Discovery Montessori School

Discovery is a delightful school. Grounded in Montessori principles, it has provided my 2 children with an outstanding foundation for the future. The school nurtures the growth of the whole child by providing open, natural and beautiful environments for the children to explore and learn. The student population is ethnically diverse with many bilingual families this which enriches the educational experience. Discovery also offers many learning experiences outside the classroom. The Edible Schoolyard provides for many wonderful lessons about science and sustainability. The children are able to seed, grow, care and prepare food from the garden. A truly amazing experience!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has gone here since she was 2. This school is amazing in establishing a great foundation for any kid.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a wonderful school. The teachers and staff really care about the children. My children have been going here for three years and we wouldn't dream of sending them anywhere else. The other parents are great too. It's a wonderful community for learning and friendship. We love this school.
—Submitted by a parent

The school just lost 3 valuable and very experienced teachers. Last year they lost 2 in their lower elementary class. Their current staff is lacking a great deal of child psychology which is a key item when dealing with Montessori children. Make sure to add a couple of thousand dollars more to your budget if you plan to attend the school, there are a lot of fun raisers and it feels like is all about the money, money, money.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school with truly dedicated teachers. The Montessori approach allows for an individualized approach. Lots of schools say it, but DMS actually does it
—Submitted by a parent

Discovery Montessori School offers the best education in Jacksonville! A Montessori education addresses the whole child, fostering independence and a love of learning, leadership, and a child's understanding of their interconnectedness to the rest of the world. While DMS embraces all of the core Montessori values, the school is also on the forefront of technology and a 21st century vision of education. This is our sixth year at Discovery, and I cannot imagine having my child enrolled anywhere else!
—Submitted by a parent

Discovery Montessori School combines a rigorous academic program with caring teachers and involved parents while staying true to traditional Montessori teaching methods. The Montessori method educates children not only in traditonal academics, but also teaches them to be self directed, lifelong learners. Over the last 6 years I have watched my children blosssom under the tutelage of the wonderful teachers and staff at Discovery. The small student/teacher ratio in the elementary programs allow for individualized curriculums. And, since the children have the same teachers for 2 -3 years, the teachers get to know the students and their families VERY well. The school community is very welcoming and has become the proverbial "village" that is helping me raise my children.
—Submitted by a parent

DMS is a wonderful school. While having gone through some growing pains recently, the school has developed and grown into a wonderful educational community that cannot be matched. No other school offers the nurturing, engaging and challenging environment that is found at DMS. My child's education is developed well beyond the classroom walls in the edible garden, the computer room/library and into the community through community service projects. My daughter has received a top-notched personalized education.
—Submitted by a parent

We had two children attend DMS in the Toddler and Pre-Primary classes. Unfortunately, we had to move out of town and just wanted everyone to know what we have discovered since leaving... DMS is the BEST!!! Our children learned so much there and really enjoyed every minute at DMS. It fostered a love of learning and a pride in their work. Every day they would come home and tell us something wonderful and be so excited about it! From Director to the teachers to the Assistants to the After Care teachers- everyone truly wants the best for every child. They are encouraging, yet provide appropriate boundaries. I HIGHLY recommend this school. I have observed many preschools and public elementary school due to my job and personally, as well as professionally, I think DMS is the best in Jacksonville! Go visit, talk to everyone, observe the other students, and your decision will be easy to make. Financial aid is even available if you qualify. WELL WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!!!!!!!!!! We LOVE DMS. Thank you to everyone there!
—Submitted by a parent

Discovery has been a nurturing, wonderful environment for our two boys. The teachers we ve had have been academically challenging while allowing them to develop at their own pace. My 5 year old is reading and writing before kindergarten, knows all the States, continents, planets and his math skills are far above those of other children his age. I credit this completely to the school as we really use home time for play and activities. I feel safe with my children in their care and when I pick them up they are smiling and full of stories of what they did during the day. If you are questioning, just visit. They are very welcoming.
—Submitted by a parent

Discovery is a model Montessori program, offering an inclusive and nurturing prepared environment for all it's students. The facility is unbelievable, nestled under a canopy of trees with a child tended garden and classrooms full of natural light. An idyllic childhood setting with a dedicated staff of highly credential teachers.

There are many people here who say Discovery has been great for their children and many who say it has not been great for their children. Having been a parent there, I agree completely with both sides. If you are influential in the local area (ie, big fish in a little pond) or bring in a high level of donations during fundraisers I think they are very great to your children, otherwise not so much. This has been our experience anyway during the two years we had our son there.
—Submitted by a parent

I disagree that the schools facilities are run down. They just completed a brand new building that won a US Green Building Council North Florida award for its design. Discovery campus and facilities are heads above those offered by other Montessori schools in the area. Each classroom has an outside porch environment and an edible schoolyard garden to tend. They offer art, music, Spanish, PE and computer technology on top of the all the fundamentals. The teachers here are excellent and truly are committed to nurturing and educating the whole child. They are a phone call or an email away and have been very responsive to all questions. My children are independent, self motivated. They are encouraged to take care of their environment at school and in the jacksonville community. The tuition is well below what some other private schools in the area charge.
—Submitted by a parent

Ecellent school. Academically superior to the others we've tried on relocating. Nice shaded play area. Families generally high quality, involved people. Teaching and admin staff excellent. Very reasonably priced in comparison to other areas of the country.
—Submitted by a parent

I think the school is great. My daughter has been a student there since she was four. She is now eight and in third grade. She is socially adjusted and academically gifted. I attribute her positive progress on her natural development curve to her experiences at Discovery Montessori
—Submitted by a parent

I agree with the posts that say this school is unsatisfactory. In my opinion, the curriculum is not vastly accelerated over other programs - even traditional ones. It is no longer uncommon to be reading by or shortly before age 4. We tried this school for one year and moved to a public Montessori at the first opportunity and have been much happier with the curriculum and staff at the new school. I am definitely of the opinion that paying more doesn't necessarily mean getting more. The two things I disliked the most about this school were: #1 the competitive atmosphere (even though the clientele is pretty homogenous economically and academically) and #2 very few students stay beyond age 5 - although they offer classes through 5th grade, only a very small percentage of students stay past preschool. This is just my opinion based on our experience, some might like it.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent school. This is the best school in the Jacksonville-Ponte Verdra Area. The teachers and staff are dedicated and compassionate. They truly care about having your child succeed without stress. The whole child is nurtured. The environment is non-competitive yet surprising to some the children are heads above their peers in other schools. My child learned to read with ease at three. AA++
—Submitted by a parent

I have had two boys go through this school and currently have one there now, and I disagree with many of these comments. I do believe this school is not for everyone. It is pretty accelerated, both of my boys were reading at 3.5, and may be too fast paced for some, but children adapt to their environment. I agree it is not for everyone, it is pricey, but if you want to prepare your child for a solid education in their future, I believe Discovery lays a wonderful foundation for that. My two older children have gone on to accelerated curriculums and streamlined fine.
—Submitted by a parent

This school was a huge disappointment. It was hard to reach the teacher to discuss progress and the administrative staff does not address issues in a timely or thorough manner, in my opinion. I also think the tuition is more expensive than other nearby schools and fundraising is an extremely high priority here, but the building and playground are very run down. There is also a contract that parents must sign that says tuition must be paid regardless of the reason a student is withdrawn. I cannot express my level of disappointment with this school.
—Submitted by a parent

I would recommend this school with out hesitation to any parent looking for an outstanding educational experience for their child. Parents, families, students and the faculty are absolutely dedicated members of the 'team'. I love this school.
—Submitted by a parent