My kids favorite school!! A full American Montessori Society member!…read more My son attended Ms. Ali's beautiful school for four years. My daughter now attends, this will be her 3rd and a half year. I was looking for a school that felt like an extension of home. A loving and nurturing environment. I had originally missed the open house date but decided to give Ali a call for a private tour. The moment I stepped inside the classroom I fell in love. I knew right away that I had found our school! I have to say, what a relief. Ali explained to me the Montessori philosophy, admittedly I was not familiar with it. Now I can't imagine teaching my kiddos without this philosophy. First Stage Montessori has created a solid foundation for my children's independence, curiosity, confidence and responsibility. Whether your kiddo attends for 1 year or the entire 4 year program, you become family with the school. I cannot thank Ali and Angel enough for all the dedicated work they've put over the years into growing such thoughtful and amazing young students!

Great school! Both of our children have gone and they absolutely loved going every day. The staff…read moreis amazing and very attentive. Our kids have learned so much and we are very grateful!

My child has been happily attending ICMS for the last year. The teachers are compassionate, firm…read moreand observant. There are many options on the island for preschools but our family chose this one based on a few factors: 1) the combined classroom exposes our child to younger/older children, providing her with a diverse social experience 2) there has been literally no turnover of teachers since its inception - other preschools we considered had very high and frequent turnover rates 3) the reputation of the teachers in the community is unparalleled 4) the willingness of the teachers to work with each family's limitations and needs

From the owner: Here at ICMS, we strive to provide a warm, engaging environment that encourages a child's natural…read morecuriosity and cultivates a natural, life-long love of learning. Our small class size and low student to teacher ratio allows us to provide a program that focuses on the development of each child at their own individual pace. Our classroom serves children from ages 2 1/2 to 5 years of age.

Great Montessori program! The owners have done a wonderful job creating a creative learning…read moreenvironment and welcoming Montessori community!! Love love love this true Montessori community

Poor quality and service. They take an exuberant amount but mistreat your kid if they are non…read morespanish native. I faced a lot of discrimination, snarky commentary as a parent when I picked my kid up. Even my daughter got mistreated a few times. Steer away from this location they don't treat the kids well. Also food, they give the kids many sugary items at the end of the day before they send them home. Every day is a meltdown day.

***Edited*** I was so excited to start our daughter here,…read morefor the bilingual and Montessori experience. Everyone seemed very nice and although everyone was masked and provided appropriate safety measures on the tour, my child's teacher and at least two other individuals that work here do not believe in wearing a mask to protect the vulnerable children during this deadly pandemic. We had to un-enroll her after just two days here. To me, this demonstrated a poor lack of judgment among other things. Why wouldn't you want to protect the children you're teaching? I spoke with the director and she apologized and refunded all of our money. The issue with the staff not masking is complicated as they claimed a religious exemption to masking (which isn't a real thing)! We're two years into his pandemic. Wearing a mask isn't hard. I'm a nurse and wear one all day while caring for patients. It's not hard to protect yourself and others. It amazes me that I even have to write this right now but I want others to be aware before enrolling here in case keeping their children safe at preschool is a concern for them.

Our son has been at Alpha for 2 years. The school has the most important thing - loving teachers…read more Thank you Mrs Kathy and the team :)

Got a sneak peek of this facility and the teacher/student interaction. Lots of montessori…read moreactivities and genuine student independence. Students enjoyed the teacher interaction. Part of the outdoor playground was covered. Facility is in an old bank on a busy street.

Both of my grandson's have attended Capital Montessori for 3-6 year old. They have enjoyed…read moreeveryone that they interact with there. They always looked forward to their day at school. The staff is nurturing and kind. Both of my grandchildren learned to love to read and learned how to enjoy their independence. I highly recommend looking closely to see if they are a good fit for your family.

CMS is a great school with an assortment of great traditions, from Absolutely Incredible Kids Day,…read morefamily potlucks, to the annual egg drop. Most recently they've been ages 3-6, but starting July 2013 they will begin an elementary program again. Mrs. Reed in Children's House 2 is a patient, intelligent, nurturing teacher who works with parents to help their children enjoy learning.

Our oldest attended Edmonds Montessori and currently our youngest attends. One of the benefits of…read morehaving our children in full time childcare at Main Street Kids in the same building is that the two schools take the kids back and forth. Without this unique partnership, it would be difficult to have them in the 3 hour EM program as a dual working parent household. Both have greatly benefited from the Montessori method. Our oldest was already reading and writing before kindergarten and has advanced fine motor skills from all the activities she was able to do during her time at EM. Our youngest is already on her way to early reading, writing and loves doing the self directed projects. Being able to adapt between the EM learning environment and a traditional preschool environment set our oldest up for success in kindergarten and I'm sure our youngest will be just as prepared. Both have developed confidence and a love for learning that we wholeheartedly attribute to the Montessori approach to learning. Christi, the owner, and the teachers (Ms. Ella, Ms. Hana) are wonderful and caring. Throughout the year, there are fun traditions to look forward to as well. Can't say enough good things about this school! If your kids are approaching age 3 or older/or if you're thinking ahead and interested, highly recommend touring and seeing it for yourself!

Edmonds Montessori is such a wonderful place for my children. The staff are excellent and the…read moreschool is very well run, calm and nurturing. One of my children has sensory needs and the structure and amazing teachers really helped her work through a lot of hurdles. She graduated with confidence personally and educationally for the next steps ahead. My other child loves being a part of the group and his favorite time of day is "circle time" where the children explore topics such as the sound of the week building on reading skills and socially sharing about different items from their homes. It's a pretty special place and we would highly recommend. For an extended morning, lunch bunch is a great way to make the session 1 hour longer and the kids get to eat together and play inside/outside after school.

Parent Review - Please Read Carefully Spanish versión in…read moreimages. Update: This review has been updated to include additional factual details for clarity and completeness. I am sharing this experience so other parents can make informed decisions before enrolling their child. I wish I had seen a review like this beforehand. My intent is transparency, especially for families who rely on childcare subsidies and may have limited options. My daughter attended this school briefly. During that time, we experienced ongoing issues with communication and transparency. The most concerning situation involved my daughter being injured on more than one occasion--twice by the same child within a matter of weeks. When I asked why my child was hurt more than once in such a short period of time, the Director became defensive rather than responsive. On both occasions, I was not notified immediately. After the first incident, a vague incident report was placed in my daughter's backpack for me to discover after arriving home. The report was written on Mt. Tahoma letterhead, which was confusing and concerning, as my child does not attend that school. During the second incident, I arrived for pickup while my daughter was still crying and visibly distressed after being struck on the side of the head by the same child. The teacher who brought her to the gate did not know what had happened, and the Director also appeared unaware. My daughter was initially handed to me as if nothing had occurred. Only after it became clear that I was upset and would not leave while my child was crying, red in the face, and hurt did a staff member offer an ice pack. When the Director arrived, she was unable to explain what had happened. When my daughter identified who hit her, the Director stated, "No, it wasn't him," without clarifying who was responsible. Although my daughter clearly stated she was hit, the school insisted she had been "pushed onto bark." Bark would not cause a bruise on her ear or the contusion later diagnosed by urgent care. The conversation with the Director and owner was brief and uninformative. Neither acknowledged who hurt my child or clearly explained what occurred. Instead, the incident was repeatedly described as "normal child behavior," and it was implied that my daughter's actions caused her injury. Some children at the school are as old as six; my daughter is only four. No apology was offered, and no prevention plan was discussed unless I specifically asked. An incident report was not offered. I requested one and was told it would be provided, but it never arrived. After following up, I eventually received a report that lacked key details, including staff names and a clear explanation of how the injury occurred. Most concerning, the report focused heavily on my daughter's behavior in a way that implied she was responsible for being hurt, while also stating that a teacher witnessed the incident and did not intervene to prevent injury. In a follow-up email--after I continued requesting a corrected incident report and additional details--the Director suggested that I consider withdrawing my daughter and placing her in a private in-home daycare, stating that my concerns reflected "very specific needs," rather than addressing how the school would ensure my child's safety. Beyond the physical injuries, my daughter showed signs of emotional distress while attending this program, including difficulty playing with peers and fear associated with school staff. Since leaving the school, these reactions have continued. I have not been able to return to work since November, as attempts to transition her into other childcare settings have been unsuccessful due to her extreme distress and refusal to enter facilities. The emotional impact on our family has been substantial. What troubled me most was not just the incidents themselves, but a pattern of delayed communication, limited transparency around supervision, and dismissal of legitimate safety concerns. I have since withdrawn my daughter and am sharing this to encourage other parents to ask detailed questions about supervision, injury reporting, communication practices, and how children are supported emotionally. This review reflects my personal experience as a parent.

My oldest son has been enrolled here for nearly two years, and the growth we've seen academically,…read moresocially, and emotionally, has been extraordinary. He came in shy and hesitant, and he has blossomed into a confident, curious child who loves learning and communicating with others. He now problem-solves on his own, initiates conversations, and brings home life skills he proudly teaches his younger brother. Because of the trust we've built, I recently enrolled my youngest son as well. One of the most meaningful parts of our experience has been the genuine care the staff has shown our family. When my father passed away unexpectedly about a year and a half ago, the teachers and administrators surrounded us with warmth and compassion. They checked in daily, supported my son through his big emotions, and made sure he felt safe and loved during an incredibly difficult time. That type of care comes from people who truly value the children they work with. Communication has always been clear, consistent, and responsive. The staff is proactive in sharing updates, answering questions, and making sure parents feel informed and included. Over nearly two years, any small hiccups that naturally happen in childcare have been handled with transparency, thoughtfulness, and professionalism. My son has developed strong, trusting relationships with his teachers, both under the previous ownership and the current leadership. He talks about them with so much affection, and it's evident that they genuinely know and appreciate him as an individual. They celebrate who he is, encourage his interests, and guide him with patience and respect. The sense of belonging and stability he feels at school has been a major factor in his growth. Every family and child is unique, but I can confidently share that this school has been a nurturing, communicative, and supportive environment for both of my children. We are grateful every day for the foundation it has provided, and I am thankful for the teachers who care for my boys as if they were their own.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Small World! My daughter had barely had a babysitter…read moreher first three and 1/2 years of life, and I was reluctant to sign her up for pre school. My husband and I toured the school and felt the warm, welcoming vibe right away. The teachers are amazing and my daughter has blossomed socially as well as academically. Everyone is kind and considerate and my daughter has just loved every minute she has been attending. We love Small World Montessori!

Both of my kids went here and they both have loved it. The school supports their independence and…read moreteaches them valuable skills that have prepared them for success in the classroom. They also have made a bunch of great friends and love all the teachers.