Adolescent / Erdkinder
12-18 Years Old • 8:00 am – 3:00 pm, Monday – Friday
Adolescent/Erdkinder program (12-18-year-olds) was also created to provide the
Upper Elementary students a path to continue their Montessori education into High School.
This advanced program is the only one of its kind in Central Florida.
At The Montessori Academy of Celebration, our Erdkinder program—meaning “Children of the Earth”—invites students to step beyond the classroom and into the world. Rooted in Dr. Maria Montessori’s original vision for adolescent education, Erdkinder offers a transformative alternative to the traditional high school model—one that values curiosity, purpose, and authentic experience as deeply as academic achievement.
In addition to the curriculum, students engage in real work that connects learning to life. They run small businesses, manage budgets, produce goods and services, and participate in the functioning of a micro-community. This hands-on approach fosters economic independence, leadership, and self-confidence—key components of Montessori’s concept of valorization, or the process of discovering one’s value through purposeful contribution.
Erdkinder: The Montessori High School Experience
While a traditional high school often separates subjects and measures success primarily through tests and grades, a Montessori high school integrates learning across disciplines and emphasizes mastery, reflection, and application. Students move beyond memorization to problem-solving, collaboration, and creative thinking. They have a voice in their education, setting goals, managing projects, and taking ownership of outcomes. Learning is personal, relevant, and connected to the greater world—whether through environmental stewardship, entrepreneurship, or community service.
Montessori high school students are guided by educators who serve as mentors rather than lecturers, supporting their journey toward self-reliance and responsibility. Classes are discussion-based and experiential, blending academic rigor with opportunities for leadership, innovation, and emotional growth.
Preparing for life beyond the classroom
“We must see the child from the point of the future man. We must understand that it is a human right that the child should grow in the right way because the man will grow from the child in a few years. This man must have the rights of every citizen.”
~ Dr. Maria Montessori