When I first moved to Garland from California, I knew I wanted to enroll my son in a Montessori school. I'd researched the philosophy about empowering children with the tools of self control to gain independence through successfully completing life and academic works that are challenging, but not overwhelming to a child's abilities. I visited two schools in Garland, both great in their dedication to the Montessori practice, but with separate "character." I selected Lake Cities because I felt the organic, creative and sympathetic nature of the staff would better meet my son's free-spirit personality, especially as he was going through the separation of his family and getting used to an entirely new environment. I am so glad to have Lake Cities as my son's school. The Director (Dr. Adibi) and head teacher (Ms. Mary) are amazingly intuitive to the children's behaviors and what outside influences may be causing those behaviors. They are communicative about how they discipline and are open to parents sharing our observations on our children's interactions with the other children and staff. The school goes out of its way to teach parents about Montessori practice and keep parents abreast of their children's progress, through parent instruction nights, bi-annual observation and progress reports, and weekly sending home the student's works. I also appreciate the extra-curricular activities, such as choir and art instruction, stretch and grow exercise program and dance classes. My son is 5 years old now. At four, with Lake Cities' literacy teacher and curriculum, he had mastered letter recognition and had begun sound association to those letters, naturally leading to sounding out 3-letter words. He is now reading basic sentences in our easy reader books. All before Kindergarten. Another bonus, the school is a veritable United Nations in its diversity, with the children learning an appreciation for each other's cultures through Parent Culture Days to the benefit of seeing each other as equals, peers and playmates. Learning it is not the skin color, religion or language that may separate them, but their willingness to overcome squabbles about toys, engage in play or support and encourage each other in completing their tasks. The Lake Cities' culture is respectful of the children's individual personalities while instructive on teaching the students to think, to reflect, and then to act. The only thing that I could wish for the school is that it could provide instruction through the 5th grade, as I would happily keep my son with them through the elementary years. However, their smaller environment allows for the staff to provide a lot of 1:1 attention and they have prepared all their students to be successful in whatever elementary school the students graduate into. read more

I am the mother of an ADHD boy who has been enrolled at Lakeside Montessori for just over a year. I am the mother of 4 children in all, with this being the youngest. All four were enrolled in different Montessori schools for pre-kindergarten programs. All four of my children are blessed with ADD, which tends to be a huge problem for most teachers, but not here. Dr. Adibi and Mrs. Mary have transformed a once hyperactive four year old child into one that can sit and learn, while staying better focused on learning. My son doesn't need medication, just patience. He loves to get to school and jumps out of the car to see his friends. The difference one can find in a Montessori school is the same as in anything. There are good ones and bad ones and it's hard to navigate which one you should try out. The difference between this one and other ones we have used the past years is astronomical. With children 1 & 2 we sought out the best money could buy. We thought our oldest son at 5 could read, but were saddened to learn he didn't even know his alphabet correctly. We child #3 we paid good money for a different one which ended up basically being a high priced day care with some Montessori influence. What we have received at Lakesides Montessori with child #4 doesn't even compare to the others. Here it is calm learning environment, nothing like a day care, but more like a library. I laugh sometimes when I enter that you would never know there were children there if you didn't see them. The children are all interested in learning, reading and working on their assignments. Sure they have fun when it is time to have fun, but they are the best children when it is learning time. I have never paid for kindergarten for a child before, but with that said I have never had a five year old reading at a 2nd grade level either! What they have done for my son in the past few months has transformed him from learning his basic A, B, C's, to reading three and four syllable words, from counting 1-20, to now he is doing 4 place addition and some multiplication. I know this isn't typical behavior for a five year old, trust me I know. I've already done this three times before. What they have done for my little one is amazing and I think more people should know what a small school like this one has to offer. Small classrooms, lots of teachers, and loads and loads of one on one attention. They are paying attention to the small details, like writing and sounding out every syllable. In a regular public school he would just be getting herded through with the other 20 to 30 kids in his class. There is really a gem here in Garland with this small family owned school. read more

My 4 years old boy Andre has attended the Lake Cities Montessori School in Garland just about three months ago. Such a coincident that the job opportunity I was waiting for finally has come through and we decided to pull out our son from Lake Cities and prepare ourselves to move to California by the end of this month. However, my family just started missing Lake Cities Montessori. My wife, who is a kindergarten teacher, and I are a little worried about our son concerning this transition to a new Montessori School in California. As a salesman I am a believer in "word of mouth." Last year one of my clients, who is a physician, talked about Lake Cities Montessori and said how much they enjoyed having their children there for 2.5 years and that he was just relatively ok with the new school for his children in Irving. Lake Cities School doesn't have a huge building which may inspire some people, but instead it has a cozy setting, always clean and neat with a warm Montessori environment that fulfills your need as a parents. Teachers and administration staff are watchful about children and as a result children are cheerful and happy. This has been our family's observation during the past couple of months and we found it a lovely place for children and serious about Montessori education. I love to share one important thing which is very unique about this school is that, it has several big events throughout a year where all parents are invited together. We were lucky to attend the latest Christmas party by children on the auditorium stage and it was an amazing performance. At that time I also talked to some of the parents about the school and they were real happy. I, myself, was an eyewitness that Ms. Mary and Dr. Adibi were ready to go through a milestone for a case to help a parent. It was very important to my wife and me. So, I can tell you, all staff in this school work hard to provide a loving and nurturing environment to all children which gives you a piece of mind when you are out. And whenever you are in to pick up your child from school you will see a big smile on your child's face. Who could ask for more?! Adam & Carmen, Dallas, TX read more

Lake Cities Montessori has been an answer to our payers! Our son started when he was just over 2 years old and has been going part-time for almost a year now. We are so pleased with the progress he has made academically, socially, and personally. This school provides a great balance of Montessori work, free play for the children (so important!) and fun learning experiences outside of their normal classroom work. Our little boy comes home singing new songs, describing things in the most incredible manner "that is dark blue" or "the thick one, not the thin one", and has learned his numbers and letters much faster than he would have from mom. His independence has skyrocketed and he loves to help around the house and with his own things. His teachers work wonders! When our son suddenly started to experience separation anxiety, Dr. Adibi and Ms. Mary were incredibly attentive to my concerns and my sweet boy. They relayed our concerns to all of the teachers, and continue to facilitate easy drop off. There is nothing like receiving a handwritten note from the school's director, in collaboration for your child's care. As a pediatric occupational therapist, I know how important it is to assist children in developing their whole selves. Lake Cities Montessori teaches these precious children the skills they need to grow into responsible, caring adults. The Montessori approach combined with the teachers' love of children at LCM makes this happen on a daily basis. I absolutely love that they reach my child on his level, and carefully and lovingly guide him to higher education. We are so thankful to have found this school! read more

As parents of four, we have high expectations of anyone who is to care for and teach our children. Mrs. Mary, her husband Dr. Adibi and their team have exceeded those expectations with our youngest son. My children have attened other Montessori's (in DC & Boston) and I have to say that Lake Cities Montessori is by far the best in the sense of providing the highest quality of preschool education. The best "investment" we've made is towards our son's future through the education and life skills our son has learned at Lake Cities Montessori and recommend this school wholeheartedly! We wanted a Montessori where our son felt safe (and we felt safe to leave him for the day), where the teachers' nurture and patiently guide each child, a place that would create a foundation for our child to have a love for learning. In just six months we've seen a dramatic difference in our son and the wealth of knowledge he's gained. It's absolutely amazing! This wouldn't of happened without the tireless work of Mrs. Mary, the other teachers & Dr. Adibi who have a true passion and dedication for what they do. The nurturing environment at Lake Cities Montessori fosters independent thinking, practical life skills, encourages exploration, provides top-notch academics and a natural desire to learn. I cannot say enough nice things about this school. It has been nothing but a positive influence for my child. Thank you Mrs. Mary, Dr. Adibi and team for the amount of time and care you put into each and every child. You truly are a blessing! read more

My wife and I recently (and happily!) moved to Rowlett from Dallas, where our two boys (3 and 4 years old) had been attending a wonderful Montessori school (St. Christopher's; see review) since they were... well, even littler! :D We spent a long time researching & visiting schools in the Rowlett/Rockwall/Mesquite/Garland area (I even spent a few months commuting to Dallas in order to avoid enrolling them somewhere we didn't believe in) before choosing Lake Cities Montessori, and I'm thrilled to say that our whole family has been very happy with our decision. At the risk of sounding snobby, my wife & I are used to placing the boys in schools with a high level of education, care, and diversity, and I think Lake Cities delivers very well on all fronts. I love the emphases that the school places on art, music, writing, and language, and the staff has always been exceedingly kind & welcoming to us. Our kids seem to really enjoy their classes and friends, and we have seen them progress (as humans!) in a number of areas. In a perfect world, the boys would have access to healthier (organic, if we're talking really perfect :D ) food for lunch, but that's a nitpick that hardly registers on our minds, given our overall satisfaction with the school. Life in Rowlett has been a wonderful revelation for our family, and Lake Cities Montessori is a very big part of that. I'm incredibly thankful. :) read more

"One good question is...What makes a Montessori School a great school? The awards that the school received in years speaks for it! The teachers are the best of the best, extremely dedicated in their chosen profession. The quality of the education and the method is excellent. Without a doubt, it is the dedicated professional caring teachers who genuinely like children that make the distinction of quality and greatness. Lake Cities Montessori has a welcome, family friendly atmosphere with all kinds of activities to involve anyone willing to give their time and talents This is their second home! Also along with all of these unique qualities of Lake Cities, the tuition free is very affordable compare to others because they are willing to work with you. Beside, when time comes that a parent needs more individual assistance, this school never hesitates to provide it for you. I myself practically saw that flexibility last year for the whole year. I would highly recommend this school. Just go, visit and take a look at the place. If you are looking for school where your child will get respect, education and experiences that is a good foundation then this is the right place to be. They know their job very well and you can have a peace of mind and complete assurance that child is in good hands when enrolling your child at Lake Cities Montessori School! read more

Lake Cities Montessori is a great place to send young children! Our 6 year old has been going here for over a year now and we are amazed at what he has learned! The Montessori way of teaching children is very unique and I think should be the standard for all schools. They teach kids at their own pace, not as an entire class. This lets each child work at their own pace and cover all the same material as others. This makes a huge difference compared to our past experience with our oldest son. Our youngest has excelled rapidly in this Montessori setting. I only wish we had this knowledge the first time around with our oldest. From our experiences, I highly recommend sending young children to a Montessori over a standard daycare or pre-school center, they get so much more out of it and get real education. The staff at Lakes Cities is the best and not only do they teach the kids academically, they teach them how to behave and to be respectful, and to be good listeners. They just put on a holiday program and it was amazing to see such a large group of young children being able to sing so many songs from memory and behaving so well at the same time! GREAT JOB Lake Cities staff!!! Lake Cities Montessori School is an A++! If you are looking for a great daycare or pre-school for young kids, check them out, you won't be sorry! read more

I honestly cannot say how wonderful this establishment was for both my son (3 years old) and I. They will always great you with a smile, they treat your children with respect and make sure that they are learning every single day. Unfortunately, due to extenuating circumstances, I am having to take my son out of school for right now, but I will certainly be in touch with Dr Adibi and Ms Mary (the amazing couple who run the Montessori School.) They treated us like family and I can never repay them for all that they taught my son. I watched him blossom into a little man in the year that he was here, and I know that his intellect benefited enormously from Lake Cities care and the Montessori Method. Ms Nina was so kind to him and works so well with the little ones, I am astounded by her patience. All of the staff greet both my son and I by name, and tell me how well my son did that day. I also get a daily report on how he ate, his nap time, and potty details. Speaking of potty, they also helped make potty training that much easier for my son! Lake Cities Montessori will work with you on price, how you need to pay, and are very understanding to everyone's personal lives. I hope that whoever is considering them will take this post to heart. They are truly an amazing place for your children to be. Heather read more

Our son started pre-k school a little late, and he did not like school at all. Instead he wanted to stay at home and play with his granny. He faced many difficulties and challenges in his early days, and that effected not only as his parents, but his teachers as well... Even though Krishang received individual care at school he was still having a hard time adjusting, but Ms. Mary, and Dr. Adibi at Lake Cities are awesome. With their guidance, caring, advice, especially patience and tolerance Krishang started to love school. He found everything in Montessori what he was missing at home. We are very pleased the way school handled the situation by keeping my wife or myself aware every day of what is going on at school. Lake Cities Montessori not only concentrated on curriculum, but they are into many extra-curriculum activities as well. We could see lots of improvements in our son's communication, knowledge level, interaction, and personal developments just within the past 8 months and now he is a reader, all because of the method of teaching at this Montessori School. Now realizing our son is finally in the right place. Feeling proud of Lake Cities Montessori and our son starting school with a bright future. ...We love it...:) read more

I am the father of a very "lively" and intelligent five year old boy who had been enrolled at Lakeside Montessori for almost two years. I describe my son as "lively" because he can be a bit on the hyperactive side of life and this was a concern for his mother and I when we conducted our search for a effective beginning to his education. Upon meeting Dr. Adibi and the wonderful Mrs. Mary, our search immediately ended right then and there! They are most courteous and professional with the utmost in integrity!. The greatest attention was given to my son's short attention span and very quickly, he adapted to the Montessori environment with the most satisfying accomplishment being for himself and we, his parents.... the very important skill of READING!. Dr. And Mrs. Mary coordinated their efforts together with the fine staff to enable my son to progress to our delight and to HIS excitement!. I could scarcely imagine a more satisfying and secure setting than Lakeside Montessori provides for the youth of tomorrow! Sincerely, George Lyons! read more

Where do i begin? Lake Cities Montessori is the best Early childhood private school in the Garland/Rockwall/Rowlett area! Sirius and Solana are my children and they have been attending for about 1 year now. So many new things have been offered like the music classes,art class, they are learning Spanish, French and German thanks to Mrs. Sheryl! When your 4 and 7 year old come home raving about artists like Claude Monet, Matisse and Kandinsky its exciting to know they are constantly being exposed to something new daily. Dr. Adibi, Mrs. Mary and the staff at Lake Cities are truly considered my family. I've entrusted the most important people in my world to them and without any regret! They genuinely care about your children and have dedicated themselves to provide your child with the most safe nurturing Montessori environment. I sing its praises to friends, neighbors! This is to thank you Lake Cities Montessori for an EXCELLENT school year and for assisting in the development of my beautiful children! Lastly this is a great school for anyone who is interested! I promise you will love it read more

Lake Cities Montessori School has been an amazing experience for my 6yr old son. He has attended for the past 3 years. I have been so impressed with Ms. Mary and the staff for their true dedication to fostering my child's love of learning. As a Montessori family we know the importance of the Montessori philosophy. When researching different Montessori schools we found that finding a classical Montessori environment was quite difficult. Lake Cities has been able to take the educational style that Maria Montessori so lovingly created and blend it seamlessly with a modern approach. This has allowed our son to be able to transition into a more traditional environment when the time came. I am so thankful to have found this school and we will always look back at our time with the fondest of memories. read more

Hi Dr. Adibi and Mrs. Mary We want to just THANK YOU! Lake Cities has been a blessing to our family and to our son. He received an excellent education there and We are grateful for the directors and the teachers. We also wanted to let you know that because of the phenomenal education you provided, our son was able to test early, into an advanced kindergarten class, instead of having to wait until he turned five. We appreciate all you have done. Because of how advanced our son is, and because we speak highly of Lake Cities, some family friends have enrolled their child there and we have another set of friends who will be visiting to see if Lake Cities will fit for their child. Thanks again for everything! Best Wishes, The Chandlers read more

My son, Angel, has been attending Lake Cities since he was 18 months old. He has been very well taken care of by Dr. Adibi and the staff. Angel loves the school, the staff, and "his" kids. He calls all the children "his kids" and is very protective of the smaller children. Angel is now 5 years old and will be leaving Lake Cities as of May 30, 2014. He will miss them, but he is ready to move on to "big kid" school. Mrs. Mary is really sweet and he has learned quite a bit in the 4 years he has been at Lake Cities. Their summer program is really amazing as well. read more

We took our son when he was 3 years old for the first time. Dr. Adibi and Ms. Mary immediately showed us around the school and explained the Montessori method. Our son has done so well there and has been there over a year. My son is always happy when I pick him up and has made so many friends at school. We are having another baby in June and she will begin her school career in the baby room at school with her brother :) read more

After a horrible experience with another Pre-School for our at that time, 3 year old. We tried Lake Cities Montessori School and our prayers were answered. After a short time and I'm sure a lot of patients, our daughter is beginning to blossem and actually enjoys going there. They have been a blessing to our family. The staff is always courteous and enjoys seeing our daughter grow as a person. read more

Because of the phenomenal education they provided, my four yr old was able to test, into an advanced kindergarten class, instead of having to wait until he turned five. The owners are caring and your kids development and academic achievement are of their utmost importance. I would entrust my child to them, all over again, if we had more. : ) read more