great for little ones. Great teacher to student ratio. Lots of hands on activities. This is a…read morefantastic school.

From the owner: Grounded in the scientific observations and educational research of Dr. Maria Montessori, LMS…read moreintegrates multimodal approaches to child development and learning. Through self-directed study, multi-age classrooms, and hands-on experience, our curriculum supports executive function, collaboration, and real-world problem solving.

Our daughter has been at this Montessori Prep school since she was 3 years old, she is now 11. It…read moreis so much more than a school, its a family. Paulene (the director) and all the women who teach the children, not only give them an excellent start in education with a challenging curriculum, but also teaches them life and social skills. Our son went to Montessori Prep, when he was younger, now he's 18 and graduating with honors, and going to attend Law School at UF. I give much credit to Montessori, helping him to develop good academic habits, and being in a loving environment, that let him be free to create and be himself. Our daughter's Standford testing results are in the middle and high school levels, and she's in 5th grade. Montessori teaches them be confident in who they are, and I know in my heart, any of the teachers would protect my child with their life and being a mom, the peace of mind I have when I drop her off everyday knowing that she is safe, is priceless. I am truly going to miss this school, when our daughter goes to 6th grade. I want to thank Paulene, Angel, Sandy, Gurpreet, Marisol, Suzette, Ingrid, Madi, Rosario, Amallia, Patricia and all the others who have treated my children as their own. I am forever grateful to all of you. Danielle Comas Parent at Montessori Prep School of Ocala

From the owner: MAO was established in 1996 and serves the Marion County community for children ages 3 months…read morethrough 6th grade.

Our experience at this school was heartbreaking, and withdrawing our daughter was one of the best…read moredecisions we made for her well being. We chose this school because it advertised the Montessori philosophy, fostering independence, following the child, and allowing children to learn freely in a respectful environment. Unfortunately, our experience was very different. This school placed a much greater emphasis on compliance and unquestioning obedience than on nurturing independence, curiosity, or confidence. During her time here, our 4 year old daughter was healthy, bright, curious, and full of personality, yet she was repeatedly singled out for age appropriate behaviors. She was asked to sit on a bench during outdoor playtime. During lunch, the children were expected to remain completely silent for about 30 minutes so the schedule could stay on track. When my daughter tried to talk with classmates or be playful as many 4 year olds naturally do, she was separated and made to sit with a teacher instead. The most concerning part was the change we saw in her. She began saying negative things about herself, such as that she "doesn't have good listening ears." She started biting her nails, grinding her teeth in her sleep, crying before school, and waking up multiple times at night crying. These behaviors were new and deeply concerning to us. We also felt she was beginning to be labeled rather than understood. No healthy 4 year old should come to believe that their personality is a problem because they need developmentally appropriate guidance. After we withdrew her and enrolled her in another school, the difference was remarkable. She flourished. Her confidence returned, her joy came back, and the emotional distress gradually disappeared. That experience confirmed for us that the issue was not our daughter, it was the environment. Every family has different priorities. If your goal is a highly structured environment where obedience and compliance are emphasized above all else, this school may be a good fit. But if you chose Montessori because you value independence, confidence, curiosity, and your child's emotional well being, our experience did not reflect those ideals. I intentionally waited seven full months before writing this review. I wanted time to reflect, separate emotion from fact, and ensure my review was thoughtful, fair, and truthful. After watching my daughter thrive elsewhere, I remain confident that this review accurately reflects our family's experience.

Probably not for everyone, but our daughter hated the chaos of a typical daycare. A Child's Place…read morehas provided her a structured and safe learning environment where she is free to express her emotions. The staff has expectations of the parents which requires an adjustment period, but it is intended to provide the children consistency throughout their day. This school promotes a pacifist culture rather than an aggressive one. The curriculum leverages a student's interest to cultivate their natural abilities. For example, students interested in art can spend more time doing art while students more interested in math can focus on math. This allows the children to define themselves. Conflict resolution is also built into the culture and no staff member ever raises their voice at the children. The facilities do not have a commercial feel to them like most daycares. Operations are very transparent and not governed by corporate policy. COVID-19 created some hurdles but those were widespread. I can't imagine sending my child anywhere else.

My baby has been going here for a few months and I am so impressed . I love the staff the…read morecommunication and the environment my son is in . He is already learning so much and even though he's 1 he is doing so much more with counting dancing and coloring at home . So blessed and impressed !

Our son began his tenure at Montessori House of Ocala (MHO) at the age of 20 months and remained a…read morestudent there for nearly 3 years. As educators, my husband and I were both sold on the Montessori Method as optimal for developing brains, and after a tour of MHO and a meeting with Ms. Jill, the director, we decided to enroll our son. Over the next few years, our son continuously amazed us with his personal and academic growth. He became a fountain of knowledge on the natural sciences, books and practical living skills, and he participated in three separate theatrical productions as well as music concerts. We were most impressed; however, with by his social development, by his kind and compassionate approach to his peers, and by his ability to engage cooperatively with others. MHO challenged him and nurtured him at the pace he required. We recently left MHO due to a move out of town, and while we were very sad for Our son to leave MHO, we are pleased to report he has transitioned beautifully into his new school. We are certain this is due to the strong foundation provided to him at Montessori House of Ocala, and for that we will always be grateful.

My wife and I love Guardian Montessori Academy. The class sizes are small and this allows the…read moreteachers to have more one on one time with the kids. My daughter loves it here and learns so much day after day. The teachers are all very kind and caring. highly recommend!

From the owner: Welcome Guardian Montessori Academy is located in the heart…read moreof St. Johns. It is a co-educational school catering to children from 12 months to 10 years. The facility includes indoor Gymnasium, Library/Music room, covered Play Areas and gardening areas for children to learn more about nature. GMA provides a rich academic environment founded on the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori with a strong concentration in math, language, art, music, world cultures, and the development of a social conscience. We follow Maria Montessori’s principles to inspire a passion for excellence and to nurture curiosity, creativity and imagination. Our goal is to develop in our students a love of learning that will guide and sustain them throughout their lives. We respect the uniqueness of each student by helping each child to develop skills at periods of greatest readiness and sensitivity. Our goals for developing your child’s full potential: Promote inner directed discipline Foster respect for the environment and contribute to their community Develop independence and critical thinking Teaching the cycle of work – there is a start and finish Inquiry based learning We encourage you to call us or come and talk to us; we will be happy to answer all your questions.