Sterling Montessori

Our daughter is a 1st grader at this school. She loves it and we love it. For kindergarten she was at our neighborhood school, which is a fine school, but she was not being sufficiently challenged and the curriculum was not sufficiently individualized. We were fortunate enough to be offered a spot and we could not be happier.
--Submitted by a parent

My child is currently in grade 5 at Sterling Montessori, which would make it his fifth year here. His Mom and Myself considered ourselves very lucky to find this gem of a school Five years ago. And we have not looked back. Our Son, under the guidance of his teachers through the various grades and under the Montessori philosophy has blossomed into an inquisitive, intelligent and thoughtful person. The school size is small and doesnt have all the extra curricular activities or options that other larger schools have but it more than makes up for it in the quality of the teachers, the small class sizes, and the awesome spirit of the school. Many parents get involved not because they have to but because they want to! The montessori philosophy allows the child to develop at a pace that they are comfortable with but rather than forcing them to rush through every lesson and memorizing as fast as possible, the teachers and elder classmates help to make sure that your child understands the premise and the core of the lesson before moving on. It is an invaluable teaching method that will prepare them for high school and university. I can not say enough good things about this school:)
--Submitted by a parent

We are more than halfway through our first year at Sterling. We could not be more pleased. We were not looking for a Montessori school, but ended up here in the wild ride that is the NC charter lottery. Turns out, this Montessori school knows what it is doing! No worries about kids having too much freedom, or whatever else I was worried about. I am really looking forward to my son starting, too, so that he can have a wonderfully tactile education where he feels like he has ownership over his own works! And I can relax because my daughter can gently move forward in the areas where she is shining.
--Submitted by a parent

Sterling is a wonderful school with effective learning methods and a caring, calm environment. I have a Kindergartener and P-K child at Sterling. We looked at many options including Wake Co schools - our base and magnets and applied for the lottery at Sterling. We weren't necessarily looking for Montessori but rather we investigated Montessori teachings once we began looking into Sterling as an option. I feel so fortunate that we were given lottery slots and that my children attend Sterling. The class rooms are large, bright, and all learning material is easily accessible and visual to the children. The learning are hands on, much emphasis is put on making that hand to mind connection. The children can explore learning and because of this, they learn some things well beyond typical of their age. There is good diversity in the classrooms and the different ethnicities, cultures, and holidays are studied and valued. Children are encouraged to be independent, self starters but the teachers are caring and supportive. It's a wonderful school that offers a very valuable education to children.
--Submitted by a parent

Our son has been at Sterling for 6 years and every day he comes home at says that School was great...still. Of course it's not perfect, but his love of learning has a place to bloom!
--Submitted by a parent

We absolutely love Sterling and will continue to drive from Durham for all kids through 8th grade. The academic education is quite impressive, and having spent 3 years in a private school, we can say that our education at Sterling is very much like a private school eduation, an amazing facility, with parents who really care about a well rounded education for their children and a safe, nurturing environment. Each grade brings more responsibility for the children, and the expectations grow each year. My favorite thing about Sterling is that overall, the children are very respectful of each other, friendly, warm and loving. Our daughter has made wonderful, sweet friends. We feel SO super lucky to have gotten a spot.
--Submitted by a parent

I have a kindergartener here and I LOVE it. She never did preschool and I was really nervous about her starting school. She has adjusted beautifully, and doesn't like to be away from school even on the weekends. It is a special environment and we are lucky to be there!
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter has completed kindergarted at Sterling and she had a wonderful experience. It has the intimacy and individual attention that you see in small private schools with parents who care about their childrens education. The faculty is loving and devoted. We will continue to drive 40 minutes to keep our children in this school.
--Submitted by a parent

My kids love school. My 6-year-old cried when Spring Break rolled around because she didn't want to be away from her school for a whole week. The teachers are awesome and we are privileged to be a part of this amazing school!
--Submitted by a parent

I have two children at Sterling, in KG and 3rd grade. From the beginning we have had nothing less than an excellent experience at this school. My children don't just get a curriculum shoved down their throats. They are assessed to see what they personalities are like, their learning styles are like and then given the curriculum in a manner that best suits them. The teachers do not just randomly place students in a class - they evaluate a students needs to a specific teachers style and try to place students in the best environments possible. The school is small and intimate - teachers are like family. The administration is very organized and I am constantly receiving communications from them and the teachers. I went to public school my whole life and can honestly say the students are looked at as individuals - not as numbers in the system!
--Submitted by a parent