Montessori School of Huntsville

A wonderful experience for everyone - our daughter has prospered there beyond all expectations we had. The teaching staff is well-trained and does not change over regularly. They are also compassionate, communicate very well and handle the children with care and structure. The experiences that are provided for the kids are amazing....gardening, cooking, even cleaning lessons are all on the agenda, in addition to a wealth of Montessori learning materials that the keep the kids engaged on a daily basis. Great mix of backgrounds and cultures. Beautiful campus - they are building the first outdoor classroom in the city. The only downside of the school is its location, being quite a drive from downtown Huntsville or Madison.....but in the end, we thought a few more minutes in the car was worth the care and mental/social/emotional nourishment our child gets at this school. We will be sending our second there, too, starting as a toddler. I can highly recommend it to anyone.
—Submitted by a parent

Public school teachers actually told our son to stop asking questions. I asked what he was learning in public school and he told me "The Rules." Maria Montessori would be thrilled to see the exceptional learning environment at the Montessori School of Huntsville. I've seen my son's self esteem and curiosity sky rocket thanks to outstanding teachers and staff. We could not be happier. The Montessori School of Huntsville is a community of involved parents and students who are excited to come to school every day. If you have any questions on the Montessori teaching method, you may want to read the Wall Street Article titled "Montessori Mafia." The most creative minds of today have had a Montessori background. Montessori fosters a lifelong love of learning and an ability to think and solve problems rather than just memorize answers for a test. Montessori is not only for preschool aged children. The school currently goes through the 6th grade and they are considering expanding into Junior High School. I will most definitely have my children at this school as long as possible.
—Submitted by a parent

A very well run Montessori School. The school is accredited and has a highly educated and caring staff. The two campuses are very different but both have their benefits. One is a more modern school (on Chaney Thompson) and the other is a more home like environment (Blevins Gap). The school starts at the preschool age but children have the opportunity to attend through Elementary. Most if not all of the children are reading very well while in Kindergarten!! The Elementary students appear to be learning very advance concepts at a young age. The Montessori method and the private school environment definitely has advantages. The tuition is high but not as high as many other private schools in the area. It is worth it to keep the good teachers on staff and low teacher/student ratio in my opinion.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers and administration truly care of the students at this school. There interest is in learning and in inspiring the want to learn in the students. Students are taught using Montessori methods which encourage independence, love of learning, and kindness. As in any school there have been some push and pull between administration, teachers, and parents but all in all this school far out performs the public school system and other private school in the area. Montessori learning is not for every child but for those that learn well using hands on material and who can work at their own pace it is an excellent option.
—Submitted by a parent

Had two children go through and one currently enrolled. Saw more development with the two older children than what I see now. Thinking of transferring to another school for my youngest. The Board and Admin people seem blind to the current problems, unless you've seen how the two administrations compared. I do have to say the facilities are top notch, and the parent volunteers are the best you'll find anywhere.
—Submitted by a parent

This school provides a challenging yet loving environment for my daughter to thrive in. The school has wonderful, highly qualified teachers who follow the teaching philosphies of Dr. Maria Montessori and have enabled our daughter to read by age 4 and operate academically at a level far advanced for her age. This school does encourage a strong commitment from parents but we believe the school provides a strong benefit and have sent our daughter here for the past two years, anticipating at least two more or beyond depending on the availability of an Elementary program. There have been some recent issues surrounding the transparency of the school operations, but those are being actively addressed and will hopefully improve over time. As an overall view I highly recommend this school to any parent who wishes to provide a safe, diverse and loving education for their child!
—Submitted by a parent

We have had a wonderful time at this school! My daughter has learned and matured so much. I refer to MSH as the "Zen" school. There is respect shown in every aspect of the educational experience. My only complaint is I do not see the same quality of teachers between day and afternoon care.
—Submitted by a parent

This school used to be a wonderful, loving and peaceful community. Unfortunately, things have changed recently due to a change in administration. Parents and staff often do not feel confident that the Montessori way is being followed. Volunteers are often taken for granted. The school is supposed to be very 'transparent' in its operations and governed as a 'parent run community' yet decisions are rarely made in that fashion. It really is a shame.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a wonderful school. It is worth every dime. Both of my children left The Montessori School of Huntsville reading well above grade level. I am a working parent and this school has been great for my family. The teachers and the administration are exceptional.
—Submitted by a parent

Montessori in general is not for every family, but this is a well-run Montessori program. It does call for a good amount of parent involvement. The teachers do come from many different places. I enjoy the diversity of the school and exposure that my child gets to other cultures. My child's teachers are kind, gentle, and give my child guidance in what she learns. They clearly enjoy their students. My child has thrived at this school.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is not adjusting well. The teachers are too foreign and are mean . Some of them are. Work is too hard for my 4 year old. They won't let the kids have sweets and it calls for too much parent involvment .
—Submitted by a parent

Just want to clarify about the 2 listings. MSH has 2 campuses- one on Blevins Gap Road and one of Cheney Thompson Road. The BGR campus is a traditional Montessori home and the CTR campus is a new daylit facility. Both are amazing and beneficial to growth. To address the earlier comment, I am a full time working mom and have loved every moment of my child's experience at MSH and wouldn't trade a minute of it. The school is more expensive, but that is because it is a private school run by parents (thus more parent involvement). Parents are made aware of this policy and the many benefits of being involved in your child's school before they begin the program. Most of the graduates of our program continue in Montessori education at the CTR campus (up to 3rd grade currently) or go on to other private schools and thrive.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has many positives that include kind staff, diverse programs, and great facilities. On the down side, doesn t prepare children for public school environment, more of a part-time program for parents s that don t work, requires a huge commitment from parents that can detract from time spent at home, and can get expensive. Found many other schools in which my daughter thrives!
—Submitted by a parent