Our History

A non-profit corporation, the Coastal Empire Montessori Charter Organization (CEMCO) was organized by seven Savannah-area residents in 2005 to operate the Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School (CEMCS) and the Coastal Empire Montessori Academy (CEMA). The goal is to provide, through these institutions, the opportunity for Chatham County schoolchildren to experience educational services based on the teaching philosophy and methodology developed by Dr. Maria Montessori. The CEMA and CEMCS are not only innovative as compared to traditional schools but also unique from other Montessori schools, and they provide an unparalleled education for children of the community.

CEMCS was set up in accordance with the Charter Schools Act of 1998 (amended in 2005) as part of an agreement between the Board of Public Education for the City of Savannah and the County of Chatham, the State Board of Education, and CEMCO. The school began operation in August 2008, in facilities located at 301 Buckhalter Road in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. It offers an environment in which certified, Montessori-trained teachers provide a truly holistic education that adheres to the principles and standards of the Montessori Methods of childhood education. Children are offered a rigorous, content-rich, hands-on curriculum via stimulating teaching in a safe and nurturing environment. Teachers facilitate instruction while creating an atmosphere where children are taught to take responsibility for their own learning, at their own pace, within a Montessori-structured environment.

CEMCO, through CEMCS, is dedicated to continuing progress already made in raising expectations for teaching and learning in order to increase student achievement. The organization – and therefore the school – is committed to continuing to implement Montessori curriculum that is aligned with Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS). We also intend to maintain the already-strong collaborative community of students, families and school personnel dedicated to the development of life-long learners who acquire the skills and attitudes of responsibility, resourcefulness and respect. The CEMCS Community, comprised of school leadership, faculty, staff, parents, students, and the CEMCO Board, is unified, cohesive and dedicated to realizing increases in student achievement and modeling how innovative a school community can be.