Type Private School School district Centennial Affiliation Catholic, Montessori Mascot St. Bernard Founded 1977 Staff 60 | Established 1977 Grades pre K - 8 Phone +1 503-760-8220 Number of students 300 Lowest grade Pre-kindergarten | |
Head of school Sister Therese Gutting FSE Address 14750 SE Clinton St, Portland, OR 97236, USA Similar Harmony Montessori School, Columbia Christian Schools, The Portland Montesso, Portland Christian Grade Sc, Centennial Middle School Profiles | ||
The Franciscan Montessori Earth School & Saint Francis Academy (FMES/SFA) is located in Portland, Oregon, United States. FMES/SFA is the only accredited pre-K through grade 8 Catholic Montessori school in the United States. It is operated by the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist from Bridal Veil, Oregon.
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History
Established in 1977, the school is in its 39th year. When the school began there were only seventeen students in one classroom. As the school grew, additional grades were added in the Lower and Upper Elementary, and a Children's House program (ages 2 1/2-6) was added. Eventually a middle school program, St. Francis Academy, was added. This program currently serves students in the 7th and 8th grade. Until 2002 the school maintained a High School program, but this is no longer open. Since 2012, the school has been undergoing a series of upgrades and renovations to its physical facilities. The middle school is housed in a separate building constructed on the campus, Clare Hall, in 1996.
Exchange Program
FMES/SFA students who choose to take German as their foreign language have the option of going on a German exchange to Potsdam, Germany. The exchange with their sister school, Montessori Oberschule Potsdam, is a very comprehensive program, and FMES/SFA students travel from Portland to Germany, alternating with German students traveling to Portland, Oregon.
Students also participate in an exchange sponsored by our Spanish Program. In recent years these students have traveled to Costa Rica.
Special Programs
The school has a comprehensive sports program under the auspices of CYO, and offer classes after school for dance, music, language, piano, chess, math, robotics, and more.
Accreditation
The school is accredited with NWAIS, and is a member of AMI and OMA.