Coleridge-Taylor Montessori Elementary

What this school is

Coleridge-Taylor is JCPS's public Montessori elementary magnet. It is not a resides school assigned by address. JCPS says elementary magnet seats are filled by lottery, with no portfolio or test required for the K–5 application.

Two systems share the building. Kindergarten through fifth grade is the tuition-free JCPS magnet. Ages 3 and 4 enter a school-based tuition Montessori program and join multi-age pre-primary rooms. Ask the school which enrollment path applies to your child.

The school received a federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant to rebuild its Montessori program. Its model emphasizes hands-on work, independence, student agency, multi-age rooms, co-teaching, and culturally responsive learning.

How families get in

K–5 families apply during the JCPS magnet window. Preschool families contact the school about the separate tuition program.

• Register with JCPS first if the child is new to the district or entering kindergarten.
• Use School Finder to identify the child's resides elementary as a fallback.
• Apply to Coleridge-Taylor during the magnet window. On-time applications are processed after the deadline, not first-come.
• JCPS says siblings do not receive preference. Twins applying together are treated as one application, but each child needs a form.
• For ages 3 and 4, contact the school. JCPS currently publishes tuition of $135 per week including its processing surcharge; confirm the current amount before enrolling.
• Tour a working classroom and observe the Montessori work cycle before accepting a seat.

JCPS restored transportation eligibility for all enrolled Coleridge-Taylor students after the 2024 cuts. Eligibility still does not automatically create a stop; complete the current verification process and confirm this year's rules.

Who it tends to fit

The official pages reviewed for this guide did not publish current AMI or AMS accreditation. Ask what Montessori training each teacher holds this year.

Students

The live school homepage lists 318 students. The 2025–26 JCPS profile counted 300 students on October 1 against an optimal capacity of 723. Those are different official snapshots and both show a building well under listed capacity.

Gender: Confirm the current distribution with JCPS.

• Title I: Yes
• 2025–26 count: 300
• Listed capacity: 723

Academics

The live school homepage is the first stop for current figures. Published proficiency is low even against district elementary averages, so families should ask how core instruction and intervention work inside the Montessori model.

• Reading: 9% proficient and 8% distinguished; 17% combined P+D.
• Math: 10% proficient and 2% distinguished; the official combined P+D figure is 13%.
• A December 2024 Cognia diagnostic review noted prior CSI status and a more rigorous intervention designation entering 2024–25.
• Ask to see current student work and how Kentucky Academic Standards are covered during the Montessori work cycle.

Awards and recognition

• Federal magnet grant

  The campus received Magnet Schools Assistance Program support to rebuild its Montessori program.

• Public Montessori access

  JCPS describes Coleridge-Taylor as Louisville's public elementary Montessori option.

Montessori is an instructional method, not an academic rating. Compare the model and the current outcomes separately.

Location and daily life

The school is on W. Chestnut Street in Russell. Its 8:40 a.m. start matches the district's other elementary magnets.

The building is substantially under its listed optimal capacity. Ask how enrollment affects class size, staffing, specials, and the number of multi-age rooms this year.

Compare before you commit

• Lincoln Elementary Performing ArtsA districtwide elementary magnet centered on performing arts rather than Montessori.
• Brandeis ElementaryThe districtwide STEAM magnet, using project-based learning rather than Montessori.
• J. Graham Brown SchoolA K–12 districtwide magnet built around self-directed learning.

Questions to ask on a tour

1. 1.May I observe a pre-primary room and an upper-elementary room during regular work time?
2. 2.How many teachers hold Montessori credentials this year?
3. 3.What does reading instruction look like for a third grader who is below grade level?
4. 4.How are Kentucky Academic Standards covered inside the Montessori work cycle?
5. 5.What are the current preschool tuition, hours, and kindergarten transition rules?
6. 6.Is every enrolled student still eligible for JCPS transportation this year?
7. 7.How does current enrollment affect class size and specials?
8. 8.Who are the counselor and FRYSC contacts for my family?

What to do next

1. 1.Run School Finder and record the child's resides elementary.
2. 2.Confirm the current application dates and transportation rules with JCPS.
3. 3.Tour while regular Montessori work is underway.
4. 4.Ask the school directly about preschool tuition or teacher credentials when those affect your decision.