37 Years of Growing Curious, Confident Learners
Two campuses in Fullerton | Infants through 8th Grade | Est. 1988
Arborland Montessori has been a cornerstone of education in Fullerton, CA, since 1988 - nurturing children from infancy through 8th grade with a Montessori approach that honors every child's unique path.
Our Mission
At Arborland Montessori, we believe every child is born curious. Our mission is to protect that curiosity - guiding it with purpose, nurturing it with patience, and giving every student, from their very first days through 8th grade, the confidence and skills to lead their own learning for life.
Core Values
The Whole Child
We educate the mind, heart, and spirit. Academic excellence matters - and so does character, empathy, and resilience.
Individuality
No two children are the same. We build every learning experience around the unique needs, strengths, and pace of the individual child.
Community
Arborland is a family. We invest in relationships - between students, teachers, and parents - because belonging is the foundation of learning.
Excellence
We set high standards - not to pressure children, but to show them what they are capable of. Our students rise to meet challenges because we believe in them.
A Message From Our Founder
She Started With 7 Students and a Dream
Describe your image
In the fall of 1988, Dr. Sueling Chen opened the doors of Arborland Montessori Children's Academy at a small space near Valencia and Brookhurst in Fullerton, California. She had one classroom, seven students — and two of them were her own daughters.
It wasn't the size of the school that mattered to her. It was the idea behind it: that children deserve more than instruction. They deserve an environment designed around who they are — curious, capable, and full of potential — where learning feels like discovery, not pressure.
Dr. Chen had seen what a Montessori classroom could do for a child — the self-direction, the joy of learning at one's own pace, the deep sense of competence it builds from the earliest age. She wanted to bring that to Fullerton.
What began with 7 students is now a two-campus institution serving children from 3 months through 8th grade — more than 37 years in the same community, with generations of alumni who have gone on to universities like Columbia and Harvard and, often, returned to enroll their own children.
Dr. Chen remains actively involved in the day-to-day life of both campuses. Her founding belief — that every child is someone special who deserves to be seen that way — is still the heartbeat of everything we do.
Our Journey
A Legacy Built One Child at a Time
From one classroom in 1988 to two thriving campuses today - here's how Arborland grew alongside the Fullerton families we serve.
Our Philosophy
Why Montessori? Why Arborland?
Most schools teach children what to think. Montessori teaches children how to think.
Developed by Dr. Maria Montessori over a century ago, the Montessori method treats children as natural learners — capable of directing their own education when given the right environment, materials, and guidance. The result is a child who doesn't just absorb information, but genuinely understands it, takes ownership of it, and applies it with confidence.
At Arborland, we've practiced this philosophy for 37 years — adapting it with care for each age group, from the sensory discoveries of our infant classrooms to the analytical challenges of junior high. Here's what it means in practice:
Child-Led Learning
Children choose their work within a structured environment. This builds self-direction, intrinsic motivation, and a love of learning that lasts far beyond the classroom.
Mixed-Age Classrooms
Older students mentor younger ones; younger students are inspired by older peers. The result is a community where learning flows in every direction - not just from teacher to student.
Prepared Environment
Every material, every corner of our classrooms is intentionally designed to invite exploration. When the environment is right, children teach themselves.
"Never let children risk failure until they have a reasonable chance of success."
- Dr. Maria Montessori
Our Credentials
Accredited. Recognized. Trusted.
Arborland Montessori meets rigorous standards set by independent accrediting bodies - giving families confidence that our programs deliver on their promise.
Arborland by the Numbers
37 | 2 | 1:12 | 856K+ |
|---|---|---|---|
Years Serving Fullerton | Campuses | Teacher-Student Ratio | Hours of Teaching |
What Families Say
Don't Take Our Word for It.
Hear from the families and alumni who have called Arborland home.