Research Montessori School of Downtown private Schools in Houston, Texas

“I have had my son at this school for 3yrs. He is six now and about to start 1st grade. I have read all of the infant care reviews, but have seen little written about the pre-primary and kindergarten classes, where the true philosophy of montessori is really implemented. Although I think the administration could be a little more communicative with parents, I have been extremely impressed with my son's education. By the end of kindergarten he was spelling eight letter words on his weekly spelling test. He was learning Spanish. He has blossomed in this program. Comparing his education to some of his little league teammates, I felt like he was learning well beyond what they were doing. I am sending him here one more year because I don't want him to digress. This school is unpretentious and the parents are cool and diversified. I love it! Ignore the haters!”

“My son has been at the Downtown campus school of infants since he was 3 months and is now 14 months. All the rooms have large windows to the hallway so parents can see in and natural light enters from outside. You can see or breast feed your baby at any time of the day. I think it is entirely appropriate that they don't allow parents, people I don't know, in the room with the children, disturbing their schedules, and tracking in dirt. Babies/Toddlers crawl and play on those floors! The childcare rooms are clean, neat, and orderly with the small tables and child height activity centers characteristic of Montessori schools. My son is very happy there and smiles at the teachers, who all call him by name, when we drop him off and pick him up.”

“You can tell both positive reviews were written by the same person (probably the owner or directer.) I don't need to rehash what every one else has already said. I had the same horrific experience with my child at the school of infants. Parents just try and 'drop by' to check on your child. They will tell you no. Check out the classrooms particularly in the 0-3 year old building. They will tell you no Ask to speak with your child's teacher before, after or during school. They will tell you no. These are red flags and good schools do not keep parents out.”

“I am also extremely surprised to read the negative reviews of this school. My son has been attending this school from the time he was 3 months. He is now 9 months old and smiles at the teachers when I drop him off. They change his diaper at least 5-6 times during the day and he has only had a diaper rash once in six months. Everyone on staff knows his name and recognizes the parents of each child. Two of the reasons I chose this school are that they don't let any visitors walk across the carpets (where the babies crawl) with their shoes or bare feet and 'visitors' who I don't personally know can't disrupt the classroom during the day. Also the main staff has been there forever and the cribs are normal, NOT cages! I don't need an appointment to see my child either. Very strange comments.”

“We've never had any of these problems. I'm truly surprised to see these types of reviews. My daughter has been at this school since she was 18 months old and now she is in the pre-primary program and loving it. Reading this sounds like a completely different school to me. We met the teachers, have parent teacher conferences regularly. She's doing wonderfully with her numbers and letters. Very chatty and very happy!”

“I totally agree with the other reviews, this was a horrible experience for us, the parents, and our daughter. Our daughter went to the MSD from 18 to 24 months, and she never seemed happy to be there. Very often she cried when I picked her up. How dare those people use the name Montessori. I love the Montessori program, but this is as far from that as you'll ever get. Shame on you!”

“Avoid this school. Parents not allowed in classroom, or allowed to speak with child's caregiver. No structure or curriculum. Overpriced. Staff young and inexperienced. Extremely high employee turnover rate.”

“Please read the reviews and know that the common thread of no communication, cages for cribs, a maxed out ratio (questionably over the ratio), absolutely no transparency, no parental involvement is totally true. Add to that my child (6 months) attended for two weeks. We were scared to leave him there after the first week he came home starving, with red eyes, cried every morning when we dropped him off, had bottles returned almost full when the sheet said he drank them, and had questionable diaper changes (diaper rash after 4 days and he has never ever had it before). They don't document wet diapers . . . only dirty diapers. He was in a room we could not view or enter. No interaction with care givers (red flag) unless you make an advance notice appointment. Also, need an appointment to see your child. We were out in 10 days.”

“We are extremely displeased with this school. My four year old and 3 month old attended for about a month. There is absolutely no communication between parents/teachers/administration. It is one of the only schools I have ever seen that discourages any kind of parent involvement. We were not allowed to meet either of our children's teachers. Pros- Location Cons- Lack of Montessori supplies, High staff turnover, Uncertified unexperienced teachers, parking, Price”

“This school was been a big disappointment for us. Our son attended for about 2 months and we recently pulled him because of the issues we were having. Parents are not allowed in the classroom and you are only allowed to talk to the teacher if you make an appointment. The front desk staff was not friendly or helpful and I felt as though no one 'knew' my child. His name was spelled incorrectly for a week which I felt for the money we paid almost $1000 a month, that should not happen. Instead of addressing the issues we had the director only tried to change our minds about leaving. We have moved to another Montessori school in the same area and have been extremely pleased there. Please go on several tours and ask for a classroom observation before placing your child here.”

“We are now looking to pull our children out of this school as I have not liked the way that the staff/director have interated with either of my children. I don't like their policies with respect to the babies (putting them in their crib/cage as a form of disciplined at 9 months old. Also, it bothers me that I am not allowed in the classroom and can only speak to their teachers if I make an appointment. I want full and total access to my children for $1500 per month!”

“This school does not uphold the image that the staff pretends that it is. There are employees here who cannot speak fluent English who work directly with children who are learning to master the language. The Montessori culture is not truly instilled in the staff nor the children. This school is overrated. Ask to see if you can come inside a classroom while the children are learning, and you will be turned down. This school is simply run as a business, and not a learning institution.”

“Ive watched from a parents point of view as well as a past employee and I was not pleased! Parents think twice about signing up your hard earn money here, it would be a waste.”

“My daughter started there when she was two and a half. We too were somewhat deceived by the management during the orientation. Though it is called montessori it really was not. When it came to supplies and food the administration seemed to be parcimonious. Teachers were strict and allowed no traditional montessori freedom. Classrooms had very few real montessori supplies. No access to the class room was allowed. Limited direct(!) access to the teacher due to administration's strong sencorship. We changed the school to another montessori school and are very happy now.”

“This school was one of the schools we looked at for our child. The school is clean and has a lot of good facilities and activities. My gripe has to do with the management. They give you this great picture when you arrive to assess the school but when you start your child there, you start seeing kinks. The kind of care that they said would be given, I have yet to see. All things said and done its a school / day care and you cannot expect your kids to have the same ( or at last close to ) attention that you would give your own kids.”

“Hi, My daughter is 3 years old and she has been in this school for the last 1 year. I like the overall structure of the school. My daughter is very happy going to this school. But if you are looking for a montessori school then this is not the one. It is more like a traditional school.”