When I started researching preschools for my son, two names kept appearing in my search, The Goddard School and Montessori. On paper, both sounded appealing. Both emphasized hands-on learning. Both claimed to respect children as individuals. Both had beautiful facilities when I toured them.
But after visiting multiple schools of each type, talking with parents, and eventually enrolling my son in Montessori after a year at Goddard, I realized these aren’t just different brands. They represent fundamentally different philosophies about how young children learn best. Neither is universally better. They’re just different, and which one fits depends entirely on your child and what you value.
The Bottom Line
Goddard Schools are franchised preschools offering a balanced, familiar approach mixing traditional teacher-led activities with play. Montessori is an educational philosophy emphasizing child-directed learning through specific materials. Goddard feels more like what most people expect from preschool. Montessori looks and feels completely different. Your choice depends less on which is “better” and more on your child’s temperament and your family’s preferences.
- Goddard: Franchise model, FLEX curriculum, structured schedule, teacher-led activities, similar to traditional preschool
- Montessori: Educational philosophy, specific materials, child-directed work, less structure, emphasis on independence
- Cost: Both expensive, ranging $12,000-$20,000+ annually depending on location
- Availability: Goddard has 500+ locations, Montessori schools are widespread but vary in quality
What Goddard Schools Actually Are
Before I visited a Goddard School, I didn’t realize it was a franchise rather than a unified philosophy like Montessori. This distinction matters more than I initially understood.
Founded in 1988, Goddard operates over 500 franchised locations across 38 states. Each school is independently owned but follows the Goddard system called F.L.E.X. (Fun Learning Experience). The approach combines play-based learning with academic preparation, incorporating STEAM concepts through age-appropriate activities.
When you walk into a Goddard classroom, it looks like what most people picture when they think “preschool.” Centers for different activities, colorful displays, traditional toys and materials, children moving between teacher-led group time and free play. Teachers create daily lesson plans covering various subjects, introducing concepts through stories, games, and hands-on projects.
The Franchise Reality
Because Goddard is a franchise, quality can vary between locations. Each school has its own owner making decisions about staffing, programming, and how strictly they follow Goddard’s guidelines. When considering Goddard, you’re really evaluating that specific school, not a universal standard. Tour carefully and talk with parents at that particular location.
How Montessori Actually Differs
Montessori isn’t a franchise or brand. It’s an educational philosophy developed over a century ago by Dr. Maria Montessori. Any school can call itself Montessori, which means quality varies wildly.
Authentic Montessori classrooms look distinctive. Children work independently or in small groups with specific materials designed to teach particular concepts. The pink tower, golden beads, sandpaper letters, these recognizable materials appear in Montessori schools worldwide. Children choose their work, complete activities at their own pace, and return materials to precise spots on low shelves.
The teacher, called a guide, observes more than directs. She gives brief individual lessons when children are ready, then steps back to let them work. There’s no circle time where everyone does the same activity. No teacher calling children to transition from one subject to another. The morning unfolds as a three-hour uninterrupted work period.
When my son moved from Goddard to Montessori, the adjustment took weeks. He kept looking to adults to tell him what to do next. At Goddard, teachers had guided transitions throughout the day. At Montessori, he had to choose his own work and manage his time. Eventually, he adapted and thrived, but the transition revealed how different these approaches really are.
The Daily Experience: What It Actually Looks Like
The best way to understand these differences is seeing how a typical day unfolds in each setting.
Morning at Goddard
Children arrive and join morning circle time. The teacher leads songs, discusses the weather, reviews the calendar, and introduces the day’s theme. Maybe it’s community helpers this week. After circle, children rotate through centers: blocks, dramatic play, art, sensory table, reading corner. The teacher moves between centers, engaging with children and facilitating activities.
Mid-morning, everyone cleans up and gathers for a teacher-led lesson about firefighters. They read a book, discuss fire safety, and complete a craft project. After outdoor play, small groups work on specific skills with teacher guidance. Letters, numbers, cutting practice. The day includes multiple transitions as children move between activities on a set schedule.
Morning at Montessori
Children arrive independently and choose work from the shelves. One four-year-old selects the pink tower and carefully builds it on a rug. A three-year-old practices pouring water from one pitcher to another. A five-year-old works with the moveable alphabet, building phonetic words. The guide observes from across the room, occasionally giving brief individual lessons.
The three-hour work period continues uninterrupted. Children move freely but purposefully between activities. Most work individually, though older children sometimes help younger ones. No bells signal transitions. No teacher directs everyone to the same activity. Children work deeply on what they’ve chosen until satisfied, then return materials and select something new.
Where They Overlap and Diverge
Understanding the similarities helps clarify the meaningful differences.
The Cost Reality
Both options are expensive, though costs vary significantly by location and your child’s age.
Goddard tuition typically ranges from $12,000 to $20,000 annually for full-time preschool, with infant care costing more. Because each Goddard is independently owned, prices vary between schools even in the same area. Additional fees for registration, materials, and special programs add to the total cost.
Montessori schools run similar ranges, $12,000 to $18,000 annually on average, with significant variation. Major cities often exceed $20,000 to $30,000. Some public school districts offer tuition-free Montessori programs, though these typically have waitlists. Private Montessori schools may offer financial aid or sibling discounts.
In our area, the Goddard location cost about $1,400 monthly for my three-year-old. The Montessori school charged $1,300 monthly. The difference wasn’t significant enough to drive our decision. Both represented major investments in early education.
Which Children Thrive Where
After watching my son and his friends in both settings, patterns emerged about which children seemed happiest where.
Children Who Seemed Happy at Goddard
- Enjoyed group activities and following along with peers
- Liked variety and frequent changes throughout the day
- Responded well to teacher direction and clear expectations
- Thrived with external structure and guidance
- Wanted a familiar preschool experience
Children Who Seemed Happy at Montessori
- Focused deeply when working independently
- Preferred making their own choices about activities
- Enjoyed completing tasks from start to finish without interruption
- Thrived with internal motivation rather than external rewards
- Liked order, routine, and knowing where things belonged
My son exhibited qualities from both lists, which is why both settings worked for him at different times. At three, he needed the structure and social energy of Goddard. At four, he was ready for Montessori’s independence and deeper focus. Neither school was wrong. His needs simply evolved.
What Parents Should Actually Consider
Beyond philosophy and daily schedules, practical realities matter when making this decision.
Visit Multiple Times
A single tour doesn’t reveal much. If possible, observe for several hours at different times of day. Watch how teachers interact with children when they’re frustrated or tired, not just during the polished tour. Notice whether children seem engaged or bored. Trust your instincts about the overall feeling of the space.
Talk With Current Parents
Schools will provide glowing references. Try to connect with parents who have children currently enrolled. Ask about communication, how conflicts are handled, what surprised them, and whether they’d choose the school again. Their honest experiences matter more than promotional materials.
Consider Logistics
Location, hours, and flexibility matter enormously. The philosophically perfect school doesn’t work if drop-off conflicts with your schedule or requires an hour commute. Consider whether they offer before/after care, how they handle sick days, and whether their calendar aligns with your work schedule.
Trust Your Child, Not the Philosophy
After experiencing both Goddard and Montessori with my son, here’s what I learned: the specific philosophy matters far less than finding a school where your child feels safe, engaged, and happy. Both approaches can provide excellent early education when implemented well. Both can disappoint when poorly executed.
Goddard worked beautifully for us when my son needed structure, social energy, and familiar preschool activities. Montessori worked beautifully when he was ready for more independence, deeper focus, and self-directed learning. Neither was universally better. They simply served different needs at different times.
Visit both types if available in your area. Watch your child’s reaction. Notice whether they’re drawn to the environment or seem overwhelmed by it. Ask yourself whether you feel comfortable with the teachers and communication style. Trust those observations more than any comparison chart or philosophical debate.
The best preschool for your child is the one where they wake up excited to go, where teachers genuinely know and care about them, and where you feel confident they’re safe, respected, and growing. Whether that’s Goddard, Montessori, or something else entirely depends on your unique child and circumstances, not which philosophy sounds better in theory.
Sources & References
- The Goddard School. (2024). The Goddard Difference. Retrieved from https://www.goddardschool.com
- Lillard, A. S. (2017). Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.
- American Montessori Society. (2024). About Montessori Education. Retrieved from https://amshq.org
- Montessori, M. (1949). The Absorbent Mind. Clio Press Ltd.