The effects of Montessori education: evidence from admission lotteries

Little is known about the effects of Montessori education, even though many students in many countries are educated in Montessori classrooms. This study investigates the causal effects of Montessori secondary education by exploiting admission lotteries in Dutch Montessori schools. The results indicate that Montessori education provides an alternative way to attain similar outcomes. Montessori students obtain their secondary school degree without delay at the same rate and with similar grades as non-Montessori students, although the route towards the exams is somewhat different. Further, Montessori students show similar levels of motivation and do not score better on various measures of independence, even though these are the main characteristics Montessori education claims to foster