Montessori Education

Montessori education gives children freedom within structure to learn through hands-on experiences.  Classrooms are calm, organized environments where students make choices, focus deeply, and learn from hands-on materials.  

In the secondary environment (Middle school) students take ownership of their learning and develop confidence through purposeful work. 

Montessori in CPS

Cincinnati Public Schools has led public Montessori education for more than 50 years.  Bramble continues that legacy, serving as a model for innovative, child-centered learning within the district. 

The Montessori Lab School at The Bramble Nature Campus

The Montessori Lab School at Bramble Nature Campus is part of Cincinnati Public Schools’ long and proud tradition as a national leader in public Montessori education.  Since the 1970s, CP has offered Montessori programs that emphasize independence, hands-on learning, and respect for each child’s development.  

The Bramble Nature Campus was created to extend that legacy into a fully integrated, nature-based environment.  Located in Madisonville, the campus connects students’ academic growth with outdoor exploration, environmental stewardship, and real-world application of Montessori principles.  The Montessori Lab School serves as a living model for public Montessori education, where educators and families see first-hand how child-led learning and nature-based experiences support academic and social growth. 

The Bramble Nature Campus opened as Cincinnati’s first public Montessori Lab School, designed to support district -wide innovation and professional learning.  It reflects CPS’s continued investment in creating environments where students explore, question, and build the skills they need to contribute meaningfully to their communities.  

The Bramble Nature Campus Today 

Today, the Bramble Nature Campus contains both the Montessori Lab School and the constructivist preschool.  The Montessori Lab School at the Bramble Nature Campus offers a comprehensive Montessori education from preschool through middle school. Classrooms are multi-age, hands-on, and rooted in respect for each child’s natural curiosity. Students engage in work that promotes critical thinking, collaboration, and responsibility, both inside the classroom and in the surrounding natural spaces. 

The Montessori Lab School at the Bramble Nature Campus stands as a model for what’s possible in public education, where nature, community, and Montessori practice come together to support the whole child. 

Our four constructivist preschool classrooms strengthen the early childhood pipeline for Cincinnati families, ensuring young learners enter school ready to thrive in inquiry-based, student-centered environments.  Together, these programs share a common vision for joyful learning and strong community connections. 

A Living model of Public Montessori 

The Bramble Nature Campus serves as a demonstration site for high-quality Montessori education within Cincinnati Public Schools.  Educators from across the district observe, collaborate, and refine instructional practices based on student centered learning. 

At The Bramble Nature Campus, students:

• Learn in multi-age classrooms that encourage leadership and collaboration
• Use Montessori materials to explore and master academic concepts
• Receive individualized lessons 
• Develop independence and responsibility through guided choice

Innovation and Reflection 

Teachers at Bramble interrogate data, observation, reflection to strengthen learning outcomes.  The school supports innovation in public Montessori through collaboration, professional development, and model classrooms.  

Professional Learning

Bramble hosts professional learning experiences for CPS educators focused on Montessori philosophy, inclusion, and nature-based education. 

Montessori in CPS

Cincinnati Public Schools has led public Montessori education for more than 50 years.  Bramble continues that legacy, serving as a model for innovative, child-centered learning within the district. 

The Prepared Environment

Every classroom is designed for independence, order, and concentration.  Students move freely and engage deeply in meaningful work that connects to real life.