Maria Montessori School

As a parent very familiar with Montessori, having gone to a Montessori school myself as a child, and practicing some of the philosophies with our child since she was born, it was so important to me to find a school that not only had Montessori in the name, but that truly lived by those principles and had teachers who were certified in the method with years of experience. When our child joined the preschool room in the middle of the school year, I wasn't sure how the transition would be for her, but she felt so welcomed by everyone and quickly felt at home with the students and also at the school, which was a relief as she had been at home with me since being born and occasionally being watched by family. She has truly thrived in this environment and I'm convinced it goes beyond the Montessori curriculum (although that was my initial focus in choosing the school) I truly believe it's because of the teachers, and all of the staff's true dedication and care for each one of the students.I have yet to have any questions or even slight concerns that have not been fully received by the staff in an appropriate manner and with consideration for the school as a whole. I truly don't think I could have found a better school for our child!

We love MMS! The school stays true to Montessori, has super responsive staff and teachers, and concerns have been addressed appropriately and in a timely manner. Our child has learned so much and loves sharing what they've learned (I've even learned some things!) The teachers truly go above and beyond to support the students in an individualized way.

MMS has been a tremendous school for our son. The school`s dedication to the principles of Montessori education has been impressive, especially considering the common tendency for schools to stray from their founding vision. MMS does exactly what it says it will: offer deep respect and authentic affirmation of the child and establish an environment in which true learning can take place. I recommend the school for any parent who desires an authentic Montessori education.

My son is now in Kindergarten in MMS and has been in the school for 3 years. He has been thriving and learning so much in this school. The staff is really competent and caring. The school has also handled the pandemic in a great way with great safety measures and minimal closure

Our daughter joined MMS for 8th grade due to the pandemic in the 2020-2021 school year and had in-person learning for the majority of the year. What I learned about this great little school is that your child can get a private education that is not only affordable but where they can get more personalized attention. If your child excels in math or needs extra help in math, either can be accommodated. In the case of my daughter, we discovered she was dyslexic in 8th grade and the school accommodated her curriculum so that she could replace foreign language with a specific dyslexic tutoring course off-campus. The teachers and administration are happy to work with your needs. Generally speaking, the school offers a rigorous curriculum but can make accommodations when needed. Middle school is a tough year and I would definitely recommend that parents of middle school kids consider what this small private school has to offer to best prepare your student for high school.

Our family couldn't be happier with Maria Montessori. The school offers an academically challenging environment that is also warm and nurturing and appreciates each child for who he/she is. The Montessori approach focuses on child-centered learning, in which the child decides his/her schedule for the day and is self-paced in their work. In this way the students learn independence, critical thinking, and perseverance. Each class has a low student-to-teacher ratio: over the past four years, my son's classes have averaged about 7-10 students for every teacher/aid. The teachers are skilled (many of them have been there for 10 or 20+ years) and provide individualized attention to each student. For my son who is relatively academically advanced, this has worked out wonderfully for him as his teachers are always giving him new challenges that meet his interests and academic level. There are extra-curricular teachers for PE, computer language (Spanish or Mandarin) and music. I also appreciate the many opportunities for parental involvement and volunteering. Best of all, during the pandemic the school was able to safely re-open for in-person learning in the fall of 2020, which has made such a tremendous difference in my son's learning and social-emotional health!

We have now been at MMS for two years, going on our third. My children have been attending the upper elementary and middle school programs. We have LOVED this school. The teachers are extremely attentive to our children's individual needs and interests. The school focuses ongoing at the pace the child needs. We moved from another area, and the teachers have spent many hours working with our children to ensure that they have transitioned well. In addition, the foreign language programs and PE are superb. As for the classrooms, you will not find teachers anywhere else who come to school happy to see the children and ready to teach them—you can see their dedication. The middle school experience in particular is one that cannot be missed—this critical time in adolescence is met with a teacher who understands their needs and desires, and honors this age-group, challenging them to be the best they can be as themselves as well as members of our world community. Finally, schools depend on parent support. You will not find more dedicated parents than here at MMS. Coming in towards the end of my children's elementary years, we were met with open arms and a sense of family. We have no doubts that this is the school for our children to ensure they develop into strong, confident people who respect the world's people and environment. I also know that as they soon embark on high school, they are well-prepared academically, socially and emotionally!

One reason I really like this school is that it teaches the 'why' in math. My son's teacher, Ms. Brown, explained to me how she is teaching the kids to find the square root of a number. Ms. Brown used an example number of thirty thousand something. She walked through the visual tools they use, how those tools can be used to find the answer, and how they translate into the algebraic equation. When I was a youth, I was frustrated that my teachers told us to memorize a process instead of teaching us why the process was that way. This really is the school I wish I had gone to.

We had such a special year this past school year, it is too wonderful not to write about! We have enjoyed all of our years at MMS but this year we were lucky enough to be in room 3 and the teachers built this community of learners through events and a constant theme around being a community. I think this was the type of year that I know will be etched in my child's memory for a lifetime. Yes, the academics were great, and the teachers amazing but mostly it was the overall experience. I can say that the restaurant we experienced in the beginning of the year was one of the most incredible things I have seen, in my own education or in my child's. I could not believe the process of an entire classroom of children running a restaurant all on their own. We ended the year with the Publishing Party and it was a wonderful end of year celebration to the best year so far in our educational experience. Thank you MMS for giving us an overall experience that is top notch from the teachers, special staff and administration. You are all just so warm, nurturing and inspirational.

Our family loves MMS! Our son transferred in first grade after having a less than mediocre experience at a charter school that focused on all children doing the same work at the same pace. We had been concerned because he was losing his passion for learning. This is never an issue at MMS! Children are stimulated through the unique Montessori curriculum which also includes zoology, biology, cursive, geography, music, computers, foreign language and P.E. in addition to the other academic subjects. The multi-level approach is so beneficial socially, emotionally and academically. Children work at their own level and thrive in the project based school setting. They learn practical life skills which sadly are no longer taught or valued at most other schools. While we knew MMS would challenge our son academically, what happily surprised us most was the emphasis on the whole child in terms of social and emotional development. This is so crucial to raising a young person who will be able to navigate life as an adult. It is also refreshing how there is no homework (busywork) in the earlier years so you can enjoy your child and your family time in the evening. The teachers are highly experienced, and the director (Ms. Stoneman) is one of the kindest, calmest, most understanding and serene administrators I`ve ever met! We vicariously enjoy this unique school experience through our child, wishing we had been blessed to have attended a school like MMS. To be fair, this school isn't for everyone.... if you want a school with lots of tests, homework, textbooks, stifling behavior charts, and incentive based learning, then this won't be a match for your goals. However, if you are looking for a non-traditional approach to learning that will have your child exuding excitement from his/her school lessons, thriving socially and emotionally, and learning invaluable life skills, then this is the school for you.

I can't thank the school and teachers enough for all their years of caring for my children. Couldn't have even dreamed up a school that would serve the needs of my two very different children as they have done. It's hard to put into words how much Maria Montessori has contributed to the happiness of our family. My children have gotten the best education in San Diego by attending Maria Montessori. My daughter is now in a public high school and because of the comprehensive education she received at Maria Montessori she has finished her first year with a 4.0.

We love the school. The student:teacher ratio is lower than any other school we looked at and the academic programs are very strong. Music and language are part of the curriculum and our kids loving going every day.