Santa Cruz Montessori School

We started our son in the YCC(18m-3yr) January of 2011 and transitioned him this past January to the 3y-6y class and I couldn't be happier. The teachers are excellent, the school is beautiful and most importantly my son is thriving both academically and in his personal growth. I plan to start my youngest this January and have only the most positive things to say about the school. Parent involvement is high, children are kind to one another and are allowed to learn in a supportive and non-threatening enviornment. The only downside is the $$, but you get what you pay for.
—Submitted by a parent

I was at SCMS from 2nd to 8th grade. In my six years there I learned more than I could ever wished for. The teachers were stunning, they were both compassionate and fun, yet knew how to maintain a perfect equilibrium of play time and work time. As I moved into the public school system in 9th grade, I found myself a step ahead of the vast majority of my class, taking the more advanced classes, understanding the material, and getting better grades. Overall, SCMS gave me the skills and knowledge I need to be successful not only in school, but in life.

All three daughters went through this school through junior high. They are grown now and all have their BA's and are working on their Master's degrees. They loved their time at the school. Later I became a teacher.
—Submitted by a teacher

This school has gone down hill in our opinion. The pros are: it is a beautiful campus, aesthetically speaking. Cons are many. In response to one of the other reviews: Should kindergartners be writing in cursive and doing "advanced math" when the fundamentals are not taught? Many kids will imitate their peers without comprehension of what they are doing or why. Montessori philosophy needs educated guides. Gaps of learning can come from working outside an individual's zone of development and/or without proper guidance. Unfortunately, in my experience, there are lots of gaps going on here. Also, if it is important that your child's teacher is well rounded and well educated, ask whether or not teachers here have four-year college degrees, and if they are required to stay up-to-date with educational and psychological research from the last 30 years. Do your own research and ask lots of questions.
—Submitted by a parent

I am an alumni of Montessori. I went from the age of 5 till 11 years old. My wife and I, preview the school 2 years ago for our son Mason who is now 3.5 years. We were blown away at all the school had to offer. Mason has been going since Sept 2010. He is learning so much, even at this young age. The complement we get the most is people saying your son, is so bright and very polite. I would recommend this school.
—Submitted by a parent

SC Montessori is an amazing school. Our son eagerly runs into his kindergarten every day. In class he is challenged to do things that are hard for him in such a fun way that he believes all of it was his idea. He is doing advanced math, writing in cursive, doing beautiful art projects and playing actively, to name a few. The teachers are so skilled, and the environment is calm. Students are really engaged! It's a joy.
—Submitted by a parent

We love SCM. Our daughter transitioned into the Montessori environment when she was in 5th grade. It is a unique environment where the students are nurtured and challenged. Teachers work as guides in helping them discover the joys of learning about the world. They also facilitate their discovery about themselves and how they learn best, all while encouraging them to be independent, creative, and self-disciplined. I encourage parents to see it in action to better understand the quality of education the children receive at SCM.
—Submitted by a parent

We spent many hours and visits seeking a kindergarten that would nurture our son's natural love of learning and gravitation toward certain interests, while maintaining high academic standards and pushing him in areas where he is reluctant. SCMS does an extraordinary job on both fronts. Within two days, the teacher "got" our child--she appreciated his intellectual and personality strengths and had found ways to engage him in the few things--like writing--that he had previously tried to avoid. He now writes every day--and thinks it's his idea! The approach to math is tremendously powerful as well; kids are working at an academic level beyond what I associate with kindergarten (four-digit addition and subtraction) and they are loving it. The teachers pay attention not only to the three Rs, but other aspects of the children--and are adept at supporting all kinds of development (for example, being a friend and the notion that persistence on a difficult task is worthwhile) Most importantly, our son is eager to go to school every day. For our family, SCMS hits the perfect combination of child-directed learning and high academic expectations; I am thrilled that we made this choice.
—Submitted by a parent

Mu son attnded Santa Cruz Montessori School from 2/1/2 thrugh 8th grade. He is a sophmore in college and more impotantly he is a kind and socially aware young man. My son has made life long friends with not only other Montessori kids but teachers and parents alike.
—Submitted by a parent

Both my children attended Santa Cruz Montessori. They are now in High school and are ahead of their school mates. The education they receives at Montessori not only prepared them well, it nurtured the humanity and compassion in us all. My children are involved in their community and have developed a keen social conscience. For that, I thank Santa Cruz Montessori and its dedicated staff.
—Submitted by a parent

The concept of Montessori is great in theory, but the practical application in the classroom did not positively translate for our child. Our child is eager to learn and did not feel challenged. We found a more academic school with a fun and challenging environment.
—Submitted by a parent

My three children all attended Santa Cruz Montessori and received a wonderful education. The academic, arts, and social education they received is all I could ask for in a parent. My children were able to learn at their own pace, form lasting friendships, and have a great range of experiences, both inside the classroom and out. It's a warm, loving community with excellent teachers, beautiful facilities, and a strong and connected community of families.
—Submitted by a parent

We specifically moved to the Santa Cruz area to put our kids in Santa Cruz Montessori and we are very happy with our decision. The school is a beautiful, safe place with teachers that are not only experienced and engaged, but also patient and kind. Our kids just love going to school, and they're turning into amazing critical thinkers. They've become very self-motivated and learn so much every day. Note that our children are two very different kinds of learners (one very structured and focused and steady, and the other more of a free thinker), and both of them are doing great. The community of parents and staff is also great - everyone is very welcoming and truly have all the kids' best interests at heart. We plan to stay all the way through junior high.
—Submitted by a parent

A wonderful school and a supportive enriching environment for our children. This is our 4th year year at the school and while it isn't cheap, we're going to do everything we can to stay through junior high. The teachers are encouraging, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. My daughter loves going to school and can't wait to research her next 'report'. Great drama program. Curriculum is well-rounded and the children actually understand what they are learning. Great sense of community.
—Submitted by a parent

Love tis school. Came here after being at another private school in Santa Cruz. This school is a pleasure and such a contrast to our other school. The curriculum is wonderful and the teachers are experienced and warm. The leaders of the school are smart and they understand how to support the teachers and plan for the future. Our last school was always struggling with financial problems and falling down buildings. At Montessori, the facilities are good and the school is always building and expanding them. The result is a motivated set of teachers who love what they do and feel respected. this is a great place for my children.
—Submitted by a parent

We have been part of the Santa Cruz Montessori community for 10 wonderful years. The school has nurtured all of us, parents included. Our daughter is now excelling in high school. She was so well prepared. Her teachers now tell us that she not only has the academic grounding she needs, but she has self discipline and is very adept at working with others. This is no surprise as SCM fosters cooperation and courtesy among its students. The learning environments are respectful of everyone and the students learn the value of being part of working whole. Of course, these are the very skills our world needs right now and SCM is nurturing our future leaders and peacemakers. Our son is in the SCM Jr. High and is doing really well. This mature school has seasoned, talented teachers and a school Director who thinks always about what is best for the children.
—Submitted by a parent

SCMS is a great school. When we transitioned to public, my children were advanced in all academic subjects. Even more importantly, they were compassionate to their peers, especially younger ones. Montessori allowed them to develop into 'themselves'.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is dedicated to its mission to provide a developmental appropriate environment for each of the three levels of Montessori education. All the teachers are compassionate, trained progession
—Submitted by a teacher

This school has its' good points and bad. It is very aesthetic and has wonderful classrooms - especially in the lower grades. We attended from 3years old through kindergarten. When we transferred out to a more traditional school, I realized that we were a bit behind in reading and in math. I'm sure my children had a wonderful experience, learning how to do the manipulatives and learning about many enriching things, but they were at least 6 months behind their peers in public school. Great experience, just make sure you are supplementing at home.
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school. In addition to maintaining the best instructional practices in reading, writing and math, their program of inspiring kids to be kind, well mannered and cooperative fills my heart. Class circle time, democratic leadership, non-competitive narrative evaluations all wholly support the notion of creating life-long learners.
—Submitted by a parent