Mountain Shadows International Montessori School is a phenomenal place for children to learn and grow. Head of School Lauren F, Assistant Head of School Jeff, and the entire teaching team are exceptional--caring, professional, and deeply committed to the Montessori philosophy. My son is in his fourth year at MSIMS and my daughter in her second, and both absolutely thrive here. It is also the only fully accredited AMI Montessori school in Colorado, offering a level of quality education you won't find anywhere else. I cannot recommend this school enough. read more

My daughter attended the school in 2020-2022 and our experience was far from positive. When we toured and applied in 2020, the school sounded fantastic. Unfortunately between the time we applied and the time we started, the seemingly wonderful head of school left and the board selected someone with no educational experience to replace them. A year later the other, fantastic, member of the original 2-person admin team left. My daughter started in YCC at 18mo. Several times my daughter came home with injuries (head injuries, bite marks) and no incident report or communication from the school. In 2022 we moved into one of the primary classrooms. My daughter initially had an ok experience in primary. But again we found out about several incidents from her that should have warranted an incident report, but never did. This culminated in her telling us that one child had hit and shoved her 3-4 times inn the course of a week. We of course brought this up and the teacher kept trying to tell us this was "normal behavior". We disagreed, and attempted to raise this with the head of school, who ignored us for weeks. In this time we had interactions with several other parents, where upon telling them of the issue we'd get responses like "oh, was it [kid]? My kiddo was getting hit by them too." One other parent told us their kid shook with anxiety about going to school and had to be kept home for a month as a result of bullying by this same kid. It became clear that the kid in question had bullied almost every other kid in the classroom, and the school had done nothing about it. Finally, we got a meeting with the head of school. He started by gaslighting us, telling us we were "complainers" and that he felt "nothing he could do would ever make us happy" - as if enforcing the school's own policies on bullying were too much to ask. We quickly ended the meeting after agreeing that the school would refund us the tuition we had paid for the two-month summer session we wouldn't be attending. The school refused to issue a refund until after the summer session, and then sent us ~$200. Half-day tuition at the school is ~$2,000/month. The refund is laughable and, in my opinion, an intentional fraud. In summary our experience was of an incompetent administration, classrooms that could not provide a safe learning environment for our child, a sudden termination of services and a wholly inadequate refund from a disingenuous head of school. read more

As the parent of a former student, I would not recommend this school and would suggest ignoring any reviews posted prior to fall 2020 as in that time there has been 100% turnover in the administrative staff, a high turnover rate in teachers, and many families have left the community and in my opinion it is effectively not the same school. When we initially toured the school there was a lovely Head of School in place (see all of the pre-2020 reviews) but by the time we arrived in fall 2020 she had left. The new Head of School has no educational background with his only relevant experience being the parent of former student(s) and our experience with him in the time we were at the school was quite negative. I could go long on all of the issues we encountered, but in short the school did not provide a safe environment for our child. For example, on their very first week in the YCC program (ages 1-3), our child came home with a visible head injury with no notification or explanation from the school. Similarly, our child was bitten by another child in the classroom at one point, and we only found out from our child, not the school. Of course toddlers will injure themselves from time to time but there was a repeated pattern of the school not notifying us of injuries which is both against their own stated procedures and also incredibly worrisome in a classroom where not all of the children are verbal and wouldn't be able to tell their parents what was happening. There are many other incidents I could cite, but the final straw was when our child was being repeatedly pushed or hit by another child in their 3-6 year old classroom who we subsequently found out from other parents had been injuring other students on a routine basis for at least months if not longer. When we raised the issue with the teacher and then Head of School we were emphatically told that there would be no changes in how the school was handling the issue and that it was effectively just "children being children" and that we were "complainers" for raising this and other safety issues. We left the school at that time and have joined a different local Montessori community which is 100% better run and our only wish is that we had never joined MSMS in the first place. read more

Our kid goes to Mountain Shadows Montessori School, and we're so happy she does. After a horrible first grade year at a nearby Waldorf school, we woke up and got her out of there and into the positive, supportive environment that MSMS provides. Mountan Shadows deserves our highest praise. Warning: This review is as much about what was wrong at our daughter's previous school as it is a celebration of what's right about Mountain Shadows Montessori. If I sound angry about our experience at the other, that's because I am. Here's what we love about Mountain Shadows, contrasted to the failures of the Waldorf school we left behind. 1. A pedagogy that is relevant to our era and modern understanding of how learning works, rather than one mired in the ramblings of a mystic who lived 100 years ago. The Waldorf movement is sometimes described as a cult. That's a tad overstated, but only a tad. Rudolf Steiner's writings are taken as gospel -- almost literally -- and Waldorf educators generally dismiss any idea that conflicts with Steiner. (Need proof? My daughter's teacher once described -- in all seriousness -- the process by which a child's soul slowly lodges itself into their body over the first several years of their life, called 'incarnating.' According to Steiner, the reason that boys voices are deeper is because their soul incarnates 'deeper' into their bodies. Really? Wow!) On the other hand, while I can't adequately define the Montessori pedagogy, I can attest to its results: At Mountain Shadows, the Montessori philosophy creates an outstanding learning environment. It is practical, grounded and deeply respectful of children. The kids are serious about learning, but it's the happy kind of seriousness that comes from concentrating deeply. 2. A culture of deep respect. Bullying and other sorts of disrespect are not tolerated at MSMS, yet misbehaving children aren't humiliated as punishment. Instead, each class uses a remarkably effective system to allow the children to communicate about their differences and resolve them peacefully. As a result, no child becomes cowed into submission by an abusive kid, which was an endemic problem at our daughter's last school (and at at least one other Waldorf school in the area). Instead, the culture of the classroom develops a strong atmosphere of respect for each other, for the school and for the greater world. It's a beautiful model that we adults would do well to emulate. 3. A grounded, practical approach. At MSMS, the classrooms are remarkably quiet because the kids are hard at work. They choose what they want to do and how long they want to do it. At the end of the week, each child meets with the teacher to review their work and set expectations for the following week. The kids are given plenty of latitude to pursue topics that interest them, which lets them follow their natural curiosity and indulge in the joy of learning. No child is ever compared to another child, and they each progress at their own appropriate pace. In contrast, a Waldorf classroom features neat rows of assigned desks facing a blackboard. The teacher writes and draws each lesson on the board, and the children copy it all down, word for word, line for line, in sync. Every child is expected to do the same thing, at the same time, as the other children. Even the 'art' projects are very tightly prescribed. The result: Mayhem. Most kids resist the stifling structure of the lessons and act out, effectively eliminating whatever learning opportunity may have been possible. Even in the best moments, the speed of the class is governed by the slowest child. Every kid knows who that is, and this provides additional fuel for cruelty. 4. Effective. Kids at MSMS learn. They grow intellectually, as citizens and as human beings. You can tell by talking to them and by watching their body language: These kids are proud, engaged and energized. They respect adults and will look you in the eye to talk to you. They are kind to each other. In contrast, many Waldorf kids slouch and tend to look unhappy. Surprising acts of violence have taken place on the campus (it would be inappropriate to elaborate), and many parents slowly come to realize that their kids haven't learned much by the fourth or fifth grade -- they frequently hire private tutors. It's sad, but most of the Waldorf parents -- and all of the faculty -- have 'taken the Kool-ade' and do not see the despair and antisocial behavior for what they are. These two schools cost almost exactly the same, but that's where the similarity ends. After enduring kindergarten and first grade at a Waldorf school, my kid emerged beaten-down, insecure and dejected. She was also very self-conscious that she hadn't learned nearly as much as her non-Waldorf friends. A year later, this same child burst out of second grade at Mountain Shadows, triumphant. She was restored to her original, true self: Vibrant, confident, energized and happy. read more

Both of my children have attended Mountain Shadows Montessori School since the age of 3. I am fortunate to have a few friends who are Montessori teachers, so even before I had children I began to hear and learn about this method. There was no doubt in my mind that if we were blessed with children, they would attend Mountain Shadows, especially as the only AMI accredited 12 month through 12 year program in the area. What this means to me as a parent is consistency and strict adherence to Maria Montessori's original vision. Accreditation aside, my children have always been happy about going to school. The school is situated on 12 beautiful acres and nature and outside exploring are out the back steps. As a product of a K-12 private college prep school myself, I appreciate that my children aren't stressed out all the time by the pressures of staying ahead of the mark, of "making the grade." There is ample time to do that the rest of their lives. One of my favorite things about the Montessori method is math. The fact that they learn in concrete terms first by manipulating materials; by getting a true sense of what a math problem looks and "feels" like, then they move to the abstract as they get older, amazes me. In other words, they get the why and the how before they ever have to calculate it on a piece of paper. You do not ever hear them saying, "Why do I have to know this? OR when will I ever use this?" The school itself has a very committed staff, teacher and parent volunteer group. It is often scary to drop your child off at age 3, but one thing I have always been secure in, is knowing that my children were in good hands. My only wish is that when my children started they had a young children's community (starts ~age 12 months). Amazing things happen at that age when children are allowed to flourish in such a nurturing, safe and prepared environment. It is so cool to watch the children in action at this age; they are busy, happy and purposeful. If anything I want my children to feel a purpose in life and I feel confident that our choice in Mountain Shadows has provided an excellent foundation. read more

Our daughter goes to Mountain Shadows Montessori and now our son will start this January. I have to admit I didn't know much about Montessori before we had our daughter, but my mom (who is a kindergarten teacher of 20 years) recommended we look into it. Montessori uses a discovery model where children choose what they want to do - which I know exists in many preschools. We visited quite a few local school and after seeing the materials that exist in the classroom - real practical life implements just miniaturized - we were pretty excited. After being there for a year and a half (our daughter is now 4) I have to say the best part of montessori is the mixed age classroom. Its like a mini-society and as your child grows she (or he) becomes the teacher to the little ones - and as a mother of a new child has really been a highlight. I have also been amazed at the independence and self motivation that comes from school - things as simple as getting her own snack, picking up toys and general helpfulness with our little one. We love the community that Mountain Shadows has give us, and are very excited for the Toddler program! read more

I have to agree with Todd H. I just happened to flip through the reviews here of Mountain Shadows and to my surprise see this debate about this school versus a local Waldorf school. My older child attended one of the two local Waldorf schools, the one in closer proximity to MSMS. And my younger child now attends MSMS while my older child now is in public school. First, MSMS is clearly the best school of these 3 schools we've experienced. Everything Todd H. said about MSMS is correct. It's an excellent and positive school. My younger child just commented to my older child "there aren't any mean boys at my school." And though he is 2 years younger than his sibling, he's learned much in math that his sibling has not yet after kindergarten in public school. And everything that Todd H. here describes about the Waldorf school was exactly our experience. The people there were kind, but extremely misguided. There seemed to be a number of children there with some fairly serious mental health issues (anti social type issues), which created a very unsafe and abusive, bullying environment. I almost began to believe it attracts families with kids with serious problems who do not want to have their kids treated by mental health and who want a school that turns a blind eye. Our son rapidly deteriorated there. Luckily we were able to pull him out within their contractual opt out period. He very rapidly returned to himself. I highly recommend MSMS. I respect this school. Everything is very well thought out, well communicated, and respects children and their families. read more

We put our 2.5 year old daughter in Mountain Shadows' new Toddler Program this year, and couldn't be happier! She goes 5 mornings a week and is raring to go as soon as she walks in the door. It was a hard decision to make - starting school at 2.5 years old - but we're so glad we did. Mountain Shadows' curriculum is 100% Montessori, unlike other schools in Boulder that are a blend of Montessori and other teaching techniques. The teachers are all AMI certified, which is a more rigorous certification than the AMS certified schools in Boulder. It's committed to the development of the whole child, and we've seen wonderful growth in skills, manners and respect in our child in just 3 months. The teachers are very supportive of the students and parents alike. read more

I have had the privilige of sending two sons to Mountain Shadows from ages 3 - 12 and then watching the academic and social foundation that was developed within them blossom as well as guide them through the middle school and high school years. Their foundation continues to guide them today as young adults both in college and in a post-college work environment. The rich academic history and strong culture of Mountain Shadows continues to provide the school the ability to procure the highest quality teaching staff, provide well developed and implemented programs, and equip happy, enthusiastic students with life long skills. Montessori education is not consistently practiced throughout parts of our education system. Mountain Shadows is accredited by AMI which requires its schools to adhere to the most stringent international Montessori program parameters. I believe this promotes the highest quality of education for the students. I have generally found that most people who have not had positive experiences with a Montessori program did not participate an AMI program. While I was supportive and pleased with our family's experience at Mountain Shadows while my children attended, my awe with the benefits that I still witness in young adult sons is, in my opinion, the true testiment to the everlasting benefit of their educational experience at Mountain Shadows Montessori. read more

My wife and I are very pleased with Mountain Shadows Montessori. We relocated to Boulder from Chicago in June 2011, and we were coming from an AMI-certified Montessori school in Chicago. After looking at all of the options in Boulder, it was obvious that Mountain Shadows was the best choice for our daughter. This is really for three reasons. First, the school is committed to the Montessori philosophy and doesn't just use the name as a marketing ploy. This is why Mountain Shadows is certified by AMI, which is extremely rigorous in making sure that Montessori schools follow the Montessori principles. Second, the teachers are wonderful. They are very knowledgable about Montessori philosophy and clearly love and respect the kids. Third, the classroom environment is great. All of the classic Montessori materials are in the classrooms. And the atmosphere is "just right" -- kids are doing their own thing and being kids, with all of the occasional noise and other things that involves, but the kids also have the calm focus that is one of the great strengths of Montessori education. All in all, a wonderful school. read more

Our daughter and son went there and we couldn't be happier. Our son went thought their toddler program (young child's community) and it turned him from a quiet serious boy to a happy confident child (and toilet trained - completely, including nights - before 2 years old). You can't beat that! read more

In my opinion, the best accredited montessori school in Boulder County. A great campus, experienced and certified teachers, performing arts center, and a new head of school, are taking the school in a good direction. My daughter is currently in her third year there at 5 years old. She is reading, doing addition and subtraction, and loves learning. I am so proud of her and pleased with my choice of schools. read more

We just moved to Boulder last year and our 3rd grade son attends Mountain Shadows Montessori. He has been involved with various Montessori schools in the past but it wasn't until we started at Mountain Shadows that we learned what a true Montessori school is supposed to be like. Our son has always had a natural curiosity and the teachers at Mountain Shadows have done an amazing job of bringing that curiosity out and helping him learn how to harness that energy and convert it into academic pursuits! Another thing we have been extremely pleased with is the Mountain Shadows parent community and the sense of family that pervades the school. For anyone in the Boulder area we highly recommend Mountain Shadows for your elementary age children (and primary) If you are not in the Boulder area we would suggest you look for a Montessori School like Mountain Shadows that is AMI certified. read more