We feel incredibly lucky to have found this school. It's AMI-approved Montessori with a beautiful campus, and you can truly feel the care and intention that has gone into building this community for over 28 years. We currently have one child in Primary and one in Elementary, and both are thriving beyond what we ever expected. Our extended family has even commented on how much our kids have grown -- not just academically, but in their confidence, curiosity, and love of learning. What stands out most is how personal the experience feels. The teachers are genuinely caring, and we love that there are bilingual educators and an environment that supports the whole child. It's so refreshing to see our kids learning in a way that goes far beyond "sitting at a desk and memorizing." The school offers an abundance of enrichment and extracurricular opportunities, and it's clear they're focused on supporting each child as an individual. We are truly grateful to have our children grow up in such a safe, nurturing, and inspiring environment... even if part of us wants to keep it our little secret! read more

Last August 25th, after reflecting on the challenges my son faced at DMA in September and October of last year, I felt ready and shared a down-to-earth personal review.   Instead of receiving public feedback, I received a certified letter from a law firm, demanding for my review to be removed immediately, otherwise "we will sue you to obtain an order requiring you to remove it, and to recover significant monetary damages against you, including, but not limited to, punitive damages, and the attorneys' fees and costs Dynamite Montessori incurs in the case under A.R.S. 12-341.01 and A.R.S. 12-341". They reminded me of a contract clause that restricts what families may share publicly about the school without prior written consent. This clause is part of the agreement that parents must sign when enrolling their children. So, in the interest of focusing on providing for my son instead of defending myself against what I feel are insubstantial accusations, I am removing my previous review. We were part of the DMA family for almost three years. 100% involved and devoted to all the school activities. Our son attended from June 21, 2022, until November 1, 2024. In my personal opinion, DMA can be a good choice for any "non-Montessori" child to gain some exposure to a Montessori environment in their early years. The place looks pristine, with the right materials, strong infrastructure, and opportunities for children to learn--especially if they happen to be among the more "gifted" ones and can learn by themselves. I have been a Montessori mom since our son was born, and we initially thought this was the perfect place for him. Last year, however, in his third year of primary, my son developed a behavior we felt unrecognizable to us and was told "not to be kindergarten ready" and "maybe not a good fit for a classroom at all". My family, especially my son (5 years old at the time), went through a nightmare that took almost a year to recover from. Fortunately, today he attends a large Montessori school where he has adapted beautifully and is thriving as the amazing child he has always been. In his new school he is considered a bright kid and so far, there is not a single incident regarding his behavior. Looking back, we feel that his experience at DMA was heavily affected by a classroom dynamic that was challenging for his naturally calm demeanor. Today, we are sharing our feelings, in case it helps other families who may be uncertain--whether you already have a child enrolled or are considering enrollment. read more

Dynamite Montessori Academy has created a truly wonderful community of teachers, administrators, students, and parents. My daughter's teachers foster a respectful, nurturing, and independent classroom environment where students learn not only academics, but also important social skills and practical life lessons. Children take part in daily classroom responsibilities and also enjoy hands-on activities like baking and food preparation, which have helped my daughter build confidence, independence, and a sense of responsibility. This focus on learning and care continues beyond the classroom. The gardens the children help tend and the animals they are taught to care for offer meaningful, hands-on opportunities that reinforce responsibility, independence, and respect for the world around them. Dynamite Montessori Academy also provides a variety of extracurricular opportunities during school hours. My very active child looks forward to the days the tennis, dance, and soccer coaches come to school for practice. School events--like the Halloween Festival, Winter Festival, and Peace Day--are always thoughtfully planned and provide meaningful opportunities for families and students to have fun and get to know one another. Communication with the front office, led by Ms. Theresa, has always been kind, professional, and responsive. The school uses an app that keeps parents informed and allows for direct communication with both the front office and teachers. In-class incidents, such as potty accidents or minor injuries, are communicated promptly, and the regular newsletter keeps families up to date on what each class has been working on. The summer program is another highlight for my daughter. It includes water play on Fridays, weekly themed lessons and activities, and visits from organizations like the Herpetological Society, Pangaea, and Butterfly Wonderland. The program feels like a natural extension of the school year--engaging, hands-on, and fun. We feel incredibly grateful to be part of the Dynamite Montessori Academy community and highly recommend it to families looking for a school that truly nurtures the whole child. read more

I feel so grateful to be a part of this community. From the moment you walk in, you feel the care, intention, and passion that goes into this Montessori school. All of the staff and teachers are so incredibly kind and genuine. My child has grown so much in the 2 years she has been there. Not just academically, but socially and emotionally. You can see it through her excitement when coming home. The classrooms are engaging, calm, safe, and just beautifully prepared. Pauli and Duke have put so much effort and love into this wonderful place. I highly recommend Dynamite Montessori Academy to any family seeking the best early educational program! read more

Great staff to work with. Super friendly and inviting. Can't say enough about this school, 5 stars for sure!

This is a great professional, expeditious and courteous shop. All options were discussed in detail making the right decision the first time. Super clean shop. read more

We love this Montessori school!! The teachers are warm, caring, and truly dedicated to each child. The classrooms are calm, welcoming, and encourage curiosity. We highly recommend this school to any family looking for a nurturing and inspiring environment. read more

My kids have been at Dynamite for three years. We transferred from a different Montessori school. We have been so happy here. This is where kids are happy, safe, thriving, and learning. The stress of public school and everyday pressures on kids are off. We love our teachers and staff. I can't recommend this school enough. I wish I knew about since they were toddlers. If you are thinking about it, don't hesitate. read more

We are so deeply grateful for DMA. After two years here, it has been incredible to watch our 6 year old daughter truly flourish both academically and emotionally. She is challenged in the best possible way and encouraged to think critically, stay curious, and grow with confidence. The environment is warm, peaceful, and intentionally created, and the teachers genuinely see and care for each child. The sense of community among families is strong and supportive, and communication from the school has been thoughtful, clear, and consistent throughout our time here. We feel such peace knowing our daughter is in a place where she is known, valued, and encouraged to be herself. We love this school so much that we plan to keep her here through her elementary and middle school years. Finding this community has been a true gift for our family. read more

We sent both of our children to Dynamite Montessori. Our experience was outstanding and second to none. Both kids are very social, excelled in math thru junior and senior high school and ended up at Stanford University and Harvard College. We attribute much of their success to their early learning skills they obtained at DMA. We have continued to correspond with Pauli and Paula today and can't express how happy we are with the early education from DMA! read more

Dynamite Montessori Academy is the best. The teachers , administration and families make this school so great. I am so happy to be part of this wonderful school and the personalized attention we receive. It's very hard to find that anywhere these days. I drive over 30 minutes up and back each back and completely worth it. Thank you so much DMA for making an impact on our family. Can't be any happier. read more

WOW.. What a fantastic environment! My son has been attending Dynamite Montessori Academy for the past three years, and it has been a absolute blessing! He wakes up everyday, excited to go to school and learn. The staff are so kind and helpful. The teachers are very engaged and don't ever want to leave a student left out or left behind. The teachers and staff are committed to the process and are extremely passionate about what they are doing. I've seen little to no turnover with the staff which makes me believe my pervious statement. Between all the activities, planned events, parades, farm animals, soccer, tennis, chess club, snow day and the list goes on and on. I can't imagine a better place for my son to grow up and learn. Thank you so much to the family at Dynamite Montessory Academy. You guys rock!!! read more

Dynamite Montessori Academy - Elementary Schools Near Me - Cave Creek, Arizona

Amazing school. my daughter, a toddler will be attending. Beyond safe. Highly recommend.

It used to be a good school, but with the new administration, things have all gone downhill. It's turned into a money minting business. If you have any question/concern around your child's well being, the only response that'd get is to "keep your child home if you are not comfortable". They reserve the right to kick any kid out whenever they want at no notice and that's what they'll do if they feel the kid needs any personal attention or would waste teacher's precious time. Do yourself a favor and stay away from this place. read more

We've only been at the school for a month, but couldn't be happier! The administration, the teachers, the assists, everyone, is so inviting and caring. They truly value Maria Montessori at the heart of their school. Excited to see how our children thrive. read more

I am responding to Paulie V, the schools OWNER, comment she left above. It really shows a lot about a person to finger point and blame my 2 year old child's behavior instead of taking responsibility or showing some sympathy It is developmentally normal for a toddler to impulsively hit at his age. If it wasn't a impulse hit it must have been self defense.. a two year old would not maliciously be hitting. Yes it is true, we were absent some days between January to April. It is very difficult to bring a fearful toddler to school, I also didn't feel comfortable with leaving my child crying for hours in your schools care. We were only attending 3 days a week starting January. We were absent so often, because my child started to develops a fear of coming to this school. Which at the time I mistook for nervousness, but by seeing how cold and unprofessional the staff and principle are I can only imagine why he was so fearful of this school. It is a very troubling that you are falsely accusing me of being racist. Please show me what you "documented" because I would never do that. I have love for everyone and that is not like me. My son is Mexican and I also speak Spanish, I find it confusing you would think I am racist towards the teacher. I know what I saw, and my child was in fact outside crying on the floor. This was the fact of the matter, I am allowed to have my own informed opinion of this school and it is my right to share, I apologize if you have trouble receiving poor feedback. Also a concern which was never brought to my attention! They were trying to comfort my son for two hours which means he was crying the entire time and no one tried to call home?? I never tried to re-enroll, I was horrified and brought to tears after the last day he attended! I didn't contact the school immediately because I needed time to consider what to do next. I am a single mom, yes it took me 2 weeks to unenroll him that's normal. The director never responded to my emails as I prefer responding through email. My payment situation has nothing to do with my review, Paulie, and is very unprofessional of you to add. I will not be threatened to remove my review. If your legal team wants to come after a single moms Yelp review go for it. Shows a lot more about this school than it does my review.. I hope parents will think twice before enrolling after reading your immature response to my review. read more

We are excited to have our 3yo attend DMA. The academy came highly recommended by a great friend whose son attended nearly 20 years ago. The campus fosters a great environment for learning. The teachers and administration are first class professionals. Most important, our son loves it and is gaining new life skills every day. read more

The best school for our children! It is a family owned school and we love it! Our girls are so happy here and they are learning a lot!

Until you've had your own kids, you will not understand the second guessing you put yourself through wondering if you are doing what is best for your child. My son has been at Dynamite Montessori for a year now and I can honestly say both my husband and I are very happy with the school and the school's director, Ms. Paula. There is great communication between all the staff. As soon as you communicate your concern to one person, the whole staff including Ms. Paula is aware of your concern and addresses the concern IMMEDIATELY. It's absolutely fantastic. As a first time parent, I have been very impressed by the Montessori system taught by the school. If you want your child to be independent and self sufficient, this is the place to come. It's really amazing how much your child can learn if you just step back and let them learn! And have I written about how amazing the campus is? This school is not located in some stripe mall- it's on 5 acres with its own tennis courts and soccer field. Lessons are taught outside in the full wrap around patio when the weather is nice. They have a vegetable garden, animals that are taken care of by the children, and a playground. I guess this is turning into a pretty long review because I just can't write enough nice things about this place. I am so thankful to have enroll my son in this school and have seen my son's incredible growth this past year! Don't let me forget to mention that cost of tuition includes soccer and Spanish lessons! read more

This school is the BEST! We could not be happier with the staff, teachers, environment, hands on learning++++ Our daughter always excited to go to school to see her friends and teachers. If you are trying to find the right school for your child, Don't forget to check this fantastic dynamite Montessori. It is everything a family could ask for from school. Thank you Montessori staff We Love You! read more

When we started looking into Montessori schools, I had a few in mind. I went with another one initially and quickly learned it was not the right fit. After visiting Dynamite Montessori, I knew this was the right choice. My daughter started when she was only 3 and stayed until 10 years old. During that time, we developed a very strong connection with the teachers, other parents and the students. They became another community and extended family. Our daughter has excelled in her education during her time there and has learned to have manners, work with others as a true team, and be a leader. She truly is a well-rounded child and I couldn't have asked for a better environment to nurture what is already a beautiful child. Trust the Montessori process. read more

As a previous student of Dynamite Montessori, I can say with complete confidence that it is the school that has shaped me and prepared me for the rest of my high school career and future. My siblings and I were enrolled in Dynamite from 1st grade to 4th grade. It was a period of our lives we will never forget and will always cherish. Firstly, the staff is absolutely incredible. Recently, I graduated high school with fluency in Spanish. This skill is something that started at Dynamite with the amazing Ms. Thania. She spoke only Spanish with the students and I caught on to it at a very young age. Because of her, I fell in love with the language and have recently travelled to Peru on a scholarship as an award for my Spanish-speaking skills. Now, as an incoming freshman in college, I am still speaking Spanish and even working for a Spanish-speaking organization. The experiences at Dynamite Montessori are like no other. I am still friends with the people I met over 10 years ago. I will forever be grateful to my parents for putting me in such a school. Dynamite is where my love for different languages, animals, and education began. Thank you, Ms. Paula!! read more

Observing the elementary environment over the past week, I am now completely blown away by the unique, bilingual classroom. The children flow freely between English & Spanish with such a deep, native-like understanding, whether the student is 6 or 10. I still am trying to convince myself that English is the children's first language! read more

My son has attended Dynamite Montessori from age 3 to age 5, and his educational experience there has been outstanding. The teachers are top notch, and children are given the freedom to explore topics that fire their minds. For example, my son has really taken a shine to mathmatics, and so he's been allowed to delve deep into that arena, passing up the kindergarten grade curriculum and moving into multiplication and division simply because he has been enjoying it so much. He's also beginning to read, and his exposure to Spanish language there made him a valuable asset on our family's vacation to Mexico last year! The high educational value for the really reasonable financial investment is excellent at Dynamite Montessori. I feel at ease knowing that my child is receiving excellent care and education here, and would recommend it to any parent. read more

The school has exceeded all my high expectations above and beyond. My kids have learned so much and have grown in many ways that I have never imagined. Mrs. Mritha, has had many years of experience working with young children and teaching them life skills, social skills, Spanish and education she taught both of my kids how to be potty trained and they learned all about the different kind of work and they learned so much about themselves. When my son got older he went into the toddler class and we were introduced to Miss Bailey I can't say enough positive words about her she taught my son so many wonderful things and I would learn from him and hear all his wonderful stories when he would come home. This school is incredible and the owner Miss Paula is such a wonderful lady! The whole school is so organized and so clean there's so much for the kids to learn from animals to plans to outside wildlife and the desert . We are truly blessed to be a part of such a wonderful community thank you Dynamite Montessori for what you have provided for my kids!! read more

It's an amazing thing to say that the love I have for Dynamite Montessori has come full circle. Starting as a student during the beginning years of the school it is an understatement to say that the education I received from Dynamite helped me learn in a remarkable way that became apparent when I went to public school. Dynamite gave me the opportunity to succeed in each subject at my own pace. I learned that while I take some time to fully understand harder concepts in math, I excel at reading and history where I was able to transition into my elementary school in an honors reading program which I continued all the way through high school. At Dynamite I did so much more than just read, calculate, and research, I experienced. I hiked Arizona's beautiful mountains, learned tennis, cared for animals of all kinds, and just become involved in so many communities. I loved my experience so much that in the summer I decided to come back to Dynamite as an assistant teacher for the Primary. And I am thrilled to say that the love I had for the school when I was little has been maintained. It is still an incredible learning environment where the children are fun and diverse which made coming to work at 8 a.m. in the summer not only bearable but just so enjoyable. I am happy that I now qualified to say that Dynamite Montessori is an outstanding place students and teachers alike! read more

My son had been attending DM since October 2016 and we are more than pleased with all the goals he had reached. He used to attend a public preschool where he played all day long, now, in just 7 months he began reading and his math skills improved. He's interested in how to create a family garden to grow up our veggies taking as a model the garden they had been growing at DM. When you walk into the classrooms you are captivated for works that help the children to deal with life skills as cooking, polishing, sewing buttons, or even how to mop and swept. All the teachers and assistants know all the children and help them know how important they are, they really create an atmosphere of loving and caring. All the children learn, and are willing always, to help other friends. There's no words to thank enough Ms. Deepali, Ms. Maria and Ms. Tina, they are wonderful not just as teachers. They learn the nature of each children, as unique, to maximize their development, departing from integrity, compassion and respect. I personally had seen Ms. Paula on the lovely and polite way she treats each one of the students, and their parents, at the school and I couldn't be more amazed, you can really feel the school like home. DM is awesome! Thanks, thanks, many thanks, it is the best place if you want your child to be successful not just as a student, but as a person. read more

Our journey with Dynamite Montessori was an extension of my daughter's Montessori way of learning from her previous school Aldea Montessory. We are glad that we found out the right school even if it takes a longer time to drive to the school. In this second year with DM, she has evolved beautifully into a girl who looks into things with a broader perspective. She has a good understanding of what is right and wrong and always tries to reason when she is in a dilemma. This reasoning ability helps her in learning math, science and doing reading comprehension better. I am sure that the quality of other kids motivates her to get better every day. The school is like our second home. The principle(Ms. Paula) is always accessible and she is another family member for all the kids. Even though there is no parents group in the school, its very vibrant. DM has a big playground, tennis court and big play areas and my daughter enjoys every moment in the playground. Her teachers Ms. Aparna and Tanya are great and their highest priority is to provide a safe learning environment for the kids. There is constant interaction between the higher grade and lower grade kids and sometimes they work together. I can see the improvement in my daughter's thinking as she is being mentored by the older kids. I believe that her kindness to other kids is something greatly to do with the Montessori learning environment provided by Dynamite Montessori and Aldea Montessori before that. I have to appreciate the scholarship program run by the school for the kids. That a great help to us. A big thumbs up to Dynamite Montessori. read more

My 3 kids have all attended Dynamite, starting with the toddler program and now into the elementary program. We absolutely love the school and the Montessori philosophy. From fine motor skill everyday necessity "works" such as shoelace tying, button and snap frames, dish cleaning, mopping, drinking out of real glasses (not plastic) in the toddler room to major life lessons such as potty-training, caring for animals and gardens, setting and cleaning tables before/after meals, obtaining help from older kids and helping younger kids (multi-age classrooms are amazing), the experience, ownership, and responsibility my children have gained from Dynamite cannot be matched. The academic foundation my kids have far exceed what I believe they would have from another, traditional preschool (and elementary school). Their math and reading skills are exceptional for their ages, which I attribute almost entirely to the school and the curriculum. The long-time teachers are loving and the lessons are academically rigorous. Children are able to explore their interests in true Montessori fashion during projects and "works" that cultivate cross-subject matter education. They learn in an environment stimulating to their personal interests while respecting other students' desires and the teacher's classroom rules. The campus is secluded and extensive with tennis courts, soccer field, large playground, basketball court, sandbox, and garden. The students also regularly take nature walks through the large campus, which further deepens their interest in our habitat and surroundings. I highly recommend Dynamite Montessori! read more

My son went here for several months. My son cried everytime i dropped him off. The teaches was helpful but the TA just stood around. My son kept having accidents at school which he doesnt have at home. He came home with bruises and bite marks. I was told he was the one biting and he must have done that to himself. Which is ridiculous because it was on the inside of his thigh next to his privates. After that he kept coming home with bite marks and I said something every time and they kept telling me that it was him. Then Paula pulled me into the office and told me that they were concerned because of his biting that he may have mental disabilities and they wanted him evaluated before they would allow him to come back to their preschool program. I had him checked out even though I was offended to prove that it wasn't my son that was the problem. The doctor signed a doctor's note stating that there was no sign of mental issues. That if there was biting going on perhaps time out should be issued and probably told me she was offended and didn't know how to put a two-year-old in timeout those weren't things that they did so I would never recommend the school read more