My daughters went to Our Montessori School and I credit their time there with setting a foundation…read morefor the great successes they achieved academically. My oldest daughter, Dasia went on to graduate with honors from Brooklyn Technical High School and Amherst College. She got her Masters from Wake Forest and will be pursuing her PHD. My daughter Alasia went to Midwood HS and graduated at 20 with her Bachelors in Bioengineering from Michigan State University. She just completed her Masters at NYU. They went when they were very young and even though they don't remember things like going to their first protest (w/ the students of UNM protesting the Invasion of Iraq in '03) or to Disneyland, they both remember Our Montessori and the wonderful teachers, especially Ms. Belinda and Mr. Chris. They remember the school down to details like the fishtank, the classrooms decorated with planets and red bicycles. When I told Alasia I spoke with Ms. Roxanne, she asked "Wow, does she remember us?" I told her yes and her face lit up. I would recommend this school to every parent. The staff is attentive, genuinely love teaching and are dedicated to the mission of Montessori. In NYC, I would have never been able to afford to send my daughters to a school like this. Ms. Roxanne's explanation of why she chose to structure Our Montessori as it is in order to make it accessible to all children regardless of socioeconomic background was heartwarming and inspirational. I went on to work in special education in NYC and I hope to design a Montessori program exactly like Our Montessori in honor of the great work they've done. I wholeheartedly recommend this school and look forward to reading all of the alumni stories of achievement to come!

This school is absolutely Amazing. I pulled my daughter out because I started working at a daycare…read moreand I wanted to take her with me. She's been begging me to go back ever since. I'm moving her back next month.

We trusted the positive reviews and gave it a shot (after a few terrible experiences with…read moreAlbuquerque daycares). Then our child came home with a series of injuries which were either 1). Unexplained or 2). Blamed on the child. We pulled our child after a few weeks because none of it added up. Also- The space is flourescently lit, colorless and lacking in plant life or natural light. Pretty dismal, actually.

Went on a tour to this school and had a very negative experience. The website states, "Other…read moreextra-curricular programs include gymnastics, dance, and Spanish lessons." Confirmed with the director there are no Spanish classes or lessons currently, which would indicate a need for an update to the website. When I asked what language exposure opportunities are offered at the school, I was told about a teacher who "speaks another language but I don't know what it is." When I asked what their policy/procedure around name-calling in the classroom, they stated there wasn't one. If children are calling each other names, it won't be shut down and the educators may engage in the name-calling as well. When I shared our philosophy at home, that we don't call people outside of their names (that it's respectful to refer to people as they prefer)- and if people are called outside of their names, then the adults around shut down the behavior and role model appropriate/ humane treatment of other humans; I was then told that this wasn't the school for us because they would not shut down name-calling and that it would potentially be encouraged as "imaginative play." If you want a school that encourages name-calling and potential bullying, has indescrepincies on their website, and doesn't know their staff's backgrounds- this may be the place for you. If you want a school that encourages education, humane treatment, and cultural diversity- this probably isn't it.

My child started kindergarten at the Carmel location. My child has been crying and not wanting to…read morego to school because of bullying from other children and yelling from the teachers. My child was reading when they left preK and has since significantly regressed. All concerns brought up to the teachers have been ignored. No disciplinary actions have been reported to me, and there are no incident reports being made about injuries. No parents are allowed in the building and the teachers are unable to tell me what kind of " science" they're learning. I have no way to support my student at home without proper communication. What I'm told by my student is that all lessons are done with videos. This is not the Montessori way! 14 + years experience teaching and you don't have curriculum to share? Very odd.

Our daughter attended this school for 3.5 years. While the first year was good, we pulled her out…read moredue to concerns over her physical, emotional, and academic well-being. She was physically assaulted 3 times during one school year by male classmates, some of her teachers and administrators were unprofessional, and her academic performance was deteriorating. The school was found by the state to be in violation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and we've been made aware of multiple FERPA violations as well. In addition to concerns for her well-being, we had concerns over the school's use of taxpayer funding. They recently settled a lawsuit arising from the ousting of their previous director. The school's insurance paid over $200k, and the school's taxpayer-funded premiums skyrocketed. This information is readily available from Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) requests to the school, the local court, and their insurance provider NMPSIA. The school's HR director installed his daughter as the principal without evidence of a competitive application process. This administrator additionally arranged for the undocumented and uncompensated use of 5 acres of school property, despite the excessive watering costs and farm chemical risks. The administrative assistants were fantastic, but not enough to make up for the school's bigger problems. Since then, we transferred our daughter to a public school in Rio Rancho, where she is thriving. We should have pulled her out sooner. Brian Freno, PhD

At St. Mark's the teachers are caring. The Montessori method enables kids to learn at their own…read morepace.

5 STAR REVIEW La Maripossa Montessori school is a total gem…read moreand I am incredibly grateful my 2 children attend the school.  The staff is wonderful and each member of the team is so engaged and genuinely cares for the kids creating a fun learning environment where they can accelerate at the pace that suits each child.  The environment is exceptional with a very creative playground, kids can climb, use swings, take care of live animals including goats, chickens, and horses, it's totally amazing!  The guest teachers that come through are often masters in their fields and enrich the experience with special teachers for subjects such as piano, art, Spanish, and science among many others.   I love that the class rooms include a range of ages to give children the experience of being mentored by older students and eventually becoming a mentor themselves as they progress within the class.  The internationally focused curriculum gives students a sense of their place in the world where different cultures are celebrated.  The decorations and extensive planning that the staff put into holidays is incredible, and it seems like every month there is a wonderful celebration.  The older children are very engaged in the community and go on frequent field trips to places such as animal shelters, an elderly home, and out to train service dogs.  How much fun to go and play with puppies as part of your school work, no wonder the kids are happy when you pick them up!   When the older kids test perfectly in geography, those students are invited out to lunch to a restaurant of that continent as a special treat, what a great incentive.  My sixth grade son even had the opportunity to deliver the American Creed at the roundhouse, which was a huge confidence booster and an excellent experience.  The staff also encouraged us to test him within the John Hopkins University for Talented Youth program and he passed the test with high honors which is now a great accolade going forward. I am in awe that I can honestly say my kids have been happy every time I have picked them up from school.  The level of commitment and attention to detail that is required to achieve that level of happiness within a school environment speaks volumes in itself.  I recommend this school to anyone seeking a truly nurturing, stimulating, positive, creative, dynamic, and healthy environment for their children to give them the very best start in life!

My child has been at this school for 6 years and the school has been a wonderful experience from…read moreday one. You won't find a more fundamentally amazing team as Katrina and her hardworking and caring staff. They allow the children to grow at their own rate guided by teachers who truly love and care for their students. Highly recommend La Mariposa Montessori School!

When I moved to Albuquerque from Ann Arbor Michigan I couldn't find a day care where I was…read morecomfortable leaving my children. After looking at 13 places a friend suggested Sunset Mesa. With small class sizes, highly trained teachers, language, art, music and Montessori classes this is a complete educational institution. The school has the time to focus on each child, developing individual learning plans, and encouraging each student's interests. This school is also committed to community outreach and developing a love of school which lasts throughout the elementary years. I cannot recommend this school highly enough.

From the owner: Sunset Mesa Schools' first year was 1948…read more It was founded by Mrs. Beatrice Adkins, a kindergarten teacher and former principal from Ohio who had relatives living in Albuquerque. It was the first kindergarten school in Albuquerque. Mrs. Adkins named the school Sunset Mesa Day School. She enrolled children 4-6 years of age. Kindergarten age children were placed in a junior or senior kindergarten class depending on their developmental readiness. This was likely the first concept for the PreFirst class at Sunset Mesa Schools! Mrs. Adkins was progressive for her time. She was a passionate educator and very specific about her expectations for and responsibilities to, the children who attended Sunset Mesa Day School. The original location of Sunset Mesa Day School was at the intersection of Girard Blvd and Lomas near the University of New Mexico. When Mrs. Adkins sold Sunset Mesa Day School, she had 100+ students and classes for children 4 years old through 3rd grade. History_NC_1970s_02In 1959, Sunset Mesa Schools was sold to Truett and Eulene Sheriff. Mrs. Sheriff was a wonderful educator who was a specialist in Early Childhood Education. Mrs. Sheriff's commitment to the education of young children prompted a strong initiative with three and four year olds. She developed a serious learning program appropriate for that age group. The combination of the already established Kindergarten program and the Early Childhood initiative resulted in numerical growth sufficient to

I can't say enough good things about Cottonwood. It is a gem in every way. The teachers are…read moreutterly dedicated to the kids and to providing an exceptional learning experience. The format encourages creativity, independent thinking and problem solving skills, artistic ability, confidence and fun. It is a loving, supportive community of parents, teachers and administrators and the kids thrive there. The students are encouraged to self-motivate, manage their own workload and be self-sufficient, all of which are the skills we all need to be truly successful in life. The school focuses on community service, equality, tolerance, peace, and a global perspective. The teachers teach and talk "up" to the kids (not down). Beyond incredible academics, the kids do the most amazing things, from learning musical instruments and music, to writing their own plays and creating the sets and costumes, to learning about the local eco-system, to learning organic gardening, to learning to give back to the community through multiple events throughout the year (we sponsor families in need during the holidays, recently volunteered as families at a local food bank, and do a food drive in the fall). The kids come away from Cottonwood not only light years ahead of their peers in all academic disciplines, but they also come away with an open-minded, global perspective, the ability to empathize, to control their own actions and reactions to the world, and to be clear and confident about who they are no matter what is going on in the world around them. The buildings are a bit less than stellar (nothing like a fancy school with a big endowment), but I like it that way because the focus in on the quality of the education and of the community, not on status or prestige. That said, the school has a very high percentage of kids that get into the top middle and high schools in the area. If the buildings were fancy, I think it would attract a very different kind of parent. That is why I'm almost afraid to share all of this because it is such a special place - I don't want the secret to get out! :-) We are so lucky that we found this very special school.

Letting my son post under my account…read more I went to school here for a year in 1st grade when I was 7. I loved it! Jaiden