I would rate this as a one star school, in fact, this is not a school but more like a compound,with kids being rated and some degraded even, made to feel worthless and ashame of who they are, not what was told in the observation walk thru. I agree with another parents comment on here that the director is a "crazy lady". She runs the school, while her husband runs behind her. Sorry but that school is not ran the way a school should be.No requirements for teachers to actually teach, kids learn on their own? Not much help either from the teachers. The only discilpine is "if the do not like you", they do something to eventually get you out. I feel BSU should stop funding these people. I was told from a relative I was making a mistake putting my children there.They were right. I can teach them more @home than they learn there. NO home work,or work brought home to view what your child is working on. I wouldn't recomend this charter school to train a dog. This is for lazy non caring kids/parents not someone who wants a real edu. And they say they don't believe in punishing a child, yet that's NOT true to all kids, just those they like.B.F. pushes kids/parents its her way or the doorway.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a school that should not exist. After attending kindergarten here for an entire year there was zero progress made. I am not sure what they were doing all of that time, but it was not school work. I do know that my daughter brought home about 10 or more drawings or paintings a day, but there was not any academic work brought home. I removed my children from this wretched school and upon putting them in a new school we have been told how behind in basic skills our daughter is. Her first grade teacher is getting her caught up and has made us understand it is not due to a learning disability that our daughter is struggling, but due to a minimum of schooling last year. I wish I would have known before losing an entire year.
—Submitted by a parent

Wonderful alternative available to us, and I feel very blessed to have found it for our family. Unless you choose to home school, this is the best school available in southern Indiana by far.
—Submitted by a parent

Horrible school! The "teachers" sit on facebook all day and do nothing. I went there for several years, half the time I played hide and seek with my friends. In HIGH SCHOOL. I did no work what so ever, if I did it was copied! I ended up leaving and was so behind by the time I got to a normal school. I know several people who have flunked a grade because of how behind they were. Do not send your child there EVER if you want them to be smart. This school MAY be good for elementary age, but not high school. The director is a crazy woman who wont let you say God, or even the pledge without going into a different room. Craziness, pure craziness

I am a student here at Montessori, I don't want to say that this school is a five star school but I will give this school a fantastic 4 stars. I have been going here for three years and LOVE this school. The reason your children don't learn anything is beacuse they are not motivated enough to teach themselves. We do not have "teachers" to teach us, we have dedicated Advisiors who help us realize what it's like to live and work in the real world. I suggest you send your kids to this school if they are creative and willing to teach themselves and others.

Absolutely the best educational option in our community. Unfortunate that some families are running from problems and find their problems follow them wherever they go. No one could spend a day at this school and not find how outstanding each teacher is as the spend time with every student. This school has high expectations for staff, children, and families - it is definitely not for every family. The family involvement is terrific - there are always parents in the building. I feel very fortunate for my child and my family to have this type of support for her education.
—Submitted by a parent

Poor academic quality and no discipline. Different treatment for different children (i.e. they function as a tribe, if you are slightly different from what the chief says your child will pay!) Teachers are not well prepared. The parent "involvement" opportunities are limited to housekeeping. I brought many projects, and they won't even listen what we had to offer. My child did not learn anything; and was so stressed out! one semester was more than enough! So glad that this torture is over! I agree with all the negative comments above. So dissapointed!!
—Submitted by a parent

Painful! This has been the worst decision in my life! Parent involvement is limited to cleaning classrooms, you have to pay extra to the teacher in regular school hours to read and do crafts. I seen the worst actitude from teachers. I found only one friendly and effective person in the school: Kim (curved desk). Waste of time and energy, nothing like I was told during the orientation with the liason :(
—Submitted by a parent

My two kids went here for three years and we had to hire a tutor to teach them for a year before we could put them in traditional school, they learned nothing. But the kids were happy because it was "fun" to go to school because you were really on your own. The staff thinks they know whats best for your kids and you know nothing. Please, if you are researching this school for a good education run away as fast as possible.
—Submitted by a parent

SURE WISH THERE WAS A SCHOOL LIKE THIS WHEN I WAS A KID. MY HS WAS GREAT BUT THIS COMMUNITY MONTESSORI SCHOOL IS A SHINING GEM. MY DAUGHTERS TEACHERS ARE, WELL;DEDICATED, PASSIONATE, GO THE EXTRA MILE, ALL THESE WORDS DO NOT DESCRIBE HOW THEY ARE. THIS IS A ONE OF A KIND DEAL. SURE GLAD WE ARE THERE AND PART OF IT.
—Submitted by a parent

I was a student at this school for almost 8 years, the only reason I left is because I had to move. I will be honest this school is not for everyone this school gives a lot of freedom and some kids cant handle it. So there parents blame the teachers and the admininstrators for there children not learning well. Unless your child has other mental issues a school can not make someone go into deppression. Parents need to stop blaming Barbra ( The Director ) and Glenn ( The Family Laison ) for all there kids problems. Instead they should be teaching there kids to be more responsible with freedom. A school DOES NOT RUIN SOMEONES FUTURE. At my time at this school I learned very valuble lessons... Like not blaming everyone else for your problems and start finding the problem in yourself. For anyone who is looking for a school that is going to Teach your children life and acedemic lessons. As a long time former student. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SCHOOL.

All of the "Bad" Reviews on this school is absolutely wrong. As a student to This school i have to say that it is a excellent school. I have more here then i have at a local "Public" School. We have the freedom to learn what we want to learn, though there is still educational guidelines within the school. There is still standardized testing, and the choice of work. I would say this school is a great choice for anyone who is wanting the freedom to learn!

This school is horrible, the instructors and director/principle (Barbara) are not willing to work with anyone. They are very demeaning to the parents and students/learners. No matter how many discrepancies are brought to their attention, the parent/student is always wrong. My child has been at the school for two years, he is brilliant, but due to the lack of structure/discipline, he has fallen way behind and now is suffering from depression. Thank you CMS for RUINING his future. My advice, DO NOT send your child to this school!!
—Submitted by a parent

Continued. ...my school will not work. At that point your child is used to a high structure enviorment and relies on constant support to be respinible and active in his/her work cycle. My school taught me to take responsibility of my work myself early on, rather than telling me what to do, when to do it, and how. Also, no offense, but tradional school has made parents too narrow-minded about education. I see it too often that a parent will throw-away the concept of our school at a 'hippy school' without learning about it or trying to embrace it. This is not for everyone in America, but I hope that one day it will be. I aodre my school, and the wonderful things it has brought to my life.

My 3 children went there for several years and made very little progress. The poor planning, lack of discipline, lack of concern for a child having trouble, unfair decision made agaist non favor children, and the utter chaos. Please DO NOT fall for the speach given at the tour, it is a wonderful sounding idea, however they do not work the way they claim. If your child is special needs like 2 of mine are, you do not want your child there. The Special needs program is even more chaotic than the regular program. When I placed my children back into public schools they were at about the same levels they were in before going to CMS. If you care about your child do not enroll them at CMS, if you still put your there stay very invovled. Don't drink the Kool-aide. It is sad to read the misguided comments.
—Submitted by a parent

I Love Community Montessori My 5 yr old just got accepted there for Kindergarten, I couldnt ask for a better school for her to attend, She will be attending Community Montessori for the 2010-2011 school year
—Submitted by a parent

The negative comments here are completely true. I am the parent of 2 that have been here for many years, and this will be the last. Poor learning plans, lack of consistent discipline, unfair decisions made against certain students, its chaotic. Time is wasted and not utilized for learning, there is little art or music focus,many kids are so far behind where they should be that its a crime. Its a failure on so many levels it makes me sick, and this is what we wanted our for kids ? Not hardly!! Sure there many poor public schools, but keep looking for a good one, and pass on this failed experiment. 150 words here are not enough for me to convey all the bad issues. Theft,verbal abuse by students to teachers,lack of any 2 way dialogue with the Directoire( its her way, or...) and too little focus on important things
—Submitted by a parent

My two children have attended CMS for a long time (over 8 years now) and I have witnessed many amazing things at CMS. I have had the privilege to watch my teens become self thinkers, open minded to other possibilities, problem solvers, & not scared to fail. I feel very good about CMS partnering with me & my wife to help our children become life long learners, which will help them become successful adults. Oh & Yes they have passed the ISTEP! I agree with the students that posted earlier, it also saddens me to see adults post such comments that are misrepresenting CMS. It was not a prefect road at the beginning at CMS & CMS is not a quick fix for families that are running from problems. Montessori will take time to get use to, but I truely feel CMS will help our children be amazing citizens.
—Submitted by a parent

My children have been at CMS for over ten years. They both score Pass Plus on ISTEP and are loving friendly people. My children's teachers are good people who support all children in positive ways. In fact, three parents have come to me since school started and told me that they had pulled their children and regretted it and have waited two and three years to get back in the program. There are awesome employees and good people at this school. There will also always be children who struggle, no matter what school they go to. As for me and my family, we are totally thrilled at CMS.
—Submitted by a parent

We were an involved family at CMS, for too long. It was a terrible joke, that our children are paying for now. They have both been retained in their grade levels and I agree that's what they needed because they didn't have a good foundation of basic elements such as reading, writing and math. We worked at home with them every night and every summer, we got tutors (even though the director told us tutors were not needed and, 'the child learns at their own pace'). If a 10-year-old can't read beyond a first grade level, there is no learning. When what we and the tutors do with the children is not reinforced by the school and staff, there is no learning. When the chaos and disruptions are constant, there is no learning. When volunteering, I did see children running the halls! I'm glad we finally left, for our children's sake!
—Submitted by a parent