One experience that particularly upset our family involved the school head M. Our child was not allowed to participate in the Halloween parade because we arrived just a few minutes late. We were told there were not enough teachers available to manage the situation, but the decision felt unnecessarily rigid and lacked compassion. Our child was heartbroken to be excluded while classmates participated, and a year later still remembers the incident. For a school that emphasizes supporting children's emotional development, the handling of this situation was disappointing and left a lasting negative impression on our family. read more

Both of my children have been going to Guidepost Brushy Creek for 2 years. I could not be happier about our school. They are so independent and learning so much there. read more

My son has attended Guidepost for over a year and is thriving. The low ratio was a selling point for us. The school is so calm and peaceful. We love Guidepost at brushy creek! read more

If I could give this school 10 stars, I would! Guidepost Montessori at Brushy Creek is a SPECTACULAR learning center. I always feel my daughter is happy, healthy, safe, and LOVED here. This school has the best, most caring, and loving guides. Ms. Nithya, my daughter's lead guide, made a big positive impact on her character (my daughter being very stubborn and dealing with big emotions at times, now she can make better choices and control her big feelings). Also, I'm impressed by the amount of learning and developmental information my daughter is exposed to, that are important in her day to day activities. Another important thing is the independency we've seen growing in her. Everything in her little universe is about "Me! Me! I can do it all by myself!" The administration is also great! I'm amazed how they know every single child by their name, how they welcome them every morning with a smile and positive attitude, making everyone feel like home. The staff truly make us feel like family. Our daughter knows all the staff members and she always runs to give or get big hugs, blows kisses or waves good morning/good bye. Being part of this big loving community is just very important for our family! Thank you Guidepost Montessori at Brushy Creek for a truly great work and dedication to my child and every member of your community! read more

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We have been at guidepost about 3 years. our daughter loves the environment. She is learning so much. The staff is always friendly. We looked at a lot of daycares this one had everything we were looking for. They have a kitchen so they can provide fresh snacks. They have an indoor gym. They also have activities that come to the school that you can sign your child up for. read more

This place was heartbreaking. They seemed nice. Said "give it two months your son will get used to it beautifully" and after two months they kicked out my three year old. First time he'd been in school, I mentioned he had a speech delay which they didn't seem like was a problem but they decided he was too much work for them so they sent me a sweet email saying they'd like to have a meeting and hope that we could get him fully potty trained by august (In Two months) and that he had hit a student and we could address it and hoped to see improvement in two weeks.... The meeting wasn't actually about that. The meeting was to tell me I had two weeks to find another school because they claimed that my son had a hitting problem for the pat two months that I was NEVER made aware of. He might. And he might not, after all their blindsiding and fakeness it's really hard to know what to believe. At the end of the day I'm glad they let us go. I don't want anyone to have my son that just thinks he's a hassle. Long story short. Montessori is for every kid. But not every adult is for every kid. Just be careful where you choose because finding a school and training for my job while I have to watch my son now has been an absolute nightmare and I really wish I looked more when I moved here. UPDATE!! So I did take my son to get evaluated like they asked because they said he's definitely over stimulated and a disturbance to the classroom.... the doctor said there is absolutely nothing wrong with my child. She said I need to pick a different school and suggested I find one that works more with the students on social skills because he grew up during COVID and had limited interactions socially. So pretty much she just said pick a different school, nothing special needs to be done here. So them saying they don't have the resources to take care of my son is mind blowing to me. read more

We absolutely love Guidepost at Brushy Creek. Our daughter has flourished in Nido with Ms. Michelle, Ms. Wendy and Ms. Leela. They are incredibly kind, attentive, patient and warm. It's amazing to see that they have each formed a special bond with our little girl. We've only had great experiences with the staff and other guides. The school is well-organized, and we love and appreciate the special attention that is put in hosting special events and keeping parents connected. Ms. Marina does a fantastic job. Our little girl is excited for school every morning! read more

We enrolled our 3 year old upon moving to Austin going by the guidepost reputation and brand. Unfortunately we did not have a good experience- in the 8 weeks he attended the head teacher changed 3 times which was unsettling for a kid who is transitioning schools. We gave the notice and had to continue for another month before we could stop sending our child because of the deposit and fee structure that makes you pay a significant chunk upfront. We found the environment under stimulating for our curious learner - he was in a Montessori for 2 years before joining here and there was a significant behavioral change with this particular classroom (unbelievable behavior from some kids in the teachers presence on a daily basis) he was attending that was concerning to the point we decided to pull the kid out despite some big life changes. While Ms.Marina is friendly and caring (she is the head of the school) the other administrators weren't the most friendly or welcoming. We heard some classes are better given the tenure of the teachers and we were offered to move our kid around but I'm glad we chose to pull him out. After "unschooling" he is thriving well in a new school. The attrition rate is a big red flag which I wish I researched before enrolling. read more

I have been part of the Guidepost community for almost 6 years. We have been blessed that both our boys have had amazing teachers and truly thrived. Ms Aniqa has been a godsend for my youngest. She is the most perfect balance of LOVE and boundaries. She greets my son with a hug every morning but also has amazing control over her classroom. I love the Guidepost community, families and teachers. I know at times the waitlist may be long, but it's worth it. read more

Had a bad experience there. My kid went there about 1 year. Be aware of $1500 deposit and will not get it back( if you can get it back) for 3 to 6 months too. Sad and upset read more

TL;DR The staff is incredibly nice and seems to know every parent and child by name which is no small thing. The staff goes above and beyond when you need it, there's a constant positive energy in the place which is very welcoming... Not just to the kids and parents but between staff. The facilities are big and clean. Happy we could send our kids here. We had a gap in childcare and needed to get our son into something quickly (his was 16 months at the time). We wanted a Montessori program but those are tough to get into in Austin. Jenny made it work so that we could get into the babies class with our son and was very clear and professional about how she could not promise he would be able to go past 18 months into Toddler class because there were others in line. But, they made room for him over the next 2 months as they renovated and shuffled classes around, now he can stay at this great school we only thought we'd be guests at. It wouldn't have happened if not for the wonderfully positive attitude the staff here has, their attitude toward providing the best experience for you and your kid in sometimes a stressful situation, whether rushing in the morning or during a fussy day for your child. Would be happy to recommend Guidepost and the staff and teachers! read more

THE best Montessori school I've ever stepped foot into. I was SO worried putting my 3 year old in "school" and was THAT mom who cried, worried, stressed, and strained over the whole decision/process. After an amazing process of getting my little enrolled (huge 'thank you' and shoutout to Ms. Jenny), then starting, and now continuing we could not be happier with Guidepost. They have treated my child and my family with the most kindest and loving care. I'm so happy with my child's school day and my child looks forward to going. If you're even thinking about taking a look at Guidepost, do it!!! You won't regret it! read more

My granddaughter has been a student for over a year, and I am constantly impressed and pleased with the quality of education and the level of communication from the administration. The classroom guides are knowledgeable, kind, and encouraging. My granddaughter has made such amazing progress, and she loves her teachers, and classroom friends. The administration team is responsive, hardworking, and committed to providing each student (and family) an amazing and positive Montessori experience. I am so amazed at how my granddaughter has been challenged to grow, and nurtured in the process. I highly recommend Guidepost Montessori at Brushy Creek, check them out, you will not be disappointed. If I could give more than 5 stars....I would give at least 10 stars! read more

We are tremendous Montessori fans. In Kansas we benefited from a long term relationship with a truly unique and special school where three of our four boys went. When we moved to Leander we sought such a special place for our daughter. Over several months we toured all of the Montessori schools in the area and we settled on Brushy Creek. Over the past six months our research has proven true and we are very pleased. The school adheres to the Montessori philosophy and uses the appropriate teaching materials. The program and classrooms are well thought out and executed by well trained Montessori teachers. The outstanding grounds are well kept. The director and staff are clearly dedicated to their craft. Finally, there is a significant multi-cultural feel with the varied student body which is a nice plus. Our three year old daughter is flourishing as any bright child should with such an excellent Montessori school. If someone is unsure about the benefits of a Montessori education for pre-k DON'T BE - Montessori RULES. If someone is looking in the North Austin area for a Montessori school I would highly recommend BCMS. I cannot speak to the BCMS past, but the present and future are outstanding. MST read more

Like a previous reviewer, we were denied a portion of our deposit. I understand with the pandemic, it is difficult to set and maintain consistent policies, but we were cheated. The teachers were always very nice, but the corporate overlords are only concerned with profits. read more

I am so sad that our daughter entered Kindergarten and we had to leave this wonderful montessori school! We have experiences with several other preschools in the area and were always let down. The teachers our daughter had here cared about HER and she really LEARNED. It was amazing to pop in to school and see the kids quietly learning and working, never chaos. The only reason I'm not giving them 5 stars is because they need some work on their back office accounting. They change their rules and rates and it's confusing. But otherwise the Montessori method really works for a lot of children and I'm glad I found it. It is NOT like your typical daycare with broken toys and no learning going on. Take the time to learn about the method and you will see how different it is! read more

My son started going to the BCMS in early 2010 and my daughter joined him last year. They both have learned a lot from their classrooms. Just a couple of weeks ago my son told me about the gravity and how things may look like without it. When I bought a globe recently, he sang a song including all the continent names and pointed them on the globe. When I was at his age, I didn't know about these things. My daughter is very into painting. She brings back her "art works" from her classroom almost everyday. Two events occurred last week and I want to express my appreciation on the yelp. 1) My daughter classroom's teachers video taped her Montessori-style Bday celebration in the classroom and made a disc for us. When watching it at home, we all were very happy. Her teacher has made extra efforts to burn this video into the disc for us. This makes us believe she really cares about her students. 2) Last Thursday my son had an uncomfortable stomach and the school administrative contacted me and helped replacing his lunch with a special meal. When I picked him up after work, he was happily playing with his classmates in the gym as he used to. I feel very grateful. THANK YOU! read more

My daughter (~2 years) has been attending Guidepost Montessori @ Brushy Creek since she was about 16 months old. This was prior to the school being purchased by Guidepost (when it was simply Brushy Creek Montessori.) We were decently happy with the school prior to the purchase - mainly because of the teachers - but, frankly were a bit disappointed with the facilities, staff training, and organization. When it was announced that the school was being purchased by Guidepost, we were hesitant considering our already existing disappointments. However, that was immediately remediated at the initial presentation from Guidepost's staff where they informed the parents of current students as to their plans for the school. We were so excited to hear about the plans for a school-wide facelift to the facilities, new classroom materials, dedicated training dates for all staff, additional hiring of teacher aids to improve student to teacher ratios, etc. Even more so, I'm thrilled to report: It's all happened or has been initiated. They truly followed through on their plans to better the school and since Nov/Dec 2018, I've seen dramatic improvements in everything. We are thrilled that we decided to stick around see what the new administration had to offer and we couldn't be more pleased! If you've considered Brushy Creek Montessori in the past, I would encourage you to reconsider, as it's a totally different school. And, in general, if you are considering Montessori for your child, I would highly recommend you take a tour! read more

We love Brushy Creek Montessori. Our daughter is in the 2-3 year old room with Ms Roxana and Ms Kendra, and she adores them both. They both speak English and Spanish throughout the day, and my 2 year old daughter often comes home singing songs in Spanish. We transferred here in April from a high end franchise school when we began to see a decline in staff quality. The lead teachers at the previous school in her age group were not certified in any curriculum. At BCMS, all the lead teachers are certified Montessori instructors. They have high behavioral expectations from the students, and it works very well. The previous school was very noisy and seemed highly disorganized at the end of each day. When I pick up my child from BCMS, usually after 5 pm, she is actively engaged in a group learning activity with the assistant teacher. We love that we get to bring our own lunch, and that sweets are not allowed in the lunch bag, or provided as snacks during the school day (in general, there are a few special days where sweets are served). I think this contributes to the overall tone of the classroom, as there are no children on sugar highs disrupting activities. The school has a gym, a splashpad, several age appropriate play grounds, a child size kitchen where the kids get to practice life skills, an art room, and library. The classrooms are on a rotation of afternoon language (Spanish and Chinese) instruction, art, reading, cooking, and free play. These are all afternoon activities, as the mornings are reserved for the traditional Montessori work cycle. There are optional activities of Music/Dance/Soccer for an additional fee through a 3rd party. My only complaint: They do watch movies every now and then in the gym (maybe once a month during the regular school year, once a week in the summer). While I don't have a problem with this, per se, I noticed that they expect the children to sit still on a line while the movie is playing. While its not a problem for my daughter, for others in this age group, it is not within their level of development, and I feel like an alternative physical activity should be offered. read more

Our child has been going to this montessori for the past 2 years. We were really happy unitl we had issues in her primary class/teacher. We brought this to the attention of the school administration and they have addressed our concern and are working to resolve it. read more

Brushy Creek Montessori School teachers are very caring in all aspects. Every day my son 5 yr old comes up with something new that he learned. Teachers really trying to work with kids for particular areas where they are lacking. Our son love to go to school. This is his 4 th school including day care. I never see teachers work this hard and dedicate for the kids to grow. Teachers discuss things with parents if we need to correct anything at house. We recommend Brushy Creek Montessori for sure. read more

It's hard for every mom to drop their little ones to school, when they first start. I was super apprehensive and worried for my Lil daughter as she had been only, in my care until she started in older infant classroom. It is our 7 week here,and so far I am extremely happy and thankful for each staff member including the amazing teachers / guides of my daughter's older Nido room. :):):):) What all I wanted from a school is clean, tidy classroom and surroundings, and VERY compassionate teachers. I drop my daughter with a happy heart, though she whines a little which I absolutely understand at this age, she eats good, sleeps without fuss, and I find her playing happy, giggling around her teachers at every pick up time. :):):) Class ratio is again a big plus as you compared outside. The faculty atmosphere is very lively, not dead and dragging like other schools I have seen. I would definitely recommend this school, especially if your lil one is at precious age :):) read more

Our boys (2 + 3.5) have been enrolled in Brushy Creek Montessori for 6 months now and we are very pleased. We drop off early, so sometimes there are separation challenges, but the teachers here understand this and do what is needed to transition children according to their needs. The classrooms are full of varied and engaging activities to help kids grow at their own pace with lessons to help socialize children. They also have an excellent facility with a large gym, kitchen, art room, and several play areas, including a splash pad. We know our children are in good hands here while we are working. read more

I was hesitant to try this school out based on the reviews. Then at a birthday party I met several great parents and children who were part of this school. They said they have never seen anything negative and loved the school. I met with the director who informed me that they did get a new director and were addressing any issues at the school. We are several months into attending this school so I wanted to write a review that my daughter is thriving and loves this school. She is advancing academically and made so many great friends. So, many thumbs up from us. read more

My grandson attended this school until just before he turned 18months. He is advanced in many ways and they refused to move him up. Even though he never had more than 5 in his class including him,he was catagorized has too active for 1-2 teachers to watch. The last straw occurred when he was able to run out of his class room,past the main office and front counter out into the parking lot. Even then they said they couldn't leave 2 children in the class alone to get the 1 child that had reached he parking lot. Thanks be to God no cars were coming and his mother hadn't left because she got him. Also my grandson learned nothing from them. What he learned was from another school and from us. Not a Montessori school by any stretch of the imagination for younger ages just a regular daycare. Sharon S. read more

My daughter has been in one of the primary classrooms for more than one year. The teaching materials are very well designed, some are even designed by the teachers themselves. She loves "working", and we heard from other parents that they always saw her being busy. She surprised us again and again with stuff she learned from school. Sometimes when we were playing, she would pretend a sofa to be "North pole", another room to be "North America". She brought back booklets/crafts she made, related with what she learned, and I have saved quite a few. The method she learned spelling has been very effective. She frequently volunteered to help housework, folding towels, setting table. The positive attitude toward learning is valuable. On days such as Mother's day, before Christmas, etc, the kids also put on a show, singing many songs and dancing. Very enjoyable. Sometimes at dinner my daughter talked about her interactions with teachers, and it was heart warming. Over the time through many chats with the teachers and through many events, you can just tell, their hearts are truly towards the kids. We just adore the teachers and love the school. read more

Montessori Brushy Creek had such a great reputation for letting kids flourish, that I was extremely excited to send my son there. I am really not impressed with this school at all. My son is a toddler and the toys in the class is so dreary, it's ridiculous. I saw them playing with brooms, vacuum cleaners, the same blocks every day, a soft toy chicken and one ball. My son loves cars, not even one car in the classroom. I noticed my son was not developing skills as fast as he had before, in fact he seemed to lose interest in learning things. We had him in there because my neighbors highly recommended this school, but the administration, not the teachers (except one), let us down. I saw abuse, reported it, and no one got back to me, my email was forwarded to the administrator and when I went to see her to discuss why I am taking my son out of the school, she told me my letter was in her spam box. In this letter I wrote about some of my grievances, including the abuse I witnessed, and as it was in her "spam box", she was "completely unaware". I asked for my deposits back as I took my son out just after I paid them for the month, which is $930, and then they sent an email saying they are increasing their fees with another $35. I never did get any money back. The deposits are extensive, even one for $66 for supplies for crafts. The only crafts that was sent home, was on the back of already printed papers for the school, and it for them to color in, what kind of a "craft" is that? The abuse I witnessed was shocking to me. It took me a while to process it, but then I reported it to CPS. The day this happened, I brought my son in late. It was about 11 am. They were all going to go outside. There was one teacher to watch about 13 toddlers, and there was a slide outside, all kinds of things can go wrong, so that is why I stayed. It was hideously hot. After about 45 minutes of playing outside, with no drinks offered, because another age group was occupying my son's class to eat, a little boy, just one age group up from my son was still outside, as were we. The teacher didn't want to leave the building or something, so she just yelled from the door for the little boy to come to her. He didn't move, he just stared at her. Her voice got really high and loud, as she continued to scream at him. The poor boy stood there not knowing what to do, he first had his arms behind his back resting on his diapers and then he put his finger in his nose. So this made her scream louder and higher, "Don't just stand there picking your nose, come here". The boy still didn't move. She came and grabbed him and yanked him so hard his head lagged behind, looking like she is whiplashing him. She only saw me then as I was kind of behind one of the thin little trees they have out there. She then turned all sweet and tried and make a joke about it, but I didn't laugh, I just stared at her, like everybody else did. I will never ever scream at a child like that, not to mention yank at a toddler like that. I would not expect that of a teacher either. She is a mother too, with a child in that school. I wonder how she would feel if someone treated her child like that? This child could not have been older than 16 -18 months. I was absolutely horrified. This was the last straw. The other thing that got me, was they say they open at 7 am. My husband would go and drop off our son, but had to wait around for them to arrive late on more than one occasion. When my husband dropped off our son a little later, there would be chaos. They expected us to be happy to leave him in a room full of children of different ages up to 5-6 years sometimes and if they are lucky there would be two teachers for this classroom full of kids, my husband once counted 15. There was an older kid apparently throwing around blocks at the other kids. My husband didn't want to leave him in such conditions. When we interviewed with them, they said the ratio would always be four kids to a teacher. I went to speak to them on two occasions, and they told me they were going to implement things, and they never did. My neighbor had her son in this school but pulled him out too. She has been disgruntled for a while too. She pulled her child when they hired someone that was not Montessori certified. She looked up this teacher online and called them on their lie. Their reply was, "it's on the way". Her kid came home and told her that "brown was bad" and he pinched his skin, referring to his skin color. She went to the school to find out what the teacher was planning on doing about it, and the reply was "Nothing". My son didn't like going to school, and now I know why. He is in another school that accepts part time for his age group, and he is flourishing. These are just a few things that happened to us (and the neighbors), the list goes on and on. I think this is most probably the worst business and service I have ever come across read more

My 3 1/2 yr old grandson loves going to this school every morning. He is so happy there and loves his teachers and the friends he's made. The director is a very kind, caring Christian woman whose primary interest is to look out for the children under her care. The director and teachers work diligently with my grandson and his personal needs. It's a place of peace and serenity for this precious child. It would break my heart if he had to go elsewhere. read more

The rating for this school is a direct reflection of the business practices of this school and not for Montessori as an educational philosophy. Montessori works and it works well, if done well. The teachers are wonderful at this school and this review is not a reflection of them either. The administrative practices impact the safety and security of the children. If you doubt this, please refer to the following link where you will find the school has 36 citations, of which, 17 were rated as high, 13 were rated as medium high, 4 were rated as medium and two were rated as low. Some of the citations are ones that parents can overlook, but there are significant ones regarding background checks, FBI fingerprinting and no supervision of children. These are egregious and put children at risk. The history indicates that there is a pattern of citations and reactively addressing them and sometimes not even doing that (such as the fire alarm system which was not addressed for over a year). If you have the inclination to overlook poor administrative practices due to the great teaching staff, take a look at the following link before making your decision. That was our position for over a year, but we finally realized that there does come a point where no matter how wonderful the teachers are, the safety of your children can become compromised. We felt so strongly that we pulled our child and were without daycare until we could secure a new school. http://www.dfps.state.tx.us Search under the school's name and all the information is there. There are other options out there, even if you are looking for elementary programming. Stay steadfast and do the research. read more

I had two children in this school for 9 months. The cost is unbeatable and the characteristic that most impresses me is 'value.' My kids enjoyed going to school, though one of them complained and resisted on a regular basis. The teachers were caring and dedicated, while the staff were friendly, helpful, and accommodating. My kids learned a lot and bloomed verbally. Ratings-wise, I would give them 3.5 stars. More expensive schools will include lunch, milk, cots, and lower ratios as well as more regular communication. I found it inconvenient to bring home sippy cups every night; again, my current more costly preschool washes the cups so parents don't need to bring them back and forth. If you are looking primarily for value and want your kids to be in good hands while you are at work, this is the school for you. It was a good start for my kids but we moved and it was a good reason to try a different program and for them to have a different experience as they are almost 3 now. read more

The director of the school just proved my point as she writes comments about my children back on here...completely unprofessional! It's been 2 years now and we drive past the school about once a week and my daughter still says "Mean school, mean school" every time we drive by! read more

This summer my step daughter was enrolled in the elementary school program at Brushy Creek Montessori. Her experience with Ms. Layla was fantastic. She learned more in the 3 months at BCMS from a math, reading/spelling perspective than she had all year at Patsy Somner Elementary School. The smaller student ratio enabled her to have more 1x1 attention and help in grasping concepts. Ms. Layla made learning fun and effective. Any parents who are looking for an alternative to public elementary schools should consider BCMS. read more

I have 2 children at BCMS and they've been there for almost 1 year. One of my children goes all day and one goes half day. I cannot say enough positive things about the teachers that both girls have. They realize that even though there is a specific montesorri method that needs to be followed, that each child has different needs and some approaches need to be customized. One of my children at BCMS has Down syndrome and I wasn't sure how the teachers would respond to her and how they would choose to educate her. Their expectations of her are just as high as the expectations for the other children in the class. They focus on teaching her writing, counting, basic skills, just like the other kids. She has learned SO much from the teachers there! The only drawbacks for me is that lunches are not included and they are closed for spring break and 2 weeks over Christmas - that makes it a bit harder for working parents. Highly recommend you check them out! read more

Brushy Creek Montessori has been a part of our family through 3 children and 7 years. There is no other place I would send my children for Montessori education. The teachers are loving, knowledgeable, patient, and foster an atmosphere of independence and focused learning. My 3 children could not be more different in personalities...from the rule following, people pleasing first born, the independent and rambunctious middle child, and finally the sweet and lovey youngest, the experienced teachers and staff handled each child and situation with ease and grace, giving them exactly what they needed to thrive in a learning environment. By the time my two oldest left BCMS they were reading and doing math well beyond their respective grade levels. I am excited to see all that my youngest will learn this year. If you are fortunate enough to get a spot, take it before someone else does. You will be happy you did. I highly recommend Ms. Sheila and Ms. Madhu's Primary Classes. read more

My child has attended BCMS for the past six months and she has had a very positive experience so far. We just celebrated her graduation from the Primary classroom and couldn't be a more proud parent after witnessing her performing complicated songs like "My Montessori Classroom" and "the Star-spangled Banner." Previously, I've had her in two places there were really not ideal--the first, a drop-in center, because of my crazy work schedule and tight budget, and the second was also a Montessori school that received glowing reviews but turned out to be a nightmare. She was in that school for six months, and during that time picked up some negative social habits and a fearful feeling about school in general. Her teacher usually appeared over-worked and stressed out, and every day I would ask her how school went, she would say, "my teacher was sad all day. I was very nervous." This has never been the case with her current teacher. I have noticed some turn-over in the toddler and infant classrooms, which I guess is common of preschools in general, but since they've re-staffed those rooms I haven't noticed as much crying as I walk down the hallway, the kids seem happier. As far as the administration goes, they couldn't be more friendly and genuine, and they go out of their way to address my concerns to the best of their abilities. Once my child had poison ivy and we weren't sure if she should be in school, yet she wanted to. The director called licensing to find out and when they didn't get back with her immediately she contacted a registered nurse. So my advice is to not just go with the average rating but actually read the reviews, and most importantly, note the responses. It would also be a good idea to research the Montessori method before making judgements on the appearance of the classroom and its materials. Unlike traditional play-based centers, Montessori emphasizes concentrated "work" with real materials and respectful ettiquite. If your child is used to a loud, chaotic environment in which she is not treated with respect, it can be a tough transition. They have to feel secure and respected in class for any actual learning to take place. Montessori is an investment, if it is not maintained and valued it will diminish as the child grows older. But in a true Montessori community children can't help but gain self-confidence and love of learning, which I believe will prepare my child for school and life a lot more than playing with toys all day would. We are excited for the "under the sea" summer program coming up and learning all about the oceans! read more