I would like to provide an update of my review from several months ago…read more While our initial experience with the Montessori School of Ojai's administrative staff was frustrating and lacked professionalism, once they were made aware of our experience they made swift action to correct the situation. Not only that, but our son (~1 1/2) absolutely loves the program. We were initially skeptical that our son would take to it because he was very attached to us--his mom in particular--and would cry whenever she walked out of the room (how is he going to handle being dropped off at school for several hours?). But, the vast majority of the time (including the first day) he is excited to be there. (Special thanks to Coral and Alex!) As a parent, when you leave your kid in the care of others, you want to feel (and know to the best of your ability) that they are in as good if not better care than if they were with you. My wife and I both feel this way about MSO, and for that, I highly recommend this institution.

If you want a place for your child to be given the freedom to be themselves and get a good…read moreeducation then this is it. Our daughter graduated a couple of years ago and I still miss it, I honk every time I drive by. These people became like family to my daughter and to us. I cannot say more about the integrity of this school and the people who run it. Not many schools leave you, let alone your child, with a feeling of goodness and dignity these days. This place does. We love you Montessori School of Ojai! Thank you for taking such fine care of our beloved daughter and sharing yourselves with her and us...

I go to sunset school and I love all the teacher but I don't really like the bathroom but whatever…read moreit will forever be my fav school ( best school ever!!! )

I went to Sunset K-4th grade (when i lived in cali) and I loved it!!! It's a small size, but that's…read moreokay. The teachers are nice, and the kids are fun!! (Best school ever!!!)

A truly great school in one of the most beautiful landscapes of the upper Ojai valley. I graduated…read morefrom here 20 years ago. Still think of it with massive respect for the teachers, arts program, and connection to nature.

I hope this review will force the Board of Trustees to seriously question the school's current…read moreleadership. It needs to change; the sooner, the better. Until then, spare yourself and your child the endless frustration and misery of trying to communicate with people who simply do not respond. It's unfathomable to think about spending this kind of money only to be ghosted by a school's top administrators. Yet, since enrolling in early May, that is what has happened to our family. As a local Ojai resident, the many scathing reviews in recent years puzzled me having heard rave reviews from local friends and parents when our family first moved here in 2016. Besant seemed to have so many positive aspects, and my child was drawn to these strengths. We applied and were accepted, hoping the scathing reviews were wrong. The reviews were not wrong. We were. In choosing Besant Hill. Since I enrolled my child in early May, I have been trying for three months to have one simple 30-minute conversation with the Director of Academics about course selection. I called. I emailed. I reached out to other administrators for help. When, and if, I would receive a response, it would lack any substance often offering to set up a time to talk, only to be ghosted upon any attempt to follow up. This deeply unprofessional administration showed our family in these three months since enrolling that they cannot competently do their jobs so there's no way that I can send my child there in good conscience. We waited beyond a reasonable amount of time to hear back from them with answers to our basic questions. I have withdrawn my child from Besant Hill and enrolled them somewhere else. I received more answers to questions in four days of applying to my child's new school than I've gotten in three months from Besant Hill since paying tuition. I am confident that the new school community we just joined is thriving and the administrators and faculty there will be able to meet my child's needs. This is what private school families are seeking and deserve.