I scheduled a tour with the owner about a week ago for yesterday. My husband, son, and I arrived…read moreon time. When we got there, we were buzzed in and a young lady with braids opened the first inside door, looking like she'd been sleeping or was high. I told her that we had a 10 o'clock tour scheduled. She said that the owner wasn't there. At this time, another young lady opened the second inside door and just looked at us. She tells Braids, "Lemme clean up real quick." The young lady with the braid tells us to hold on, they shut both doors, and then disappear for a few minutes. We're already getting bad vibes. Braids reappears and tells us, "She (the owner) probly gon be mad but she ain't here, so I'ma go head and give y'all the tour. If she mad, oh well." We seriously should've turned around and left then. Totally unprofessional and offering way too much information. Anyway, we decide to give it a try since we'd come from Downtown Dallas to see this place. We walk into what I'm guessing is the toddler room. All of the kids are sitting in front of a tv, silent, but are staring at us, which tells me they were not engaged in what they were watching. Shortly after entering this room, we are greeted by the smell of strong urine and I noticed food and a ball of hair on the floor. It was disgusting. There was a sign on the bathroom door saying not to use the bathroom. My husband surmised that they had a sewage issue. I wonder how they manage that with those little kids? Braids then asks, pointing at my son, "Is he gon be in the infant room?" I told her I wasn't sure - it was our first time there and I wasn't sure how their rooms were set up. She says, "So he's gon be in the infant room. Let me show y'all that." She then walks in front of us and starts kinda jogging so we couldn't keep up, kinda like she was going to give the people in the infant room a heads up before we arrived. When I noticed this, I turned around and looked at my husband and he just shook his head no. So, I found Braids and told her, "No thank you. We're gonna pass," and we left. While exiting the building, the owner arrived and asked us were we there for the tour. We told her yes, but were no longer interested. My husband told her that it wasn't cool to set up a tour and not notify people that we were coming. She didn't say a word, and went right into the building. I used to be a teacher and even have a Masters degree in Education. I can assure you, this place looks nothing like a typical Montessori school. I saw no discovery learning at all. This place smells, is unsanitary, and I wouldn't want people that speak and act like that watching my kid. Stay away from this place.

RUN !!! The LAST straw for me was when my child told me she hadnt eaten anything since her lunch at…read moreschool (11:25a)she told me she informed of they're new "teachers" and that teacher told her there wasn't anymore ! Like are you serious!?!? So my daughter was hungry until 6pm when i picked her up ! And when i addresses it with the owner she blamed it on my daughter not being in her seat, instead she was helping pass out snacks to the other children! Also my child had been hurt there TWICE, the first time was minor the second time a little bit HIT HER IN THE FACE, her face was RED ! And they told me nothing either time (yes they knew) instead they apologized after I brought it to they're attention. Also one of theyre teachers left a child on the playground which i have NO IDEA how that could've happened! After i had my newborn the owner was upset that i didn't want to enroll her there. When i let them know my enrolled daughter would be leaving they tried to tell me i owed extra money, in the end they ended up actually owing me $3! Which she was petty and payed in all coins. This daycare is terrible Also they recently started hiring new "teachers", these ladies look VERY unprofessional and they have no experience, they don't even introduce you or let you know they have new teachers and neither do the teachers. Ugh this place just leaves the worst kind of taste in my mouth. NOT FIT TO CARE FOR YOUR CHILDREN

Small class size of 15 kids being lead by 2 primary teachers and 2 full time staff members as…read morebackup/helpers. This has been an excellent small school for my kid, with education and experience pushed to the top to the list of priorities. The staff makes learning enticing with field trips/activities often planned around current teachings for fortification of general concepts and ideas. Teachers are highly educated and do not "teach to the middle". They "see" each individual child and teach to that child's abilities. The school's website indicates that between the 2 teachers they have a Masters of Education, a Bachelors of Science, Masters of Fine Arts, and 20 years of experience including a focus on Special Education for learning differences and International experience. It is private, so cost can be challenging, but if you can afford the cost, your child will reap the benefits now and into their future.

From the owner: Seeking creative and enthusiastic learners who want to expand their education past a traditional…read moreclassroom setting. At ArborCreek Montessori Academy, we offer a dynamic program with weekly field trips and real-world projects for elementary grades 1st thru 6th. We believe in nurturing the whole child, with a strong emphasis on both social and academic skills. Students develop independence and drive their learning through individualized learning plans. Our classroom community still has a few open spaces with our low child-teacher ratio due to Covid-19 safety measures. We are dedicated to diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion and invite all interested students to apply. Scholarships are available.

My son started here at 4 months old and is now 2 and I can't say enough good things about this…read moreplace. Being a working parent and deciding on childcare is no easy feat, but I cannot imagine sending my son anywhere else. They are kind and welcoming and have created such an excellent space to nurture children and have a safe place to learn. My son loves his teachers and his classmates and is thriving here. I'd give them 100 stars if possible. We love ArborCreek!

We have had all three of our children at Arborcreek from 8 weeks old-3 years and I cannot speak…read morehighly enough of the quality of care and education that our children have received. Sima, the director, deeply understands children, their behavior and their abilities. Her involvement with every child and every teacher creates a very unique environment in this gem of a school. It is special for each of our children to have the same lead teacher from infancy through toddlerhood. Because of the small size and the personal connection between teachers, students and parents, we truly feel that these teachers have been partners with us in our parenting journey. Their love and commitment to the students, the amazing communication with us as parents, and the willingness to go above and beyond has made our experience truly amazing. Our kids have blossomed into confidence, happy kids who love school and love learning. We are continually amazed by what these tiny humans can learn and achieve and how creatively they are taught. We are so grateful to have ArborCreek and highly recommend this school to anyone looking for a place that can truly nurture the whole child.

Love this school! It really is as good as it gets, even though the facilities are not very…read moreimpressive, the teachers and staff are great. My son has learned so much and has grown so much at the school. When he started, he was very sad and hated to leave us, but after about a week he was happy to go to school, hugged the teachers, and didn't want to leave. The administration is also awesome! Unfortunately, we moved back to Virginia. We wish we could have brought the school with us. It is definitely our favorite thing about Dallas.

My wife & I and our two sons bounced around Dallas-Fort Worth quite a bit during our sons' earliest…read moreschooling years, leading us to 4 houses - and 6 (six!) schools - in just a few short years' time. Looking back on our experience, there is absolutely no question in my mind that the 2+ years we spent with St. Christopher's were the best for not only our boys (now 5- & 6-years old), but our whole family. From the smart, personable, and observant teachers, to the diverse (international!) feel of the community, to the bright & welcoming atmosphere created by Becky and the front desk staff, St. Christopher's truly raised the bar for our expectations of a school & faculty. Prior to finding St. Christopher's, our boys had attended both Montessori and non-Montessori schools in the White Rock Lake/Lake Highlands areas, and they've attended 3 other schools (1 Montessori, 1 public, and 1 private) in Dallas & Rowlett since. Being a part of so many different schools (not all of which were bad, by the way!) has taught us to appreciate the "small" things (hygiene!, front desk friendliness, student diversity, parental involvement) as well as the "big" things (safety/security, curriculum, communication, caring & nurturing atmosphere). St. Christopher's gave us all of those things and then some. As parents, we always felt welcome, and we rested assured knowing that our children were being exposed to cool neat things (languages, art, etc.) and ideas by people who cared about them & their respective development (our boys are pretty different from one another!). When my wife & I finally settled down in Rowlett (20 miles east of Dallas), our biggest regret was that we'd have to leave St. Christopher's - and even then, we made the daily 2-hour commute until we couldn't take it anymore. If you have the opportunity to send your kids here, I truly can't recommend it highly enough. It's the best, most nurturing and inspiring school we came across. Best wishes to you & your family, and I hope your experience is as good as ours was! :)

Everything you need to know about the school: the school has ongoing difficulties hiring qualified…read moreteachers, which is a critical concern. The math teacher and the IB coordinator resigned last March, and as of December, no permanent replacements have been appointed. The teacher currently covering these responsibilities reportedly has no prior IB experience. Assigning teachers without confirmed IB background to senior-level classes raises serious concerns about the quality and continuity of instruction. The chemistry teacher taught online for half a year because the school was unable to secure a visa. Another teacher was hired in the middle of the year; however, the school has not provided any information regarding her IB experience or certification. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for parents to assess whether IB standards are being met. The school's salary and benefits package appears to be uncompetitive within the local market, which may explain the hiring challenges. At the same time, the school continues to allocate funds to cosmetic updates such as repainting facilities and redesigning the website through third-party contractors. This raises reasonable questions about budget priorities. Overall, student academic outcomes do not appear to be the school's primary focus. Additionally, it is publicly known that the director's wife works in UX design; beyond this, the rationale for the recent urgency to redesign the school's website remains unclear.

Imagine, just for a second, that you live in a different world…read more In this world, when you are traveling in France or Canadá, your child can have a conversation with adults or other kids in French with such a pure Parisian accent that no local would ever suspect that he/she did not grew up in France. Imagine a world where in highschool the honors class is the entire highschool, 9th graders present the College Board "AP French" exam and every single 9th grader gets a solid 5 (max AP grade). Imagine a place where AP courses and IB (International Baccalaureate) or FB (French Baccalaureate) diplomas are not mutually exclusive and, 1370 SAT and 30 ACT scores are the average. Sounds like a familiar place? If it does not then you should consider DIS for your kids.

HMA is a such a great place for our little kiddos. They go above and beyond to create a happy…read moreclassroom to learn, explore and grow. I wanted to take a moment to thank Miss. Gautami, Miss. Maria, Miss. Rihanna for being amazing teachers. Thank you for ALL you do every day!!

We toured 5 schools across 2 counties searching for the best school for our son. We are very…read morepleased that we found Heartland Montessori. After quickly adjusting to his new routine, my son has since remained enthusiastic to go to school. Ms Puja, the experienced director, and Ms Erica were so patient and understanding with my multiple calls, emails and texts checking in on my son in his first couple of weeks. We knew our son was in great hands from the start. My son enjoys all of the engaging activities his teachers provide each day. His language has expanded in just weeks and he's singing songs at home. I have experience as an early childhood educator and I am in awe of all of the experiences and opportunities to learn that they are providing to my 1.5 year old each day. I know that he will continue to grow and learn here for years to come and he will, most definitely, benefit from his time here at HMA. When I pick my son up each day you can see the love he has for all of his amazing teachers and the staff at HMA and I can see that they know and care for my child and all of the children in their care. He blows kisses and grins to each teacher when we leave and it melts my heart. If you are anywhere near this location and looking for a home away from home for your child, as well as a place that will foster their growth and development with love and patience, I'd highly recommend that you tour HMA. When I visited HMA I knew it was a special place and I am grateful to send my son there each day because of the amazing staff.

This is my student's first year in high school at the Westwood School as a 9th grader. He wakes up…read moreevery day ready for school and rises to the challenges. That was definitely not me in high school - and I went to a great private Catholic high school. I love that they now have different levels of the IB program to fit each student's goals. The school continues to grow and expand - yet maintain what we love about a caring, smaller community. Yesterday a school in Allen accidentally called me saying that they had my son's phone but could not give me the child's name because there are almost 2k 9th graders, and she did not know. I can't imagine being somewhere that the office staff did not know my kid's name. Everyone at the Westwood School knows my student - and what would best serve him academically and emotionally - as they know what is "normal" or not normal in his every day interactions. I never worry about him during the day as I know he has the most caring community teaching, guiding, supporting, and looking out for him. We can't wait for the beautiful new campus. The tour last week just blew me away as to how amazing it will be for the kids - and I can't wait for our new gym! The teachers are phenomenal and like college level educators! There aren't enough stars for how much this school has made our son confident, caring, and ready for anything life hands him. I don't worry about his future. He believes he can do anything he wants to do in life - and I love everything about this school. There is nothing like it when I talk to all of my other parent friends around the nation - and I am so blessed we found it when he was small.

The Westwood School is truly a treasure that we are blessed to have found early in our school…read moresearch. Our son has been a student here since kindergarten and will soon be in high school. His experience has been what I had always wanted for him. A place where kids are encouraged to be their personal best - a place where they are encouraged to discover the answer rather than regurgitate it. Pam Butler - the founder - was inspired to start the school based on Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a dream" speech. It was her dream to have a school foundation based on the content of one's character in a supportive community with personal excellence as the goal. This school has empowered our son to be a confident and independent learner who feels like he can do anything. I highly recommend checking out Westwood for your family, as it is the best kept secret in Dallas.

I attended this school over a decade ago. While not everything was negative, several experiences…read moreleft a lasting psychological impact--especially around how certain students were treated. Every part of this review reflects my own personal experiences and perspective as a former student. I share these observations in good faith and hope they offer helpful insight for others. Some teachers were kind and supportive, and I'm grateful for them. But others showed clear favoritism, often treating neurodivergent students, students of color, and those from less affluent families with less patience, care, or respect. I saw students singled out, shamed, or ignored when they needed help. That includes a teacher in the art department, Ms. M**ks (last names) who, despite appearing nice to some, often appeared to treat students who displayed neurodivergence in a harsh and dismissive way. One classmate with ADHD, for example, was frequently criticized for traits beyond their control. I will add that it appears that there is currently a new teacher in her place, and I cannot find this particular teacher on the school website, which is honestly a relief. I watched as she corrected, belittled, or singled out a few (even a few is too many) students who were neurodivergent or just different in how they expressed themselves. One student in particular, who had clear ADHD traits and a real passion for art, was constantly criticized for things like messiness, distraction, or "doing it wrong." It felt like she used that student's neurodivergent traits as targets, rather than offering understanding or support. The dynamic was painful to witness and left a lasting impression on me. There was also a time I was accidentally injured during a class activity involving a particular art material. I wasn't helped or offered first aid--just told it was my fault by that same teacher. That scar stayed on my body for years. There were also incidents involving body shaming in gym class and situations on school trips that felt physically unsafe. Students with invisible needs or without formal diagnoses were often overlooked. While the school talked about values like inclusion and activism, they weren't always reflected in how staff treated students. I hope things have improved since I attended, because all children deserve a safe and supportive learning environment.

If you're looking for a school that develops the whole child and builds a strong foundation for…read morelifelong learning, Alcuin is a rare gem.

My son has been here for over a year now. He loves his teachers Ms Berta and Ms Rachael. They truly…read morecare for your child and encourage the best in them. He enjoys practical life learning. They have great onsite programs for dedicated dance classes, art classes and Spanish classes after school hours to give them enrichment outside school without me having to take him anywhere else. They offer classes from infant until they go to kindergarten. Their support has him so excited for school. I appreciate the owner, Ms Barbara and her desire to create an amazing environment for my son and a place where I feel included and appreciated as well. Your family will enjoy this learning experience.

Our daughter, just under two, attended A Child's Garden Montessori for three days before we pulled…read moreher out. We had just moved to the area, and our daughter had previously been enrolled in an excellent daycare from three months old where she had done very well. I'm ashamed to say that in our rush to get things set up here, we didn't listen to our gut telling us "no", and ignored a lot of red flags about A Child's Garden before and during the three days she was there: 1. During our tour, the school director made a comment about how a Montessori curriculum can be great for "retarded children". Our daughter does not have an intellectual disability; this comment was unprompted. 2. The staff lost at least some of our paperwork almost immediately, and then accused us of never having turned it in. 3. The front desk was empty most of the times we were there, including on our daughter's first day. 4. At dropoff on our first day, the AM daycare teacher didn't welcome our daughter, or introduce herself to her, or make any attempt at ensuring a successful initial dropoff. 5. At dropoff on our first day, they didn't have a cubby or hook prepared for our daughter. 6. We got conflicting reports from various staff members regarding the first couple days. One would say she had a good day, another a rough day; one said there were no real issues transitioning, another would say she was really struggling; one said she slept for ninety minutes, another said she slept for maybe thirty. No agreement on basic issues of fact, so we couldn't really trust anything we were being told. 7. At pickup on the third day, our daughter could barely speak. We'll never know exactly what happened that day, but our daughter apparently cried long enough and hard enough that she physically couldn't speak above a whisper for a day and a half afterward. I've never seen anything like it. She seemed traumatized. She was timid, depressed, and overall a shell of her usual bright bubbly self. It terrified us and broke our hearts. 8. On that day - the worst day of our young daughter's life so far - the teacher's notes were empty. Blank. Not a word of anything amiss. 9. When we asked our daughter if she ever wanted to go back - if she wanted to see her teacher (let's call her Jane) again - she became upset and said "no Jane, no Jane, no Jane" over and over again. 10. When I went in to pick up our daughter's belongings and inform them we were pulling her out of the school, and asked her teacher where some of my daughter's things were, the teacher looked at me blankly and said, "Who?" --- Thankfully, after pulling her out of A Child's Garden, we were able to get her into another school where she's done very well; the normal anxiety from being in a new place was handled expertly by a team of caring and professional teachers and staff. She is loved and cared for there, and I once again have a happy kid excited to go to school and learn. I don't think I'll ever fully forgive myself for putting my daughter through those three days at A Child's Garden.