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Very Good

#63 of 404 private schools in NC

Top 15% of private schools

Follow the Child Montessori School

Elementary School

3601 HARDEN RD, Raleigh, NC 27607

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 99 schools in Raleigh. Learn more

Enrollment

86

Student-Teacher

4.9:1

Score

7.5

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Raleigh

#7 of 30

public schools

North Carolina elementary schools

#21 of 124

About Follow the Child Montessori School

Follow the Child Montessori School serves 86 students in prekindergarten through sixth grade in Raleigh, offering a unique public Montessori education approach. With 18 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 4.9:1, allowing for individualized attention and the hands-on, child-centered learning that defines Montessori methodology. The school has earned recognition for its academic excellence, achieving an impressive 8.7 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating and ranking 92nd out of 404 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 78th percentile among North Carolina schools.

This strong performance reflects the school's commitment to nurturing independent learners through the Montessori philosophy of following each child's natural development and interests. Located on Harden Road in the 27607 ZIP code, Follow the Child Montessori School serves a well-educated community where 70% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The neighborhood reflects Raleigh's growth as an educational and technology hub, with a median household income of $89,179 and median home values of $558,400.

This setting provides a supportive environment for families seeking an alternative educational approach within the public school system in North Carolina's thriving capital city.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 86 students, Follow the Child 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 4.9:1, Follow the Child 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, Follow the Child 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 (2024 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$33,542
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$34,992
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.04x — Stable
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
94%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$8.0M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 86 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Follow the Child Montessori School compares to 88 public schools serving similar grades in Raleigh, NC

Student-Teacher Ratio
4.9:1
This School
vs
13:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
86
This School
vs
559
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.5
This School
vs
7.0
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 86% vs 0%
Asian 7% vs 0%
Black 5.8% vs 0%
Follow the Child Montessori School Raleigh Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Follow the Child Montessori School (this school) 7.5
Martin Middle 6.9
Lacy Elementary 7.4
Stough Elementary 9.0
Mount Vernon 5.1
Olds Elementary 6.7
Oberlin Middle 7.0
Combs Elementary 7.5
York Elementary 7.4
Root Elementary 6.8
Underwood Elementary 8.2
Gov. Morehead School f/t Blind 9.2
Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy 7.0
Wiley Elementary 7.2
Partnership Elementary 9.3
Brooks Elementary 7.9
Joyner Elementary 6.5
The Exploris School 5.2
Centennial Campus Middle 4.8
Carroll Middle 5.6
Jeffreys Grove Elementary 8.2

Showing 20 of 88 schools. View all schools in Raleigh

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 NC.

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 4.9:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A- 7.8 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,260
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 25%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
B 5.7 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 86
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 NC

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 86.0%
Asian 7.0%
Black 5.8%
Pacific Islander 1.2%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

3601 HARDEN RD, Raleigh, NC 27607

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Follow the Child Montessori School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Stough Elementary (rated 9.0/10, 1.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Combs Elementary (rated 7.5/10, 2.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Lacy Elementary (rated 7.4/10, 1.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Raleigh, see our Raleigh schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Martin Middle Raleigh 0.8 mi 6.9
IRON ACADEMY Raleigh 1.0 mi 7.9
Lacy Elementary Raleigh 1.2 mi 7.4
AN-NOOR SCHOOL Raleigh 1.7 mi 8.6
AL-IMAN SCHOOL Raleigh 1.7 mi 7.4
Stough Elementary Raleigh 1.7 mi 9.0
Mount Vernon Raleigh 1.8 mi 5.1
THE RALEIGH SCHOOL Raleigh 1.8 mi 6.8
CARDINAL GIBBONS HIGH SCHOOL Raleigh 1.7 mi 6.0
Olds Elementary Raleigh 2.0 mi 6.7
DYNAMIC OPPORTUNITIES Raleigh 1.9 mi 6.0
Combs Elementary Raleigh 2.6 mi 7.5
LEARN WITH THE BEST SCHOOL, INC. Raleigh 2.8 mi 6.1
York Elementary Raleigh 2.9 mi 7.4
Oberlin Middle Raleigh 2.4 mi 7.0
Athens Drive High Raleigh 3.1 mi 5.4
Root Elementary Raleigh 3.0 mi 6.8
Gov. Morehead School f/t Blind Raleigh 3.3 mi 9.2
Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy Raleigh 3.3 mi 7.0
Needham Broughton High Raleigh 3.1 mi 5.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27607 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$95,216

Median Home Value

$639,200

Median Rent

$1,529/mo

Population

26,062

College Educated

70.7%

Homeownership

45.3%

Avg Commute

21 min

Poverty Rate

14%

Median Age

25.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding Follow the Child Montessori School has a median household income of $95,216. It is a well-educated community where 71% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $639,200, with a median rent of $1,529/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.0%. The average commute for residents is 21 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
ELIZABETHTOWN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Elizabethtown, NC 7.5
ST EGBERT CATHOLIC SCHOOL Morehead City, NC 7.5
OUR LADY PERPETUAL HELP CATHOLIC SCHOOL Rocky Mount, NC 7.4
TRIANGLE MONTESSORI ACADEMY Cary, NC 7.6
The Special Children's School Winston-Salem, NC 7.4
ST ANN CATHOLIC SCHOOL Fayetteville, NC 7.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Follow the Child Montessori School

What grades does Follow the Child Montessori School serve?

Follow the Child Montessori School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Follow the Child Montessori School?

Follow the Child Montessori School has an enrollment of approximately 86 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Follow the Child Montessori School?

The student-teacher ratio at Follow the Child Montessori School is 4.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Follow the Child Montessori School rank in NC?

Follow the Child Montessori School is ranked #63 out of 404 private schools in NC.

What is Follow the Child Montessori School's MySchoolScout rating?

Follow the Child Montessori School has a composite rating of 7.5 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 Follow the Child Montessori School a private school?

Yes, Follow the Child 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 Follow the Child Montessori School a religious school?

No, Follow the Child Montessori School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
55 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
39 Some Transit
Bike Score
48 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,315/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
86
Gender Split
52% M / 48% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
4.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
18
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Large City
County
WAKE
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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