Welcome
Where children flourish
Pincushion Hill is a Montessori school in Ashland, Massachusetts, for children 18 months through kindergarten.
Founded
1962
Tour length
30 min
Next open house
Oct 21
Toddler through Kindergarten
18 mo – 6 yr
Our Approach
A real school · A Montessori school
At Pincushion Hill, children work. In Montessori, “work” means real academic material: reading, writing, mathematics, sciences, history, and the arts. It is sequenced to each child's readiness, not their birthday.
If you want to compare our curriculum to traditional grade levels, we can do that. What we call Children's House is preschool and pre-kindergarten elsewhere, and our Kindergarten year covers the same ground a conventional kindergarten does, often more. We speak both languages.
Leadership
A new chapter, led by someone who knows this school deeply
“I've spent my career at the intersection of Montessori and mainstream education. I know what rigorous academic work looks like, and I know Montessori delivers it. My goal is to make sure every family at Pincushion Hill sees that clearly.
”
Catherine Naegamvala
Head of School
M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction · AMS Certified
Teaching credentials, grades 1–6
Newsfeed
Latest from our community
Stay connected with what's happening at our school. Read the latest stories, classroom moments, and updates from our community.
Autumn Is a Classroom: Learning Through Nature
October brings a beautiful transformation to New England. The leaves change color, acorns scatter across the ground, pumpkins fill farm stands, and squirrels begin preparing for the colder months ahead. For young…
Preparing the Child—and the Parent—for a New School Year
The start to a new school year is an exciting, yet stressful time for parents and children. The anticipation of the first day, adjusting to routines, learning expectations and being in a new place all day can be stress…
10 Reasons to Consider a Montessori Education for Your Child
Choosing the right educational environment for your child is one of the most important decisions a family can make. Montessori education offers a unique approach that nurtures not only academic growth, but also…
Get Started
See the school for yourself
The best way to experience Pincushion Hill is to visit. Enrollment is open year-round for our Toddler and Children’s House programs, and Kindergarten enrollment is currently open for Fall 2026.
