Washington Montessori School

As the parent of two current students, I feel compelled to provide a balancing review to those already included. The school's strengths are a committed group of parents who are active and involved making the community a vibrant one, teachers who generally are dedicated and have the children's best interests at heart and the Montessori orientation of the education. Unfortunately, those strengths are offset by an entrenched administration whose primary motivation in making decisions, either academic or otherwise, appears to be placating large donors. Rather sad considering the small size of the school. The school would benefit tremendously if the current head of school would retire and be replaced with fresh blood more committed to the child-centric model of education that it espouses so publicly. The school could become the rarified place described in other reviews, but it is not at present.
--Submitted by a parent

WMS is the finest school I've ever experienced as a teacher or parent. The philosophy, methodology, curriculum, teachers and leadership are cohesive and explicit, which is uncommon in most schools! Students learn from Pre-K to 8th grade explicitly to be responsible, independent, respectful, able to resolve disputes, able to question what they learn, learn at a deep level, apply their knowledge, be creative, and most importantly, persevere. On top of the detailed as well as holistic education, my children have learned to rely on themselves and their resources when confronted with difficulty. This is the greatest gift any child or teen can receive. Thank you WMS for embodying all that I believe (and so much more) about a meaningful education.
--Submitted by a parent

Washington Montessori School [WMS] has been our children's educational guiding light since they were pre-2 years old, and we hope will continue to be so through 8th grade graduation. Thanks to the WMS influence, our kids understand respect for everyone and exercise their independence in a constructive manner. They're developing their whole brains (not just the left side, as we were forced to do as children stuck behind desks). We have met a number of wonderful WMS graduates (as adults) and they all reflect fondly on their WMS education as the foundation that helped launch their lives as productive, compassionate, and yes, intelligent individuals. I just know I am doing my children the biggest favor of their lives by enrolling them in Washington Montessori School.
--Submitted by a parent

WMS is a very special school and a wonderful community in which the children are valued as individuals. The academics are superb. Though the Montessori method isn't for children who need someone standing over them to be sure they do their work. Wonderful music programs. Tremendous parent involvement. Brand new building.
--Submitted by a parent

WMS is a wonderful school. My only regret is that this is my final year. I have attended this school since before kindergarten and I still love it as much as I used to.
--Submitted by Princess Leah, a student

Both my children have been attending WMS since they were two; I wouldn't think of sending them anywhere else. The teachers stimulate their minds, and teach them to think `out of the box'. When my oldest son was 4 they recognized that there was a learning disability, and their early intervention has given him the opportunity to bring his reading levels up to grade. I fear that if he had been in the public school they would not have intervened until he failed, which is to late.
--Submitted by a parent

There's no where else I want my child to be. I only wish my first two could have attended.
--Submitted by a parent