Montessori Pre-K & Kindergarten in Cedar Park, TX

Young Minds Montessori – Cedar Park
411 N Bell Blvd, Cedar Park, TX 78613 · 512-986-8778

Does Young Minds Montessori offer kindergarten?

Yes. At Young Minds Montessori, the kindergarten year is the third year of the Primary program for children ages 3 to 6, offered at both the Cedar Park campus (411 N Bell Blvd) and the Leander campus (2400 S Bagdad Rd). Kindergartners learn in mixed-age classrooms, advance at their own pace in language, math, cultural studies, art, music and Spanish, and practice leadership by guiding younger classmates.

The third year: what kindergarten means in Montessori

Primary is a three-year cycle in one mixed-age room. Children spend the first years absorbing the materials and routines, and the third year is when it all comes together. Kindergartners know the room, they know the work, and they become the leaders.

A kindergartner's day at Young Minds

The curriculum

Language and reading
Math with concrete materials
Cultural studies: geography, botany and zoology
Music and art
Spanish
Research skills

Leading younger children

Mixed ages give kindergartners a real job: showing a younger friend how to use a material, helping a new classmate settle in and setting the tone of the room. Teaching deepens their own understanding.

Schedule

Half-day and full-day schedules are available. Ask on your tour how kindergarten fits each, or call 512-986-8778.

Kindergarten-age children in a Montessori Primary room at Young Minds Cedar Park

Joining Primary at 4 (pre-K age)

A 4-year-old joining Primary for the first time finds older children to learn from and younger children to help. Teachers introduce the room's routines and materials gradually, so your child can settle in at their own pace. Read the readiness guide, then talk it through on a tour.

Montessori kindergarten or public kindergarten?

Neither is right for every child. This is a fair comparison, and the best choice depends on your child and your family.

	Montessori kindergarten	Public kindergarten
Class structure	Mixed-age room of children ages 3 to 6	Single-grade class
Pacing	Each child moves at their own pace through hands-on materials	Follows a set curriculum with whole-group, teacher-led instruction
Hours	Half-day and full-day schedules at Young Minds	Set by the district
Cost	Private tuition, shared on your tour	Free
Progress	Teachers observe and share progress with families	Report cards and district assessments

Public kindergarten details vary by district. Check with your district for current hours and structure.

What the research says

A 2025 national randomized controlled trial in PNAS used admissions lotteries at public Montessori programs serving ages 3 to 6. It found no notable differences at the end of preschool. By the end of kindergarten, children offered a Montessori seat had higher scores in reading, short-term memory, theory of mind and executive function than peers who attended a traditional preschool or had another early childhood experience.

A Campbell Collaboration systematic review of 32 studies found that Montessori outperformed traditional education on a range of academic and nonacademic outcomes, while noting that quality varies because “Montessori” isn't a protected name.

Questions to help you decide

Does your child enjoy choosing their own work and concentrating on it?
What schedule does your family need?
Does continuity with the same teachers and friends matter?
How do you feel about tuition compared with free public school?

Also at Leander

The kindergarten year is also offered at our Leander campus, 2400 S Bagdad Rd, Leander, TX 78641. See the Leander campus page.

Meet the Cedar Park Primary team

Angelica Villarreal (AMS, Head of School), Sylvia Stiehl and Alba Guerra lead Cedar Park. Read their bios on Our Team.

Book a Cedar Park tour Book a Leander tour

Frequently asked questions

Does Young Minds offer pre-K and kindergarten?

Yes. Within the 3–6 Primary classrooms at both campuses.

What does a kindergartner do all day in a Montessori Primary room?

They work in language, math, cultural studies, music, art and Spanish at their own pace, and they lead younger classmates.

Is Montessori kindergarten worth it compared with public kindergarten?

It depends on your child, schedule and budget. Research is encouraging, and both choices work for many children. See the comparison above.

Can my child join at 4 or 5 if they haven't been in Montessori before?

Yes. Talk with the Head of School on your tour about how the transition works.

Is kindergarten half-day or full-day?

Both half-day and full-day schedules are available. Ask on your tour or call the campus.

What happens after kindergarten?

Children move on to first grade. Young Minds serves children through age 6.

Montessori Pre-K and Kindergarten in Cedar Park