Linden is set to get a new public Montessori option this fall, as Linden Tree Montessori School prepares to open on Aug. 25 and welcome prekindergarten through second-grade students for the 2026–27 school year. Organizers say the school will add one grade each year until it reaches eighth grade. The founders state that kindergarten through second grade will be tuition-free, and that pre-K families who qualify for Ohio’s Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC) program may also attend at no cost. The program is described as a child-led, discovery-based model built around multi-age classrooms and hands-on learning.
Tuition, enrollment and tiered rates
Enrollment is open now, and the school says it will use an indexed tuition model to keep seats affordable. The plan reserves free publicly funded seats for K–2 students and offers reduced or free pre-K for families who qualify for PFCC. For families who do not qualify for PFCC, the school reports that it will use a tiered tuition structure. The website lists an initial tuition of $13,000, with income-based tiers that top out at that amount and a limited number of slots available at the lower tiers. According to Linden Tree Montessori School, the indexed approach is intended to boost economic diversity and widen access to Montessori education.
A Wildflower-backed micro-school
Linden Tree is listed as part of the Wildflower Schools network, a charter management organization that supports the launch of tuition-free Montessori micro-schools. On its charter pathways page, the network lists Linden Tree with an anticipated Aug. 25 opening and a three-year funding plan totaling roughly $416,942 for initial operations, according to Wildflower Schools.
What this means for Linden families
Organizers say the effort brings a model often associated with private schools into an underserved neighborhood, arguing that every child, "regardless of ZIP code or family income," should have access to Montessori instruction. Local coverage characterizes Linden Tree as Columbus' first tuition-free Montessori charter school and urges families to sign up soon, noting that seats are limited, as reported by WSYX/ABC6.
How to apply
Families can start the enrollment process, schedule tours and sign up through the school’s website and the Transparent Classroom application. The site also lists a contact email and phone number for questions. The school notes that tours are available as it gets ready to open and that current contact details, including an email address and phone line for prospective families, are posted on the Linden Tree website, per Linden Tree Montessori School.
Looking ahead
Organizers say they plan to add grades each year through eighth grade, depending on capacity and demand, and to monitor tuition slots and PFCC eligibility in an effort to preserve economic diversity. The grand opening is set for Aug. 25, 2026, and the school advises families to enroll early. More details about the launch and enrollment timeline are available from WSYX/ABC6.
