A Montessori preschool experience,
in a welcoming home-like environment


Ms. DeniseOwner and director Mary Denise Duppée received her Montessori Early Childhood Education Certificate through a MACTE-accredited center in 1994 and worked in Montessori preschools in San Diego and El Cajon for over a decade before opening MCHLG. 

She continued her education by completing Montessori Philosophy and Methods of Child Development through the Extended Studies Program at UCSD.

Ms. Denise holds a degree in Photography from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. In 2014, she became a Certified Barton Reading and Spelling Tutor for individuals with dyslexia, as well as a Dyslexia Screener and Consultant. She is a member of the American Montessori Society (AMS), the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), and Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).


Ms. Sophia
Ms. Sophia has a BA in Child Development from Point Loma Nazarene University and received her Montessori Early Childhood Education Certificate through a MACTE-accredited center in 2025. She worked in the classroom as part of her high school internship for her Child Development pathway and continued teaching while attending university. Ms. Sophia is a member of the American Montessori Society (AMS).
Our School image

Our school uses the Montessori Methodology and Philosophy with fidelity.
  • The classroom is dynamic, child-led, and fosters independence.
  • It comprises mixed-aged children and incorporates a three-hour work period.
  • We are educated in Early Childhood Education and hold a BA in Child Development.
  • We are certified in Montessori Early Childhood Education through a MACTE-accredited center.
Since 2003, Montessori Children’s House of Lemon Grove has provided high-quality Montessori Education for children aged 2 to 5 years old. The preschool is situated in a residence with a separate and dedicated entrance that leads directly to the classroom and playground.

MCHLG holds a Large Family Child Care License under the California Department of Social Services, license #376614702. Under our license, attendance is limited to 12 students per day, resulting in a 1:6 student-to-teacher ratio, which allows for a small, cozy, and home-like classroom environment. Our classroom is a lovely environment for our 2-year-olds, who are experiencing their first school setting, and it enables our older children to provide leadership and guidance as they continue their individualized learning.

Our license also allows for children who are not yet using the toilet and still require diapers or pull-ups, and we help with transitioning to bathroom independence when they are ready.

  • Teachers and assistants have current EMSA-approved and OSHA-compliant CPR-AED and First Aid certifications for adults, children, and infants (pediatric). These require the full 8-hour accreditation every two years.
  • Teachers, assistants, and all household members have received Fingerprint Clearance through the Department of Justice.
  • Under Health and Safety Code 1596.8662, teachers and assistants have completed Mandated Reporter training for their duties as reporters of the California Child Abuse & Neglect Reporting Act.
  • As required by Employee and Volunteer Immunization Code 1597.622, teachers and assistants have documentation of immunization against pertussis, measles, and influenza..
To view our past facility evaluation reports, visit the Department of Social Services facility search.
MONTESSORI METHOD OF EDUCATION

The name “Montessori” is from Dr. Maria Montessori, the first female Doctor of Medicine in Italy, who lived from 1870 to 1952. Dr. Montessori developed her unique educational method through her work with children, known as the Montessori Method, which is both a philosophy of child development and a rationale for guiding such growth. Children’s developmental needs are fostered through freedom within limits in a carefully prepared environment, which ensures exposure to a variety of materials and experiences.

The main premises of Montessori education are:
  • Children possess an unusual sensitivity and intellectual ability to absorb and learn from their environment, unlike adults in terms of both quality and capacity.
  • The most critical years of a child’s growth are the first six years, during which their unconscious learning comes to a conscious level.

"Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed."  -Maria Montessori.


The Whole Child Approach: The primary goal of a Montessori program is to help children reach their full potential in all areas of life. Activities promote the development of social skills, emotional growth, physical coordination, and mental preparation.
The Prepared Environment: In the self-directed classroom, the whole learning environment (classroom, materials, and social setting) must support the children.
The Montessori Materials: Dr. Montessori’s observations led her to design several multi-sensory, sequential, and self-correcting materials to facilitate learning.
The Teacher: The Montessori teacher meticulously observes each child’s behavior and growth. Based on this observation, the teacher guides the child in an environment designed to meet the child's needs. Montessori credentialing requires years of extensive training and education.

Dr. Montessori has significantly impacted education and the way we understand and teach children today. Her influence can be seen not only in the number of schools that bear her name but throughout child care, education, and development.

Current concepts such as individualized learning and readiness programs, manipulative learning, ungraded classes, combined age groups, team teaching, and open classrooms reflect many of her early insights.

Practical Life

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Sensorial

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Language

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NACCRRA APPROVED 

Montessori Children’s House of Lemon Grove is proud to have met the qualifications required by the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) under Child Care Aware® of America for our Military Families. This is a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence.

Please note: While Montessori Children’s House of Lemon Grove made considerable effort to receive these certifications, we are not affiliated with the military. Any aid received will be applied to tuition, but tuition is due in full regardless of whether your request for fee assistance is granted.

SCHOOL HOURS 

Morning Arrival between 8:00-8:30 
Afternoon Dismissal between 2:30-2:45


AFTERSCHOOL CARE 

Afterschool care is not offered on a consistent basis. Occasional care can be scheduled with advance notice and is billed at $3 per 15 minutes.

DAYS OF OPERATION

The School Year is from the last week of August through the 3rd week of June. 

  • MCHLG observes most legal holidays and is closed for two weeks for Winter Break and one week for Spring Break. Also, MCHLG is closed for one week at the end of the School Year and two weeks at the end of Summer Camp.

Summer Camp is for six weeks, starting at the beginning of July. 


TUITION

The School Year tuition is a yearly rate divided into ten monthly payments for convenience. 

5 DaysM-F$10,400 yearly, ten monthly payments of $1,040
Total days of school for 5-day schedule: 195
3 DaysM-W-F $7,960 yearly, ten monthly payments of $796
          Total days of school for 3-day schedule: 113
2 DaysT-Th$6,370 yearly, ten monthly payments of $637
Total days of school for 2-day schedule: 79


The Summer Camp tuition is $275 per week or any particular day at $55 per day


  • Open Enrollment begins in April for the Upcoming School Year. Siblings and those on the waitlist are given priority.
  • Summer Camp is for currently enrolled students or new students starting the School Year.
  • We usually cannot take mid-year admissions, but you can inquire if we have space.
  • Think ahead! Our school fills up quickly.


1. Review! Review! Review!

Please review this website. It offers information on school hours, calendar, location, pricing, and, most importantly, the Montessori Methodology.

2. Looks good! 

After reviewing the website and deciding that our school will be a good fit for your family, you need to contact the school.

3. Contact us! 

You can reach us by filling out the Contact Form on this website.

4. Questions! 

Our website is extensive, but if you don’t find the answer to your question, let us know using the contact form.

5. Visit! 

You can schedule a tour for your family. If you don't want to visit but have questions, refer to Step 4.

6. Waitlist! 

Open Enrollment for those on the waitlist will begin in April. A school visit is required to secure a place on the waitlist. 

7. Visit other schools! 

We love our school and all we offer, but we encourage you to visit other schools for comparison. We know finding a good fit for your family is essential.


Please note: we do not allow unannounced “walk-in” visits. Prospective parents must make an appointment to visit the school.

However, parents with children currently enrolled in our school have the legal right to enter the school unannounced at any time. This is the law, but it would be our policy regardless.

 Annual visits from state licensing and safety inspections from the fire department are always unannounced. When they arrive, they have complete access to the school.

  • 8121 Braddock Place, San Diego, CA 92114
  •  Arrival between 8:00-8:30am Dismissal between 2:30-2:45pm

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  • Yes!! Our license also allows for children who still require the use of diapers or pull-up, and we help with transitioning to bathroom independence when they are ready.
  • We accept children 2 to 5 years old.
  • Our hours are arrival between 8:00-8:30am and dismissal between 2:30-2:45pm.
  • Afterschool care is not offered on a consistent basis. Occasional care can be scheduled with advance notice and is billed at $3 per 15 minutes.
  • You must have documentation of your child’s up-to-date immunizations. 
  • There are no exceptions to this rule.
  • 3 Polio
  • 4 Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP) 
  • 3 Hepatitis B
  • 1 Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) on or after the 1st birthday
  • 1 Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) on or after the 1st birthday
  • 1 Varicella (chickenpox)
  • We are licensed for 12 children per day.
  • The teacher-student ratio is 1:6.
  • We have one mixed-age classroom.
  • Yes. Children bring a packed lunch from home. Look at our Parent Handbook for some lunch ideas.
  • If your child is enrolled at the school, you can enter the school any time you want. This is your legal right.
  • However, we do not allow unannounced "walk-in" visits from prospective parents. Those parents must make an appointment to visit the school.
Yes! Ms. Denise's favorite dinosaur is a Deinonychus! And Ms. Sophia likes Ankylosaurus! We learn all about dinosaurs during Summer Camp!