Montessori Charter School of Flagstaff - Campus

Two of my children attended the Sunnyside campus for preschool and kindergarten as well as the Switzer Mesa elementary school campus. The teachers are compassionate and interested in each child as an individual. They create a sense of community in the classroom. Each child can work at his/her own pace. The students are constantly challenged but not overwhelmed. Even at the elementary level, there is plenty of outdoor/recreation time. The kdg kids have lots of time to play and run around in a safe environment. Since each child is with the same group of teachers for about three years, we were able to really form a partnership with the teachers and our children grew very close to them. The afterschool program at the Elementary school is fantastic. It is well-organized and safe, and children can also choose from various extracurricular activities (chess, art, music) if they wish. The Montessori environment is an excellent setting for learning. It allows kids to be self-directed and mobile within the classroom. The school teaches in a fun and inspiring way and emphasizes peacefulness and respect. I can't say enough about how happy we are that our children go there.
--Submitted by a parent

My child has attended for four years. The teachers are caring and willing to listen if your child has difficulty academically or emotionally. This is the best Montessori school my child has attended (my child attended three others in Phoenix). The academic standards are high and my child has been challenged. My child has also benefited from the close-knit community. The art program is excellent as well.
--Submitted by a parent

Very disappointed with the administration at the Sunnyside location. Very unprofessional and lacking in a true Montessori philosophy. Expectations are inappropriate for the younger children who are lumped in with the older children and expected to have the same level of concentration. There is no real play which kids need not to mention love. It felt cold and not child centered at all. They try to make you feel like they are the only option in town and they can do whatever they please because of it. Don't believe them and don't waste your money!
--Submitted by a parent

I go to Montessori, I go to the middle school and this is my first charter school. The admisistration is deffinetly less then perfect and they are patronizing, but the teachers, the students, and what we acctually learn is awesome. We have weekly outings, community service projects and, between cycles, a trip or really fun outing, like going skiing, shopping downtown, having formal dinner night, or having a school sleep over. and the best parrt about these things is, the students plan it all. but in order to go on the outings and trips you have to have all your work in and have at least a 70 to go. I think the best part about this school is if you dont understand something, the teachers help you with it, one on one, after school, in during school, before school, during study hall. they will explain something over and over until you get it. I would deffinetly reccomend the middle school, but not the elementary school. They encourage working alone, which creates a ton of social issues. the middle school doesn't do that and is by far the best school I've been to.

The Montessori Charter School of Flagstaff is certainly not a perfect school. However, after trying many schools in Flag and for that matter across the country, I believe MCSF is one of the better options, if not the best option here. They have small class sizes, unlike FUSD, and the curriculum is highly challenging as well as fun and well rounded for a student in today's society. They combine community service, handson learning, one-on-one teaching when needed, and the teachers seem to be happy and enjoy their job. So yes, I would have to agree that this school does lack leadership and on occasion I have had to disagree with the director. But after seeing the products of my kids education as my kids have moved thru the school to middle school and now highschool, it is very obvious my kids learned how to take on the real world with courage and high self esteem, ambition, a love of learning, and great study habits. In fact, I had no clue how far ahead they really were until my child entered highschool, which indeed was a wonderful surprise. I truly believe the Montessori Middle School is among the best in Arizona. I look forward to possibly a highschool in the future.
--Submitted by a parent

They are a "great" school focused on educating the children. Student to teacher ratio is perfect and we love the multi leveled classroom where the students are the teachers as well.
--Submitted by a parent

We had hoped to send our children to the west side campus of this school. We meet the staff and the administrator, Ms.Patti. And she was wonderful! We had to move from the Flagstaff area, however if we ever move back this would be the only school in Flagstaff we would send our childern to. Thank you for following through with such a great Montessori environment!!!

I paid $1200 per month for my two children for 2 1/2 years, and the school did not earn their money. My kids learned bad habits (how to be mistreated and neglected and labeled as bad kids). The administration was horrible. Patronizing and difficult. They allowed bullying of the kids, and didn't answer questions on what they were actually teaching the kids. The public school that we moved the kids to, Knoles, far exceed anything my children learned at Montessori. My children are actually learning alot, and are much happier. The teachers challenge them, and are great about monitoring progress and answering questions. The Montessori School philosophy has great potential, but this school did not live up to it by any means.
--Submitted by a parent

I was looking forward to experiencing this Montessori approach to education. What I found was a nightmare. The administrative 'leadership' was sorely lacking, and it seems like the people in charge do not have a clue what Montessori Education is all about. As if the teachers and I put that in quotations had had no real training. It was a farce. no expertise. i have seen the real thing and this ain't it.
--Submitted by a parent

We have been a Montessori family for five years, PreK-Grade 3 and PreK-Grade 1 and have loved it. The elementary school teachers are wonderful, they truly appreciated my children and I knew they were not only learning but also being encouraged and accepted for who they are. I cannot say enough about how grateful we are to have access to such a wonderful school.
--Submitted by a parent