We took a tour and something just felt a little off about this place and the teacher who hosted us. On the outside they seem a bit too standoffish, but I think it's something deeper. I tried looking at Google reviews but it's turned off for them, which makes me even more suspicious. Just be careful... read more

Save yourself a lot of heartbreak and choose another school. By the time we realized they weren't teaching our son he was 3 grade levels behind. It's a school for running around in the woods not for learning. read more

Both my children attend this school and so far we have experienced the Nido (infant room), the Young Children's Community (toddler room), and two Primary classrooms (preK/Kindergarden). The teachers and administration at this school are very attuned to the needs of each child and work to develop the whole child. Teachers provide regular formal conferences and in my experience have always been welcoming of informal conference requests. I love how much time all the children spend outside each day, the mixed age classrooms, and that each classroom fosters development of intrinsic motivation within each individual child. Each classroom is rich with learning materials and designed to be used independently by the children. The school also fosters a sense of community with families, offering informal gatherings and formal events for families throughout the year. read more

Our child has been at Butler for Primary and Lower Elementary years, and we could not imagine a better place to send her. The faculty and staff know every child and family on an individual level, and they focus on the whole well-being of the child. Students are taught a strong curriculum that reinforces concepts across subjects based on their individual level of mastery. The campus is absolutely beautiful, and the daily outdoor experience only supports the child's whole development. We are so lucky to have Butler in our community! read more

Dedicated and passionate guides; huge campus; equestrian and pony clinic; organic farms; summer camps; and hiking trails along the creek, all together provides a unique setting for kids to learn and develop! My daughter enjoys being at Butler and despite staying there 8:30 to 4:30 every day, she always asks if she can stay a bit longer to do one more outdoor activity! She has developed her social skills and I do believe is advanced in her academics as well. She has started reading chapter books from age 5 and is able to lay out her plans constructively. On top of that, she is quite aware of her feelings, has an essential understanding of concepts like humanity, peace, freedom, and the nature-friendly lifestyle. read more

We just happened upon Butler when we were looking for a preschool for my then 2.5 year old daughter. So glad we did! Now it's our 11th year here and we moved our older daughter to Butler (from a public school) within 2 months of starting our younger one in the Primaries. My older daughter had the smoothest transition into Montessori and within 2 weeks we saw huge shifts in her attitude. From being the child who dragged her feet to school and gave the "minimum required" at work, she became the child who looked forward to going to school EVERYDAY and wanted to do as well as her peers! The environment is thoroughly nurturing and nourishing. She thrived! Whatever might have seemed abstract to us while our child was at Butler immediately became tangible when she stepped into High School - whether it's the way she figured her place in the new community or the way she handled her academics. Butler kids are more prepared for High School than any other kids, honestly - socially, emotionally and academically! She is now a Freshman at college and still considers Butler her home. You'll find her and many other alumni regularly visit the school and their teachers because that's the bond they hold. My younger one is almost ready to graduate from Butler and has grown to be the empathetic and confident, young adolescent who is ready to take on the world. The love she holds for nature and learning all come from here. You can see a marked difference in a child who has gone to Butler from other kids their age - whether it's the way they are comfortable speaking within an adult or unafraid to ask questions/directions or the way they own themselves. The skills they learn at Butler serve them a long while and make them the confident individuals who are able to navigate the highs & lows. I really cannot say enough good things about the teachers and staff here. To put it succinctly they know your child as well as you do. They can see the depth of the child and will do everything to ensure that the child lives up to his/her potential. They are kind and strict in the same breath and are really good at what they do. I can and do want to write a lot more, but will stop for the sake of retaining interest. Suffice to say that you simply cannot go wrong with Butler. read more

We have been at Butler for 5 years and have experienced both the Upper Elementary and Intermediate classes. Joining the Butler Community was the best decision we made for our son and his education - we have been extremely pleased with the curriculum, administration, community, and opportunities afforded to him over the years. Love of nature, love of learning, pride and respect for community, responsibility and positive contribution to society - all of these beliefs have been instilled and fostered during his time at Butler and we are so grateful for the respect, encouragement, and motivation that his teachers have given to him. We asked our son: when you reflect on your experience at Butler, how has it impacted your life so far? His response: Butler has impacted my life in many ways. For one, it's given me a much greater appreciation for nature and the outdoors. I am so grateful for the time that we get to spend outside - working, hiking, and playing - and can't imagine having to spend all day sitting at a desk in a traditional classroom. Butler has given me a stronger sense of leadership that has helped boost my confidence and self-esteem through participation in the plays and team building activities. It's encouraged me to write and actually enjoy writing - the style of writing in the Intermediates is very creatively focused and we are allowed to write imaginative stories and poems instead of just book reports and reference papers. The school environment encourages you to experience new things without being scared of the unknown or the new. It's also a very friendly atmosphere - you can express yourself as you are without judgment. There is a strong sense of inclusion throughout the community which has encouraged me to grow and evolve into a more confident person. Our involvement in the Model UN program afforded me the chance to work and exchange ideas at a global level. The Peace Study to California and the Immigration Study to New York were opportunities that few middle school students get to experience - I am grateful for every moment spent on those trips as they helped shape me into a better student, a better friend, and a better citizen. read more

I went to their Open house and it was wonderful! It's so hard to say nowadays what is the real Montessori. They seem to be the real deal. They had a fishing pole making session, ziplining, face painting among the many other engaging a activities they had. I'm interested in enrolling my son in their Equestrian Camp. Since it's for 3 weeks want to make sure he's really committed: ) read more

We have been Butler Montessori parents since 2013. I clearly remember the day we toured the school and observed a primary classroom. My husband and I could not believe our eyes since the students, ages 3 to 5, were working diligently, each focusing on their task surrounded by a peaceful atmosphere inviting to learn. Over the years, the Montessori experience at Butler has only reinforced our certainty that we made the best decision when enrolling our children in this school. The benefits of the Montessori education along with the great campus allow students to actively learn, be independent, kind, and discover themselves in a safe and nurturing environment. Butler is not a traditional school. Children there build a solid foundation for learning based on the experimental, functional, hands-on learning, practical, among other educational approaches. Butler is also a school that holds my values, as parents that are committed to raise their children with strong, fearless, and capable personalities/characters. We cannot say enough good things about how satisfied we are to see our children enjoy the passion for learning. Furthermore, throughout all these years, we have received constant support from the staff. We truly value that the Head of School, Ms. Manack, has vast knowledge of the children's needs and personal journey, and works in conjunction with the teachers to provide the best academic and emotional support. We are very thankful for their honest care demonstrated these years, especially with our youngest child, who needed to receive certain accommodations and extra academic support. read more

My son has been at Butler basically year-round since he was 3-1/2. He'll be turning 9 this fall and starting in the "Upper Elementary", which equates to grades 4-6. Butler continues on from that and also offers a really unique class experience for grades 7-8, that they call the Intermediate program. If you have a child in that age range and would love to make these tricky developmental years really special for them, you really should take a tour and do so with an open mind to what their experience will be like each day. Our intention is to try and stay there until he starts high school. Can you tell we love it? I won't talk about Montessori generally, as theres too much to go over there for this review. There's plenty to read on that! Yes Butler is a Montessori school, but they are not all the same experience by any means. There is a spectrum of balance between the strictness/rigeur/needs of the school and the needs of the individual child. I think Butler probably comes out on the "softer" side of that spectrum; At every level there is a feeling that my childs needs are focused on, and not just mine, all of them. I personally prefer that approach to school rigidity or intense discipline. Not all campuses are equal either; and here Butler completely surpasses the other comparable school candidates we originally looked at. In fact it is hard to overstate how the impact access to their campus environment can have on your child's day. Throughout all these years almost every single week, my wife and I either see pictures of or hear stories of my sons day, and are left both jealous and proud. Jealous in that while we are working at desks, he gets to do classwork outside, go hiking or creeking, use a zipline outside his classroom, see wildlife, obstacle course, etc. Proud in that we selected and are able to provide the tuition to give him this experience. There are many private schools in the vicinity to choose from, but none have an outdoors area like Butler does. Lastly about the administrative staff and teachers--the people that both parents and children interact with at the school. Warm, friendly and caring is how I would describe them as a whole. They really have fostered a sense of calm and community that we have felt in our interactions and confirm with how our son describes his own interactions with teachers and staff. A note about specialization--if the performing arts are important to you, the quality of the music/drama guidance and resulting performances is as good as I have seen anywhere else. All the students at every level are involved in plays each year, full participation. I find myself consistently underestimating the sophistication the students are capable of and always amazed at the end product. Yes this would be a glowing review but for good reason. I don't really have anything really negative to say about our experience. If you are looking at schools in the area, even if Montessori isn't what you were looking for, you owe it to yourself and your child to check it out and see just how unique it is. Who knows we may just have kids in the same class in the future! read more

Butler Montessori has been an integral part of our family's life for 17 years now. Our three children have attended and thrived at all levels. One has already completed high school, and one graduates from Butler this week. And the third begins his journey in Butler's amazing Intermediate program. There are many factors that make a Butler Education a unique experience. Of course, you have dedicated, caring faculty and staff, who are classically trained in Maria Montessori's ideology and methods. There is experiential education, both close to home and far afield. My older kids have gone on Butler trips to New York, California, and The Grand Canyon. They've also organized many child-led "Going Outs", where they explore a topic of interest in the Washington DC area. But the two differentiating factors that come to the forefront of my mind are the community and the campus. Acres of greenery, a creek, a high and low ropes course, a swimming pool, and horses and chickens. The opportunities to explore are limitless. The access to so many outdoor activities has expanded my children's interests and confidence. And the community of families we've met at Butler have provided lifelong friendships. My 21 year old still stays in close touch with Butler kids he's known since preschool. Additionally, there are many opportunities throughout the year for parents to meet, mingle, and be involved. From Coffee and Conversation with the principal, to a Square-dance Event or the Butler Hands on Activities Day- there's truly something there for every family to enjoy. Butler Montessori has positively impacted not just my children, but our entire family's life. I encourage you to visit and see what it has to offer read more

All three of my children attended Butler school and I am so glad that they did! Butler provides a unique rural setting in the heart of Montgomery county and preserves a child's natural curiosity and love of learning. Butler helped my children to realize their unique gifts and to become caring responsible and self motivated adults. Their primary, elementary and middle school years there were wonderful years of learning (not just book learning) but practical life skills and trips of discovery and adventure. They each entered high school and easily integrated into academic life. My daughter went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude school of Animal Science at University of Maryland. My son still pursues his love of organic and sustainable farming. This school is a rare gem and the teachers there are highly qualified and devoted to teaching in The Montessori tradition. read more

Butler school provides a very intelligent environment that is based on balance. Nothing is overemphasized or neglected (including physical health and closeness to nature). Both our boys are striving in it, intellectually, physically and psychologically - and happy children make for happy parents. Our children are on the path to be able to navigate very comfortably in our increasingly global and complex world. read more

I don't often write reviews but felt compelled to do it. We LOVE this school. My children are in the Primary preschool program and the Lower Elementary program. It's amazing to watch them grow and thrive in this environment. Although the hands-on Montessori curriculum is a key draw (if you've never experience this, google it!), it's really the character building, 22-acre campus, and loving school environment that sold us on staying through 8th grade. As parents we see what's happening in the world around us, in the schools around us. We know that we can't protect our kids from the challenges ahead. However, we can give them a foundation of confidence, compassion, independence and resiliency. That's what Butler delivers in spades. We've met Butler alumni out there changing the world and seen the positive changes in our children over the past three years. We feel we've invested in their futures, in giving them the tools they need to be happy, adaptable, self confident young adults. What also impressed us with the school is the beautiful campus - full of horses, hiking trails, a student-run organic farm - and environmental and sustainability programs. The kids are outside all the time learning and playing. We love that they go out in every kind of weather, even snow! The low staff and faculty turnover is also a big selling point to us...you can tell it's a healthy school community when the same great teachers and staff stay at the school. They clearly love the school, students, community and mission. read more

I was looking for a pre-school for my 3 year old and found Butler. The open house was an eye-opener in many ways. Was amazed at the beautiful,nurturing environment they provide for children to thrive. Children learn so much experientially. The head of the school and the staff are extremely friendly. The teachers are top notch. I was so happy and impressed with the school that I moved my older child to Butler too. One of the best decisions I've made. read more

I am thankful that I found a nourishing environment for my sons and a welcoming community for my family. The teachers are respectful to every student, and the students learn the importance of showing respect to their classmates as well as to their teacher. Each student is valued as a contributing member of the class community from which the student internalizes responsibility and self-respect. Through the Montessori curriculum, students develop life skills such as being able to manage one's time and the classroom resources. Students develop the ability to collaborate and negotiate. All of this is ongoing while they develop their academic skills on a daily basis. Butler Montessori has met my sons' needs, and they are happy and thankful for it. It has truly been a joy to watch my sons and their classmates develop into the fine young people that they are. read more