After 2.5 years at Ladybird Montessori, it's clear that the "perfect" farm image hides a chaotic…read morereality. The school prioritizes enrollment numbers over child safety and quality education. We experienced extreme instability, with at least 10 teacher turnovers in our classroom alone. Without lead teachers, the environment lacked structure, leading to incidents of teacher's yelling and writing up excessive incident reports. Major Safety & Management Red Flags: * Severe Negligence: My child was left outside alone and was banging on the door to come back in (documented with the state) and was left in a bathroom with an unauthorized adult without staff realizing she had left her group. * Unstructured Aftercare: Most incidents occurred during the 60-kid aftercare "nightmare," which lacks any meaningful supervision. * Financial Gatekeeping: The school often holds children back in YCC (Toddler) longer than necessary just to collect higher fees, regardless of whether the child has mastered the curriculum. * Exclusionary Practices: Extracurriculars like soccer are restricted by age (4+), effectively excluding half of the mixed-age Children's House (2.5-6) classrooms. * Retaliation: Be prepared for your child's hours to be cut to half-days as a way to slowly push you out. Communication is a "secret" here; I never received enough communication or updates on my child's progress. Enough was enough. If you raise any concerns, the director deflects blame onto the child. Please check the state's licensing website for their violation history. Your child deserves a safe, attentive environment--not just to be a number in a crowded room. Disabling Google reviews to limit transparency is a clear indicator of the issues present here.

I am sharing our experience to alert parents who choose Ladybird Montessori School (LMS)…read morespecifically for its AMS "Verified" status and its promise of a high-fidelity Montessori environment. The school markets itself as a development partner. However, our experience revealed a systemic failure. They did not follow basic Montessori principles when faced with a child's natural developmental whirlwind. 1. Interaction with Administration: A Failure to Lead. My interactions with the administration were consistently dismissive and lacked the pedagogical depth one expects from a Montessori leader. The Director utilized administrative pressure to silence concerns. pick-up incidents occurred, I was met with visible frustration rather than a collaborative, "connected" approach. It became clear that the administration prioritizes its own convenience and "harmonious" image over the actual hard work of supporting a child. 2. Inability to Handle High-Energy Children. This school is fundamentally equipped only for children who are "perfect" or passive. If your child has high energy, curiosity, or a "whirlwind" personality, LMS will likely label them a safety liability rather than a student. Despite Montessori literature stating that high-energy toddlers often need "heavy work" or movement outlets to regulate, this school treated my son's natural physical drive as a critical safety "impasse". They simply do not have the patience or the staffing expertise to handle children who don't fit into a quiet, compliant box. For parents considering any Montessori program, I strongly recommend taking a close look at how the school accommodates children with different temperaments. During a tour, observe whether classrooms offer movement opportunities or "heavy work" materials for children who benefit from physical activity. Ask staff how they support children who are active or struggle to remain still, and what strategies are in place for channeling high energy in a positive direction. Look for evidence of patience, flexibility, and an individualized approach, not just for compliance or calm. By being proactive in your questions, you can determine whether the environment will truly support your child's natural development. 3. Lack of Developmental Expertise The school consistently mislabeled age-appropriate milestones as behavioral "red flags." Most notably, my three-year-old son's natural development of oral-motor skills--commonly known as "raspberrying"--was documented as "spitting" in multiple incident reports. It was only after we clarified this developmental milestone that the school's documentation began to shift. Discouraging a child during a peak phase of speech development is a direct contradiction of the principle of "following the child". 4. Non-Montessori Disciplinary Practices Despite claiming to follow the AMS 5 Core Components, the school used interventions that are fundamentally non-Montessori. My son was removed to an administrative office to "sit and take breaths" while being lectured. This practice ignores Montessori guidance on toddler development. Authentic practice requires classroom-based "Grace and Courtesy" lessons and a prepared environment with "heavy work" for high-energy children. LMS chose administrative isolation over pedagogical support. 5. Dismissal Instead of Partnership When we formally requested the school realign its practices with AMS standards, the Director responded by immediately terminating our enrollment. This pattern of "quick dismissal" is echoed by other parents who report their children being asked to leave for behaviors like separation anxiety, without any attempt at modification. 6. Concerns Regarding Qualifications Public testimony from former staff members suggests that the "Lead Guides" at this school may not all hold the years of in-person training and practicum required for high-fidelity Montessori, with reports of "hiring off the street" and relying on online courses. This would explain the staff's inability to differentiate between developmental milestones and behavioral issues. How to Verify These Patterns: I encourage any parent considering this school to read the employee reviews on Glassdoor and Indeed, as well as the 1-star parent reviews on Yelp. You will see a consistent pattern of administrative dismissal and allegations of unqualified staff that mirrors our experience exactly. Furthermore, parents should check the Kyle/Buda community boards on Facebook, where numerous other families have expressed similar concerns about LMS. Finally, you can verify on the AMS School Locator (amshq.org) that while they are a "Verified" member, they have NOT attained full Accreditation. Conclusion: If your child is "perfect" or already accustomed to a school setting, LMS may suffice. However, if your child exhibits the "tricky behaviors" typical of a three-year-old such as darting, physical play, or vocal exploration, thi

100000 stars!! There aren't enough words to say how AMAZING this school is!!! Athena is a special,…read moremagical gem and we feel so absolutely lucky to have found it. The teachers and the atmosphere just radiate peace and positivity. The quality of education is incredible. My son turned 5 yesterday and is already about to start reading!! The amount of personal attention and care each student receives is incredible. My second child is about to "walk through the gates of life" this May and head to kindergarten.. I am honestly heartbroken to not go there everyday anymore lol! We have had a child there for the past 5 years and if I could keep them there forever, I would! We have had the honor to get to know Ms. Alex, Ms. Jazmin and Ms. Morgan over the years and these women are absolutely INCREDIBLE! They have huge hearts and really LOVE what they do, and it shows!! They have a magic way of connecting, communicating and relating to the kids. We are so THANKFUL for the values and knowledge they have bestowed in our children that will shape who they become forever!! We love each of you so much!! My kids made me promise to always take them back to say hello as they grow...that speaks volumes in my book. Athena is a purely magical place!

We have been blown away by our experience with Athena. The support and caring from the staff has…read morebeen amazing. Our son has flourished at the school. The growth from August until now has been exponential on all fronts. He is more independent, communicating more and becoming a member of his classroom community. The other parents as well have created a lovely community and support system as well. My husband and I didn't realize just how lucky we were to get a spot in the school!

My experience at Parkside was challenging. The admin was changing over and there was little…read morecommunication, and more than a bit of aggressive interactions with admin. We had a new teacher who was enthusiastic when the students were perfect, and utterly overwhelmed and clueless when the students had challenges. My son has ADHD, and despite telling me they has experience with 2E kids, the teacher thought my son had severe emotional problems when my son would self sooth by going in a corner to be alone for a bit. They also did not communicate in any way the depth of the problems my son was having in school. I finally realized the extent of his issues when I began attending daily to see for myself. They were often rude and childish in response to issues or complaints. They had a history of keeping teachers even after multiple complaints of abusive behavior. Their insistence on parent interaction was amazing, and the singalongs were fabu. But it doesn't make up for the severely subpar teaching, the reusing of the same curriculum every year, the nasty admin, and the overall confusion of vision with a high price tag. Do not recommend this school beyond kindergarten at all!

Our daughter is three and a half, and she just finished her first year of preschool (Primary) at…read moreParkside. We couldn't be more pleased to have her attending this special school. From top to bottom, it's an excellent program with marvelous staff and leadership, and a wonderful community. Some of things we love most about Parkside: it's uniquely and authentically Montessori, which was important to us when we were looking at schools. The teachers (called guides) are loving, creative, and thorough in their teaching methods. We were blown away when barely a month in, our daughter came home singing about all the continents of the world! The 12-acre campus is beautiful and well maintained. The kids get lots of outdoor time and often take hikes together as a class. They learn to value and sing about nature, including our new favorite song, "Chlorophyll" written by the founders. Music is a big part of Parkside life, and at least 1-2 events a week are organized around it (parents are invited to participate as well). We've enjoyed all the opportunities for families to get involved at Parkside and we've made some great friends already. Even through the craziness of the pandemic, Parkside staff led the way with through health protocols and regular communication with Austin Public Health to keep the kids safe and allow school to continue. In short, we've found Parkside to be an amazing, friendly, beautiful place that is nurturing our daughter to her full potential. We highly recommend it!

We are so lucky that we discovered Mariposa when we were first looking at schools five years ago…read more We have had nothing but the greatest experience that you could ask for in a place to educate your children. Both of our daughters have been through the school, from the Nido Community (infants) to the Young Children's Community (2-3 year olds), and continuing through the Children's house (3-6 year olds). Our favorite teachers are basically like family at this point, from Miss Kristen, to Miss Virginia, and Miss Jennifer and Miss Meryze. They have been so instrumental in the upbringing of our girls and we couldn't have asked for a better school.

Not a cheap school which isn't the issue. The issue is paying so much for Montessori education and…read morethe school is not even credited for it. They lost their licensing two years in a row and are scrambling to try and get it back. All the teachers are burnt out and the head of school is very out of touch with reality and is playing a role she cannot live up to. This school is all about optics and money.

I cannot even begin to tell you how grateful I am to have my son attend this treasure of a school…read more He has been in the primary class for almost a year and a half now and has thrived so much in that short amount of time. Mrs. Zea is not only an amazing, nurturing educator, she's an amazing human being! She puts your child first above all else. She has created a beautiful environment for children to learn, play, and grow. Not only will your child receive a quality education, the tuition cost is very affordable. Mrs. Zea prides herself on making it a low cost so that more families can attend. Everyone says the best thing about Lockhart is it's bbq, but I say it's their Montessori school!

I have mixed feelings about LMS. My daughter did well there. She went a little later and knew her…read moreabc's and some other things. My son started earlier and when he started public kindergarten he was seriously behind. I brought these concerns up along with his speech up and was dismissed and told to talk to the custodial parent. I feel they did a disservice to my son.

As a parent at HCMS I can confidently say that they have earned these five stars. To be fair my…read moretwo kids have never attended any other school, but to be doubly fair there has been no reason for them to. I've had one kiddo on the campus from age 4 until now (age 10), and my littlest one started this last spring (age 4). HCMS has a very strong familial environment that I honestly don't think I could find elsewhere. I know that they are happy and safe and learning in an environment that teaches more than just standard curriculum, but also an entire method of learning that never ceases to astound me. There are so many positive attributes I could list, but it's even easier to just go take a tour of the campus. Plus there is no description of the atmosphere that I could ever come up with to do the school justice. But If I had to pick just one thing about HCMS to relate to other parents who are looking for the right fit for their kids, it is that you are always welcome on campus. Seriously, like always. That was a big deal for an overbearing mother who wasn't ready to let go :) Instead of crying in the parking lot I was welcomed to cry on campus, in the office, in the classroom, heck I've shed a few tears in their goat habitat. You are welcome to observe the classes (all levels), and not only are you allowed to hang out but it's encouraged. Okay crap just one more thing that I want to mention is that the Montessori Method is really into having the students help each other, it's structured so that the older ones even give lessons to the younger ones. It's my impression that most of the parents of the school did not receive Montessori education themselves, but you would never know it. There is a great sense of comradery between the parents with each other as well as with the the eclectic group of teachers and staff. Many of the teachers and staff have students at the school as well. Shouldn't that be a pretty good indicator of a great place to drop your kids off every day? Now to business.....do I get a free appetizer if I 'check-in?'

This school is wonderful. It is the only certified Montessori School in South Central Texas. My…read morechild has been going here since they were 18 months old and will be graduating 8th grade soon. The teachers are all amazing. Each classroom has a certified Montessori teacher to guide the children to find their love of learning and direct them through the curriculum at their own paces. The classrooms encourage collaboration between the students of different levels and the respect the teachers have for the children shows them how to treat each other. I am constantly impressed by all the students here.

Our daughter went here for 4 years and it was the best experience! The staff is wonderful and there…read morewas very little turn over. Most of the teachers and directors were there from the day she started. She loved going to school and came out more than prepared for Kinder. She made friends, learned to be independent and you can tell that the teachers and directors really love what they do. I would give a million stars if I could!

I would give Young Minds Montessori 10 stars if I could. Our daughter has attended for 2 years now…read moreand we have been thoroughly impressed with both the Toddler classes and Primary classes. Everyone is so welcoming and they truly truly care about each child as an individual and supporting them across all domains (intellectual, social, emotional, etc). They have the best office staff/program directors/owner who are all so involved with the kids on a daily basis and make you feel like family :) Without fail, my daughter is always so happy after spending a day at her school. They make great effort to provide a variety of extracurricular opportunities for the students which is so helpful for the kids to do their extracurricular lessons during the school day. I'm so grateful we found Young Minds to lay the foundation for our kids' early learning experiences. As a fellow educator, I can confidently say we hit the jackpot with Young Minds

After a few years in one of the best-rated public schools in the area, we realized that our…read moredaughter was not thriving in the high structure, high pressure environment that is public education. In an effort to find a schooling alternative that would feed her curiosity and creativity, we embarked on a tour of a handful of private elementary options in the south Austin and Hays County area. Because of the long commute and high financial commitment, Cedars Montessori did not rank high on our preliminary list. During our tour of their beautiful campus, Cedars offered us the opportunity to sit in a classroom and quietly observe our daughter's prospective class. What we experienced was absolutely magical: Three grade levels of children working independently, in partners, and in groups; teachers completely focused on their students; a warm, organized but cozy classroom with seating options to meet every child's needs. If you have ever spent time in a public school classroom, you know that it's usually either silence or chaos. The vibe just felt peaceful and productive. When we took the leap and moved our daughter into Cedars Montessori's Lower Elementary, we were thrilled to watch her love for school blossom. She has lots of opportunities for play and exploration. She's learning valuable skills during wilderness, gardening, and handwork classes. And she's finding an internal motivation toward writing, math, and research projects. We wish this type of learning environment could be available for everyone and feel so immensely privileged to have our child in this program. If you are looking for something different and wonderful, Cedars Montessori is truly an incredible school and a magical place to send your child.

We spent three years here: one in primary and two in lower elementary. We felt so grateful to find…read morethis place our first year. We were very happy with the teacher and the programming, and the school offered many opportunities to build community. At the end of the first year, there was a large change in leadership, and conditions have deteriorated considerably. It became apparent to our family that the administration was no longer acting in the interest of the children. The school is owned and run by a family. It is a for-profit institution with no oversight or accountability. The current leadership's actions indicate the school's purpose is to support themselves and maintain a bizarre class structure for the benefit of the family's children. The nepotism has become so overt that even our young children are expressing examples. Funding favors advertising and recruiting new students over recruiting and retaining qualified staff or providing quality programming. All community-building opportunities have been undermined or dismantled. Parents are shut-out. Communication is abysmal, unprofessional at best. Concerns are gas-lighted. Grownups behave poorly and do not lead by example. There are no benchmarks for academics and children are assessed as behind at other institutions. The teachers withhold recess as punishment. The focus on the outdoors, how much time the children spend outside, the children interacting with animals, how nature is incorporated into the curriculum: it's a facade. Now that we have begun anew at a new school, we remember the excitement and hopefulness that we once had for our children at Cedars before we became habituated to wild disorganization, dysfunction, and dread. Some really amazing families and staff have held on through some very challenging times with memories of what it once was and with hope that things would get better, that our children could still thrive there. Yet the school is rehiring failed staff and even more family. There is now a mass exodus of both students and quality staff, with the realization that our children don't have any more time to waste on selfishness, greed, and gross ineptitude.

Best Montessori School around!…read more Where do I begin? The staff here are some of the sweetest and friendliest people I have ever met. They go above and beyond to involve our children in everything and are so patient with them. My son was in Ms. Jerical's class last year with Ms. Gabi, Ms. Becca, and on e more assistant. He raved about them and spoke about them everyday when he came home. He had nothing but great stories to tell. His younger brother took his spot this year and was beyond thrilled to be a part of the Marimont Montessori family. Ms. Rachel the owner, and her husband, run an amazing, clean business and are also so friendly. They always return our calls and emails right away. They have chickens and other farm animals, the children learn to garden, and there is ample outdoor time, which they believe is so important and so do I. I have so many great things I can't fit them all. Stop looking around and have your children go here, you won't be disappointed and your children will THRIVE! We love everyone here. Thank you so much for helping my children grow and be the best they can be!

This may be the only Yelp review I write with tears in my eyes as I think of our wonderful memories…read moreover the past few years at Marimont. Between two children and a cross-country move, we have experienced more than our share of daycares -- easily a half-dozen over the past decade. This one stands out as being the best by a long shot. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but this facility is a hidden gem. My only regret is that we didn't find it sooner. I think the best way to sum up my feelings is that every time I dropped off my child here, I felt such joy -- joy at seeing the directors Rachel and James running a caring-centered facility, joy at seeing the teachers empathetically interacting with children, joy at seeing the kids working independently at lessons that ranged from feeding farm animals on site, working in the gardens or enjoying a variety of lessons inside the classroom. As opposed to stricter Montessori environments I had experienced, where parents were discouraged from participating, we were welcomed here for monthly poetry recitals, Bubbles & Books and more. I loved the random events that inspired creativity, such as Dress Like a Composer Day or Chordate Day. We also participated in extracurriculars such as cooking class. I knew my child was always cared for and would experience a love of learning at this facility. We couldn't have asked for a better start, and how much I miss it now that this chapter is behind us.