Mission

Hilltop's mission is for students to attain responsible independence.

• Students will come to an awareness of their unique task in and responsibility to the care of self, community, and the Earth.
• Students will come to realize the fullness of their intrinsic academic and creative potential.
• Students will come to maturity and integrity according to their individual rhythm, pace, and style.

 

History

Hilltop Montessori School was founded in 1972 thanks to a group of intensely-committed parents who wanted to provide quality pre-school education for their children. The head teacher hired for the new job happened to be Montessori-trained, and from this humble beginning a new kind of school was born.

Hilltop has grown from a pre-school serving 20 students, to a State of Vermont accredited pre-K, elementary, and middle school with 111 students, summer camps, and a variety of before and after school programs. It is a vital member of the southern Vermont education community and a stable and experienced institution. 

The school is governed by a board of trustees comprised of current and alumni parents, as well as members of the broader community, who are active in advancing the school’s mission and securing its financial future. Hilltop’s experienced faculty average more than 10 years of service apiece to the school. In addition, Hilltop is actively supported by several enthusiastic parent committees.

From 2007 to 2009, board, staff and parents together raised more than $2.9 million dollars in private donations, and successfully built a new 20,000 square foot, energy-efficient school—in time to welcome students to the start of the new school year on August 31^st of 2009.  

Hilltop began its quest for a new campus in the summer of 2007 after its longtime landlord (Austine School for the Deaf) announced expansion plans that included use of space Hilltop had leased for eighteen years. Concurrently, Hilltop's programmatic needs had outgrown its quarters.

Hilltop’s Board of Trustees and Facilities Committee launched a comprehensive search for a permanent, new home before purchasing a 43-acre parcel of land and existing buildings, located within a five minute drive of downtown Brattleboro.

Hilltop’s beautiful new campus provides ample space for gardens and playing fields as well as hiking trails and woodlands to serve as outdoor classrooms. Its new, energy-efficient indoor classrooms and administrative offices support a culture of continued educational excellence. Together, they offer new and exciting opportunities for special partnerships with the broader Brattleboro community.

These are indeed busy and exciting times for Hilltop!

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