Japanese, English, karate, tea ceremony, kendo, dance, and much more! Students in our elementary program, grade 1 to 6, attend select after school classes at no charge.
Summer School Program
Age 2-12: Our Montessori Summer School blends hands-on learning with fun. Your child will enjoy fundamental Montessori materials, creative projects, special guests, and exciting field trips! New language learners welcome.
International Student Program
Age 4-11: We welcome short-term international students at any time during the school year when space is available. Our bilingual program is specially designed for new language learners in English (ESL) and/or Japanese.
Testimonials from Families
What Parents Are Saying
Discover real stories from our joyful classrooms.
Orange, CA
"Professional teachers & staff: I absolutely am amazed with how each teacher knows my son’s name no matter what grade. This has never happened at other schools. Even the security guard is very professional and engaged with the students. My son loves to go to school and share what he did on the day. We love everyone at the school! So professional and active with children."
Orange, CA
"My son did not speak ANY Japanese when he enter school. But teachers are very supportive. Very passionate of educate and take care of our son. Now after 6 months he understands lots of Japanese and getting much smoother in communication."
Irvine, CA
"Best school around! The staff are communicative and truly focus on what matters most for your child’s development. My 5-year-old son has loved being here for two years—he’s now starting kindergarten, speaks Japanese, and never wants to miss a day."
Orange County, CA
"Great principal and teachers who care about each student and parents from the bottom of their heart. Kids learn not just academics but also discipline, culture (lots of fun activities!), sports and caring about other kids."
Orange County, CA
Schedule Your Tour Now!
We are looking forward to hearing all about what’s important to you for your child’s education. We can’t wait to show you around!
Come and Visit
Start Your Journey with Us
We Are Here to Help
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? We’ve answered the most common ones here. Let us guide you through what makes our school the right fit for your child and your family.
Isn’t Montessori only for preschool?
Montessori developed a full program through middle school, and there are thousands of Montessori elementary programs around the world. The Montessori elementary approach offers incomparable opportunities to develop collaboration, problem-solving, and project management skills. The Montessori elementary materials offer advanced math concepts such as extracting square and cube roots by hand, as well as detailed language analysis work which prepares your child to read and write with enthusiasm and discernment.
When is the best age to send my child to your school?
Children of all ages benefit from Montessori learning specially designed for their level. No matter when your child starts, their teachers will precisely target your child’s language development in both English and Japanese. At age 2, toddlers are ready to explore outside of the home, where they learn to concentrate on a task, regulate their emotions, use the toilet independently, and communicate their needs to others. At age 3, they are ready for the exciting adventure of Montessori preschool, where they develop the ability to concentrate on increasingly complex tasks, preparing them for academic concepts. Your kindergarten child uses the Montessori materials to leap ahead into writing, reading, and math work far beyond typical kindergarten learning. Elementary-aged children new to Montessori quickly adapt and become enthusiastic lifelong learners!
Isn’t it hard to transfer to a non-Montessori school after? Shouldn’t they transfer out early to get used to traditional school?
The short answer is, “More Montessori is better.” Montessori children consistently excel when they transfer to another school. It may take a few weeks or months to adapt, then they settle in as they learn to navigate their new environment. The Montessori approach develops all the foundational executive functioning skills (concentration, problem-solving, planning, organizing, impulse-control) and provides an incomparable foundation in academics. The longer your child stays in Montessori, the more leadership and collaboration skills they develop, and the more attuned they become to positive social relationships, giving them the discernment to consistently choose good friends in their future.
How is a Montessori school different from other private or public schools?
In a Montessori classroom, you’ll see children focused deeply on a task, sometimes moving freely around the room, laughing and excited about choosing their next work. You’ll see teachers working with a single child or with small groups, sharing lessons exactly at each child’s level. You’ll see older children developing leadership skills as mentors, role models, and collaborative learners, and you’ll see younger children inspired by the older children’s work. Research shows that the joyful Montessori experience works – that it provides social, emotional, and academic opportunities that give your child the opportunity to thrive.
What is an “authentic” Montessori school?
An authentic Montessori school follows Maria Montessori’s original methodology, and therefore sees the results Montessori herself observed: peaceful and happy children who see themselves as capable individuals and who learn – joyfully – much more than they do in typical schools. Montessori, Italy’s first female medical doctor and engineer, used her scientific training to develop her comprehensive method based on meticulous observations and a lifetime of work with children. She designed a training and accreditation system to ensure that teachers could learn to follow her method closely in order to recreate the astonishing results she achieved. Modern research has consistently shown that her approach works when her original methodology is followed. This is why an authentic Montessori school makes every effort to closely follow Montessori’s principles and practices.
How can my child benefit from learning two languages?
The benefits of bilingualism go well beyond simply being able to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Bilingual children also demonstrate better planning, problem-solving, and decision-making skills; are more flexible and adaptable; show improved concentration and focus; and have better language skills all-around. Though bilingual children may take longer to reach early milestones in speaking, reading, and writing, they typically catch up with and surpass their monolingual peers by age 9, demonstrating enhanced cognitive abilities and advanced executive function skills.
How do Montessori International Academy students compare academically with their peers at other schools?
The biggest concern in shifting to a typical school format after Montessori is that your child may be bored. Montessori children consistently excel in life and in academics. Research shows that authentic Montessori programming does exactly what Montessori wanted it to do: it prepares children for life! After leaving a Montessori program, children adjust in a few months, then adapt to the different method, drawing on the skills they’ve developed in Montessori: leadership, problem-solving, focus, planning, and more; as well as a strong academic foundation, typically well above their grade level. Bilingual children tend to catch up to (and typically surpass) their peers linguistically at around age 9.
What if a parent doesn’t speak English or Japanese?
No problem! Every classroom has teachers who are fluent in English and in Japanese, and we have administrative staff members to support you in either language, as well. Just let us know your preferred language and we will communicate with you in that language.
Can we join your school even though we don’t have a Japanese background?
Absolutely! The Montessori approach is uniquely designed to support each child at exactly their level, so our classrooms are effective for any language learner. Your child will have time and opportunity to work in the optimal language and at their level in math, science, geometry, geography, art, and music. For example, if your child is not yet confident with numbers in Japanese, they can learn advanced math in English until they’ve mastered enough Japanese to use it to effectively learn mathematical concepts.
My child is in 2nd grade. Does it work to join a Montessori school from a non-Montessori school? Is it too late for them to start a second language?
It definitely works! Our community is welcoming and your child will be supported by teachers and classmates as they learn the Montessori routines. Your child will be challenged in each language at exactly their level, and with time, will also learn how to direct their own learning. Additionally, our unique learning structure will give your child the opportunity to focus on whichever language is the top priority for them at any given time.
We are from another country (not Japan) and we want our child to learn English. Can they learn enough English since the school is bilingual?
Yes! Our students learn to read and write fluently in both English and Japanese. They progress in each language at their own pace and at their exact level. We can easily flow between languages, emphasizing the aspect of each language that is most important for each child at any given time.
We are visiting the USA temporarily. Can my child join your school?
Yes! We offer short-term enrollment (minimum one month) for international students, with a focus on your chosen language. Because we teach new language learners all the time in our day-to-day programming, your child will get exactly what they need to get up to speed in a new language quickly, and they’ll make good friends along the way! We’d love to host your child for a welcoming, enjoyable, and intensive language and cultural experience.
Do you teach Common Core?
The Montessori curriculum and approach includes and surpasses the skills, information, and markers of success found in Common Core. Because of the targeted Montessori approach and the internal motivation that is nurtured when children choose their own work and direct their learning process, every child is able to explore more deeply and more broadly. They delve into areas of interest and experience learning tailored to their capabilities, often propelling themselves far beyond the standards of Common Core.
What are your school’s expectations of parental involvement?
We do not have a volunteer requirement, but we love to have our parents involved! Parents are encouraged to attend regular parent-teacher conferences, observations in your child’s current and future classroom, and support as willing and available with our sports festival, musical performances, and other events. Parents who want to be involved are welcome to volunteer to share cultural information with their child’s classroom, accompany the class on field trips, or offer to support as teachers need.
"Our daughter started attending M.I.A. at 2.5 years old, and we love this school! The teachers and staff are so nurturing, kind, and attentive. It's a wonderful Japanese bilingual preschool/school."