Barbara Gordon Montessori School

The elementary program has problems. Attrition is high in the elementary school. Class size is too large. The guides do not provide enough guidance and do not utilize Montessori methods such as the 3 period lesson. They do not provide guidance such as a work plan for students to organize and plan their work. Classrooms are noisy, chaotic, and have behavior problems. There is some bullying and meanness that goes on unchecked and happens over and over again without intervention or guidance. The tuition is higher than most. The class size is higher than most. The before and after school care is not drop in and is overpriced. The extra-curriculars are all over priced. No PE or sports. The students do not spend time actively playing during recess or time in the gardens. There is very little physical activity and there is no hot lunch program. The spanish program is ineffective. The spanish teacher comes to do some conversational spanish for those that want to join her in a corner of the room. Independence is supported, but with little guidance and some children have transferred into the school with behavior problems this combination leads to problems.
—Submitted by a parent

My son has attended BGMS since he was a toddler, and we continue to be very pleased with his progress, now in lower elementary. Staff is well qualified/certified and most guides have been there for the past five years or longer. I feel strongly that the staff and administration works hard to maintain and strengthen the curriculum and learning environment. For us, an overwhelmingly positive experience pretty much all around.
—Submitted by a parent

My kids have attended BGMS for the past 7 years, and we have been extremely happy with the school, the environment, the campus. The school promotes independence and curiosity in a warm, caring environment.
—Submitted by a parent

BGMS is an outstanding AMI Montessori school! We have 2 boys who have thrived in the Primary & Lower Elementary programs. The guides nuture each invididual child's social, emotional & academic potential. The beauty of the Montessori method allows each individual to grow, develop an internal love of learning and learn responsibility. The new adolescent program is exciting. The 7th graders have visited Anasasi Indian Pueblos in New Mexico, developed their own business model and even enjoy weekly yoga classes. I would highly recommend BGMS to anyone who wants so much more than just TAKS test & group think mentality for their child.
—Submitted by a parent

BGMS is a wonderful environment in which our son has thrived. His amazing ability to learn new concepts and achieve academics far beyond his years is due in large part to the nurturing environment and his amazing guides. The before and after school program is spactacular - the guide there is experienced and fair with the children. However, the only complaint I have is that it is difficult to communicate with the staff for families with two working parents. We do everything that we can to afford this school and it is challenging to feel like we are kept in the loop since neither of us are on campus except for drop off and pick up. This is a challenge for the administration. Despite this we love the positive effect BGMS has on our son and we appreciate the diversity of the student and guide population.
—Submitted by a parent

My son attends BGMS and we are very pleased with it. He did start school at another Montessori Academy when he was 18 months. He cried daily there. Since he has gone to BGMS everyday he says bye and is off so confident and happy. The guides are wonderful! I love the enviroment the school provides. This school is a little pricey but in comparrison not too much more and totally worth it!
—Submitted by a parent

this is a wonderful school. the teachers are outstanding and the community is warm and welcoming. Both of our children have been in the school since they were 18 months. I have seen a huge change in them. The have a genunie love of learning and are always so excited to go to school. I would recommend this school to anyone who wants to raise confident, independant, creative children.
—Submitted by a parent

Our daughter started at BGMS about four years ago, when she was almost three. She has truly thrived in the nurturning and encouraging environment that they have provided. The school really encourages independence and much of the work does not result in work product that you can bring home. At five, my daughter was reading above a second grade level. At six, she does addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division - her geography has been impressive since she was three. I credit at least part of that to her excellent guides. They offer a few after school activities each semester, such as extra spanish, art, or sports. Extended day and elementary students take Spanish. Elementary kids also take music and art. They have an excellent before and after care program. In addition to the camping trips, elementary students are allowed to plan field trips to enrich what they are studying.
—Submitted by a parent

BGMS provides an excellent academic environment while at the same time instilling self discipline, self confidence, and respect for others. Our children love the school and love learning -- we love the Guides, the campus, and the genuine sense of community!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is overpriced and not that great. My child goes there, we moved from another Montessori, since it was going through some changes at the time. But that montessori was way better than this one. There is no feedback as to what the child does all day, unless you ask, as opposed to other schools where you get a folder at the end of the week, with what they do. For all the money they take, there are no extra curricular activities, no field trips etc. they say they have spanish classes, but I have not seen any change in my childs Spanish skills. We believe in the montessori method, but there are not that many montessori school in the area HEB/GrapevineColleyville area, that is the only reason we are there.
—Submitted by a parent

BGMS is an exceptional place & we feel so fortunate to have our daughter there. It's more than the school, it's the whole environment - the classrooms & campus, the passion the teachers have for their work & for the children themselves, & all the ways they work to provide our children with a total learning experience. Strong, solid, academic education in addition to guiding the children and enabling them to blossom into the wonderful people that they are & the adults they will become. Life skills, helping others, self-discipline, pride in one's own work ... the list goes on. The school is also excellent in working with the parents to understand Montessori & the classroom environment. We love it here!
—Submitted by Melanie, a parent

Barbara Gordon Montessori school is just plain excellence. My daughter attended from 2 yrs of age until the beginning of second grade. Our plan was to keep her there until 6th grade, but unfortunately we moved. The students are constantly working on both academics and 'practicial life skills' such as cleaning up after their themselves, respecting others, etc. When we transferred, even though it was another private school, my daughter was way ahead in math, geography and science. They offered music once a week with an instructor with a master's degree, and Spanish twice a week with a native speaker. The whole elementary grades 1-3 went on two annual overnight camping trips were they studied plants, etc. Just a great school.
—Submitted by a parent