Montessori School of Yakima Launches $16M Campus Campaign
The school is expanding to better serve Yakima families currently facing a 100-family waitlist for early childcare seats.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Child Care
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The Montessori School of Yakima has appointed Laura Maloney Price as its new head of school as it launches a $16 million capital campaign. The initiative aims to build a new campus that will expand childcare and education capacity for local families.
Why it matters
The school currently maintains a waitlist of over 100 families, underscoring a significant local need for early childhood education seats. Expanding the campus is essential to replace the current facility and accommodate more students from the area.
The school serves 154 students and operates 100 childcare seats while managing a waitlist of over 100 families. The $16 million capital campaign is intended to fund a new facility to replace the current campus located at 511 N. 44th Ave.
The players
Laura Maloney Price
The new head of school for the Montessori School of Yakima who joins the local institution following a tenure in El Paso, Texas.
Montessori School of Yakima
A local private school operating in Yakima since 1965 that provides early childhood and K-8 education based on the Montessori method.
Oakridge Montessori School
An affiliated local educational institution established in 1993 that operates at 6403 Summitview Ave.
The details
The Montessori School of Yakima board is managing a capital campaign to secure funding for a new campus. The school recently reached an agreement to purchase a new property, though public details remain pending until the transaction closes. The new facility is designed to replace the existing school site to better accommodate its growing waitlist and expand education access.
Timeline
1907: Dr. Maria Montessori created the educational method.
1965: The Montessori School of Yakima began operations.
1993: Oakridge Montessori School was established.
1997: Oakridge Montessori School moved to its current location.
The Home Front
The Montessori School of Yakima expansion addresses the ongoing challenge of limited early childhood education access in the region. This project reflects a broader trend of private institutions seeking capital investments to meet high demand for local childcare seats.
Families currently seeking enrollment should keep an eye on official school announcements regarding the new property purchase. If your household is on the waitlist, reach out to the administration for updates on how the new campus timeline might affect future capacity.
The takeaway
Growing waitlists highlight the importance of planning for childcare several years in advance. Families should regularly verify their status on institutional waiting lists and monitor school capital campaigns for potential updates to enrollment availability.
Further reading
Learn more about local educational opportunities in the Child Care section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Yakima Herald-Republic.
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