5 Easy Ways to Drive Up Enrollment at Your Montessori School

Enrollment is the lifeblood of any Montessori school. But even with a beautiful campus and a passionate team of educators, it can be challenging to consistently fill your classrooms, especially in the Montessori space, where leads require a lot of nurturing. The good news? You don’t need to completely overhaul your marketing strategy to see results. With a few simple, high-impact changes, you can drive more interest, boost engagement, and increase enrollment.

Here are five easy, effective ways to grow your Montessori school’s enrollment:

1. Have a Clear Call to Action (CTA) on Your Website

Your website is your school's digital front door—and it should work just as hard as your admissions team. The most important thing you can do is place a clear and compelling call to action front and center.

We recommend making “Schedule a Tour” your primary CTA. Parents who tour your school are far more likely to enroll. So don’t make them search for this option—make it obvious and easy. Include a brightly colored button on your homepage that links to a simple booking form. Better yet, use scheduling software to allow them to book right on your site without emailing back and forth. Families are much more likely to book a tour if it is easy to do so. 

A streamlined path to scheduling a tour directly translates to more booked visits—and more enrollments. 

2. Gate Your Tuition Information

Tuition is the number one piece of information prospective families look for on a school website. While transparency is key, giving this information away freely can actually reduce your chances of connecting with a family. More often than not, families will go to check your prices first thing and they might stop engaging with your school altogether if the pricing is higher than they expected. 

Instead, we recommend gating your tuition details behind a form. When a parent wants to view your tuition, have them fill out a short form with their name, email, and phone number. Then, automate an email response with your tuition breakdown. 

Why does this work? You now have their contact information and know they’re seriously considering your school. It prevents anonymous “ghost visits” and gives you the chance to follow up, invite them to a tour, and answer their questions directly. It gives you the opportunity to follow up directly with each interested lead and show them the true value and benefits of a Montessori education. Tuition is a powerful marketing asset—treat it like one.

3. Run Google Ads

Google Ads are one of the most reliable ways to drive targeted traffic to your website. They allow you to appear at the top of search results when local families are searching for terms like “Montessori school near me” or “best preschool in [your city].”

But here’s the catch: Google Ads aren’t a quick fix—they’re a long-term strategy. They take 1–2 months to gain traction and need to run continuously to be effective. Before you invest, make sure your website is optimized with strong CTAs and that you have a system for tracking leads. This way, when parents click on your sponsored campaign and are directed to your website, they actually make a conversion on your website, and you are not paying for them to just view your homepage and leave. 

Use a CRM (Customer Relationship Management system) to monitor which ads are bringing in results. Are people requesting tuition? Scheduling tours? Filling out inquiry forms? The more data you have, the better you can refine your strategy and improve ROI.

4. Utilize Email Marketing

Email marketing is often overlooked by schools, but it’s one of the most powerful (and cost-effective) tools at your disposal.

Start by adding all leads—those who fill out a tuition form, schedule a tour, or inquire about the school—into an automated email nurture sequence. This series should educate them about the Montessori method, share testimonials from current families, and encourage them to take the next step in the admissions process.

You can also send emails promoting upcoming events like open houses or enrollment deadlines. Unlike social media posts that come and go quickly, emails land directly in a parent’s inbox and stick around longer. Done well, email builds trust, keeps your school top-of-mind, and drives action.

5. Grassroots Marketing Still Works

Old-school marketing is still alive—and it works. A strong grassroots effort can build buzz and generate real leads, especially during key enrollment periods.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Distribute flyers and brochures at pediatrician offices, dentist offices, real estate agencies, coffee shops, and libraries.

• Place yard signs near busy intersections and in the neighborhoods where your ideal families live.

• Have a table at local farmers’ markets or community events where you can showcase your school.

• Encourage your current families to share flyers or host small info sessions for their friends.

• Create branded “classroom survival kits” or goodie bags to hand out at events.

• Send out mailers or promotional postcards to homes near you. 

Never underestimate the power of visibility and word of mouth. When your community sees your school’s name often, they’re more likely to check you out.

Start Small, Think Big

Increasing enrollment doesn’t require huge budgets or complicated strategies. It just takes consistency, creativity, and a willingness to implement small changes that make a big difference. With a clear website CTA, gated tuition form, targeted ads, consistent emails, and grassroots outreach, you’ll start filling your tours—and your classrooms—in no time.

Looking for support with your school’s marketing strategy? At Nido Marketing, we specialize in helping Montessori schools grow. We can create a custom marketing strategy for your school for FREE if you schedule a consultation call with us. 

Book your free Montessori Marketing Consultation Call