December 10, 2019

News Release

San Antonio ISD (SAISD) will open a second Montessori school in August of 2020, this one on the campus of the former Rodriguez Elementary School. The new school will also feature a dual language pathway.

The Rodriguez Montessori Elementary School will open with students ages 3-6, expanding to fifth grade in subsequent years. The District is taking applications now through Jan. 31, 2020, and students in Bexar County and surrounding areas are welcome to apply online at www.saisd.net/apply

SAISD made the announcement following a series of community meetings and outreach, which were held so that families could share what they would like to see in the new school to best meet student needs.    

“I am most proud of how community feedback played a critical part in choosing this model,” said Pedro Martinez, superintendent. “Parents told us they wanted their children to have opportunities for hands-on learning, the flexibility to work at their own pace, and the ability to learn in more than one language. This second Montessori school with a dual language pathway was borne from their wishes.”

Rodriguez joins Steele Montessori Academy as one of only two public Montessori schools in the city – both within SAISD. Additionally, the new school’s dual language component in Spanish and English adds to the growing list of the District’s dual language offerings. More than half of SAISD’s schools offer parents this popular choice.

The Montessori approach at the new school will offer student-centered learning and a strong emphasis on creating independent individuals who show empathy and compassion. 

In Montessori classrooms, children make creative choices in their learning, while the teacher offers age-appropriate activities at each student’s pace to guide the process. Children work in groups and individually to discover and explore the world and to develop their maximum potential through interactive learning and self-directed activities.

Based on research, the school’s dual language pathway is expected to help increase students’ creativity and problem-solving, boost their mental ability, and promote higher performance on standardized tests. In addition to the cognitive benefits, a dual language education helps students cultivate a deeper understanding of not only their own cultures but the cultures of others as well.  

To learn more about Rodriguez Montessori, information sessions will be held for interested families on Jan. 16, 23 and 28 at the school, as well as during at the Experience SAISD annual showcase on Jan. 11 at the Freeman Coliseum.