Our Roots
Four Decades of Guiding Children to Become Who They Were Born to Be
Mount Dora Montessori has been part of the Central Florida community for over 40 years — growing from a small toddler program into a full AMI-certified school serving children from infancy through middle school.
Our History
It Started With a Simple Belief: Children Learn Best When They Feel Nurtured
In 1983, our school began as Montessori N.E.S.T. — Nurturing Environment Specialized for Toddlers — in Leesburg, Florida. The mission was personal: to support parents and young children through the earliest, most formative months of life. Classes in birth preparation, infant bonding, and early parenting weren't extras — they were the foundation.
By 1994, the school had outgrown its original home and moved to Mount Dora, where a Children's House for ages three to six was added. Two years later, an Elementary Program followed. In 2009, the school moved into its current home near Downtown Mount Dora — a renovated, sustainable building designed with children in mind.
Today, Mount Dora Montessori serves over 130 students from Lake, Orange, and Volusia Counties, with programs spanning infancy through 9th grade.
Today
The Same Heart. A New Name.
The name has changed. The school has not. Mount Dora Montessori is the same community, the same AMI-certified faculty, and the same deeply held belief in the power of authentic Montessori education — now entering its next chapter.
Founded
1983
Recognition
AMI Recognized
Students
130+
PROGRAMS
Infants to Middle School
LOCATED
Mount Dora, FL
