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Average

#1100 of 1,790 private schools in CA

Diablo Valley Montessori School

Elementary School

3390 DEER HILL RD, Lafayette, CA 94549

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on CA statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

36

Student-Teacher

3.6:1

Score

6.0

Grades

Pre-K – Kindergarten

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Lafayette

#4 of 6

public schools

California elementary schools

#647 of 1,102

About Diablo Valley Montessori School

Diablo Valley Montessori School serves 36 students in prekindergarten through kindergarten in Lafayette, California. This small public elementary school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 3.6:1 with 10 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for highly individualized attention during these crucial early learning years. The school earned a strong MySchoolScout rating of 9.0 out of 10, reflecting its commitment to early childhood education.

While ranking at the 46th percentile among California elementary schools (#975 out of 1790), this positioning represents solid performance within the state's competitive educational landscape. The intimate school environment focuses on the foundational prekindergarten and kindergarten years, when children develop essential academic and social skills. With such a small enrollment and abundant staffing, students receive personalized support as they begin their educational journey.

Diablo Valley Montessori School is situated in Lafayette's affluent community, where families demonstrate a strong commitment to education. The surrounding neighborhood boasts a median household income of $221,148 and impressive educational attainment, with 76% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher. The area maintains a low poverty rate of just 4.7%, contributing to a stable, supportive environment for young learners.

The school operates within Lafayette's large suburban setting, providing families with access to quality early childhood education in this desirable Contra Costa County community.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 36 students, Diablo Valley Montessori School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 3.6:1, Diablo Valley Montessori School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Diablo Valley Montessori School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$86,859
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$85,647
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
0.99x — Tight
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
96%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$2.3M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 36 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Diablo Valley Montessori School compares to the 6 public schools in Lafayette, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio
3.6:1
This School
vs
21.9:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
36
This School
vs
744
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
6.0
This School
vs
8.0
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 69.4% vs 0%
Asian 8.3% vs 0%
Black 2.8% vs 0%
Hispanic 2.8% vs 0%
Diablo Valley Montessori School Lafayette Public Avg

All Schools in Lafayette

School Rating
Diablo Valley Montessori School (this school) 6.0
M. H. Stanley Middle 7.3
Acalanes High 8.3
Lafayette Elementary 7.4
Springhill Elementary 9.0
Happy Valley Elementary 8.2
Burton Valley Elementary 7.5

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in CA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A+ 9.7 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 3.6:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
C 3.1 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,086
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B- 5.4 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 48%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C- 2.2 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 36
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in CA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 69.4%
Two or More 16.7%
Asian 8.3%
Black 2.8%
Hispanic 2.8%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

3390 DEER HILL RD, Lafayette, CA 94549

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Diablo Valley Montessori School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Springhill Elementary (rated 9.0/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Happy Valley Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 1.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Burton Valley Elementary (rated 7.5/10, 2.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Lafayette, see our Lafayette schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Diablo Valley Montessori Lafayette 0.0 mi
THE CHILD DAY SCHOOL - LAFAYETTE Lafayette 0.1 mi
THE SPRINGSTONE SCHOOL Lafayette 0.4 mi 7.9
The Springstone School Lafayette 0.4 mi
CENTER OF ARTS TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE Lafayette 0.7 mi 4.8
M. H. Stanley Middle Lafayette 0.7 mi 7.3
Lafayette Elementary Lafayette 0.8 mi 7.4
Springhill Elementary Lafayette 0.8 mi 9.0
Acalanes High Lafayette 0.8 mi 8.3
St. Perpetua Lafayette 1.1 mi
ST PERPETUA SCHOOL Lafayette 1.1 mi 4.7
MEHER SCHOOLS Lafayette 1.1 mi 6.7
Meher Schools, The Lafayette 1.2 mi
Contra Costa Jewish Day School Lafayette 1.6 mi
CONTRA COSTA JEWISH DAY SCHOOL Lafayette 1.7 mi 7.3
Happy Valley Elementary Lafayette 1.9 mi 8.2
Campolindo High Moraga 2.3 mi 7.6
Burton Valley Elementary Lafayette 2.5 mi 7.5
Acalanes Center for Independent Study Walnut Creek 2.2 mi 5.0
CONTRA COSTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Walnut Creek 2.3 mi 7.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 94549 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$231,195

Median Home Value

$1,968,500

Median Rent

$2,902/mo

Population

28,247

College Educated

77.2%

Homeownership

78.7%

Avg Commute

28.6 min

Poverty Rate

4.1%

Median Age

45.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Diablo Valley Montessori School has a median household income of $231,195. It is a well-educated community where 77% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,968,500, with a median rent of $2,902/month. The local poverty rate of 4.1% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 29 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
ADVENTIST UNION SCHOOL Bellflower, CA 6.0
Camptonville Elementary Camptonville, CA 6.0
DAY PREP La Jolla, CA 6.0
Siskiyou Avenue Elementary Oroville, CA 6.0
CHRIST CLASSICAL SCHOOL San Luis Obispo, CA 6.1
HERITAGE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Ridgecrest, CA 5.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Diablo Valley Montessori School

What grades does Diablo Valley Montessori School serve?

Diablo Valley Montessori School serves students in grades Pre-K through Kindergarten.

How many students attend Diablo Valley Montessori School?

Diablo Valley Montessori School has an enrollment of approximately 36 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Diablo Valley Montessori School?

The student-teacher ratio at Diablo Valley Montessori School is 3.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Diablo Valley Montessori School rank in CA?

Diablo Valley Montessori School is ranked #1100 out of 1,790 private schools in CA.

What is Diablo Valley Montessori School's MySchoolScout rating?

Diablo Valley Montessori School has a composite rating of 6.0 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Diablo Valley Montessori School a private school?

Yes, Diablo Valley Montessori School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Diablo Valley Montessori School a religious school?

No, Diablo Valley Montessori School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
Elevated (1,348/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Lafayette). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – Kindergarten
Enrollment
36
Gender Split
47% M / 53% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
3.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
10
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6 hours
Days Per Year
181 days
Setting
Large Suburb
County
CONTRA COSTA
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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