Opening a Montessori Microschool —and Why Some Educators Choose Wildflower

This post draws context from the microschool landscape described by education writer Kerry McDonald in her recent article, “So, You Want to Open a Microschool.” We recommend reading the full piece for a broader view of the growing ecosystem of organizations supporting microschool founders.

As school choice programs expand, making new models more financially accessible, more educators across the country are stepping forward to build schools of their own—small, human-scaled, and deeply responsive to children and communities. Microschools are no longer fringe experiments; they are part of a growing, bottom-up movement widening education options for families.

As education writer Kerry McDonald writes in “So, You Want to Open a Microschool,” partnering with a school accelerator or network is not required to start a microschool—but it can offer critical support and community for aspiring founders new to launching and running a small business. 

What Defines the Wildflower Approach

Wildflower began with a single teacher-led Montessori microschool in Cambridge, MA and has grown into a national network of 81 schools across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Our focus has remained consistent: to support entrepreneurial educators in opening and leading small, teacher-led Montessori schools designed to serve all children by providing access to resources, coaching, and community. 

Access to Startup Capital

Wildflower is distinctive in its commitment to supporting educator access to startup capital. We believe financial barriers should not determine who gets to start a school or which communities are served. Access to capital is a lever for equity and stability particularly in a school’s earliest years. 

Montessori as the Foundation

Wildflower is not education-philosophy agnostic. Our schools are grounded in learner-centered Montessori education—an intentional, time-tested, research-based practice that balances freedom and structure, independence and responsibility.

Educators do not need to be Montessori-trained when they begin the journey with us. They do need to be committed to Montessori practice and to have a plan for training. 

Access as the Aim

Wildflower schools are designed to be embedded in their communities and to expand who has access to high-quality education. Across our network, educators pursue tuition-free, charter pathways alongside private models that leverage public funding and tiered tuition—always with the goal of serving families historically excluded from great schooling options.

Coaching and Operational Support 

Many educators are navigating entrepreneurship and operations for the first time. Through the School Startup Journey, Wildflower provides individualized and cohort-based coaching and resources as schools move from idea to launch and into their early years.

Support includes planning, budgeting, governance, compliance, enrollment, and day-to-day operations, as well as connection to a national community of founders. The School Startup Journey is offered at no cost; upon launch, founders commit to a membership agreement, including about 3 percent in annual revenue sharing. 

Who Wildflower Is For

Wildflower is a strong fit for entrepreneurial educators who:

• want to lead schools while remaining deeply connected to classroom practice

• are committed to Montessori practice and ongoing professional growth

• care deeply about expanding access

• value coaching, reflection, and learning alongside a national community of peers

An Invitation to Explore the School Startup Journey

Microschools are growing because families and educators are seeking something more human, more responsive, and more grounded in real relationships. Wildflower is one pathway within this larger movement—designed specifically for educators who want to build small, teacher-led Montessori schools that expand access and endure over time.

If you’re considering opening a school, we invite you to learn more about Wildflower’s School Startup Journey and explore whether this path is right for you and Get Involved.