Enrolling our children in MCS has been one of the best decisions we've made. The teachers truly…read morepartner with families to achieve the best outcomes for the students. My girls have gained so much confidence and self-reliance since they began attending. My 5 year old comes home talking about the solar system, bobcats, and all of her friends. My 3 year old has gained so much independence. We are very happy that we made the switch to MCS!

I worked for MCS in 2022/23,( lower elem) the guides are given 3 weeks of training before being…read moreleft to guide 28 children. I was there for 7 months and I can count on one hand the amount of lessons given. The children were allowed to run, scream, yell all day. No learning was happening, instead they were coloring/crafting all day. There was zero communication between the guide and the assistants, I was also told I needed to be dismissive to the children, one day a child was crying on the floor because the guide had completely ignored them. A math work I had noticed many of the children needed a lesson or a refresher, I told the guide and the guides response "I just assumed they knew because I wasnt their guide last year"! Thats the kind of guides they have at MCS. The school is also very dirty, they do not have janitorial staff, instead they make the assistants clean bathrooms and mop floors. There is mold in those buildings due to the lack of cleanliness. By the time I left, 3-4 other people had already left due to how poorly ran the school is, my advice, check the other Montessori school in the area or the ones closer to Wilmington. This one is a Montie-sorta.

Words can't express how grateful I am to have found Earthshine, we are coming up on a year that my…read moreson has attended here and he couldn't be happier! He has grown so much over this last year and it has been so exciting to watch. All of the staff is amazing, if your looking for a great place for your little one this is it!

After reviewing many preschool options for my 3 year old boys, we started out at a fancy, expensive…read morecenter that had an amazing campus. My boys weren't very happy there and, although the center was amazing, the classrooms seemed overcrowded compared to what we were told the ratio would be. My autistic son has an aide who remains in the classroom with him and she reported to me that sometimes the room would be stuffed with children beyond the official capacity. We received a lot of behavior reports concerning my other son and, again, my aide reported that the classroom spent way too much time sitting at the table instead of letting the kids move around the classroom. The time spent outside was minimal, even though they had very beautiful playgrounds. I've spoken to several early childhood education experts who say that in this age range (under 5), you should look for centers that have more open play space than tables. You should also look for places that are less academically focused, since what's most important for kids this age isn't in memorizing facts, but learning how to get along with others, developing self-sufficiency, and enjoying the process of learning. Earthshine's Center isn't the prettiest of places, but don't let that fool you. My boys both absolutely love it and my one son's 'behavior problems' completely disappeared when we switched schools. My boys were never really happy to separate in the old school, but after about a week at Earthshine, they were eager to bound away from me. I think the format of Montessori - where the child leaves the parent instead of the parent leaving the child - helps tremendously. The best thing about Earthshine is that, if the weather is good, they are outside. Playing, eating, learning, is all done in a space that's big enough for the kids to really run around and burn off their energy (which makes bedtime easier for me). Inside the classrooms, the tables take up a smaller portion than any other center we toured. Children are encouraged in self-directed learning, but unlike many other Montessori centers, this one isn't as hands off as some are, which can cause some children problems in that they aren't given ANY direction. When we were considering this school, my son's behavior therapist warned us that Montessori schools can be either really good or really bad. The really bad ones basically have no structure and, while some children are motivated and interested enough in learning to complete their basic education on their own - many, if not most children, are not. This school is one of the really good ones. There's enough structure that my boys know their general plan for the day (lunch and nap happen in the same order), but enough flexibility to keep learning fun. Like any good Montessori school, they have 'observation stations' where you can watch your kids through a one-way mirror and observe them in the classroom. I see my boys select a playmat and toys, play with the toys on the mat, and then clean it up themselves. They've become much more independent since starting the school. Their special needs knowledge and accommodations are top notch and the best I've found. My autistic son has really benefited from attending. There are many schools that turn down an aide. We toured a lot of places and many refused to let my son's therapists in the classroom. To me, this is suspicious at the 2-5 year old age. A aide is trained to help the child inside their environment and it isn't like the other children will be distracted by another adult, who they see as just another teacher. It speaks volumes for the transparency of Earthshine that they allow aides provided they meet the state requirements with detailed background checks. We are moving soon and I'm going to miss Earthshine. I'm sure my boys will too.

Wonderful staff and highly attentive to the kids. Our child learns a lot from this group! Highly…read morerecommend.

We've been interested in Montessori Spanish immersion for the last few years. We were very excited…read morewhen we found Guidepost and the experience has been great. The guides really bond with the kids and our older son has grown noticeably more curious and independent since starting.

Be aware!! This environment is not suited to all children or to all families. We could live with…read morethe cloth napkins required for lunch but there are many aspects we feel are vital to development that are missing. There are no activities to foster imaginative play or free exploration. There is no housekeeping corner, no dress up center, no sand table, no water table, no block center. The structure of the program is to the extreme. Children have choice in their activities; however, the activities are extremely regimented and structured. You may use an activity but only following the highly specific instructions. For example, you may use blocks but only to sort by size. You may not build a tower or wall. Communication is a serious problem. On a day to day basis, you will have no idea what your child is working or what skills they are mastering. There are no written notes sent home at the end of the week describing the books they read, or the songs they sing, or how your child's day is going. Unless you initiate communication, there is none. Children here develop skills and are high achieving. However, at what cost. OBSERVE and decide for yourself. BE CONCERNED

Such a wonderful school! If you are looking for teachings in the true Montessori style,…read moreprofessional, certified teachers, and a loving environment, CMS is the place. The staff is caring, highly trained, and truly love their jobs. Children are encouraged , and cherished here.

AMAZING! Hands down would recommend this place 100 times over. I found out about Renaissance after…read morea mama overheard my conversation about pulling my child out of another preschool and approached me, stating that her children went to Renaissance years ago and she could not rave about it enough. I was very nervous about enrolling our children in school at all after some of the things we previously experienced (was considering homeschool). I figured I would at least tour after her glowing recommendation. Long story short, my children run to school every. single. day. They rarely remember to say bye. They adore this place. Renaissance has far exceeded my expectations. The teachers and staff...chef's kiss, they always go above and beyond. They are incredibly nurturing, always appear to be very present, intentional, and joyful but also firm (the children love and respect them). The way they teach these children to advocate for themselves and simultaneously care for others while appropriately processing social situations is really impressive, the parent community they have helped foster is awesome, and communication with parents has been great. The cultural diversity amongst staff and the celebration of cultural diversity is phenomenal. The displays they create for the different cultural heritage months, the on-site field trips, the programs, the festivals... Their emphasis is not academics, though in my experience they do ensure your child is on grade level. However, your child will likely walk away from the school with social skills and a general appreciation for others that will far exceed those of their peers. In the tour, the admissions coordinator said that was their bread and butter, and they really delivered. I am so grateful for the mama that introduced me to this beautiful place... my children have blossomed.

Renaissance Montessori is excellent -- small, friendly, and reasonably priced. My two year-old…read moredaughter began attending in 2017, and my son attended from ages 4-5 during 2013-2014. There was of course some staff turnover during our hiatus between children, but the atmosphere has stayed the same, some familiar faces are still around, and the new folks are great too. We're very happy with both the teachers and the administrative staff. All of the classrooms, even the toddler rooms, follow Montessori guidelines for play and learning, and help teach life skills and independence. Highly recommended.

Be very careful when enrolling your precious child in this school. Most of the teachers are great…read morebut others are very questionable. The class sizes are too big (25) in the Children's House. My daughter attended there when she was three. By the time she was five she was scared to go to school. I couldn't understand why she wasn't progressing academically. One day I decided to let her stay home for a few days to give her a break. When it was time to go back, she screamed that she didn't want to go back and asked her father did he have a gun because his job was to protect her. We later found out that the teacher was shaking her when she got an answer wrong. Fast forward 3 years later, my daughter is still in therapy, weekly, and scared to get an answer wrong b/c she's scared that she's going to upset the teacher. Even though this school has great qualities, it isn't worth gambling your child's social/emotional well being.

Our daughter started at WFM at 18 months of age. As an Early Interventionist, I was looking for an…read moreacademically rigorous environment, knowing that the first five years of her life are the most fundamental years. Well this August, we will be saying a heartfelt thank you to this outstanding preschool. What an amazing opportunity she (we) has had; and my husband and I have felt supported along the way with parent-teacher conferences, thorough daily electronic communication, and parent panel meetings. The faculty is clean, has true Montessori learning tools, and highly educated and certified teachers. The preschool's administration is attentive to the teachers and family's needs, creating harmonious relationships. Our daughter is exceeding in all areas of her development, reading and journaling at 5 years old. WFM's curriculum and faculty have are absolutely amazing. If you are looking for kindergarten readiness, increasing your child's self regulation, and exploration of diversity of the world, WFM is the best environment.

From the owner: Wake Forest Montessori Pre-School was founded in 2006, by a group of passionate educators and…read morebusiness people. The school is dedicated to upholding the right of every child to progress at his or her own pace, in their own individual way, and to be provided with the tools needed for their physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development.