I went on a short tour of this school and others. I immediately knew that JMSS was the place for us! Rocco is 6 years old and was very nervous about goggles, 'dunking' his head and letting go of the sides of the pool in the deep end. We've had 5 classes as of today. I'm so happy with the staff, his coach's (Michelle's) patience and his excitement to get here each Tuesday! I was nervous that he'd be a hard sell but after a near drowning incident last year at Great Wolf, I knew I had to empower him with this life saving and fun knowledge of how to trust the water. We were placed in a morning class at my request because he is homeschooled and I wanted to avoid the crowded evening classes. GREAT CHOICE! The classes are thirty minutes long and 100% of the time it's productive! No idle time... just go go go, fun fun fun. I highly recommend taking a chance at JMSS! Let the swimming COMMENCE! read more

See all

I am very happy with the progress of my daughter Catarina and the professionalism of the school. swimming from the age of 2 until the age of 5 in Brazil and now for a year with you. Today she is already 9 years old and has been at this glorious swimming school for 1 year. I am a veteran of the Brazilian special forces and I know how much the sport makes a difference to our children for their health and physical, mental and social development read more

Jim Montgomery Swim School - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Dallas, Texas

I'd recommend this place over and over. Viewing area is great and place is clean and inviting. We started at Jim's swim school a couple months ago when our baby was 6 months in the infant class and our baby has loved it and each week we've seen him progress. The staff is always friendly and accommodating. Today we forgot swim diaper and they were totally understanding and gave us a credit when they didn't have to because of our downfall. The class is easy going and easy to follow. It can be repetitive but for your baby to learn that's the best way - we have seen our baby light up every time we walk through those doors and that is worth it to make sure he is feeling confident in the water with us. read more

Jim Montgomery Swim School - He loves the back float - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Dallas, Texas

My daughter has been going here for a while now but Coach Towah just started coaching my daughter in the Flounder class. I just have to brag about him - his attitude is awesome! He looks like he truly enjoys coaching the kids. My daughter does very well with him and he lets them try instead of overly helping them. He's a great coach! I'm glad he's coaching my daughter. read more

We signed my son up to take the baby swim class when he was 7 months old. The instructor was so sweet. I really appreciated how they explain why your baby is doing certain movements and exercises in the water. They have small classes so the kids really get a good amount of attention from the instructor. The only issue I have is that when we first came in we told them we were interested in their classes and wanted to take a look around. We assumed someone would walk us through the facility. Instead the kid working pointed to a door and said the pool is that way, you can walk around wherever and take a look. I didn't want to just walk around "wherever." Especially when there were classes going on. I thought that was a bit tacky. However I had heard good things so I just brushed it off as him being a lazy worker. And I'm glad I did. Besides him, almost everyone else is so friendly and helpful. I would definitely recommend bringing your kids here for a swim class! read more

My daughters began attending JMSS about 4 years ago after spending a year at a previous swim school. While the girls were progressing at the previous school, I was concerned they weren't learning the techniques properly and I decided to move them to a different school. I did some research before deciding on JMSS and it was the best decision our family could have made. Our girls' progression has been absolutely wonderful and they have been on the summer swim team for a few years now. The swim teachers at the school are friendly and patient and do everything they can to make the time enjoyable for the kids. I love the flexibility the classes offer with us being able to do classes on the weekend. Because our oldest is 13 now we're looking for other swim schools and they only offer classes Monday through Friday and the classes are twice a week so even if you can only make one class you're still paying tuition for the other one. Definitely not ideal, and a huge benefit that sets JMSS apart from the rest. I would recommended JMSS to other friends and I would highly encourage anyone looking for a swim school for the kids to sign up at JMSS. read more

The young ladies working the front desk on Saturday mornings in June 2023 are very rude. They don't greet you, they act like you're bothering them just by following policy of getting bracelet and lane assignment. RUDE. We won't continue here if this doesn't change. read more

The first time I ever walked into Jim Montgomery Swim School, I was greeted by a tall gentleman who offered me a big Texas smile, firm Texas handshake and a warm Texas welcome. He introduced himself as Jim Montgomery and we spent the next thirty minutes talking about his life of swimming. I'm not exactly a swim historian, but I knew who Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps were. As it turns out, those two sandwiched Jim's 1976 Olympic feat of winning three gold medals. You can't ask for more credentials than that, but it turns out that Jim also was the head swimming coach at elite Dallas prep school Greenhill for nearly 17 years. The staff at Jim Montgomery Swim School is super-friendly, the instructors warm and patient. Jim teaches here and so does his daughter, a former elementary school teacher. Other instructors like Alejandro are born to teach. This is hands-on instruction in very small groups (2-3 kids for many classes) and your child will make rapid improvements if you stick to the weekly schedule. The prices are very reasonable and unlike some other area swim schools, there's no high-pressure sales pitch or long term contracts to try to lock you in. This is a swim school that seeks to succeed on the merits of the program and quality of the services, rather than through gimmicks or salesmanship. My two kids, ages 6 and 11 both look forward to swim class each week. They are suited up and ready to swim every Friday night, and with the improvements they're making, I look forward to seeing them progress each session. Owner Jim is almost always around if you have any questions, so I suggest you drop by, say Hi and find out how your child can achieve swimming success. read more

See all

If you don't know where to take your kids to learn how to swim? I definitely recommend Jim Montgomery school. The facility is clean, everything look new and well-maintain. All the staffs here are very friendly, they are always smiling and willing to help. I got coach Monica P for my baby and she's such a sweet girl, very patient and friendly... Tip: They do offer a free class for baby age 3 to 6 months and I think it is a very generous offer...so check this place out and you will like it ! read more

This swim school os well organized. My daughter loves coming to it and making progress. The first time she moved levels and got her medal she felt so good about herself. The coaches are kind and supportive, the place is nice and clean. read more

I haven't seen any reviews here for the adult swim classes, so here's one for ya. I took Strokes I and II after swimming on my own for a while and wishing to improve my efficiency and be able to swim longer with less fatigue. I definitely met my goal thanks to Coach Jim's instruction and guidance (also, how often do you get to learn from an Olympic gold medalist?). After the second weekend of classes, I was able to come home and swim little 10-yard laps in my backyard pool for over an hour without significant breaks or losing control of my breathing too much. I hadn't been able to do more than 30 before I took the classes. Still LOADS to work on, but I'm grateful for these classes setting me off on the right flipper. read more

TL:DR: if you're looking to hone skills for swim team/personal reasons AND learn safe swimming (or overcoming water anxiety), this place is IT. If you're wanting your child to learn to swim "quickly," either commit to practicing in between classes to speed them along or look elsewhere. My prevailing thought is: a child may know how to swim across the pool but if they became stuck, would they possess the skills to survive ie remain calm, float on their back? ********************************************** My point of comparison comes from having had lessons at other places: * Class price and enrollment fee is on par with other other schools and maybe even better since the instructor:student ratio is never more than 1:4. In fact, more than half the time we're doing private lessons but that might be pandemic related. We also receive a 15% multi-kid discount. * Classes are 30 minutes long and they go the full 30 minutes. There is no idle time. * Classes always start on time. In fact, their clock intentionally reads 2 minutes slower which miraculously causes me to almost always be on time. * Their online system is fantastic because it allows tracking of each child's progress and scheduling of make-up classes. -The ribbon and medal system have been great incentives, especially for our youngest! -The coaches are excellent, which I think is a byproduct of Coach Ellis's training based on her child development degree and background. All the coaches we've had have not only taught the skills well but also instilled a love for swimming (special shout out to Coaches Connor, Colton, Garrett, Nadia, and Nia) Pro-Tips -If you have multiple kids, it may be hard to place them in the same class unless their skill level is similar. Coaches are mindful about promoting at the same time but won't at the expense of holding one kid back too long either. One remedy is to practice that skill outside of class if one child is lagging... -Safe swim is empathized which is so, so important! That takes priority over "learning to swim." So, my youngest has only accomplished a third of one level after 9 months and still cannot swim. Some would balk at the idea of that but here's some context: prior to JMSS, he had zero water experience and receives no reinforcement outside of class (except the bathtub). He cried for the first 3 classes but after that, looks forward to it every week. He is now very comfortable putting his head underwater and floating on his back. I feel strongly that he'll progress through the remaining steps quicker than the initial ones and swim on his own soon. -Every child is different! My oldest have progressed through 2 levels in that same time frame (with prior experience). -Swim team (even one for families on a "homeschool" schedule) is available, though we have not taken advantage. Our family doesn't feel like a number here. We really appreciate the family environment provided by the front staff (shout out to Erin & team) and coaches. Thank you for setting a model of excellence! read more

We love JMSS in our house! My 3 year old has been taking classes with Coach Ellis for 4 months and every class she comes out of her shell a little bit more. My daughter was very timid, shy, and frightened by the water when we first started (also other people, it's her sweet nature). They weren't pushy with her or us in our parent-child swim classes, rather they encouraged her and helped her understand the water. Now she's in one-on-one classes with her teacher and she can't wait to go! She jumps right in with Coach Ellis and trusts her to glide her through the motions of her new class. They know how to interact with young children which is a must have for us. You can know the water and suck with kids and it would not work, but they are absolutely wonderful with children and absolutely skilled with the water. I would recommend JMSS and DO recommend them to everybody I know/meet. Thanks for all that you do, guys, and we will see you at class this week! read more

I wanted to learn swimming at the age of 57. Had a great experience with the beginner class and it took away my fear of water. Then I took the strokes class with JIm. He definitely is not for teaching an adult how to swim. It was a horrible experience. At some point, he said my legs have negative energy. I paid the money for 2 classes and I am not going back tomorrow. If you know how to swim, he is possibly a great coach to perfect your skills. But definitely not for someone who is trying to get back in shape and learn swimming after fighting cancer. read more

JMSS has been amazing! We have been taking classes since my little one was three months starting off in the FREE baby basics class which got her comfortable in the water and having water over her head. Now she is nine months and in cuddle fish 1 and able to hold her breath under water! The instructors there are super sweet and friendly. The facility is always kept clean. I would definitely recommend JMSS to any parent. read more

We love it here! The technical instruction for the older children is spot on, and the welcoming kind-but-firm instruction for younger kids is exactly what my son needed! Highly recommend. read more

My three year old started lessons here 1 year ago. He is swimming on his own now and now starting to learn basic strokes. We have been nothing but impressed with Jim Montgomery Swim School. Since starting back after Covid-19, we picked back up with private lessons. They've done a wonderful job with safety precautions. They check temperatures upon entering, wear masks, have a seperate entrance and exit, have required only one adult to come in with the child, moved chairs apart in waiting area and they are constantly cleaning. Jim Montgomery has been there most days and is always asking how everyone is doing. We love this place. read more

Great school. Best place to get your kids to learn swimming especially if you are serious about them competing.

My son has attended JMSS for a while now! He is SO confident in the water now, they're always attentive, fun, clean and supportive! They encourage him to keep going and I seriously can't believe how he used to fear water and now he's a fish! Mr. Montgomery is there every single time I've been there to take my son to his lesson - and he always says hi to parents, the kids the familiar with him and every summer he comes in and reminds parents about water safety. He's a passionate and it shows! You don't see many owners at their own business and it's so wonderful that he's a very familiar face! Thank you JMSS! read more

JMSS is the bomb. Our kids love to learn to swim there as the instructors are awesome. They are patient with our 2 year old and 3 year old kiddos. The facility is clean and the staff is world class. The owners are great folks with a very patient approach to introducing our little turkeys to the water. Our kids love swimming now thanks to JMSS. read more

I had a bad experience with this folks when I wanted to register, I gave them a second chance and dropped in 2 classes with my 6 month girlie and it was fantastic, the instructors are real nice and loveable, the location is clean and organized more than the other swimming schools, and most important my baby enjoyed every single second. read more

We've been at JMSS for 2 years and couldn't sing its praises more! Amazingly organized program with a great staff, so nice and personable. The facility is clean and well maintained. My son's have improved so much since coming here! read more

We've been taking lessons for our 14 month old and so far we love it. The staff is friendly, the classes available are for all levels and they in a very convenient location. I only wish we would have started his lessons even sooner! read more

My son has been taking lessons here for 3 months. He enjoys the classes and the teacher. I like the low teacher to student ratios - he doesn't sit on the side of the pool watching - he is constantly moving. The facility is new and clean. I feel like it's a neighborhood secret, but as the classes get more full I'm sure more people are finding out! read more

We love this place. Instructors are great, price is reasonable, schedule is flexible, facility is clean and my daughter has made great progress in 2 months. read more

Update: I'm glad the school is doing well. However, it has become increasingly difficult to schedule make-ups if you miss class. I hope management finds a way to open more classes to allow for people being out of town or kids being ill etc. Our experience in North Dallas having tried 5 different Swim school options: 1. Aquatots had great facilities in Carrollton & Richardson but surprisingly high teacher turnover. We went when Aquatots was new in both locations. Issues might be resolved by now. We also thought Elmer's birthday package was better than Aquatots. 2. Emler Plano had excellent teachers but surprisingly poor front office process & regular overcrowding in the facility. Emler Preston Forest is a good birthday party location but we had some odd experiences there too with client service. I'm guessing based on limited observation that their class scheduling software is clunky to use - it was always hard to find availability in classes that were at the same time but at two different levels (for siblings). They may have fixed the issues by now. 3. Baylor Dallas aqua classes was pretty affordable, they have a nicely heated big pool which is fantastic for the winter, and great teachers, but when we last looked years ago there were not many options beyond baby classes & you have to drive all the way downtown and then east... so we found private classes, then aquatots, and emler. 4. Unfortunately private baby "drown-proofing" classes were a traumatizing experience with a too-harsh teacher match for my sensitive child, and the classes were a struggle with scheduling - working parents will find it hard to go daily for 10min lessons... there's a lot of prep & child logistics to capture those 10min of swimming, plus the lessons were private and therefore more expensive probably than they needed to be to achieve the same effect in group class. 5. Soooooo... Jim Montgomery has the best of all worlds: strong teachers, enough space in the clean & well-designed facility, great location for us with plenty of parking (and bonus points, near healthy food options, a new pet store, and Trader Joe's if you need to run errands), lots of schedule options including scheduling both kids at the same time but at different levels, the pool is kept at a reasonable temperature (deeper pool of the 2 is a little cold though, sometimes kids complain as they go from "starter skills" pool to more challenging levels in the other pool), there's a great front office that will patiently work with you to schedule make-up classes, they offer reasonable pricing for the quality and they will pro-rate if they're closed for a holiday. Basically, they are well-managed and attentive to details. The only things I've noticed that could improve the 99% good experience are: a. Add a drinking water fountain & b. Make the post-lesson showers warmer & easier for parents to turn on without getting sprayed. The owner, Jim Montgomery himself, is hands-on and encouraged folks to write reviews, but he also welcomes feedback including if there's something not working smoothly for you. As much as we liked the staff at other places, Jim Montgomery Swim school has consistently offered us the best value experience. Hope he expands to cover more of the metroplex. Hope you found this review helpful & happy swimming! read more

My two year old and four year old take lessons here and we love it. The teachers are wonderful and know what they're doing. The kids advance after learning certain skills instead of being tied to a specific class for a set number of weeks. There is a swim team to join if my kids want to when they're ready. The pool, viewing area, and locker rooms are clean an in excellent condition and it is a calm environment. We did Emler before this opened and it was always the most chaotic, stressful experience of the week. This is nothing like that and I can't recommend it enough. read more

JMSS is hands down the best instructional swimming program that we have been a part of. The facility is top notch and extremely clean which makes it comfortably possible for your children or infants to rinse off, have mom or dad change them into dry clothes in a private changing room or on changing tables and move on to the next errand or event. From the top down including Jim (who is always there!), everyone is extremely welcoming and patient with the learning process when it comes to kids learning to swim. The front desk staff is also very accommodating to schedules and will work with you in order to conduct lessons around a time that works your you and your family. Our 3 year old started as a flounder having no formal swimming education and within 4-5 sessions he was able to dive in the pool from a seated position and find his way back to the wall and climb out of the pool! This was just one of the things he learned but by far the most important to us as parents. He is now moving onto the Sea Horse Class! Achievements are celebrated as well with ribbons and well deserved applause! JMSS is different from the other more well known programs out there! If you are interested in a true 30 minutes of swimming, a 1:3 at most student to teacher ratio, cleanest facility in town and a staff that understands the importance of a positive customer experience...You need to call JMSS. Jim had mentioned this past weekend that they are about to hit the 500 swimmer mark - congrats to all at JMSS - you guys rock! read more

This place is great! They bent over backwards to accommodate my family. They are kind and welcoming. Not to mention what great swim instructors they have on staff. read more

I'm beyond impressed and so happy with this swim school. The progress is amazing and very much unlike other schools. Staff is amazing.

I started the Fear of Water class for adults this month. I absolutely love it. Prior to the class, I was afraid to put my head under the water and terrified of the thought of doing anything other than standing in less than 3 feet of water. As of this week, I'm much more comfortable. I have learned how to breathe in the water and how to float without panicking. I was able to work at my own pace without feeling pressure because others were advancing quicker. The staff is very friendly and the facility is extremely clean. Thanks Donna and Barbie for your assistance, patience, and making swimming fun. I highly recommend Jim Montgomery Swim School. read more

What a find! Jim and his staff are wonderful! They are super accommodating, family-friendly, and most importantly, know more about swimming than anywhere else we've been. I have been amazed at the progress we've seen in just a couple of months. Absolutely recommend! read more

World class comfortable environment. Jim and super friendly staff understand that gaining confidence is a individual process helping to find ones own comfort level. Lots of individual attention even in group lessons. Highly recommended. William Smith read more

We started here a few months ago with out 2 year old and she has learned so much. She loves to come every Saturday and I love that its a safe, fun environment for kids to learn. read more

My 2 sons attend classes at Jim Montgomery Swim School. We have had them enrolled at two other schools and liked the others, but Jim Montgomery has gone above and beyond. Both sons have told me this is their favorite place to swim with my oldest saying multiple times that swim class is now his favorite time of the week. Do not hesitate, this is an excellent swim school! All classes receive significant individual attention from the instructors and in just a month of classes I see a marked increase in my sons' confidence in the water. read more

Excellent school, clean , organized and most importantly my son made a lot of progress very quickly even when he had swim lessons included at his school ( JCC dallas) and was barely able to even float , let alone swim a few feet when he started at the JMSS. read more

Jim Montgomery and his staff of swim coaches are fantastic. They got my daughter swimming freestyle & backstroke in a few short lessons& Coach Chris got her to wear goggles the first lesson. Whitney read more