Welcome to Alsion Montessori

Alsion Montessori Middle/High School offers a three year program of education specifically designed to meet the academic and social needs of adolescents (ages 12 through 15.)  With an enrollment of fewer than fifty students, we can focus on the individual needs of each adolescent as he or she undergoes the critical transformation from child to young adult. While Alsion covers grades 7, 8 and 9, the School has the teaching expertise and resources to advance motivated students well beyond State of California standards for these grade levels.

Alsion's Early College High School program enables our students to achieve two years of college credit at Ohlone College while earning a high school diploma at Alsion.

Alsion Montessori Middle/High is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Alsion is located in the Mission San Jose District of Fremont, California, adjacent to Ohlone Community College, directly across the street from the College's Smith Center for the Performing Arts.  On Mission Boulevard, turn East at Anza Street.  The complete address is: Alsion Montessori Middle/High; P.O. Box 3296; 750 Witherly Lane; Fremont, CA 94539 • (510) 445-1127

The Facility

Alsion moved from its previous location on Washington Boulevard, which it shared with Montessori School of Fremont, to its own campus adjacent to Ohlone College in September 2008.  The new facility has three components.  The main building houses the Junior High program.  The administrative office and Early College Study Center occupy the adjoining building.  The third component is an all weather, multi-sport court for basketball, volleyball, badminton, etc.  A shuttle bus brings students from the Washington Boulevard campus, takes them to their apprenticeships/ internships after class, or to other nearby venues within the Fremont/Newark/Union City Area.

Alsion’s new campus looking east at sunset		Alsion Early College is "home base" for Alsion high school students attending Ohlone College less than 100 yards away.

First time visitors to the new campus usually comment on the view.  The front of the School commands a sweeping view of the San Francisco Bay Area, which on the clearest days extends all the way to the Golden Gate.  For Alsion students enrolled in the Early College High School Program, the walk to Ohlone College's main quad is across the street and less than 100 yards away.
 
While the original Alsion building dates back to 1957, the recent renovation incorporates the latest instructional technology, including a high speed backbone network, wireless Internet and interactive "live board" projection systems.  From a fire and seismic safety standpoint, the facility exceeds all current codes for schools.

The Program

At Alsion, all grade levels and ages are combined into a single learning community of 35 to 45 students, with roughly equal numbers of boys and girls. About half of our students attended Montessori elementary and preschool programs.

Unlike many large schools that rotate their students through classes taught by different instructors every 55 minutes, Alsion keeps students with the same team of full-time teachers for three years.

There are several advantages to this approach:

• Students are growing up and finding their own place in society.
  
• Our teachers get to know each student, so they can offer effective
  guidance through the inevitable challenges of growing up and
  learning to accept responsibility.


• All the students interact with each other on a daily basis -- working
  on projects, playing on teams, having lunch at the same table. Alsion's campus culture is remarkably constructive, inclusive and cohesive.


• The tribal insults and cliques that typify adolescent behavior are
  minimal.  Students are free to focus on intellectual concerns rather
  than worry about who's cool and popular and who is not.