Could not recommend this school enough! It is true Montessori in a loving and safe environment with…read morea wonderful staff as the cherry on top.

The teachers and assistants do a great job of guiding the children. They're ready to provide…read moreassistance and they let the children work on their own. The classrooms are well equipped, clean and organized. Outside there are a variety of spaces; including gardens, wooded areas and play areas. The school is well managed and staffed by a great group of people who make it a second home for my family.

Our child attends here, and if you are at all considering Montessori and this in your area, come…read morehere and meet the owner and staff. I won't preach about Montessori, but will say that Garden of Discovery embodies a lot of the great concepts. They are accredited in the method and have great teachers. 5 stars, plain and simple.

Jasna was my son's teacher in Montessori school for over three years in a primary classroom. She is…read morea wonderful, caring teacher who recognized and nurtured each child's natural strengths. Her calm demeanor and talent for working with young children made her the perfect fit for my son. I am so thankful for all Jasna did to develop his independence, confidence and love of learning.

From the owner: Authentic Montessori for children age 2-6 years old in a home setting.read more

My son has gone to Kingfisher Academy for 6 years. He is bright, but a reluctant learner, yet…read moreexcels there. Every teacher we have had there has been outstanding. They really care about teaching to the child the way they learn best. The small class size allows for each kid to work at his own pace. My son was very excited to be able to start some algebra in the 5th grade. They get recess at local parks and lots of interesting field trips. Even though the school is small the director always strives to have a variety of extra curricular options available. Everyone there goes the extra mile to make sure the kids are getting what they need.

We have had at least one child at Kingfisher Academy for over four years. The school is amazingly…read morewelcoming and positive and fun for children. Each child is treated as an individual and learning programs can be tailored to each child's needs, as the class sizes are intentionally kept small. The kids spend plenty of time outside, where they can play and discover and interact with the world around them, instead of being cooped up inside all day. The teachers make learning exciting and collaborative, focusing on each child as an individual. My older son is flourishing at Kingfisher after a very difficult experience at a Montessori school. He is advanced in some areas and lacking in others, and Debbie and the teachers at Kingfisher have been wonderful about updating us about his progress and working with him and with us to ensure that he gets everything he needs, both academically and emotionally. My younger son is more typical and fits right in as well. Both of my children are happy and excited about getting up in the morning to go to school, and are allowed to be creative and share their enthusiasm for learning. We are completely happy with Kingfisher and will keep sending our children there for as long as we can.

The owner director is very money hungry, the school is constantly closed for teacher days, spring…read morebreak, winter break you name it. They don't understand that you need care for your child at all times during the year for working parents. Kids constantly sick, some of the teachers rarely even wipe their nose. After 3pm the kids just play so really you are paying for a 3 hour block of learning in the am and then lunch. They charge a administration fee and material fee that's not refundable even if your child doesn't attend. So how can they use the materials if they are not there to use them ? Rip off for the $, no lunch provided, but hey some of the teachers are great which is why I gave them 3 stars. Enroll your child somewhere else!

The school is just ok, by daughter was enrolled for a year,I didn't like the fact that you can't…read morejust drop in your on child they view it as a distraction. After I enrolled my child in a different school ,I noticed a big difference in her .

Our kids attend Duluth Montessori. It's a safe community where children learn iteratively through…read moreself discovery and experimentation over the same old teacher lecturing the class. Children develop confidence, independence, and true feeling of self reliance. We encourage you to come check us out.

From the owner: Established 30 years ago, The Duluth Montessori School is fully accredited by Association…read moreMontessori Internationale (AMI), the organization established to protect and maintain the integrity of the Montessori principles. We educate children 14 months to 15 years of age.

In June 2024 I had an information session at this school. I decided that I wanted my son to go to…read morethis school. They actually had quite a few bad reviews, compared to the other Montessori schools in my area, but most of them were for kids in the older grades and my son is only 2 and I really liked the teacher he was going to have, so I decided I would still give them a try. On June 28th I took my son to the teacher/child meeting so my son could meet his teacher. In early July I paid my registration fee and thought I was registered. A week before school was set to start and 45 minutes before my orientation, they called me and told me they were denying my application because I wasn't committing my son to go to school there through elementary school. I've been to the school twice and have spoken to them on the phone at least 3 times and never once did they say you have to commit your 2 year old through elementary school! it's obvious they had another kid that they just wanted to put in my sons spot, which is fine, it's their school, but to do it a week before school starts was so unprofessional. ALL the other Montessori schools in my area are full now. How can you say you care about kids, but not treat them all with the same respect? They didn't care about the fact that my child doesn't have a school to go to now. I'm not sure if it was a money issue or race (I'm black), but my child definitely got push aside for another child and they way they did it was cruel and unwarranted. On top of all that, the Administration Director had the nerve to get annoyed when I wanted to know exactly when I would be getting my application refund. I would not recommend this school.

DO NOT enroll your minority children at HOMS--your kids' mental health is far more important than…read moreany Montessori curriculum. The severity of the prejudice, retaliation, and negligence toward my family does not capture the levity displayed by HOMS regarding the incidents BOTH my black sons of Egyptian and Jamaican descent experienced. -------------------------- Incident #1: My kids were placed in a vehicle during pick-up and not one single person thought to ensure the safety of my kids by verifying the actual adult. When I brought this issue to their attention, I received excuses to justify how busy carpool can be especially as they iron out challenges in the beginning of the school year. Incident #2: My 2-year-old's dread loc was completely "combed out." The school assured me there were no combs in the classroom so technically his hair wasn't "combed out." His hairstyle represents our connection to Africa, pride in our blackness, and a spiritual connection to God. When I brought the removal of his loc to their attention, it was explained that the staffer was ensuring his comfort for naptime by removing the sand trapped in his loc'd hair. I received an excuse by the lead teacher that she had no idea what his hair was. Incident #3: My family's nanny had been accused of spanking my eldest in the parking lot of the school (and no, there are no cameras or video to support this allegation). This accusation was made by a 1st grader, whose mum initially stated she witnessed said spanking too. I incessantly questioned the mum through the Assistant Principal Colleen Crewey as this is a serious allegation. Colleen, on the other hand, was bothered by my need for data points on this fireable offense. Anna then began engaging with me taking questions to the mum that witnessed this spanking. Again, HOMS showed no concern for the welfare of my children when I asked questions. Instead, my questions were deemed too much by these women. The mum later admitted she had not seen anything as she was focused on driving. I was given a reminder of what is not allowed on the school's premises. Incident #4: On January 6th, 2022, BOTH of my children were "released" from their contracts with HOMS. On December 15th, 2021 my eldest had been bullied then jumped by students (boy-girl twins) in his class. When he successfully defended himself against the twins, he was described as impulsive & aggressive. I was mandated to create an action plan for my eldest son's teachers. I was told that part of my action plan needed to include him seeking medical attention to address his impulsivity and aggression. I spent my winter vacation chasing these mandates. Once submitted on January 6th, there was no discussion. Instead, my efforts and concern for my son were dismissed by HOMS. Both boys were released from contracts with HOMS. If this decision was intended to be a consequence for my eldest, then why was my youngest son released too? -------------------------- Furthermore, if HOMS is "dedicated to providing a safe and healthy environment while nurturing a child's natural desire to learn, to teach valuable skills, and to instill the love of learning that will last for a lifetime," why did staff allow my eldest son to be targeted and bullied by other children? Why did he fear going to school? Where was the nurturing? What valuable skill was taught by "releasing" my children? Where was the love of learning [about different hairstyles] when my son's loc was being combed out? However, what does last a lifetime is the prejudice, retaliation, and negligence inflicted upon my family by Harbor Oaks Montessori School. I, like many other parents, want a safe learning environment for my children. I am even more cautious and cannot trust that my black sons will not be judged by the color of their skin by a school that encourages this type of behavior. I am also concerned for the children left behind and under the leadership of these 2 sisters. I KNOW my sons are not the first to experience this, and I am afraid they will not be the last.