Montessori Arts and Sciences Elementary School

This school has no accreditation and no oversight by a Board or parent organization. We withdrew our child before the end of the year was even completed due to mistreatment. Visit for yourself and ask about teacher turn-over. Be very wary.
—Submitted by a parent

Imagine our joy finding a school that had a low teacher/student ratio, a beautiful natural environment and what we thought would be a solid cirriculum. Unfortunately, we very soon discovered that the teaching was inconsistent, assignments were rarely graded and the environment was filled with abusive verbal comments to the children, witnessed by me in person on several occasions. This is not the environment I would ever knowingly place a child into. If considering this school, please ask questions of several parents that have children currently attending the school and parents that have pulled their children from the school.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a parent whose child attends this wonderful school. I think you should take a tour of the school and decide for your family. Yes one parent has left negative remarks but the majority of families writing reviews love this school. Not every school is for everyone, judge for yourself. Visit and talk to the other parents, have your child spend some time there, you will see that the five star reviews are true. I wrote "the only choice" because after going to almost every school in the community MAS was our first choice and we have been thrilled with the decision.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a staff member at Montessori Arts and Sciences School. A new family touring the school today brought the Great Schools comments to my attention. Now that I have read the reviews, please know we have never asked, nor posted, five-star reviews of our school. The reviews you read are from the Montessori families. They may have seen a comment and responded. Thank you.
—Submitted by a teacher

My son needed special attention. He does not fit easily into public school, but he thrived at Montessori Arts and Sciences. The teachers and staff were very kind to my boy and his happiness and confindence grew. The school is not perfect, but what place is? That's what makes freedom of choice wonderful. It enables us to customize our lives to suite our needs. I can only speek from my experiences with M.A.S. and they were very positive. The people were kind. The director has a good heart and is very dedicated to the school.
—Submitted by a parent

Very Strong on Arts, Language and Science. Llacking in Mathematics instruction. High teacher turnover. Could be a wonderful institution with clear leadership and sticking to curriculum.
—Submitted by a parent

My son has attended CMAS for one year. We are very pleased with the level of education he has received. He is exceeding his grade level and is challenged in his work. We love the staff at the school. The teacher to student ratio is wonderful. My son gets so much individual attention that he would never receive at a larger private school or public school. The school understands our goals for our son s education and works with us to achieve them. The academic program is very well rounded- arts, science, math, Spanish, reading, music, language/grammar/poetry, physical education, and more. The students are hands on not just sitting in a class being lectured to. My son enjoys learning and his desire to learn has increased. The parent involvement is very high. I recommend this school very highly- if you want the best for your child s education, this is the only choice.

My third child is now attending Montessori Arts and Sciences and we have been with the school for nine years now. The program is well rounded and creative. The children read a wide variety of books and math is taught from a very understandable level. All of the artwork is amazing and the curriculum is very rich in culture, art and music. The school is not focused on an annual standardized test, although the children do take one, so the instruction time is spent on a variety of arts, languages and academics.
—Submitted by a parent

MA&S is by far the best school we've found in North County. The student/teacher ratio is superb, teachers are enthusiastic, interested in each student's personal growth, and extremely capable. Be wary of negative reviews, the ones that I saw were quite surprising and sounded angry, personal, and as if they were written by one person. Note that the vast majority of reviews are 5-star and the only negative reviews are 1-star. Does that make sense to you? This is a wonderful place where our children are thriving (their standardized test scores after 2nd grade averaged at the 5th grade level with two of 11 in 9th grade and only one at 2nd, none below). Outstanding! Wonderful teachers, extremely well-behaved students, and fun parents make this a fantastic place to be.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent school. My daughter is learning things in 5th grade that I did not do until high school. Highly recommended
—Submitted by a parent

Amazing school, everyone from the office assistant to the director is fully invested in turning our child into a well rounded little adult! I look forward to this year's up and coming experiences.
—Submitted by a parent

Check your gut and listen to your kids. From day one, my child would come home from this school upset. I kept putting it off to an adjustment period. My child was confused and frustrated. The school is in a beautiful setting and offers many field trips but this means nothing when your kid is miserable. Not a safe, comfortable learning environment. I personally found it difficult to communicate with the director/teacher.
—Submitted by a parent

Our child attended this school and we highly recommend caution when considering enrolling your child in this school. I personally witnessed the teacher/director yelling at the children and speaking to me about private issues pertaining to other children in the class. This behavior is highly unprofessional. There is a lack of continuity and clear direction with assignments. Assignments are randomly changed which confuses the children. On several occasions our child would return from school and and tell us that another child had left the school. Finally, our child asked us to remove her from this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Montessori Arts and Sciences is a fantastic learning environment for young minds. Students are continually challenged with stimulating and interesting materials. My child has a true thirst for learning, and regularly teaches me a few things. I see many negative reviews about the high turnover rate at this school. I do not feel that this is a fair assessment due to the fact that the school is so small and intimate. Every child or teacher that leaves the school is felt throughout the school, but if this were the same size as a public school, this turnover rate would go unnoticed. If you are looking for a personalized education for your child, this school is for you. There is no other place like it. Take a look and see for yourself, you will not be disappointed!
—Submitted by a parent

I am so grateful for the opportunity to send my children to this school. Everyday when I drop them off I know that they are safe, cared for, and receiving a fantastic education. The nurturing environment has provided the perfect setting for my children to learn and love every minute of it. They have formed lasting relationships with their teachers and friends.
—Submitted by a parent

I do not recommend this school. There is a high turnover. Do your research before enrolling your child.
—Submitted by a parent

Montessori Arts and Sciences School has a great history of success with students who are committed to an engaging experiences in all subjects. The hands-on materials involve the students and provide a special understanding through spatial intelligence whether it be mathematics, history, geography, language or life science. Students learn to organize their work space and collaborate. They gain practical life experience in managing projects. The staff is caring and knowledgeable and provide field trips to current exhibits and offer follow-up activities that carry the child to go beyond the assignment for a lasting impact to carry through life.

This school is amazing!!! It is a wonderful and nurturing environment for young minds to thrive. My daughter excels with the attention from the teachers. The focus on the environment and the community teaches children how to be thoughtful citizens. I would and do recommend this school to anyone I cross paths with. I am so thankful for the opportunity to send my child there! It
—Submitted by a parent

You couldn't ask for a more nurturing environment. My daughter loves this school, all of her teachers, and all of the students. She's always very happy to go to school. She is definitely challenged, but most importantly she now loves education and research. I believe that this is the most important thing for children to gain from elementary school as it fosters a lifelong enthusiasm for learning.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is absolutely amazing. The property is heaven on earth. The staff is caring and available. The teachers hold high but reasonable expectations and work with the individual child s needs and allows them to explore subjects that spark their interests. The children cooperate and work together with the responsibilities of caring for the garden, and animals on the grounds. They maintain consciousness about recycling and using a compost pile and community outreach programs. I could go on forever...this is a terrific environment for any child.
—Submitted by a parent