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Seattle · Licensed center

Little Mountain Montessori

littlemountainmontessori.com

At a glance

  • Medium Montessori center, licensed for 77 children.
  • Hours 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., 5 days a week, year round.
  • Tuition Infant $3,678, toddler $3,130, preschool $2,696 a month, full time. See costs

From their website, read September 2026:

“Classroom ratios are maintain at all times and are as follows: Preschool: 10:1 Toddler: 7:1 Infant: 4:1”

The state’s rule

Washington sets the most children one adult may care for by age, and the largest group size, in WAC 110-300-0356(5).

Infants (birth through 11 months): one adult for every four.

Toddlers (12 through 29 months): one adult for every seven.

Preschoolers (30 months through 6 years, not in kindergarten): one adult for every ten.

School-age children: one adult for every fifteen.

Also changed: infant, toddler and preschool prices

Infant: now $3,678 a month; was $3,520 (+$158, +4.5%).

Toddler: now $3,130 a month; was $2,995 (+$135, +4.5%).

Preschool: now $2,696 a month; was $2,580 (+$116, +4.5%). Seen in September 2026.

Is this normal? 8 of 42 Seattle centers we checked this summer and again this fall raised their prices. Too few to say how much a typical rise is.

Based on 42 Seattle centers whose own websites listed a price this summer and again this fall.

Why this happens

Across the country, child care prices rise most at the start of the school year. In federal price data from 2007 to 2025, August and September carried about half of a typical year’s increase.

Ask them: when the new price takes effect, whether it applies to families already enrolled, and when the next increase is planned.

Is this out of date?

What to know

License: 3 months to 6 years (state).

The license is the range the state allows. It does not say which ages have openings.

What the state has found

The state cited rules at all 4 of its licensing inspections since September 2024. It lists no valid complaint about this center.

See each inspection

Licensing inspections

  • Aug 10, 20264 citations
    • Training requirementsSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
      • “At the time of inspection, a few staff do not have current food handler on merit and on file.”

        WAC 110-300-0106(12)

    • Training requirementsShort Term. Fix within 10 business days. Rechecked within 15.
      • “At the time of inspection, there were a few staff do not have current bbp certificate on file and on merit.”

        WAC 110-300-0106(10)

    • Training requirementsShort Term. Fix within 10 business days. Rechecked within 15.
      • “At the time of inspection, a few staff do not have current first aid and cpr on merit and on file.”

        WAC 110-300-0106(11)

    • In-service trainingShort Term. Fix within 10 business days. Rechecked within 15.
      • “At the time of inspection, seven staff have not complete 10 hour of annual inservice training after 12 month of cumulative employment.”

        WAC 110-300-0107(1)

  • Oct 15, 20253 citations
    • MedicationSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
      • “At the time of inspection, it was observed that the a few children's diaper creams in infant room was labeled with colored tape, missing children's first and last name.”

        WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(ii)

    • MedicationSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
      • “At the time of inspection, it was observed that an expired medication was not returned to child's parent or guardian.”

        WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(ii)

    • Staff recordsLong Term. The state’s lowest risk level. Fix within 20 business days, no recheck.
      • “At the time of inspection, it was observed that a few staff who were no longer employed was not updated and reflected on merit.”

        WAC 110-300-0115(1)

  • Apr 21, 20257 citations
    • Training requirementsSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
      • “At the time of inspection, it was observed that 11 staff were missing current First Aid and CPR documents uploaded on Merit.”

        WAC 110-300-0106(12)

    • Training requirementsSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
      • “At the time of inspection, it was observed that 10 staff were missing food handler uploaded on Merit.”

        WAC 110-300-0106(12)

    • Safety requirementsSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
      • “At the time of inspection, it was observed that a white corner cabinet in the bathroom contained diapers inside a plastic bag, and a unused trash bag was also found behind it. The cabinet, standing 32 inches high, was accessible to children. Plastic diaper bags found in mutiple classroom bathroom.”

        WAC 110-300-0165(2)(d)

    • MedicationSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
      • “At the time of inspection, it was observed that one child's precription medication did not accompanied with medication authorization form.”

        WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(i)

    • Preservice requirementsShort Term. Fix within 10 business days. Rechecked within 15.
      • “At the time of inspection, it was observed that 5 staff were missing TB tests documents on Merit.”

        WAC 110-300-0105(3)

    • Outdoor early learning program spaceShort Term. Fix within 10 business days. Rechecked within 15.
      • “At the time of inspection, it was observed that the gates on outdoor play area did not equipped with a self closing and self latching mechanism.”

        WAC 110-300-0145(11)

    • PostingsLong Term. The state’s lowest risk level. Fix within 20 business days, no recheck.
      • “At the time of inspection, it was observed that a stand up diapering procerdure was missing in toddler room bathroom.”

        WAC 110-300-0505(1)(2)

  • Sep 25, 20241 citation
    • Equipment and surfaces in outdoor early learning spaceSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
      • “Balance beam did not have adequate ground covering under nor around the balance beam it was on grass.”

        WAC 110-300-0146(1)(a)(b)

The state cited rules at all 4 of this center's inspections. Most Seattle-area centers inspected 4 times had fewer: 71% of 272.

How all 272 Seattle-area centers inspected 4 times compare

Of the 272 Seattle-area centers the state inspected 4 times, how many of those inspections cited a rule:

  • None7%
  • 1 of 415%
  • 2 of 417%
  • 3 of 433%
  • All 429%This center
Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — Washington DCYF

Last visit
August 10, 2026
On file
4 visits since September 2024 — all of them cited findings
Most serious
Serious — At the time of inspection, a few staff do not have current food handler on merit and on file. · August 10, 2026

Washington DCYF publishes each citation in the licensor’s own words, with a risk level.

Aug 2026 Licensing visit 4 findings

Licensing visit · August 10, 2026

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(10) · Short Term

At the time of inspection, there were a few staff do not have current bbp certificate on file and on merit.

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(11) · Short Term

At the time of inspection, a few staff do not have current first aid and cpr on merit and on file.

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(12) · Serious

At the time of inspection, a few staff do not have current food handler on merit and on file.

In-service training

WAC 110-300-0107(1) · Short Term

At the time of inspection, seven staff have not complete 10 hour of annual inservice training after 12 month of cumulative employment.

Report (PDF)

Oct 2025 Licensing visit 3 findings

Licensing visit · October 15, 2025

Staff records

WAC 110-300-0115(1) · Long Term

0115(a):At the time of inspection, it was observed that a few staff who were no longer employed was not updated and reflected on merit.

Medication

WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(ii) · Serious

0215(3)(a)(ii):At the time of inspection, it was observed that the a few children's diaper creams in infant room was labeled with colored tape, missing children's first and last name.

Medication

WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(ii) · Serious

0215(3)(d):At the time of inspection, it was observed that an expired medication was not returned to child's parent or guardian.

Report (PDF)

Apr 2025 Licensing visit 7 findings

Licensing visit · April 21, 2025

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(12) · Serious

At the time of inspection, it was observed that 11 staff were missing current First Aid and CPR documents uploaded on Merit.

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(12) · Serious

At the time of inspection, it was observed that 10 staff were missing food handler uploaded on Merit.

Preservice requirements

WAC 110-300-0105(3) · Short Term

At the time of inspection, it was observed that 5 staff were missing TB tests documents on Merit.

Outdoor early learning program space

WAC 110-300-0145(11) · Short Term

At the time of inspection, it was observed that the gates on outdoor play area did not equipped with a self closing and self latching mechanism.

Safety requirements

WAC 110-300-0165(2)(d) · Serious

At the time of inspection, it was observed that a white corner cabinet in the bathroom contained diapers inside a plastic bag, and a unused trash bag was also found behind it. The cabinet, standing 32 inches high, was accessible to children. Plastic diaper bags found in mutiple classroom bathroom.

Medication

WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(i) · Serious

At the time of inspection, it was observed that one child's precription medication did not accompanied with medication authorization form.

Postings

WAC 110-300-0505(1)(2) · Long Term

At the time of inspection, it was observed that a stand up diapering procerdure was missing in toddler room bathroom.

Report (PDF)

Sep 2024 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · September 25, 2024

Equipment and surfaces in outdoor early learning space

WAC 110-300-0146(1)(a)(b) · Serious

Balance beam did not have adequate ground covering under nor around the balance beam it was on grass.

Report (PDF)

Shortlist replaces people’s names in the state’s text with initials. This is done by rule, not by hand, so it can miss a name or shorten a word that isn’t one. The state’s report, linked on each row, has the original.

What it costs

Infant$3,678
Toddler$3,130
Preschool$2,696

Little Mountain MontessoriBefore the changeMost Seattle-area prices (middle 80%)

Monthly, full time. The band is the middle 80% of Seattle-area full-time prices for that age; 56 infant, 82 toddler and 113 preschool programs publish one.

Siblings
3% Sibling Subsidy applied to the eldest of students enrolled

A day here

7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., 5 days a week, year round

Meals, outdoors, diapers and three more
Meals
Toddler and preschool: morning and afternoon snack plus daily catered lunch; breakfast brought from home
Outdoors
Outside every day, rain or shine
Diapers
Parents supply diapers; school uses WaterWipe wipes and Desitin diaper cream unless family brings their own
Updates for parents
Brightwheel app for check-in/out and messaging
Schedule
Full-day
Closed
Follows the Seattle Public Schools closure calendar, including early closures on the first Wednesday of some months

How they teach

Montessori

“Little Mountain Montessori provides a preschool program that is based on the Montessori philosophy.”

Policies

When a child is sick
Children kept home 24 hours after diarrhea, vomiting, or a fever of 100 has subsided without medication
Enrollment
Two months' notice required to withdraw; spot may be filled if tuition unpaid after one calendar month; expulsion possible, immediately if the director deems necessary

Details

Phone
(206) 602-6711
Address
3257 16th Ave W, Seattle, 98119
License
PL-84580
Established
2014

We couldn’t find some information that may matter to your decision: openings, Working Connections subsidy and who owns it. We can ask the program for you and copy you in.

Run Little Mountain Montessori? Correct or add anything here, free.
Sources and dates

Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.

Children per adult

How they teach

What it costs

State record

From Washington DCYF’s published reports, last checked November 3, 2026.

Washington’s four risk levels, highest first: Immediate, Serious, Short Term, Long Term. Deadlines from DCYF procedure PRO 10.1.21.

Ages

Age groups as Washington defines them: WAC 110-300-0005 (infant to 11 months, toddler 12 to 29 months, preschool 30 months to 6 years, school age 5 to 12 years).

A day here

What changed

littlemountainmontessori.com/campus-tuition, saved between July 17 and July 20, 2026, and again September 26, 2026

Day care and preschool prices, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2007 to 2025, read October 9, 2026

Policies

Details

Medium means the middle half of Seattle-area’s 855 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 41 to 115 children. Small is 6 to 40; large is 116 to 323.

The ages on the license are what the state licenses it to care for, which can be wider than the ages it takes.

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