About our Palm Harbor Community

Palm Harbor Montessori Academy is a private Montessori school that offers programs for children from 12 months to 15 years. Founded in 1983, Palm Harbor Montessori Academy remains dedicated to providing students with the highest quality Montessori education experience, with an emphasis on independence and global awareness. By providing a respectful and peaceful environment, we aim to develop every aspect of a child. Located in Palm Harbor, Florida, we also provide extended before and after school care as well as summer camp programs to our community.

Palm Harbor, FL

Palm Harbor, Florida is located north of downtown St. Petersburg and west of Tampa. Located in Pinellas County, the city has a population of around 65,000. Palm Harbor has a unique “hilly” geography, which is uncommon in Florida. Downtown Palm Harbor has dozens of shops, restaurants, and historic buildings. During the first Sunday in October, the “Taste of Palm Harbor” festival is held. This festival features live music and samples from over 20 different local restaurants, many of which specialize in seafood.

Palm Harbor’s close proximity to the water makes it the perfect destination for outdoor activities. Honeymoon Island State Park has bird observation areas and nature trails perfect for hiking. Visitors can also swim, fish, and snorkel in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico here. John Chesnut Senior Park is another beautiful area home to dozens of different plants and animals. The Park has a softball field, three nature trails, and a canoe trail. The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail is one of the most popular places to jog in Pinellas County. The main trail covers 38.2 miles and it allows many residents to commute to work without needing a car.

A Montessori teacher guiding a child in a self-directed learning activity, promoting independence.

Nearby Tampa, FL and St. Petersburg, FL

Palm Harbor is located about 25 miles from Tampa, Florida and about 30 miles from St. Petersburg FL. Located on the west coast of Florida, Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay Area. Tampa is considered a highly desirable area to live in, due to its warm climate and numerous attractions. Forbes has ranked Tampa as one of the top five best outdoor cities in the United States. The city also has a strong economy, with several Fortune 1000 companies headquartered here, including OSI Restaurant Partners, WellCare, TECO Energy, and Raymond James Financial.

Tampa is a very popular tourist destination, especially for cruises. The Port of Tampa is Florida’s largest tonnage port and is second in the state, behind Miami, for cruise ship travel. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a must-visit African-style theme park, spread across 335-acres. This park is the 11^th most-visited theme park in the United States and its zoo exhibit section is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Adventure Island is the water park adjacent to Busch Gardens. Opened in 1980, Adventure Island has 10 rides, 2 pools, and 3 children’s areas. Tampa is also home to the Florida Aquarium, which takes visitors on a cruise around the Bay to see wild dolphins and the city’s incredible ecosystem.

St. Petersburg, Florida is the second-largest city in the Tampa Bay Area. Ranked as the top mid-size city in the country, St. Petersburg is a popular retirement destination due to its low cost of living and wonderful weather. The city has an average of 361 days of sunshine a year, which is why it is nicknamed, “The Sunshine City.” Located on a peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, St. Petersburg offers numerous sights to see.

The Salvador Dali Museum is an art museum in St. Petersburg that houses the work of famed artist Salvador Dali. The building itself has a unique glass entryway and skylight that was named one of Florida’s top 100 pieces of architecture. Egmont Key State Park, which can only be reached by boat, is a Historic Landmark and National Wildlife Refuge. The Park’s lighthouse contains the ruins of Fort Dade, a Spanish-American War fort. Also located in St. Petersburg is John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk, a small, historic fishing village with shops, bars, and restaurants, as well as watersport activities such as jet skiing and parasailing.

Palm Harbor Montessori Academy

Palm Harbor Montessori Academy is a premier learning academy with programs for children up to 8^th grade. Based on the principles of Dr. Maria Montessori, our curriculum gives children a carefully prepared environment rich in learning materials and experiences. Our specially trained teachers, called guides, serve as facilitators in the learning process. Through careful observation, our guides develop an individualized learning plan for each child in their classroom that will help them to develop their own interests and abilities.

We believe that children learn best when they are interested in what they are learning and feel comfortable in their environment. Guides create a respectful classroom learning environment by establishing a sense of order and teaching important character traits such as honesty and integrity. Our students are grouped in mixed-aged classrooms, allowing them to interact and form connections with children of different ages. This also strengthens collaboration and leadership skills, as older children have the opportunity to serve as mentors to younger students.

Directions from Palm Harbor Montessori Academy

Directions to Downtown Tampa from Palm Harbor Montessori Academy:

Downtown Tampa is about a 45-minute drive from Palm Harbor Montessori Academy. To get to Downtown Tampa, head southeast on Tampa Road until it turns into W Hillsborough Avenue. Make a slight right onto Memorial Highway when you see the Walgreens and Home Depot on your right. Continue on Memorial Highway until you reach Rocky Point Golf Course, then make a right onto Independence Parkway and when you reach Tampa International Airport, get on the 589 and head south. Merge onto the I-275 when you see Westshore Plaza. Head east on the 275 and exit off right after you cross the Hillsborough River. Head south on N Tampa St and once you see the Courtyard Marriott, you have made it to downtown Tampa!

Directions to Downtown St. Petersburg from Palm Harbor Montessori Academy:

Downtown St. Petersburg is about a 35-minute drive from Palm Harbor Montessori Academy. To get to Downtown St. Petersburg, head south on US-19 until you reach Golden Gate, then hop on the I-275 at Sawgrass Lake Park and head south, passing Norwood Heights and Woodlawn Park. Then get on I-375 and head east until you pass St. Anthony’s Hospital and Mirror Lake, then you will be in the heart of Downtown Saint Petersburg, marked by the Courtyard Marriott.