We really appreciate the MCS community and would definitely recommend it. Our son has been attending MCS for 2 years, starting in the Nido room when he was almost 1. He's since moved up through the toddler room and is now in the primary/ preschool community. Our new baby will be starting there this January. Our son is thriving and remains consistently challenged and nurtured. The leads in his classrooms have been wonderful, showing a genuine interest in his development. Our son had a few normal but difficult behavioral challenges in the last few months when our second son arrived and the leads and staff have responded with grace and care, working with us to support our son. The space and setting is also beautiful! read more

All three of my kids have attended and some still do. They started at their Nido program and have gone through (or still are) Toddler and Primary. The guides and aides are and have been loving and caring towards my children. Furthermore, they have helped provide more than simply a nice place to play and have fun. My kids have learned lots of skills that have translated to home and academics. They have helped support our kids in aspects of life we may have been working on at home (i.e. napping, toileting, and the like). My kids enjoy going and I feel good about sending them there. read more

My child is lovingly cared for and nurtured at school by teachers and staff. I receive regular progress updates on my child's performance and behaviors, and ways they are guiding and building on my child's unique interests. There are always special opportunities to connect with other parents and fun parent participation activity days. Overall, I feel that my child is safe and well cared for. MCS is absolutely wonderful and I would highly recommend it. read more

I have had all 3 of my children attend Montessori Community School and I have been a part of the community for 5 years. I have always been impressed by the supportive nature of the staff. The classrooms are clean, full of beautiful materials, and uncluttered and the outdoor areas are lovely. My kids have learned so much from the teachers at this school both academically and socially. The teachers at MCS saw each of my children for the individuals they are, tailored their lesson plans to engage my children, and fostered their curiosity for learning. I would recommend this school to any other family wanting a safe, supportive environment for their children. We are very happy that we made the choice to enroll our children at MCS and we will miss this community so much when they go off to Elementary School! read more

We absolutely Love this school! My son has been going to Montessori Scotts Valley (also known as Montessori Community School) for 3 years. I did a lot of research first and found this school to be the best in the South Bay and a Santa Cruz areas. This school went beyond my expectations. The teachers, guides, materials, classmates and office staff are simply the best! My son has learned academics such as reading, writing and math. The teacher has many great lessons on teaching these skills in fun ways- such as sending kids on scavenger hunts, making ABC art books, and guiding kids on putting together a trinomial cube puzzle. My son also learned how to share, take turns, and take care of himself and the classroom environment (as best as a 5 year old can). He is a leader and his teachers and guides taught him how to lead his classmates in a kind way, while still listening to other's ideas. My son also had some special issues with potty training and the administration, teachers and guides were very understanding, supportive and helpful. I'm happy to report he is fully potty trained now! The teachers and office staff are wonderful in their parent communication. I loved seeing pictures of what my son was doing at school posted on the app. Any injuries he had were communicated right away and taken care of with love and expertise. My son is now fully prepared for Kindergarten in every way. He made wonderful friends at this school that we plan to keep in touch with as our children move on to elementary school. We are so grateful to MCS for all they did to foster our son's development. MCS gets an A+ from our family! read more

We absolutely Love this school! My son has been going to Montessori Scotts Valley (also known as Montessori Community School) for 3 years. I did a lot of research first and found this school to be the best in the South Bay and a Santa Cruz areas. This school went beyond my expectations. The teachers, guides, materials, classmates and office staff are simply the best! My son has learned academics such as reading, writing and math. The teacher has many great lessons on teaching these skills in fun ways- such as sending kids on scavenger hunts, making ABC art books, and guiding kids on putting together a trinomial cube puzzle. My son also learned how to share, take turns, and take care of himself and the classroom environment (as best as a 5 year old can). He is a leader and his teachers and guides taught him how to lead his classmates in a kind way, while still listening to other's ideas. My son also had some special issues with potty training and the administration, teachers and guides were very understanding, supportive and helpful. I'm happy to report he is fully potty trained now! The teachers and office staff are wonderful in their parent communication. I loved seeing pictures of what my son was doing at school posted on the app. Any injuries he had were communicated right away and taken care of with love and expertise. My son is now fully prepared for Kindergarten in every way. He made wonderful friends at this school that we plan to keep in touch with as our children move on to elementary school. We are so grateful to MCS for all they did to foster our son's development. MCS gets an A+ from our family! read more

My son was there for roughly a year (so glad we transferred him to other places eventually). The illegally opened an outdoor classroom which later got shut down because there was no permit. Then other classrooms had enrollment of over 30 because of this. Very messy management and no attention to children at all. Incidents happened on a weekly basis. Worst experience ever. read more

Great school! Wonderful and caring staff. In 7 years my girls always loved going here, never had any issues. read more

Our kiddo received a world class education from the amazing staff at Montessori Community School in Scotts Valley. Everyone at the facility consistently promoted independence through nurturing care - giving our little guy the structure he needed to turn in to a wonderful human. We're so thankful for the time we spent here - not only did our little guy make great friends - our family made lifelong friends with parents of similar values and mindsets. Absolutely a gem, do not hesitate to send your kiddos to the best early education spot in Santa Cruz county! read more

I would not hesitate to recommend Montessori Community School (MCS) to any parent/caregiver. Our family has really enjoyed being a part of the MCS community. My son is in the primary class with Ms. Joy (lead), Ms. Jessica, and Ms. Asia. On many occasions, he shares with me how much he loves his teachers. Ms. Joy has always made time to meet with us. She is a very observant and experienced teacher. My son often brings home addition/subtraction/multiplication assignments that he has completed. He is learning to write and count 1-100, sounding out letters and one syllable words. He has even begun reading Bob books. He has been exposed to geography, geometric shapes, and practical skills like cutting cheese and buttoning clothes. While MCS is academic there is plenty of fun, too. I like that the kids have the option to explore outdoor activities. While this could be a little more consistent, MCS makes an effort to send photos of my son participating in activities so I know what he has been working on. The administrative staff is warm and friendly and do an excellent job of communicating with parents through email, phone, and signage in the building. The learning spaces are beautiful. When I drop off my son I feel confident that everyone there is invested in the kids. Overall, I feel MCS does a great job of creating a sense of community for families through plenty of events and fostering an environment where kids feel comfortable to explore and learn. read more

We first learned of MCS at their spring open house in 2017. We knew right away after meeting both Ms. Madelynn and Ms Fouruzon that are school search was over and we enrolled our son to start attending in July. In the past few months we have witnessed nothing but love and concern from the entire staff. I can tell that my son is adored and that he is getting good lessons during his classroom time. My son is very talkative, inquisitive and happy spirited. It's a good fit for him because he loves to learn and is always asking "why?" I really love that they have a garden and chickens. My son comes home dirty from a full day of learning and playing- which I don't mind because he's having a great time and sometimes doesn't even want to leave. The only constructive criticism is that that there are so many processes and polices that it can be a bit overwhelming when you first join up. We're learning as we go, so be prepared for lots of reading, paperwork and learning new things yourself. read more

Our child has attended MCS since she was 5 months old. It was an amazing experience: caring staff, nutritious food, great environment. We would highly recommend to anyone looking for a nurturing environment for their little one to grow and learn! read more

I strongly endorse Montessori Community!! My neighbor turned me on to this gem by saying she felt happy to drop off her son every day. I have been a public school teacher for 21 years and I have been SO happy with this school for the past 2 years. Why? Staff: Warm, caring, attentive. Always welcoming to parents. Well trained and in sync. Every day my child walks in excited and ready to learn. Open communication and immediate feedback if children are injured, need backup clothes, or are exposed to contagious sickness (to be expected anywhere). Bonus- several have babysat for me with excellent results. Curriculum: My cousin and college roommate are both early childhood educators. They've both dropped off my child here and commented to me about the great atmosphere they observed. High level of fidelity to the Montessori philosophy (child led, specific centers/work areas, wooden toys). I know my child is kindergarten ready- she has learned shapes, colors, letters, numbers, social skills and so much more!! Facilities: Clean and inviting. Madelynn has worked to improve the existing footprint. Well organized, child centered and nicely oriented. Community: I really like all the families! Many opportunities to socialize at barbecues and events and we've made several good friends. I would not hesitate to recommend this school to anyone! read more

Montessori Community School is an amazing school! It is a place where all children, with their gifts and challenges, grow and learn in a nurturing and loving environment. Through the Montessori method, the warm, well trained and knowledgeable staff guide children to truly love learning, to make friends and learn life-skills. They lead the whole child and are just as concerned with social emotional learning as they are with academics. We feel so much gratitude toward our son's lead guide and each staff member who helped to shape him during these extremely important early years of his life. We're sad that it's time for him to move on, but we look forward to the years our youngest son will spend at Montessori Community School. Talk to any Montessori parent, and they will tell you the same. read more

I do not understand why someone would give this amazing school one star. My child's experience here has been fantastic! I have only come across very devoted teachers who are extremely caring to their students. My son who is now four has been at this school since he was an infant. As a parent and working mother it takes a lot of trust to find a school that will properly take care of my child. They do an incredible job and I fully trust every single teacher and all of the staff at this school. They make sure every student gets the education they need. My son looks forward to going here! Don't listen to the negative review! I absolutely LOVE this place! read more

My daughter attended the kindergarten program here and let me tell you I wish I had known about this school before! She would of been attending years ago for the nato program. This school is how ALL schools should be! Teachers and staff are patient and kind! Most importantly realizing every child is different and taking that time out to nurture/teach them accordingly. One big family this school feels like. And Madelyn is AMAZING! She is always so helpful and is constantly arranging events for the kids as well as parents. Lunch is healthy! There is a garden and even chickens for the children to tend to. This school gives parents a peace of mind. I knew when my child was there she was happy and well taken care of. My daughter never wanted to leave and upon pick up she actually cried because she wanted to stay! Unfortunately we just had to move and had to switch schools but I want to tell everyone at Montessori thank you and we will never forget our short yet long lived memories at Montessori ! Love you guys, Cali and Amber read more

My daughter went here for one year as a 4 year old and thrived in so many ways. This school is a wonderful learning environment for little ones. The staff are kind, professional, and helpful. We love Miss Laurie! I'll definitely go back for my younger child. read more

A few years ago, I began searching for a preschool for my youngest. There were a handful of options available in our area and I thoroughly checked them ALL out. It became very clear to me that Montessori Community School stood out as being the very best choice. I was intrigued by the curriculum and found the entire staff and faculty to be so warm and genuine. From the get-go, I could see many positive changes and growth. Socially, my little one learned how to interact in a caring and thoughtful manner with both small children and adults. Academically, what my child has learned blew me away. The level of reading, writing, math, geography, and art that was taught was incredibly impressive. The Montessori way of teaching one to be responsible for themselves and others has also been so wonderful to witness. This school has truly been my LO's home away from home. My child was showered with care, affection and gentle guidance from teachers/guides and aides. I absolutely give MCS well earned credit for helping to shape my LO into an amazing little person ready to take on whatever comes in the future. Thank you MCS; for being just what we wanted and needed. We will miss you all so very much! read more

My youngest child has attended this school. The staff are very nurturing, supportive and caring. They care about the whole child and are passionate about what they do. The staff and teachers are highly dedicated to their work. I have not experienced any of the negative complaints on other Yelp reviews. The school follows the international Montessori methodology and philosophy. I have been able to see a difference in my child since she has attended. The teachers and parents are aligned on the student's goals and feel as if they are partners together to foster the developmental and academic growth of my child. read more

I have been a MSV parent since the summer of 2005, when my first child needed a program change from SV Children's Center. My sencond child is currently enrolled in the primary classroom of SVM. First off, I will say the Montessori is not for everyone, much like public school does not meet all of the needs of the children it serves. There are some tremendous plusses to SVM that should be seriously considered and reflected upon before writing either a bad review or writing a whole year tuition check. Plusses.... * MSV is entirely focused on hiring and retaining the best qualified and most experienced teaching staff that are AMI certified. While turnover is not fun for anyone, it is expected in the course of the educational hiring process...not all teacher personalities fit the given school. Please remember that most of the head teachers have Bachelor's degrees or MAster's degrees as their highest degree attained. These teachers are not run of the mill 12 ECE credit teachers...They are the real deal. To my knowledge, all of the assistants are AMI certified and some are going for their Master's degrees in Montessori method. * The school is clean and organized. I have been involved in MSV for 7 years and their organizational structure and cleanliness are not to be surpassed. Bill Tershey, while not an educator by trade, he is incredibly focused on the education of the whole child and the smooth running, both curricurally and financially/business of the school. He is professional in attitude and intra-personal interaction. During this past year, in response to parent's desiring for a hot lunch program, he researched, institued and delivered a comprehensive school lunch program that is both wholesome, organic, varied and occasionally vegetarian. This was a HUGE deal for me as I hate dealing with the packing of 4 lunches for the following day. * The curriculum and school culture foster independence within the child. This is probably the hardest thing for most parents to deal with who are not familiar with Maria Montesorri and her methodology. The curriculum really pushes students to embrace (in the beginning) solitary problem solving and working towards proficiency, which then transitions into a peer teaching model where students across grade levels and proficiency levels are then helping or teaching their less- familiar peers. The coldness that some reviewers write of may be attributed to the ultra-professional teaching attitude that is embibed in the classroom. This does not mean that it is not nurturing or loving but it does mean that it is NOT a substitute for you and your partner. MSV never will attempt to be huggy or kissy in the hopes of demonstrating your parental love...it is not appropriate for the emotional and social setting. This does not mean that they do not care...THEY DO CARE!!!, but it is gauged appropriately for the "work" setting. If you are looking for a nurse-maid or a parental substitute, than this is not the school for you. If you want your children to be loved, independent, thoughtful, critical analyzers and lovers of learning, than this IS the school for you. As an educator myself, with a MA in teaching and an MA in Progressive Leadership and 12 years of classroom experience, I wholeheartedly stand behind MSV. read more

Our child has attended MSV for 2 years from Nido to Puffins rooms. We chose MSV because it was one of the few daycare centers that accepted infants as young as 5 mos and the prices were lower than in the valley. The center is very safe, clean, with lots of windows, natural light and the children go outside almost every day. The children are treated with the utmost respect and given complete independence to explore their world. We are very happy with the quality of care and education our child has received so far. It is a relief to be able to send our child to "school" without worrying! Although we didn't really consider the activities of the older rooms that much when we first enrolled, we are now pleasantly reaping the benefits of their structure. Our child was very close to potty trained at 2 years - thanks to the great efforts by the toddler room staff. We are regularly amazed at our child's progress in vocabulary, independence, manners and motor skills. While the facility is somewhat more expensive than others in the vicinity and more than we would be paying for a home-based facility, we strongly feel that the benefits outweigh the extra cost, and think of it as an investment in our child's future. Our child is very happy at this facility and now exclaims "whoo hoo, school!" when we pull up in the morning and eagerly enters the classroom to meet friends. read more

We have twins - a boy and a girl with two completely different interests and learning styles. When we needed to make a change in schools we toured just about every pre-school/pre-k program in Scotts Valley and Los Gatos. Montessori Scotts Valley stood out far and above the rest....the qualifications of the staff...the facility...the safety...and the genuine sense of care and love of children was a combination that I did not find at any other school. I admit I didn't know much about the "Montessori Method" when we made the decision - and even now - still have to admit some pretty significant ignorance...so I can't speak to the method itself - I can just share the impact Montessori - and Montessori Scotts Valley in particular - has had in our lives. My two very different kids have each discovered the joy of learning...one that has come with a level of pride in their own accomplishments - their own discoveries. In our previous school I used to hear "Miss ___ taught me...." - and now I hear "I learned...." There is something about that subtle difference that has brought a level of confidence and willingness to try and discover new things that is truly remarkable. Their level of curiosity has increased - and spans such wide areas it is amazing. For my son - this environment has translated into a longer attention span and increased follow through. He also doesn't seem to get frustrated as often when he doesn't get it right the first time - instead just tries again. For my daughter, the environment has brought out a confidence to try new things, to discover her individuality, and be her own advocate. As siblings, it is amazing to see them bring this home - and share with each other their discoveries. It seems to motivate each of them to try new and different things the next day - and come back and talk to each other (and us) about it. Just this pure and simple joy of learning and wanting to share that learning that isn't left in the classroom. I was initially concerned because I was used to a more "cheerleading" type style for this age - which I really didn't see or hear from the staff. Yet I've come to find out, though the style of the staff and Montessori Scotts Valley may be subtle - the depth of feeling, the care, and the love are just as deep...and they are felt by me and, more importantly, felt by my children. I'm grateful for Montessori Scotts Valley and so excited about seeing how this amazing foundation they have helped our children build will translate through the rest of their lives. read more

Both of my kids so here, 2 and 4 years old. This preschool and daycare is one of the best in the area. As a parent of 2 boys born of Asian American background, I am very pleased with this school. AWESOME teachers and curriculum with helpful and friendly staff. The only down side that I can see from a parent's perspective is that it's not diverse enough to represent the greater South Bay and not 5 minutes away from my home. We wanted a place that would treat our children with respect, help them be self sufficient, learn to be a friend and a social member of our international community, and discover the joy of learning. Their curriculum is based on the teaching philosophies of Maria Montessori. Be sure you understand her philosophy before coming to this school because you may not understand why things are the way they are in the classrooms. They are a certified Montessori school so you can expect their practices to adhere to Maria Montessori's teaching philosophy. read more

We are so grateful for the time that our 3-year-old daughter had at this school. She started out in the toddler class (puffins) and transitioned into the primary (dolphins) class. Her teacher Ms. Roxie was absolutely wonderful with her and provided a wealth of knowledge to us regarding implementing the Montessori method at home to stay consistent. She was absolutely key in helping her get potty trained. Her new teacher Ms. Fouruzan is wonderful and patient. Our daughter has learned so many great skills such as vocabulary, being independent, putting things away, and being focused on a task. And Madelynn the school director has been kind, patient, and helpful with us every step of the way. This school has been a 30 minute commute for us each way, but we were against moving our daughter to a closer school because she loved this one so much. They even have windows where you can look into the class and observe. This is such a treat because I love watching her enjoying her school so much. I can't say enough good things. I highly recommend this place! read more

Our sons have been in MSV close to 5 years, since they were both 10 months old. This school is phenomenal in so many ways. The curriculum, the systems they have in place and most importantly the staff. Even though staff has come and gone the Montessorri philosophy has always remained the same: fostering independence through guidance, community, and most importantly respect. Every time my boys are given a compliment about how well behaved they are I immediately proudly think MSV. Through all the staff changes they have endured I think they finally have the best most cohesive team. I am a teacher myself and understand staff comes and goes. What is important is the education and well being of the student. MSV has gone above and beyond with fulfilling my children's needs and has always remained consistent in their philosophy. What a wonderful program! We are truly fortunate. read more

We have had the pleasure of having our son in Montessori Scotts Valley for shy of 4 years now, and have had a very positive experience. Our son has thrived here, and has developed a love for learning that has been nurtured by the learning rich environment and thoughtful staff. It has been our experience that the teachers and assistance truly care about the children. They teach kindness, mindful engagement with others, responsibility, compassion and peaceful resolution. All of these things were very important to us when looking for our son's educational environment. We have highly recommended this school to friends and family. read more

We removed our son from the program in less than 3 weeks because of significant issues that make the current situation unsafe for children at MCS. Our problems were threefold and they are intertwined: poor communication, lack of attention to detail, and rigidity. Unsafe Environment In less than three full weeks we have direct evidence of solid foods and diapers being swapped. Babies at this age develop uniquely in their ability to manipulate, chew, swallow, and digest foods. Swapping foods poses choking and allergen hazards. Swapping diapers also poses an allergen hazard. Furthermore, there is circumstantial evidence to suggest that breastmilk could be being swapped. Lifelong, incurable diseases can be transmitted via breastmilk. Clearly, stronger safety measures should be in place to ensure that each child only receives items intended for them. Poor Communication On a daily basis our instructions regarding feeding and diapering were disregarded without explanation, leaving us to speculate what level of nutrition, hydration, and care our infant received during the day. The final straw occurred when we dropped my son off with a bottle of breastmilk; upon pick up the bottle was empty but not documented on his meal log. Three of the four guides were present, but did not know what happened. There's a variety of things that could have transpired including a worst-case scenario in which the milk was accidentally given to another child. Communicable diseases such as HIV can be transmitted via breastmilk and therefore I was troubled that his milk was not accounted for on his meal log. I was concerned that if another child was getting his milk, he may have been given someone else's also. I was told that they would check with the lead guide and call me that afternoon. Frustration was added to concern when I did not receive that call. When I called the next morning to get an update from Madelynn, the head of school, she complained about having to be the middle person rather than directing her attention to the miscommunication and mishandling that occurred among her staff. She told me that an entire meal was not documented, but later called to amend the story, saying she had "guessed earlier." On the same day as this incident my son was sent home in a diaper that was not his and a size too small. The daily form says in bold, capitalized and underlined letters to write instructions to prevent verbal misunderstandings. Madelynn said we could ask to speak to Regina at pick up regarding questions/concerns; however, she was often gone for lunch at that time. We felt we hit a brick wall. Written instructions did not work. Chatting at pick up was not available. We were told that we could email Regina, but should not expect a response. Emails and requests for phone calls went unanswered. Lack of Attention Detail After we withdrew our son, I picked up his belongings. Among them was a box of raisins not belonging to him. He can't chew raisins yet, which means he could choke on a raisin. Furthermore, they failed to return all of his items including shoes, an unopened bag of diapers, and a brand new bottle of sunscreen. Rigidity My son came to MCS as a not quite one year old. He drank water consistently with every meal at home from a cup with a silicone lid. He nursed regularly and ate 3 solid meals plus snacks. He suffered because of how uncompromising MCS was regarding when and how he was offered breastmilk and water; they insisted it be at the end of his meal. He had a total of half an ounce of breast milk and no water in his entire time at MCS. They claimed that their methodology was to "promote his progression and to follow his lead", but in reality they halted his consumption and restricted his access to what had been his primary source of nutrition for his life thus far and did not even replace that fluid with water. The expectation was for him to adapt while they were unwilling to meet him where he was at. We bought small glasses like the ones used in Nido. Unsure of the mechanics, he bit the glass while sipping. I mentioned this to one of the guides and she said "When they do that we take it away and see if they are interested later." I know that it was not a matter of interest because he would take gulp-sized sips from the cup he was accustomed to immediately after biting the glass cup. They repeatedly used his upcoming transition to the toddler classroom as justification for their methods, but he had just turned 12 months. While earning my doctorate degree I studied infant and child development; I know that he will undergo a significant amount of physical, emotional, and neurological growth in the next six months that we cannot, and should not, rush. Ultimately we reached the conclusion that MCS was not meeting our needs for our son's safety, nutrition, and hydration nor our expectations for communication. We could no longer continue to bend in the absence of reciprocal effort. read more

Great staff who genuinely love to work with children. The school environment is beautiful with large garden areas outside and lots of natural wood and light inside. It's a little more expensive than other preschools in the area, but you are paying for a quality education, secure location and healthy environment. read more

I sent my child to MSV for over two years during 2012-2014. Pros: --Generally speaking, the teachers are quite good. --The indoor facilities are beautiful. --Parents are always welcome to observe, which they can do through one-way/mirror glass, to avoid interrupting class. --The outdoor facilities are large relative to other daycare facilities I have seen (but not relative to several preschools I have seen). Cons: --The turnover is very high for head teachers, assistant teachers, and assistants (e.g., nap assistants and "aftercare" assistants). From speaking with some teachers on their way out, I understand that a couple important reasons for this high turnover are poor communication with the director and the fact that the school does not offer further training/professional development for its staff. --Shift rotations throughout the day means that often that the kids are exposed to multiple teachers/caregivers. Even if the head teacher and assistant teacher are full time (uncommon for younger rooms), still different people will be doing aftercare and nap duty depending on the hour and the day. --With high turnover comes, at times, inexperienced teachers. --Summers are particularly chaotic: teachers and assistants rotate in and out even more, and there is a lack of continuity in the substitutes who stand in for teachers/assistants on vacation. --Communication between the school and parents was poor, especially when it came to informing parents about staff schedules and rotations, and changes in schedules. --Annual tuition increases were standard and at times large (e.g., in one case about 15% comparing one year to the next for the same classroom and the same hours/day/week). --The school day kept getting shorter, which meant that children were getting fewer hours with the head teachers and more hours in more of a babysitting type setting--after-school care could be truly chaotic. --The school is run like a business in many ways. For example, the standard policy of Bill Tershy, the director, was to prioritize enrolling new students as soon as their families wanted them enrolled, even if it meant delaying moving current students up to a new classroom. Tershy's stated explanation for this practice was to make money for the school. Parents know the big, important questions to ask when visiting a childcare/preschool facility. In the case of MSV, I would recommend not skipping the following basic questions during a visit: 1. How long has the head teacher in the class you are looking at worked at MSV? 2. What was her training and teaching experience prior to coming to MSV? 3. How many assistants will be taking care of/teaching your child throughout the week, for how many hours each? 4. How long have those assistants been at MSV, and what is their training and prior experience? 5. What was the tuition for the class in question over the past several years (to help predict future tuition increases)? read more

Their pricing and hours are so weird. Designed to rip off. Usually parents who work register their kids for such places. When everyone works at least till 4-5 PM even if register the kid for full time still need to pay another 3 hours * $7 = $21 everyday to be able to pick up. This is ridiculous!. They need to redo their hours and focus more on kids than business part of it!. I would say its a business not a kids friendly place!. read more

Our 4 year old son has been attending Montessori Scotts Valley for 5 months now. He has thrived in so many ways. The whole staff is committed to the Montessori approach. The teachers are exceptional and very well-trained as AMI teachers. In just 5 months, our son has become excited about learning and has learned how to treat others with grace and courtesy. I read the review about the staff not being friendly, and that is not my experience at all. I have found the teachers' priority to be the children and that is why they are exceptional teachers. They are always available to speak with us parents on the phone or after school, but during the school day they are 100 percent focused on their classrooms and the work of the children. Perhaps that appeared "unfriendly" to a visiting family, but to me it is real dedication to the art of teaching and the care of our children. read more

My son has been attending MSV for a little over a year and is thriving. We landed at MSV after trying another infant program in the area. As a few of the other reviewers mentioned there are pros and cons to MSV (like all educational facilities). However, we have found that the teachers, the facilities, and the education program far outweighed all the negatives. I am happy with our son's progress and our son will be continuing on at MSV. read more

AVOID THIS PLACE LIKE THE PLAGUE. Our son was was there from June 2011 to Mar 2012. The other reviews are spot on - the children are treated badly and they have a tremendous turnover in staff. The year we were there, they went through 4 teaching assistants and 3 head teachers... all in the same class! None of the staff would talk about it but clearly they are unhappy with the management. We also had repeated abuses of their "sick policy" - there were so many times we were called to pick up a "sick" child that wasn't sick that we finally started going straight to the doc, who said the kid was fine, and then straight back to the school. After a meeting with the owner, Bill Tershy, the abuses stopped. But about three months later (after another TA left), Bill called me on a Thursday and told me they could not accomodate my son because he needed more "one on one time" and more "outdoor time." He then told me I had until the end of the next business day to find him another program. No meetings with us, no time for transition, no working with my son ... it was "pick up your kid and leave." Bill didn't even meet with us when we went to pick up our child - he left a note and a refund check with my son's belongings. Classy. We had NEVER had any hint of a problem, no previous issues, no previous meetings other than one about the "sick policy" abuses that we initiated... and he kicks us out with 24 hours notice. Clearly they do not care about the kids, it's all just a business!!! read more

Teachers/staff not friendly and seem unhappy. Not the kind of place I want my toddler to be everyday. My family had a scheduled tour for this school. I took time off of work to make sure we toured the school while the children were there. When we arrived we were told that we were not on the schedule and the director was not there. The receptionist volunteered to show us a video and give us a tour. She was very nice but seemed a bit nervous. It was difficult to sit through a video with a toddler, but we appreciated the effort. On the tour, we discovered that the school was beautiful and well organized, but the teachers were not friendly at all. We probably passed by or said hello to 8-10 teachers and none of them looked happy or smiled at us. The children in the infant area were playing alone while the teachers were cleaning dishes, etc. I'm sure it would have been much different if the staff had been warned that a tour was happening and we were being escorted by the director like usual. It is kind of scary to think that this is what it is really like. We were also told that nobody can enter the infant/ toddler area because it disturbs the activities and the kids may get upset. They even have a child size door so you can drop your kids off and they can get in but you cannot. I appreciate that they don't let just anyone in to that area, but we couldn't even meet the teachers. We were told we could meet them after enrollment. We left a little disappointed because we loved the school, just not the people. I emailed and called the director after our visit to get some more information and to find out why we were not on her schedule for our tour. She never returned our call or email. I would not want my child to attend a school where the teachers were not loving and friendly and where the director was so unresponsive. We chose a different Montessori School. Our little one loves it and we feel like the staff is like family. We can also visit at anytime and see how our child is doing. read more

My son has been at MSV since he was 4 months old (he's now almost 2) and he's thrived. So much of what he knows and how he expresses himself is a testament to the amazing teachers he's worked with at MSV. As a full time working mom, I was very anxious and felt guilty (the guilt never completely goes away) about enrolling him full time - but financially I didn't have a choice. He started in Nido (the infant room) and has transitioned nicely into Puffins (the toddler room). Miss Amanda has been the head teacher in Puffins for a year now, and she's AMAZING. Miss Martha, Miss Katie, and Miss Tracey are such a great team - I can't imagine a better system. I know that they are taking the best care of him everyday. Yes, the tuition is expensive - but with this team, it's worth it. My son will likely be transitioning to public school once he hits first grade - but MSV will have provided him with such a great start. I highly recommend this school to any parent - but especially to those that have to make make this choice because of returning to work full time. No worries parents . . . MSV Rocks! read more

In January, I enrolled my three grandchildren (now ages 6 mo., 22 mo., and 3 years) at Montessori Scott's Valley. I had become an instant foster parent to my grandkids the month prior, and was looking for a quality preschool and childcare to place the children when I work. Montessori administration and the teachers made the transition very smooth for the chilren. The staff is highly qualified (many have Master's Degrees), and it is evident they genuinely care about the children. It has given me a grat peace of mind to know they are in good hands and are learning so much. The MSV staff has been responsive to meet my and the children's needs. I didn't know much about the Montessori philosophy when I first visited, but have come to really appreciate the skills that my children are learning at the school. I have been 100% satisfied with the care and education that the children have received. read more