Bergamo Montessori School

The best educational decision we ever made was when we joined Bergamo in 2005. Our eldest son began the pre-K program and stayed through 4th grade and our youngest was just about to finish the pre-K program when we left the country. Their teachers were always supportive, committed and clearly loved our children. The administration was responsive to us and truly worked with us. Their teachers challenged them academically and they developed wonderful friendships with caring, respectful, and kind children. We found the parents to be great. The school is committed to a true Montessori philosophy. Our advice - be an active parent, attend the parent workshops (esp. if you didn't go through Montessori yourself), and become involved in field trips. Also, know that Montessori is not for every child, but, it was truly a great fit for us. Now, we are in a wonderful Montessori in a country with higher test scores than the US and our eldest is among the brightest and our youngest (finishing K) has begun multiplication and reads at a third grade level. WE have NO DOUBT that their Bergamo education is a HUGE part of their academic success. We will never regret this decision.
--Submitted by a parent

Our child is still at Bergamo; however, we will be leaving this school next year and we are already looking forward to the change. We have only stuck it out this long because the other options in our area are even worse and our child likes her friend. For younger children the school is o.k., but not fun at all and the kids are expected to be little adults. For the older children this school does not have the social or academic climate that is required. It seems like this school only attracts families for a few years and then the families move on. High turnover in staff and it is clear that the focus is on how much profit the school can make vs. the focus being the children. There is something off about the administration; however, it is hard to put a finger on it exactly. Just not quite right. Save yourself the headache, there are much better schools out there.
--Submitted by a parent

Our son has done excellent at Bergamo Montessori School and we are so thankful that we found this wonderful school. Our son moved up to the Elementary program from the preschool/kindergarten and I have been amazed at some of the things he has learned and how advanced he is in comparison to his friends who go to other private schools. All of his teachers have exposed him to a wide variety of curriculum and they have given him the opportunity to follow up on what he learns and let him take it as far as he wants to go. I love that about this school! I think the rules and regulations are fantastic, it teaches him dicipline and responsability. The structure also teaches him he must work hard and not to feel intitled. Most importantly, our son is happy and thrives in his classroom environment, that is the most important thing to our family! I can't say enough how great this school is.
--Submitted by a parent

My child loves her teacher. And only for that reason am I considering staying at this school. She seems to enjoy and thrive under the Montessori program. But parents beware: This is a for-profit school. Administrators nickel and dime EVERYTHING and it is not cheap to attend. Many parents grumble at their lack of parent sensitivity and their rigid and sometimes ludicrous rules. Talk to parents first before you sign up. Can be VERY frustrating.
--Submitted by a parent

My children have been attending the Bergamo/Montessori Day School since 2001. I am extremely pleased with the sense of community that was fostered in my 3 children. Academically, they have more than prepared my childen. I am a public high school teacher and can say that they teach far more than the California Content Standards. Recently, my 13 year old went to a public junior high and she has almost all A's with a few B's. She fit in socially and she is well liked by her peers and her teachers. As a math and science teacher I am most impressed with the Montessori methods around math. My children don't just follow the math rules without really understanding why they are there. The most important think that Bergamo has done for my children has been to encourage and nourish, not stifle the love of learning!
--Submitted by a parent

Our experience at Bergamo has been fantastic. I am a wholehearted proponent of the Montessori Method. Children develop self-motivation and a love of skills acquisition. The teachers at Bergamo have treated our children with respect an have shown an appreciation for their unique strengths and personalities. The administrators and staff have been open and responsive. The school has been wonderful for our family.
--Submitted by a parent

We chose this school two years ago for our son after a disappointing experience at a well known public school. We couldn't be happier with the dedicated administrators and teachers. We drop our child off each day knowing he will get ample one on one attention, a tailored, individualized learning plan, wonderful classroom materials, and opportunities for leadership. He is growing in to a competent, confident, intellectually curious young man and we attribute his success largely to the wonderful experiences he's had at Bergamo.
--Submitted by a parent

This school did not provide satisfactory education nor a positive social environment for our child who attended the upper elementary program. We had to go elsewhere to determine where our child was academically. His teachers were unable to determine and report this to us. Behaviorally, not all students are treated fairly on issues that should pertain to everyone across the board, which confuses the students and divides the school community. Unfortunately, we hung in with the school for many years because the school tried to convince us they were the best Montessori has to offer and made promises they did not keep. Each year we were more disappointed than the year before in terms of how the school was run. After finally moving on, we quickly discovered there are several downsides to the Montessori approach and we now benefit from a new learning approach that motivates and inspires our child. His new learning environment will be successful at preparing him for High School/college, a BIG concern we had with Bergamo. If you are considering this school, ask lots of questions and meet with the other parents on your own (rather than ask for references!) Be concerned if they can t answer your questions concretely.
--Submitted by a parent

We are new to Montessori. After a LOT of research, Bergamo seemed like a fit for us. It seemed like it was a tight knit community, with lots of parental involvement, great teachers, great philosophy etc. It appeared to be a wonderful fit. What a mistake!! It has not been a warm, fuzzy experience and we are considering leaving. Talk to other parents before enrolling!!
--Submitted by a parent

I can't adequately express how grateful I am that we found Bergamo Schools. My 9-year-old son has been a part of this amazing education community since he was 18-months-old. He absolutely loves going to school - so much so, he doodles he loves Bergamo on his school work. His reading and math skills are off the charts. I highly recommend Bergamo to any parent who wants a rich and loving learning environment for their child. There is no greater feeling than dropping your child off at school knowing they will be happy, safe and nurtured.
--Submitted by a parent