New Horizons Montessori School was founded in 1970 by a group of parents determined to provide a quality Montessori education for their children through the sixth grade. At that time, there were no existing Montessori schools in Philadelphia or Montgomery County that extended to the Upper Elementary grades. To keep costs down, they decided it would be a parent-run school, and NHMS continued to be administered by a parent Board until 1985, when a Montessori-trained administrator joined the staff to take over day-to-day operations.

When the school opened in September 1970, eighty students were enrolled in the two Children’s House and two Lower Elementary classes for grades one to three. One grade was added each year as the children became older, until six grades were achieved.  New Horizons is still one of only a few Montessori Schools in the Philadelphia area with an Upper Elementary program.

In 1976, the school began offering the Extended Hours Program, and a Toddler Class was added in 1990 for children from 18 months to three years.

Today, NHMS consists of one Toddler, three Children’s House, two Lower Elementary and two Upper Elementary classes, as well as a before and after school Extended Hours Program. The school is governed by a Board of Trustees and managed by a professional administration. More than 100 families and 140 children take part in our school community.