Montessori School at Washington

I first enrolled my daughter for the summer 2012 program and she's been going to this Montessori ever since. She has learned so much, and from what I've observed, her teacher is very attentive and is always updating me on her progress. She loves it here making it the reason why I haven't moved elsewhere. My only two complaints are 1) they turn the A/C on full blast when it's a warm day outside, making it super cold inside. When I pick up my daughter on a warm day she has a runny nose and sometimes gets sick. Too cold inside! 2) I heard one of the teachers in another class room yell at one of the kids when I was walking out (she didn't know I was there) - the children were trying to take a nap, but it was still completely uncalled for. I was shocked - first time I witnessed that ( and reason for my 3 star rating). The previous Director just retired, but she was great. The new one is a someone who has been working with Montessori for a couple years. He just took over, but everything seems to be going as usual.
—Submitted by a parent

My granddaughter attended this school for 2 years...per-k and kindergarten and we found it to be a wonderful experience for us as well as the little one! She loved it and did so well we now have her in first grade at another Montessori, in which we are so disappointed that she will not return next year. If The Montessori on Washington has any faults it is only that they do have have a full elementary school. The teachers are dedicated and caring and she still likes to go visit them!
—Submitted by a parent

For lack of transportation, I sent my child to this school because it's walkable. Montessori at Washington is extremely disappointing. The director is cheap and unfriendly; Parents are charged the standard $100 material fee, but the children are never given full sheets of paper to do class work on. My child often brings home all but 1/4 of an 8.5x11 sheet containing the school "project." Most teachers are not native English speakers and have thick accents, and it is evident when my child comes home, singing songs with the same, thick accent the teacher has. My child never brings home any artwork or simple study materials; just a few 1/4 sheets of paper with simple things on it. Its not the first preschool my child has attended and my experience at the Montessori is not comparable to previous schools. My child used to come home with plenty of arts and crafts, new songs, and tons of stories to tell, but at this school, she often complains about wanting to return to her previous school. I would not have sent my child here if it weren't for the walkable distance for her grandparents. I am highly disappointed in this preschool and regard it as one of the worst preschools in the area.
—Submitted by a parent

My son has been going to Montessori at Washington since he was 2 (he is now 31/2). The first year was great. I liked their philosophy and the structure. The directress left and was replaced. The new person seemed better organized. Once the second one left it has been going down the drain.
—Submitted by a parent