Oak & Olive Montessori Co-op

Rooted in faith, growing in knowledge.

We are a parent-led Montessori co-op in San Diego, serving children from transitional kindergarten through third grade in a nurturing environment where Islamic faith and academic knowledge grow together.

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Our Story

How Oak & Olive began

Oak & Olive started with a simple idea: a small group of families wanting an alternative given recent circumstances, a place where our kids could grow strong in their academics and their deen, side by side, with their parents close.

We are not a traditional school. Legally, families remain their children's educators of record, filing a private school affidavit or working through an umbrella program, and what you pay is a co-op fee, not tuition. Parents come together to run the co-op, which coordinates bringing in dedicated, qualified teachers to lead small, mixed-age classrooms with real Montessori materials.

We are currently completing our nonprofit formation as a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, pursuing 501(c)(3) status, so that Oak & Olive can serve families for years to come.

How It Works

One co-op fee, not a dozen relationships

Without a co-op, each family would need to find, schedule, and pay teachers on their own, subject by subject, coordinating separately with every one of them. Oak & Olive simplifies this: families pay one co-op fee, and the co-op takes it from there, coordinating with qualified teachers and handling the full range of co-op expenses: teachers, supplies, facilities, and activities. Families have one relationship to manage, instead of a tangle of separate arrangements.

Families

Pay one co-op fee

Oak & Olive co-op

Pools fees, distributes funds

Shared resources

Pooled so every family's fee goes further

Teachers Supplies Facilities Activities

We're finalizing our exact monthly co-op fee now. Because costs are shared across all enrolled families, the final amount depends on our total enrollment. We'll share the exact number with families as soon as it's set, before anyone needs to commit.

Our Values

What we stand for

Seven commitments guide every decision we make, from the classroom to the community we are building together.

Safety, Trust, and Belonging

We are committed to creating a safe, secure, and nurturing environment where every child feels protected, loved, and valued. We place the well-being of children at the center of every decision we make, ensuring that what is best for them always guides our choices. Our children should feel a deep sense of belonging, and parents should feel confident that their children are being cared for with responsibility, compassion, and amanah.

Quran-Centered Program

We place the Qur'an at the heart of everything we do. Through our جيلٌ يحفظ program, we strive to help children read, recite, understand, memorize, and live by the Qur'an. We believe Arabic and Islamic Studies are essential to building a strong Islamic identity and a lifelong connection to our faith.

Character & Adab

We believe education is not only about what children know, but who they become. We strive to nurture humility, kindness, honesty, patience, respect, self-discipline, and good character by modeling the teachings and noble character of our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Rudeness, bullying, disrespect, and harmful behavior have no place in our learning environment.

Welcoming of All Backgrounds

We welcome families of different cultures, ethnicities, levels of practice, and life experiences. Every child deserves to feel seen, respected, and given the opportunity to thrive.

Montessori-Inspired Educational Excellence

We are committed to providing an exceptional education that inspires curiosity, independence, and a lifelong love of learning. Guided by Montessori philosophy, we combine rigorous academics, practical life skills, and meaningful connections with nature to foster the whole child's development. We are dedicated to building a team of highly qualified educators who model excellence and a passion for teaching.

Healthy Bodies and Healthy Habits

We believe children's physical health directly supports their learning, focus, and emotional well-being. We want to encourage healthy food choices, limit sweets and unnecessary sugar, and make room for daily movement and physical activity.

Family Partnerships

We believe parents are a child's first and most influential teachers. We can succeed when we are working together. We seek families who are invested in our mission and committed to our core values. Through regular family gatherings and meaningful involvement, we strive to build lasting relationships that strengthen both our children and our community.

Program

Two classrooms, one community

Oak & Olive is organized around two core Montessori classrooms and a dedicated Quran and Arabic classroom, so every child moves through a real three-year mixed-age community, not just a single grade.

Ages 4–6

Primary Classroom

TK and Kindergarten. Practical life and sensorial work form the foundation: pouring, dressing frames, the Pink Tower, sandpaper letters, and the beginnings of math and language, all at a gentle, unhurried pace.

Ages 6–9

Lower Elementary

1st through 3rd grade. Children move into abstract math and language work, research projects, and more independent study, still within small, mixed-age groups.

Every child, daily

Quran & Arabic

Every child rotates through daily, working with materials suited to their level, from Arabic letters and early Quran memorization to tajweed and fluent reading.

Beyond the classrooms, our space includes a multipurpose room for movement and gross motor play, a shared cafeteria, an arts and crafts room, and a quiet library and calm space for children who need a few minutes to reset.

Enrollment

Now enrolling, TK through 3rd grade

Fill out our interest form and we'll follow up with next steps, including our co-op fee and how the private school affidavit or umbrella program option works.

Fill out the parent interest form

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Careers

Join our teaching team

We're looking for qualified, Montessori-minded educators who want to help build something meaningful from the ground up. Tell us about yourself and we'll follow up.

Fill out the teacher interest form

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Calendar

2026–27 academic calendar

Our first and last day of school, holidays, and Islamic observances, all in one place.

Tap the calendar to see it larger, or add these dates to your own calendar app.

Give

Help us build their future

We are a parent-led co-op dedicated to raising children in a nurturing Islamic environment where faith and knowledge grow together. Your support helps us build a safe, inspiring space for our children to learn, grow, and thrive, together.

"Whoever plants a tree… will have a reward according to what is eaten from it."
Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam

$175,000 goal

Classroom furniture and furnishings$60,000
Two 16-passenger buses for outdoor activities$60,000
Initial classroom materials and equipment$20,000
Space build-out and improvements$10,000
Lease deposit$7,000
First month's rent$7,000
Security setup (cameras, locks, entry)$5,000
Insurance setup and prepaid$2,000
Technology (computers, printer, network)$1,000
Business formation (LLC, legal, permits)$1,000
Signage$1,000
Launch and outreach$1,000
Total startup cost$175,000
Give now

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Contact

We'd love to hear from you

Email
admin@oakandolive.org
Location
San Diego, California (near Sorrento Valley and Miramar)