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History of Chesapeake Montessori School

Main Campus
Upper Campus
11 2

1977

Anne Locke founded CMS with one Primary classroom. The first four years used rented classroom space in St. Margaret’s Church, near the present Main Campus location. Ms. Locke remained Head of School until 2004.

1981

CMS opened on the site of our present day Main Campus location. Between 1981 and 2000, CMS expanded from serving children between the ages of 3 years and 6 years to serving children from 18 months through age 12 years. 

2009

Following the purchase of additional land adjacent to our Main Campus, CMS raised a new building. This building housed both Elementary classrooms, a library, a multipurpose room, a full kitchen, and our administrative offices. 

2013

CMS committed to providing the first Montessori Adolescent Program in the greater Annapolis area and opened an adolescent classroom on Main Campus. 

2016

CMS purchased 3.5 acres on Ritchie Highway, about 3 miles north of Main Campus. Parents, students, and staff begin the work of transitioning the property and single family home into a campus that will serve the Adolescent Program. 

2019

The doors to the renovated Adolescent Program school house open to students and faculty on September 3. CMS opened an Upper Campus! At Main Campus, we opened our second Young Children’s Community. This brought CMS a total of 2 Young Children’s Communities, 3 Primary Communities, 2 Elementary Communities, and one Adolescent Program. 

Present Day

CMS campuses span a total of 11 acres. Upper Campus is a small farm of 3.5 acres on Ritchie Highway. The students keep chickens, a vegetable garden, and an apiary as part of the larger microeconomy. CMS’s Main Campus of seven acres includes two buildings, three playgrounds, a nature trail, a sport court, a small soccer field, many different gardens, and rolling hills. 

All of our classrooms and both campuses are well-equipped, stimulating environments that reflect Montessori principles and encourage self-discipline, self-construction, independence, academic accomplishment, problem solving ability, community mindedness, and an enthusiasm for learning.

CMS is recognized by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), the highest category available to a school; accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS); and licensed by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). It is a non-profit corporation governed by a Board of Trustees.