The top reported proficiency rate is 85% in Science. The lowest is 70% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Pittsburgh Montessori K-5
Pittsburgh Montessori K-5 is a non-charter public elementary school in the Pittsburgh School District serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school sits on South Graham Street in Pittsburgh's residential eastern neighborhoods, serving a school population of roughly one-third of what might be typical for an elementary school its grade span.
Academically, the school demonstrates solid proficiency in tested subjects. Reading and language arts performance is above the midpoint for schools across Allegheny County, with students showing proficiency well above the county median. Mathematics proficiency sits lower relative to language arts but still lands in the top quartile among county schools. Science results, from the most recent available data, were also strong. The school is being tested in grades three through eight, though as a K-5 school it serves only the grade three through five window; proficiency rates reflect those tested grades. The school's overall proficiency index—averaging performance across subjects and tested grades—places it in the top quartile of Allegheny County schools, a meaningful position of strength.
The student body is economically diverse but leans toward lower household income, with a substantial majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Racially and ethnically, the enrollment is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Black, multiracial, Asian, and Hispanic students. The school does not appear to serve a high proportion of students with disabilities or English learners based on available data, though specific numbers on these populations are not publicly reported. Enrollment is concentrated in the youngest grades: the pre-K class is the largest, with enrollment declining through fifth grade, a pattern typical of schools with early-childhood programs.
The school identifies as a Montessori program, which shapes the pedagogical approach and day-to-day experience but does not change its status as a regular public school. Parents choosing this school are selecting a specific educational philosophy—child-led, mixed-age learning environments, hands-on materials and prepared classrooms—rather than a selective or alternative program. Families do not apply through a lottery or admissions process; this is a neighborhood school open to district residents.
The Pittsburgh school district is navigating significant structural changes. In May 2026, the board approved the Future-Ready Facilities Plan, permanently closing nine buildings and restructuring many more in response to declining enrollment and budget pressures. The Friendship PreK-5 Montessori school is scheduled to close at the end of the 2026-2027 school year. For families considering this school now, the closure means a relatively short enrollment window before grade reconfigurations and feeder-pattern shifts take effect across the district. The district eliminated elementary magnet programs as part of the plan, refocusing resources on neighborhood schools. The district has also shifted K-5 reading instruction toward the science of reading, with a curriculum change completed in 2023-24 and mandatory teacher training now rolling out, a pedagogical change that will affect how students in this school are taught foundational literacy skills.
Housing in Pittsburgh's neighborhoods ranges widely by location. In the zip code where this school is located, home values are moderate for an urban area. Rental availability has tightened slightly, with median rent reflecting both neighborhood character and proximity to amenities. The broader Allegheny County housing market shows steady activity with modest year-over-year price gains and relatively balanced inventory conditions. The district approved a property tax increase in December 2025 as part of its budget response to declining revenues and enrollment losses—a cost-of-living factor families considering a move into Pittsburgh should weigh.
A long-standing college scholarship program, the Pittsburgh Promise, which had offered tuition support to Pittsburgh Public Schools graduates, is winding down. The Class of 2028 will be the final cohort to receive scholarships, meaning students entering this school now would graduate after that program's end.
Parents considering Pittsburgh Montessori should understand they are choosing a pedagogically distinct elementary school with solid academic results, serving a community with significant economic diversity, within a district actively restructuring its facilities and programs. The school's imminent closure reshapes the context: enrollment stability cannot be assumed, and feeder patterns and grade configurations will shift. This is a workable choice for families drawn to Montessori pedagogy and committed to an early-elementary public school experience, but the timing of the district's consolidation is a material consideration.
See more original research from School Decision →