School History

White Rock Montessori opened in 1975 with twelve students (grades 1-3) in space rented from the Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan near White Rock Lake in East Dallas. Five years later, with almost 40 students now encompassing grades 1-6, the school moved to more spacious quarters at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Lakewood. Within a few years, enrollment more than doubled, two preschool classrooms were added, as well as a before and after-school program.

By 1990, the school had earned a solid reputation in the neighborhood and in the larger Montessori community. Two factors surfaced that would dovetail to provide a challenge of unprecedented magnitude and ultimately change its destiny. First was the deep desire of White Rock Montessori parents, expressed over the years, to continue their children’s Montessori education through 8th grade. Second was to the need to secure the future of the school by owning its own building and land.

In January, 1994, the school board met with representatives of the Parents’ Steering Committee, ushering in an exciting period in the school’s history. The board approved a plan to look for another site and to begin developing a middle school model. Buoyed by the rare opportunity to create an environment specifically designed to support our Montessori philosophy for years to come, a parent task force was formed and the land on Oates Drive was located. Since the property was zoned strictly for residential development, the parents formed a corporation, purchased the land, and held the property for just over a year until the school was able to get the necessary permits.

The school subsequently purchased the land from the parents and a capital campaign was begun to raise the necessary funds to begin building.

Due to a surge in enrollment and a reluctance to wait on the new building before establishing the Middle School, WRM opened a satellite campus in space leased from the First United Presbyterian Church on Mockingbird Lane in 1995. In addition to the first class of 7th and 8th graders, a third preschool class and a second lower elementary class were opened at this location.

Meanwhile, parents, staff, and administration began designing a facility that would support the school’s mission. From the beginning, it was envisioned that the building would be elegant in its simplicity; a structure that would be sound, unpretentious, contemplative, thought-provoking, inviting, and inspiring. Abundant natural light and ease of function were essential. White Rock Montessori broke ground on December 13, 1997 and moved into our new building on September 8, 1998.

The 4.5 acre pastoral setting offered the opportunity to move learning out of doors and allowed children and staff to interact with nature through gardening and tending to small animals. In 1999 the outdoor education program of the school was enhanced by the addition of a Discovery Garden, stretching the length of the back of the campus.

During the pandemic many schools found it necessary to adopt new routines and practices in order for students to safely return to campus. At White Rock Montessori, spending a lot of time in nature is something the school has always embraced. As Montessorians, we were able to quickly prepare! The natural environment is an extension of our classrooms where the indoors and outdoors are seamlessly merged. Our intentionally prepared patio spaces, where the children garden, work, socialize, and enjoy lunch, were easily expanded onto the grassy areas to provide even more access to the outdoors.



WRM fulfilled its vision of a standalone Middle School building in October 2020. While this four-year-long realization of its strategic planning process was impacted by the pandemic, the Middle School students welcomed this space with open arms. This state of the art building was designed specifically to meet the needs of today's adolescent.

In 2022, in order to address the growing need of families in the East Dallas area, White Rock Montessori added a Toddler Program and year-round options for children ages 18 months through 6 years old.

Over the years, White Rock Montessori has enjoyed consistent and competent leadership. Director Emeritus, Sue Henry, is one of the founders of the school. In 2023, WRM welcomed our current Director, Brenda Huth. In addition, the school consists of thirty-two highly professional faculty and staff members, including specialists in the visual and performing arts, music, Spanish, outdoor education, and physical education. The teaching staff of this arts-integrated school all hold credentials from accredited Montessori training programs in addition to their university degrees. The school is a non-profit institution, is a member of the Texas Private Schools Association and an affiliate of the International Montessori Council. As of 2024, White Rock Montessori is accredited by the American Montessori Society.

Chosen by “D” Magazine as one of the top 25 private schools in Dallas, White Rock Montessori has reason to be proud of its history. The school looks forward to many more years of service to the families of Dallas.