I'm an African American alumni of this great school and now 25 years later my girls attend the…read moreschool and it has been nothing but the most supportive, diverse, and educational school a parent could want. The director was my guide when I attended and still holds the same core values and care as I remember. It caters personally to each child as a whole and thoroughly gives children guidance to become independent and the best they can be. Montessori of University Heights is the true hidden gem in northeast Ohio. The community of parents and children are more supportive and encouraging unlike any other school you will find.

Preschool shapes a child's future learning. As a mom, I wanted the best. The teachers, values,…read moreenvironment, positive parent groups, and Montessori program set my kids on a path for fulfillment. My sons attended MSUH from ages 3-6. My boys are now joyful learners, voracious readers, math lovers, and spiritually in-touch kids, at ages 8 & 10. Beyond academics, Maria and the teachers helped me. They provided me with calmness, wisdom, and guidance in the preschool years. During the recent 50 year anniversary of the school, my children respectfully greeted Maria and each teacher with eye contact & a handshake. This polite greeting was imprinted on their young minds. The beauty of my kids early education is now part of who they are as people. I recommend this school to all parents, especially parents with flexible schedules.

As a first time parent, Westshore has impressed me with the life skills they're teaching my son. He…read morealso really enjoys going to school each day. It's been a wonderful experience.

Westshore Montessori has truly changed our lives! We are have watched our two young children thrive…read moreunder the Montessori method and thoughtful, patient approach to teaching youngsters. We are so grateful to have this education available on Westside of Cleveland. I could not recommend this school enough!

Our time at Ruffing was traumatizing. Our child was there for years and based on our experience and…read morenumerous conversations we had with other parents, the school did not seem interested in supporting kids with learning differences, who are neurodivergent, who have disabilities, or are experiencing mental health challenges such as depression or anxiety. Even common things like accommodating students with ADHD are not appropriately handled (one teacher told a parent her daughter needed to take ADHD meds!). Some teachers publicly shame students by writing their name on the wall if they are behind in assignments. If you have a child there, I suggest carefully considering whether you want to disclose any disabilities or mental health issues your child may have with the school, including if you have your child tested for an IEP or 504. If you do, the school might use that information against your child to unenroll them without warning. I used to sing this school's praises but now I strongly discourage families from attending.

Being part of the Ruffing family for almost 6 years now has been an absolute pleasure. Our children…read moreare thriving, and the teachers and administration truly care. When our son was home sick for a few days, our beloved teacher came over just to give him a hug since she wouldn't see him before spring break. When does that happen?! They nurture curiosity, and the love of learning. Ruffing is forever a part of our lives.

I am so grateful I found Ratner. My two boys (9 and 6) are thriving. No more being stuck in a desk…read moreall day. No more screen time at school. They actually like going to school now and are taking ownership of their learning. PE everyday. I could go on and on. 10 out of 10. 5+ stars.

From the owner: The Ratner Montessori School, founded in 1963, is an independent private school in Pepper Pike,…read moreOhio specializing in Montessori education, serving toddlers through 8th grade.

My son has attended since kindergarten. Nice school. His education is very much ahead of other…read morekids his age that attend public.

From the owner: Pre-K - Grade 12read more

Great school. Love Miss Heather. I appreciate how engaged she is with her students. It's not…read morecheap, around $6500 a year for 1/2 day pre-school, but I guess nothing really good is. Lots of opportunities for kids to learn with an emphasis of independence and group learning.

I attended this school from 1999 through 2007 when I was forced to drop out. While I acknowledge…read morethat many teachers and administrators have changed, I can only speak to my own personal experiences, I would be remiss if I did not share my story. Years K-6th were broadly excellent. A warm, caring environment with excellent educators. Mrs. Blatnik, White, Chin, and Mr. Goober were extremely positive influences in those formative years, and I have nothing but gratitude for them. All issues arose during grade 7 during my brief tenure in the (then very young) middle school program during its second year in operation. I spent my entire childhood with undiagnosed autism; I don't blame the school for this, detection and treatment was far less robust then than it was now. I do blame to school for the resultant bullying that I endured that year, and what I perceived as the cause. The middle school, especially in its pilot years, was intent on making a big show of its success placements. There was a lot of parading around the kids who were being accepted into 'elite' high schools like Western Reserve Academy, Walsh Jesuit, or a handful of others. They were clearly trying to position the middle school as a funnel of sorts to these programs. Of course, with these elite programs came elite tuition costs, and I'll just say that my family was not prepared to shell out for one of these programs. Moreover, I had no personal interest in boarding schools, religious schools, or really any of these programs. I distinctly remember Ms. Ludick's reaction at the parent teacher night when this info was brought to light. She was aghast and, dare I say, offended at the idea. Almost overnight, the atmosphere shifted. My grades took a sharp hit almost immediately. I became the target for relentless bullying from students who were already on the so called 'elite' track. It was daily, it was constant, and I was chastised when I withdrew like a turtle into its shell. And while I admit my autistic tendencies made me internalize a lot more than I should have, the rampant bullying was apparent to all, that year, including the staff. There were other students who noticed. Nothing was done. Suffice to say, there was an incident that spring where I was pushed to breaking point, and I was removed for my own safety. It is also worth noting that once I was gone, one of my good friends became the new target, for largely similar reasons. The staff knew. The staff even aided and abetted the bullies, many of whom were among the wealthier families in the program that the admins would cozy up to. The message was clear: I was not worth the investment, boasted no ambitions for them to advertise in the future, and as such was cut loose. "Open Season." I have had many years of growth and therapy to digest what happened then. I wouldn't be writing this at all if I hadn't seen some social media videos featuring alumni testimonies, and see several of the bullies being plastered up as Star Student advertisements. With the small number of reviews here, I don't expect this to gain much traction. And, as I said, many years have passed since 2007, and I cannot speak to how things have changed. All I can do is share what happened to me, and if it happens to help even one person down the road, that's enough for me.

I attended HMS from Children's House through 8th grade, yet credit much of my later successes on…read morethe early lessons I learned there. The school teaches you how to think for yourself, how to cooperate with others, and how to be a global citizen. I was able to independently explore my passion for math and develop a ton of practical life skills at the same time. It helped me be successful at WRA and later Brown University before becoming a high school math and computer science teacher myself. I still use a lot of Montessori philosophy in my job today. Please send your child here and contribute to building a bright future of thoughtful and consider human beings!