WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Arlington Public Schools is adding its first middle school Montessori program to Gunston Middle School next year, county officials said.

Arlington was one of the first publicly funded school systems to use Montessori, a specialized program that puts students in three-year age groups and gives them individual choice in research and work, focusing on uninterrupted work periods rather than group lessons.

The county has 17 preschool and elementary Montessori classrooms spanning 10 schools.

The program has been available in some of Arlington’s preschools for 37 years and in Drew Elementary School for 12 years.

In May 2007, the School Board approved phasing in a middle school pilot Montessori program if there was “compelling student interest.”

Two students chose to remain at Drew Elementary, which goes through fifth grade, to continue Montessori in the sixth-grade pilot program last year. That program will now shift to Gunston.

APS early childhood supervisor Michelle Picard said the low number was expected because, by the time of the May announcement, most families had already selected a different middle school for their child.

But 16 families expressed interest in the pilot program this year, Picard said.

“Because interest in the middle school Montessori program has been higher than originally projected, I am pleased we will be able to move the pilot to a middle school a full year earlier than planned to better serve the students and families that wish to continue with Montessori,” Schools Superintendent Robert Smith said.

The pilot program is open to all Arlington students who have significant Montessori experience.

APS’s long term goal is to establish a multi-age Montessori program for students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades, schools officials said.

Montessori classrooms do not cost the schools any more money than regular middle school programs, Picard said.

tluntz@dcexaminer.com