Decatur Montessori School

Don't make the same mistake we did. We believe in the Montessori method of teaching and chose this school because of its convenient downtown location. We soon learned that any school, Montessori or not, is only as good as its teachers. Val, the Director, is expert at saying the right thing. But, she becomes very defensive if you disagree with her. This school discourages free thought and is unaccepting of views other than their own. This is not what we had in mind for our son.
--Submitted by a parent

Within two weeks of beginning my employment at Decatur Montessori I had a very strong feeling of peace. What I saw were employees happy, dedicated, and engaged. I saw students surrounded by love. In this caring environment, these students thrived. I was amazed at how much they could do for themselves and how much they had learned at such a young age. I saw these children showing love, care, and compassion for their fellow classmates. I have now been here for 8 months, and my initial impression and feeling has not changed. In fact, I am committed to Valerie and the school because of the commitment I see from everyone here.
--Submitted by a teacher

I am really surprised to read any negative reviews of DMS. Our daughter has been their for 2.5 years and we are incredibly sad to leave. The ONLY reason we are leaving DMS is that we are having to move for a new job. Our daughter started into the Children's house at 2.5yrs old has thrived and had such joy in her time their. We often get comments on her manners, independence, and interest in learning from friends and family. Of course we take some credit, but DMS is a huge part of it. In the classroom/house our daughter was part of, respect, care for materials and others, and proper behavior were very important. Children had freedom to choose their work and explore their environment, however order was always in place. The teacher was always available when issues arose, whether in the classroom or in our family, to offer advice and support. The community at DMS was very supportive and social events allowed the families to come together. This was a huge financial burden for us to send our daughter to DMS, however a decision we never once questioned or regretted. We strongly believe in the Montessori method and in DMS. I only hope we can find such a school in our new location.
--Submitted by a parent

Not sure where to begin or how to put into words how amazing this school is. My daughter and i loved everything about this place. My kid because of the education and experiences she received at DMS is a smart, sweet, well rounded 7 year old now. The teachers and staff are like family to all. We all worked together as a community to enrich the children and families. The Montessori philosophy is incredibly nourished there and the whole experience is one that i am so thankful we were able to be part of. There is a warmth, commitment and camaraderie there i have yet to find elsewhere! We are still active in the DMS community and feel we will always be part of the "family" they work so hard to achieve. The teachers go way beyond to teach and nurture each student individually. Making each child feel special. AGAIN, I could go on and on about the experience we had at the school. I will be forever grateful for all that they did for my daughter.
--Submitted by a parent

Our family has been a part of the Decatur Montessori School community for nearly seven years. Our eldest started as an infant in 2003, moved through the Toddler Community and Primary Classroom, and has since graduated and moved on to an Elementary Montessori program. Our youngest started as an infant in 2007 and is now in one of the Primary Classrooms. We could not be more thrilled with the teachers, the materials, the education, the support and the love our children have been surrounded by each day. Both of our children have flourished in this environment - not only as students, but as human beings.
--Submitted by a parent

We were very dissapointed and upset by the way our child was treated while attending Decatur Montessori School. The admission process was abbreviated (which should have been a red flag, as it now points to a desire to have our money more than our child), the leadership was phony, and their was a disparity in the classrooms that was ignored by leadership. The don't abide by some of the Montessori philosophies of working with your child, as our child was not provided adequate time to adjust. They also have some policies that only work if parents have flexible schedules. We still believe in Montessori, but do not recommend this school. As soon as our child left DMS, our child's smile returned! We moved our child to another school and now have a happy, robust, developing child again!
--Submitted by a parent

My son attended this school from age 2 - 3. I am also a believer in the Montessori methods. The teachers at this school did not seem enthusiastic about teaching the methods. Towards the last few months we were there I would pick him up from the playground and he would be waiting at the fence looking for my car, rather than playing. He would ask every morning if it was a school day and would cry when I told him yes. He is introverted by nature and he went further into his shell while attending this school. Also, I felt the director was very judgmental and seemed to think there is only one right way to raise kids: the director's way. I was able to pull him out mid-year and he now goes to a small private school with attentive teachers and small class size and has since flourished.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter went to this school from the age of 3 months until 3 years. I am a big believer in the Montessori method of teaching. For the most part the teachers at this school were good and conscientious however the school leadership was capricious and sometimes difficult to deal with. They are closed many weeks during the year which can be difficult for working parents and while they are open during the summers they don't offer the Montessori lessons. I eventually transferred my daughter to another Montessori school where both she and I are much happier.
--Submitted by a parent