Harbour Oaks Montessori School

The school we are transfering to asked incredulously..." What do they teach". Well, sadly, as we watched our child slip further and further away from her progress of past years we could only come up with one word 'nothing.' This school sadly lost dedicated staff devoted to an incredible curriculum that excited and challenged my child...now at the dinner table, instead of excitement over what was learned during the day, statements are made like "brilliant people don't go to college". Well guess what? Brilliant people don't pay thousands for their kids to float through their day, ending up a year behind other programs either!
--Submitted by a parent

This place is more like a daycare than a school, a bad daycare at that. Run the other way and find a different Montessori school, one that practices the theory.
--Submitted by a parent

I just wanted to warn everyone this is not the school you want your child to go to. They do not update you on your child learning instead they ask for donations everyweek not including the $500-$1000 a month for your child tuition. Like the parents say on the reviews it's a scam and the kids have to suffer for the school actions. Education is very important to me if I'm willing to pay for my child schooling. Harbour Oaks Montessori School staff is there to collect money not teach your kid(s). Please note that I am not mad just disappointed and schools like this should be shut down.
--Submitted by a parent

imagine our dismay and distress today after a meeting with our new school guidance counselor and teacher to find out that our child is operating more than two grades below current level, not because of any disability, not because it was shown "in a different way" as the Harbour oaks teacher kept telling us for the past 2 years but because the concepts were never ever introduced! Neither the teacher nor the director ever would take our concerns seriously and now we sit embarassed like we are bad parents when the couselor tells us unfortunatly that is the reputation this school has with the public school system...and now our kid pays the price!
--Submitted by a parent

Hands down the worst schooling experience I have had with my two children. It's a waste of money and time. I would never recommend this "school"!
--Submitted by a parent

I have been affiliated with HOMS for about 4 years now. I am not a parent or a staff member. I believe that this school has true montessori principles in place and the best interest of the children at hand. Although there are some glitches in the administration and/or the staff turn over; not any more or less than any other school you pass through. I have had a fantastic experience with both the administration as well as the staff and would definately recommend this school to families!

Harbour Oaks is a wonderful educational opportunity for children, and young teenagers offering authentic AMS teaching. As a former privately employed one-on-one teacher, I found the school to be nothing less than OUTSTANDING. Staff members work tirelessly to create and maintain an authentic Montessori learning experience for children of all ages and ability levels. In my year and half there, Harbour Oaks was the most wonderful school at which I have had the pleasure to work. Children are encouraged to be independent thinkers and to learn outside of conventional "public school" mentalities. This not only provides for a better educational experience, but also to help children grow into responsible and capable individuals. Rather than being asked to PERFORM at an unrealistic rate, children are given the opportunity to learn naturally and holistically. It's important to understand that failing test scores and plummeting graduation rates are a result of the way that our educational system is currently operating. Montessori method completely bypasses this "teach the test" mentality and creates valuable learning opportunities. I could never say enough good things about Harbour Oaks!

I have just read all of the reviews regarding HOMS and, as a past teacher at the school, felt called to respond. As with any product/service, reviews are helpful and necessary for making decisions in today's world. That being said reviews are very open to interpretation and can really ruin a school due to one or two disgruntled customers. So please take that into consideration when reading about and discerning HOMS. Yes, this school is run by a family; an extremely close family that is constantly growing, changing, educating and loving children! Their close family ties are their strongest assets. When I was a teacher there I was given everything I asked for and needed for my classroom and students. This would not have been the case if all they cared about was making money. They also paid for further training, conferences and at school workshops to help their staff continue to grow in knowledge. The classrooms are GORGEOUS and the thought and care put into the environment is astounding! This is a true and authentic Montessori school and any child that can go there is a very lucky one indeed.

The thing I love about Harbour Oaks the most is how accepting they are of all students. They see the abilities of all children and inspire them to be strong, free thinking, imaginative and wonderful beings. Nothing is more important than a child with a happy soul and the school's environment nurtures this to the fullest extent. What happens when a child has a happy soul? Amazing learning and thinking skills are developed that lead to a life long love of learning.
--Submitted by a parent

I have had 2 children at Harbour Oaks for the past 4 years. The teachers inspire the children to keep their love for learning. One of my child has a diagnosed learning difference and the teacher in her class researched the difference and went to a conference to learn how to best work with my child. I love this school!
--Submitted by a parent