Minnesota favors Montessori more than any other education method, study reveals

Every child is different, and often a mainstream education philosophy isn’t always suited as a ‘one size fits all’. There are many different alternative education philosophies, with varying degrees of popularity and uptake across America, and different cultures across the world.

New research by education experts, Witherow Brooke examines seven alternative education philosophies’ popularity across US states by analyzing Google search volumes, proportioned against population size.

The philosophies studied were:

• Montessori

• Waldorf & Steiner

• Reggio Emilia

• Homeschooling

• Unschooling

• Charter schools

• Democratic schools

Montessori was the most in-demand philosophy in Minnesota

The most popular philosophy in Minnesota was Montessori. On average there were 39.9 searches for Montessori schools and methods for every 1000 Minnesota residents. Montessori education, pioneered by Maria Montessori, emphasizes self-directed learning and collaborative play in carefully prepared environments, fostering independence, exploration, and holistic development.

27 states had Montessori as the highest number of searches per population, including California, Georgia, Illinois and Vermont.

Vermont had the highest amount of searches, with 77.4 for every 1000 people. The lowest overall for Montessori was in Mississippi, which had the least demand for the education philosophy with only 23.1 searches for every 1000 people.

Waldorf & Charter schools come second and third

Waldorf education, founded by Rudolf Steiner, prioritizes holistic development, creativity, and practical skills integration, fostering imagination, nature connection, and emotional-social growth, making it appealing to parents seeking a well-rounded educational approach. Waldorf was Minnesota’s second most-searched education method, with 26.2 searches per 1000 people. Waldorf methods have huge popularity across the world – it was the most searched philosophy in the United Kingdom overall. However, in the US only 4 states had Waldorf as their most searched education practice. These were: Hawaii, Nevada, North Dakota and Virginia. Nevada had 70.7 searches for every 1000 people around the Waldorf & Steiner philosophy, more than triple the amount of Indiana, which was one of the lowest demand for these methods – with only 17.4 searches per 1000 people.

Charter schools were the third most-searched philosophy in Minnesota, with 25.1 searches per 1000 people. Minnesota currently has 180 charter schools in operation in the state, from prekindergarten up to 12th grade. 54% of states favor Montessori methods overall In the US, Montessori education emerges as the most sought-after philosophy, with 27 states showing the highest search volume per population, underscoring a national trend towards self-directed learning and holistic development. Homeschooling and charter schools follow closely, with 10 states favoring homeschooling and 9 states leaning towards charter schools for their flexibility and specialized approaches.

States such as Alaska, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia were included in who had the highest demand for homeschooling over other education practices or methods. However, homeschooling was not as popular in every state. In New Jersey, there were only 14.5 searches around it for every 1000 people – the lowest in the study overall. Also not favoring homeschooling as much were parents or caregivers in Pennsylvania and California, with only 15.4 and 16.3 searches respectively. Meanwhile, Waldorf methods, although globally popular, attract interest in only 4 states, while Reggio Emilia sees a notable rise in search trends across 11 states, signifying a growing appreciation for child-directed learning and creative environments nationwide.

Ranked: Minnesota’s most popular alternative education philosophies

Roland Witherow, Co-Founder of Witherow Brooke and education expert commented:

“The dominance of Montessori across the majority of states underscores a growing demand for individualized learning and experiential approaches. Concurrently, the popularity of homeschooling and charter schools highlights a quest for flexibility and tailored instruction. While Waldorf methodologies enjoy global recognition, their relatively subdued presence in the US indicates a unique inclination towards pragmatic skill integration and holistic development among American parents. Moreover, the noteworthy uptick in interest towards Reggio Emilia signifies an evolving appreciation for child-centered pedagogy and collaborative environments. These findings not only enrich our understanding of alternative education but also serve as invaluable guidance for educators, policymakers, and parents navigating the diverse educational landscape in the United States.”

You can view the study, which also looks at the most popular methods in the UK, Australia, Canada and the UAE by visiting here.

If you’d like any more information on specific stats for each state, then please feel free to get in touch.