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Guidepost Montessori Pricing (2026): Plans, Cost and Free Trial
- Price
- From $2,010/mo
- Grades
- Pre-K–K
- Type
- School
Updated · By Edulist · 12 sources
Guidepost Montessori plans and prices
Guidepost does not publish one national price. Each campus has its own rate sheet by program, days per week and hours. For example, Guidepost's 2026–27 rate sheet for Wicker Park in Chicago lists Toddler at $2,010–$2,515 a month for 3 days and $2,370–$2,960 for 5 days, and Children's House (5 days) at $2,205–$2,755, depending on half, academic or full day. Former Guidepost campuses now run as Illuminate Montessori listed $1,400–$2,100 (Brushy Creek, Texas) and $1,195–$2,095 (Montclair, Virginia) a month. Infant (Nido) care is usually the most expensive. Early-childhood programs bill every month of the year, and Guidepost's parent handbook says elementary tuition is split into 10 payments.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wicker Park, Chicago: Toddler, 3 days, half day (2026–27) | $2,010/mo | Monthly | $2,010/mo |
| Wicker Park, Chicago: Toddler, 5 days, full day (2026–27) | $2,960/mo | Monthly | $2,960/mo |
| Wicker Park, Chicago: Children's House, 5 days, half day (2026–27) | $2,205/mo | Monthly | $2,205/mo |
| Wicker Park, Chicago: Children's House, 5 days, full day (2026–27) | $2,755/mo | Monthly | $2,755/mo |
Per-month prices divide yearly plans by 12. Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-26; confirm on the official Guidepost Montessori site.
Guidepost Montessori free trial, discounts and cancellation
- Free trial
- No trial. Campuses offer tours, and enrollment is rolling based on openings.
- Discounts
- Sibling discount: Guidepost says families enrolling more than one child may be eligible for sibling discounts at participating schools.
- Fall 2026 promotion: Guidepost's promotions page offers 20% off the first three full months for families who enroll at a participating school by November 30, 2026.
- Referral credit: Guidepost's promotions page lists a $750 tuition credit for both families when you refer a new family who enrolls.
- How to cancel
- Withdrawal notice and deposit terms are set in each campus's enrollment agreement and the parent handbook. Get the notice period and deposit refund rules in writing before you sign.
- Refunds
- Guidepost does not post a refund policy publicly; deposit and fee terms are in each enrollment agreement. Several 2026 Trustpilot reviewers report waiting months for refunds owed after leaving, and Guidepost replied to those reviews.
- Extra costs
- Expect an application or registration fee and a tuition deposit; for example, the former Guidepost campus at Brushy Creek, Texas, lists a $1,000 deposit, a $200 registration fee and a $200 annual materials fee. Lunch at many campuses and fees for some immersion or special programs are extra.
We list only discounts the provider publishes. We never post coupon codes we can’t verify.
Get Guidepost Montessori funded
As of October 2026, Texas's official TEFA vendor finder lists 11 Texas campuses under the Guidepost Montessori name as EFA-eligible private schools for grades PreK–K, though several have since been renamed Illuminate Montessori. Guidepost does not publish a list of other state programs it accepts. Most ESA and scholarship programs do not fund infant or toddler care, and each program decides eligibility.
No program on Edulist lists Guidepost Montessori yet. Save it to your wishlist and we’ll tell you when one does. Many state ESAs let families buy products like this directly; each program decides.
Is Guidepost Montessori worth the money?
Guidepost Montessori can offer an authentic-looking Montessori classroom with long, year-round hours, which is rare and useful for working parents. But the brand has been through a bankruptcy, about 60 school closures and an operator split, and in September 2026 a New York Times investigation detailed how the old business model failed. Judge the specific campus, its head of school and its staff turnover, and read the enrollment agreement's deposit and refund terms carefully.
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Sources
- guidepostmontessori.com
- guidepostmontessori.com · Wicker Park Spring 2026.pdf
- guidepostmontessori.com · promotions
- guidepostmontessori.com · guidepost parent handbook
- guideposteducation.com
- illuminatemontessori.com
- communityimpact.com · guidepost montessori schools rebranded as illuminate montess
- finder.educationfreedom.texas.gov
- theparentingguide.substack.com · a new era for montessori at guidepost
- forbes.com · giant montessori school chain files for bankruptcy
- dianeravitch.net · inside the collapse of a montessori ponzi scheme
- trustpilot.com · guidepostmontessori.com
Questions
How much does Guidepost Montessori cost?
Tuition is monthly and varies by campus, program and schedule. Guidepost's 2026–27 Wicker Park (Chicago) rate sheet lists $2,010–$2,960 a month for Toddler and $2,205–$2,755 for Children's House. Expect extra application, deposit and materials fees.
Can I use TEFA or an ESA at Guidepost?
In Texas, the state TEFA finder lists 11 Guidepost-named campuses for PreK–K as of October 2026. Elsewhere, ask the campus directly. Each program decides who qualifies and what it pays for.
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