A Polk County Public Charter School

A Montessori School for ages 3 years - 15 years

Preschool with VPK

Each program consists of its own weekly theme and activities, so your child has something new to anticipate with each week.

K-8 Public Charter

You’ll be able to utilize or recycle supplies you already have at home to complete lesson activities. We’ll provide you with alternative options as well.

B.A.S.E.

Our programs are curated for two different age groups, so every lesson offers the appropriate level of engagement for your little ones.

Who We Are

At Cypress Junction Montessori, we nurture the whole child through a comprehensive Montessori education. Our approach encourages independent thinking and the development of foundational skills while fostering empathy, social ease, and high self-esteem. We build intellectual, emotional, and physical rigor to help students become self-directed learners, flexible thinkers, and creative problem solvers.

Our Programs

  • Primary Program

    The Primary classroom is designed for children aged 3 to 6 years old and is a carefully prepared environment that fosters independence, exploration, and self-directed learning. It is typically divided into five main areas: practical life, sensorial, language, math, and cultural subjects.

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  • Lower Elementary

    The Lower elementary classroom, for children aged 6-9, builds on the primary classroom foundation, offering opportunities for more complex work and deeper subject exploration.

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  • Upper Elementary

    The Upper Elementary classroom, for ages 9-12, builds on the lower elementary foundation, offering advanced exploration in five areas: language, math, cultural subjects, science, and practical life. It fosters collaboration, leadership, and self-directed learning, with the teacher acting as a guide.

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  • Secondary

    The Secondary classroom, for ages 12-15, builds on elementary foundations, offering advanced, self-directed learning in language arts, math, science, social studies, and practical life. It fosters collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, with teachers as mentors guiding students toward independence and success.

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Montessori nurtures order, concentration and independence

Intentional classroom design, materials, and daily routines support the student’s emerging “self-regulation” (the ability to educate one’s self, and to think about what one is learning), in toddlers through adolescents.

Montessori students enjoy freedom within Limits

Each creative activity prompt is an opportunity for your child to embrace a new challenge. Through hands-on learning, your child is more likely to remain engaged and to build upon their creative problem-solving skills.

What Parents Say

  • Jenelle Grabowicz

    “Cypress Junction Montessori has been truly life-changing for our family. My son went from dreading school every morning—begging not to go—to genuinely enjoying it, and the difference has been remarkable. The supportive, hands-on learning environment has not only transformed his attitude but has also led to incredible academic growth. Seeing him thrive, gain confidence, and develop a love for learning has been an absolute gift. We are beyond grateful for the nurturing approach and dedicated educators who have made such a profound impact on his journey.”

  • Melanie King

    “Enrolling my child at Cypress Junction Montessori was one of the best opportunities we had. Making this transition entering middle school made me nervous as a parent because he had not been taught in that structure previously.  The Montessori approach has truly transformed the way my child learns and views the world. The school fosters a sense of independence, critical thinking, and responsibility that I didn't even know was possible at this age.

    The teachers are supportive, creating an environment where every student feels valued and empowered. They encourage students to explore their interests deeply and challenge them to think creatively, all while maintaining a strong sense of community.

    What stands out to me the most is how CJM allows children to learn at their own pace while building essential skills for the future—both academically and personally. My child is not only excelling in his studies, taking high school credits in middle school, but also developing a strong sense of self.

    I am truly grateful for the nurturing, innovative, and holistic approach the school provides. It's clear that the Montessori philosophy is more than just a teaching method—it's a way of life at this school, and it has had an immensely positive impact on my child’s growth and development.“

  • Amber Chandler

    Thank you for the opportunity to express my gratitude for Cypress Junction Montessori. We first heard about CJM from another parent at my daughter’s school prior to its opening. My daughter was in the 4th grade at a large elementary school, was being bullied about her weight and was begging me to home school her. My husband and I were not in the financial position to do that and had been looking into other options for her education. She was highly intelligent and needed to be in an environment not just where she was accepted for who she was but where she was also challenged mentally and nurtured emotionally. Let me just say, we found that at CJM! She began there in 5th grade which happened to be the first year the school opened. She flourished during her time at CJM and grew more confident in herself and excelled in her learnings. She later graduated with high honors from Winter Haven High School and got her Cambridge degree while she was there. She’s now at Florida State University with aspirations to go to law school. She still looks back at her time at CJM with fond memories. She absolutely loved all her teachers and the staff who still ask about her to this day.

    We have two younger sons who also have gone to CJM. My oldest son has autism and ADHD and went to CJM from 6-8th grade. It was helpful for him to learn in an environment that was comfortable for him. CJM was able to meet him where he was and provided the support needed to shape his educational experience from a negative one into a positive one.  There were also several of his classmates that looked out for him and aided him when he needed it. They showed kindness and compassion to him which helped him learn the social skills he was so desperately needing to develop. He’s now a sophomore at Roosevelt Academy and his previous teachers and staff at CJM still ask how he’s doing often because they cared about him so much!

    My youngest son has attended CJM since the 1st grade. He’s now in 4th grade and has a similar personality to my daughter. It’s wonderful to see him grow and develop in a Montessori environment. He’s made lots of friends and tests well above his grade level in most subjects. He takes pride in getting his work done early so that he can have time to help and teach others. He especially enjoys math and loves to help his peers when they need it. Being able to do this has helped build his confidence, develop leadership skills, and helped him learn patience when helping others that may have a hard time understanding something.

    I believe the Montessori approach helps certain types of students that, for whatever reason, have a hard time in the traditional learning environment. They not only help each child in a way that is specific to them, but they teach them in a hands-on way that helps them relate what they’ve learned to the real world. I’ve had children at CJM for almost ten years now and I can honestly say that we’ve had a constant positive experience the entire time! I’m truly grateful for the superior educational experience and the teachers and staff that truly love what they do and care about the welfare of the students. I’ve often said that it’s such a shame that CJM did not have a high school as  our older children were sad to leave after their 8th grade year!