School of the Woods Montessori

School of the Woods has been in BUSINESS since 1962. The first High School graduating class was in 2003. As a parent (SOW student) I was bombarded with over the top outlandish claims as to this school's achievements. Verification of high school graduates and the mediocre (at best) universities which accepted them was not hard. Also, no problem verifying whether or not the AP courses offered (no matter what SOW claims) are accredited and/or accepted by ranking universities. Certain information from SOW is very, very hard to get. OBVIOUS CONCLUSION: If academics is your goal, find another school.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended Woods Upper Elementary, Middle School, and is now in Woods High School. This is a wonderful school. The faculty members are experienced, well-qualified, and take a personal interest in the students. Class size is small so everyone receives individual attention and guidance. Although the high school is small, it provides a lot of extracurricular sports and activities. The school has a real sense of community.
--Submitted by a parent

Mixed review for Primary (2 1/2 to 6) Full Day Program-Our experience was NOT positive- I will try to be as objective as possible. Academically= top notch. Following Montessori method = top notch. Area of Concern: While faculty is extremely knowledgeable - they are not approachable. The Administration is not approachable. We, and other families, had issues with bookkeeping. They are a very well oiled machine and do not welcome suggestions, criticism (from outside professionals), or allow accommodations. In a class of 28, we know of three boys who have been asked to be evaluated (10.7% of the class or approximately 20% - this is high). Two of the boys parents took their boys out of the school (do not know if they were ask to be evaluated - but parents were not comfortable with staff and may also not have been well versed in the M method). If you are considering SOW, observe, visit more than once, ask probing questions - inconvenience them a tiny bit and get a feel-most importantly, READ and LEARN the method and lingo and VISIT other Montessori schools to decided if this one is the one for you. Many people are happy here - it just didn't work for us.
--Submitted by a parent

School of the Woods Middle School has been an outstanding experience for our son. Having easily made straight As at public school, we wanted a more challenging, richer environment for him. While the student population is relatively small (~44 students in the combined 7th/8th grade), the school has provided a diverse set of experiences including community service each week, field trips, camping trips, and even ropes courses to develop leadership and team building skills. In addition, their approach to academics fosters critical thinking skills vs. rote memorization. Now my son has daily homework that requires research and frequently engages us in fascinating conversations that I never would have expected from a 14 year old. In reading the reviews on this website, I was concerned about the academics in high school, so I attended the high school open house which included talking to both students and parents of former students. I am now convinced that not only are the students academically challenged, but that colleges value the unique experiences these students can bring to their campus.
--Submitted by a parent

I attended the high school at School of the Woods and had a wonderful year. The environment is outstanding. I have never experienced such a feeling of community. The students and teachers truly care for one another.Everyone is accepted and welcomed. However, the academics are lacking immensely, especially in the math and sciences. AP classes are also not available (though, the head master claims that this is an advantage for students applying to colleges). The high school is also overcrowded. However, the high school does feature what it calls intersessions, which are extended breaks where the students choose to do a number of things (from going to Big Bend, to 'Junior Week', New York, Guatamala...). Do not send your child here for academics, send them solely for the experiences.
--Submitted by a student

Amazing school. Leader in Montessori education. Supportive staff with lots of opportunity for student successes. Amazing art and music curriculum. Beautiful wooded campus. We have loved it there.
--Submitted by a parent

School of the woods is the best educational system I have ever encountered, from the hellping supporting air of the classmates, to the very involved and helpful teachers. Woods focuses on allowing the students to guide many aspects of they're academic carrier, and has the most comprehensive curriculum of any school in houston, if not texas.
--Submitted by a student