The History of Bennett Park Montessori Center
Bennett Park Montessori Center has a rich history rooted in the Original Bennett Park School, established on Cedar Street in 1851. The current building was constructed in 1913 and has served several educational purposes throughout its history, including as the home of BUILD Academy, Buffalo’s first community school.
In 1977, the school became Bennett Park Montessori Center. Today, it remains the only public Montessori School in Western New York and one of the largest public Montessori programs in the country. Serving students from Preschool through Grade 8, Bennett Park combines the Montessori approach with Buffalo Public Schools curriculum and New York State learning standards to support the development of the whole child.
The 2026-2027 school year marks our 49th year as a Buffalo Public Montessori School!