Introduction
The school is affectionately referred to as Hippo School by staff and families. We have two classes in two adjacent houses that share a common driveway and playground. Each class has 28 students (of mixed ages), one teacher and one assistant. Both teachers hold Association Montessori International (AMI) certification. Our program is a three-year program: two years of pre-school and kindergarten. We expect new families to enroll with intention of keeping their child in the school for three years--through kindergarten. This third year is the culmination of the primary level Montessori experience where children reap the benefits of the past two years, facilitating entry into a new school with a high degree of self-confidence, independence and enthusiasm for learning.

Parent Involvement
We are a parent run non-profit co-operative. Parents are expected to participate in every part of the school except the day-to-day classroom activities. We leave most classroom responsibilities to our trained teachers and assistants. Parents are obligated to do 20 hours of co-operative work over the school year that may include serving on parent committees, participating in maintenance days, and providing special skills or sharing special interests.

History
In 1976, a preschool was established in a house located at 3809 N. Washington Boulevard in Arlington, Virginia. In 1991, the school was incorporated under the laws of Virginia, named the Arlington Montessori House, Inc. and organized as a parent-run Cooperative (“Co-op”) with decisions made by the Co-op and its elected Board. The School (affectionately known as Hippo House) also hired a full-time administrator to manage the day-to-day business of the School.
Over the next five years, the School grew, having already established a strong reputation in Arlington. A long wait list of students desiring a spot in the School had developed. In 1996, the opportunity to lease the house next door at 3813 N. Washington Boulevard arose, and AMH decided to establish a second classroom. The Co-op was heavily involved in every aspect of this expansion, including financing, permitting, designing and constructing the renovations required to transform a house to a classroom, as well as hiring additional staff and a new teacher. In 1997, the second classroom opened, and the student population of AMH doubled. The student population then remained at forty-eight students over the next five years. In the spring of 2002, the Co-op decided to enclose the front porches to both buildings and expand the School by a total of eight (8) students, raising the student population to its current 56 students. The School continues to maintain a long wait list of applicants.
The School has always strived to maintain a small, congenial feel to its operations. The backyards of the facilities are a big playground shaded by two huge oak trees and equipped with a large sandbox, swings, and other playground equipment. Each classroom is housed in a former residential home, and thus, students feel as if they are going to school in a home. The school opens at 8:00 am and closes at 6:00 pm each school day. From 8:00 am to 8:30 am, early drop-off care is available. Drop-off for all students begins at 8:30 am, with class beginning promptly at 9:00 am. Morning class runs from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. At noon, the after care program begins for some of the students in one of the school’s buildings, while our afternoon class runs from noon to 3:00 pm in the other building. A typical day at the school ends at 6:00 pm with final pick-up of after care children.
The parent-run Co-op plays a large role in the operation of the School. The Co-op has a Board of Directors which oversees every aspect of the school and is supported by various committees which handle finance, maintenance, fundraising, social and human resources issues. The Co-op works closely with the school administrator and teachers to discuss needs of the school, including setting the yearly budget, maintaining the school buildings and grounds, and assisting in hiring staff for the school. Each year, the parent co-op takes the lead in organizing social gatherings and a silent auction fundraiser. Currently, the school is in the process of obtaining accreditation by a national Montessori accreditation group.

On the whole, the School provides a wonderful small-town community in a metropolitan area where children can grow, learn and develop in a safe, invigorating environment.