Charter Pathways
As community-embedded, small, teacher-led schools, Wildflower schools are very different from most public schools. When Wildflower schools open as charter schools, they demonstrate new possibilities for educational programs and make transformational education opportunities available at no cost to a growing number of children and families.
Wildflower Schools is a Charter Management Organization that supports teams in local communities that want to establish a network of tuition-free Montessori microschools.
The Sunflower School
Aurora, CO
Primary, Elementary
Mountain Juniper Montessori
Aurora, CO
Primary
Grove Montessori
Grand Rapids, MI
Elementary
Cactus Bloom Community School
Grand Valley, CO
Primary, Elementary
Water Lily Montessori
Saint Paul, MN
Primary
Lirio Montessori
Minneapolis, MN
Primary
Wildflower New York Charter School
Bronx, NY
Primary, Elementary
Blue Montessori
Washington, D.C.
Primary
The Riverseed School
Washington, D.C.
Primary, Elementary
Meadow Rue Montessori
Aurora, CO
Elementary
Cosmos Montessori
Minneapolis, MN
Primary
Frequently Asked Questions
What are charter schools?
A charter school is a tuition-free school of choice that is publicly funded but independently run.
Can I open a charter school anywhere?
While most states have pathways to create charter schools, some do not, including Nebraska, South Dakota, Vermont, and Kentucky. The first step in starting a Wildflower charter school is to develop a deep understanding the charter authorizing environment in your state.
How do I get started with Wildflower's charter pathway?
You can either apply to a local authorizer to open a charter school in partnership with Wildflower or open a new site under an existing Wildflower charter. Complete the Get Involved Form to get started. You can also apply for open roles at Wildflower charter roles at Educator Career Opportunities page.
Do I need to be Montessori trained?
All Wildflower Teacher Leaders are Montessori-trained. For charter schools, there are also opportunities for non-Montessorians to work alongside Teacher Leaders as administrators of the overall charter structure.
How do micro charter schools work?
When fully build-out, the charter includes multiple micro-school sites, each with its own address and 1-2 classrooms. Since micro-school sites don't benefit from scale, they share "back office" and specialized student supports. Below is an example of what a Wildflower charter school might look like. Notice the 5 micro-schools (in green) and the shared centralized charter supports (in blue):
Charter School Grant (CSP) Recipients
We are proud to share that Wildflower Schools was a recipient of the 2023-24 Charter School Program grant for the Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools. Our Award Number is S282M23005.
Wildflower Montessori Public Schools of Colorado (WMPSC) Aurora
Address: 1330 S. Potomac Street #104, Aurora, CO 80012
Grades served: PK-6
About the School: Wildflower Montessori Public Schools of Colorado (WMPSC) are free, public charter schools that bring together community, family, and talented teacher leaders to give our children a personalized education in an engaging, safe and nurturing environment. We nurture each child’s unique academic and social needs by providing high-quality Montessori learning environments that:
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Meet or exceed Colorado state performance management framework standards;
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Partner with Colorado Charter School Institute’s (CSI) vision for hyper-local charter schools that meet the needs of their communities;
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Understand Aurora Public Schools (APS) 2026 Strategic Plan and APS Blueprint, and how these plans affect educational and community planning in Aurora;
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Funding:
Year 1 (2023-2024) $417,693.50
Year 2 (2024-2025) $379,092.82
Year 3 (2025-2026) $275,694.54
Total Funding $1,072,480.86
Wildflower Montessori Public Schools of Colorado (WMPSC) Grand Valley
Address: 631 26 1/2 Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506
Grades served: PK-6
About the School:The WMPSC Grand Valley charter school is creating an ecosystem of four intentionally small, teacher-led charter sites in the Grand Valley where students, grades PK-6, families, and teachers connect deeply and grow together through their school journey. Our mission is to provide families with child-centered, authentic Montessori education that bridges academic outcomes and social-emotional development through intimate learning communities deeply rooted in place. We nurture each child’s unique academic and social needs by providing high-quality Montessori learning environments that:
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Align with Mesa County Valley School District D51’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan;
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Meet or exceed Colorado state performance management framework standards;
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Consider education to be integral to community health, supporting the transformative solutions outlined in the Mesa County Health Needs Assessment.
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CSP Seeds to Flowers Funding
Year 1 (2023-2024) $222,480.00
Year 2 (2024-2025) $333,332.77
Year 3 (2025-2026) $268,843.18
Year 4 (2026-2027) $194,332.09
Total Funding $1,018,988.04
Grove Montessori, A Wildflower Public School
Address: 1575 Jefferson Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Anticipated Opening Date: 9/2/2025
Grades Served: K-6
About the School: Grove Montessori is a public Montessori micro-school focused on meeting every child's needs and supporting student preparedness for self-directed learning and collaborative leadership. Building from a solid early childhood program, this authentic Montessori school will prioritize best practices in social-emotional learning paired with a proven curriculum that is both cutting-edge and time-tested.
Funding:
Year 1 (2025- 2026) $316,196.00
Year 2 (2026-2027) $184,021.00
Year 3 (2027-2028) $40,000
Total Funding $540,217
Linden Tree Montessori Community School, A Wildflower Public School
Address: 818 Rose Ave, Columbus, OH 43219
Anticipated Opening Date: 8/25/2026
Grades Served: K-4
About the School: Our mission is to offer a tuition-free Montessori education that cultivates every child's intellectual, social, emotional, and ethical development in our community including children and families of all backgrounds. Linden Tree Montessori nurtures curious minds, develops a lifelong love for learning, and empowers students with the confidence to pursue their passions and succeed in reaching their full potential in a global society.
Funding:
Year 1 (2025-2026) $162,342.94
Year 2 (2026-2027) $139,845
Year 3 (2027-2028) $114,755
Total Funding $416,942
Northern Nevada Wildflower Montessori
Anticipated Opening Date: 8/27/2027
Grades Served: PreK-3rd
About the School: The mission of Northern Nevada Wildflower Montessori (NNWM) is to provide a high-quality, holistic, and authentic Montessori education that integrates rigorous academic standards and emotional intelligence. Honoring all backgrounds and cultures, students are empowered to reach their full potential and become compassionate leaders, innovators, and ethical citizens who contribute positively to the world as changemakers.
Funding:
Year 1 (2025-2026) $341,109
Year 2 (2026-2027) $445,521
Year 3 (2027-2028) $213,370
