Odyssey Montessori School

This is my family's 3rd year at Odyssey. We have two children here, one in the Elementary program and one in the EC or preschool program, both very different children and both receiving what they need! Teachers are caring and committed. They teach to the individual child, so there is no boredom or struggling to keep up with the group. Parent involvement is welcomed and encouraged. The teachers listen to your parental observations and concerns and work with you and your child. A good example of this, shortly after Christmas, my daughter was writing thank you notes and I noticed her handwriting was all over the place! I tried to work with her on it but she was resistant to my corrections! I emailed her teacher about this and the next day when I picked her up, her teacher asked me to come back to the class to see what the entire class had been working on. All of them had been practicing writing thank you notes in their journals and the spacing and crooked writing problem was solved! Just like that! It is a comfortable, family feeling between staff and all students. A place where everyone knows one another. It is a blessing to have such a school as this in our area!
--Submitted by a parent

My child has attended Odyssey for three years now. She is excited to go to school every day. Now in the first grade, she is working on adding and subtracting 4-digit numbers, writes in cursive, and reads chapter books several years above her grade level. Her teachers work with each student one-on-one, every day. The head of school is passionate about education and the Montessori curriculum. She has her Ph.D. in Education and is in the classrooms- making sure that each student in the school is receiving the education they need and deserve. If you want your child to have their education tailor-fit to their individual needs; this is the place for them!
--Submitted by a parent

Our teenager is attending Odyssey for High School. Instead of memorizing SOL answers, our student is "learning to learn". The students receive a lot of one on one time with the teacher helping guide their coursework, participate in group work, and independent research projects. The students are encouraged to follow their educational interests and move along as soon as they are ready. This is a great environment for any student serious about preparing for a 4-year college or university environment!
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended Odyssey two years for preschool, then went to public school for kindergarten. We loved Odyssey and the teachers while we were there, and were very pleased with the progress that our daughter made. Most importantly, our daughter loved the school and was happy to go to school every day. Once in public school, the contrast was startling. Our daughter was far ahead of her peers in reading, math, and classroom behavior. While some of her kindergarten classmates were learning their letters, our daughter was reading chapter books. While her peers were learning to write numbers, our daughter was able to do basic multiplication and division! The foundation built at Odyssey will benefit our daughter for many years to come.
--Submitted by a parent

Our family has been so thrilled to be a part of the Odyssey community. After comparing the Montessori schools in both the Fredericksburg and Richmond areas, we decided that Odyssey is the best. We have been very impressed by the nurturing, warm and respectful environment as well as the academic excellence of the school. Our 3 1/2 year old loves going to school and is engaged and challenged. We are completely confident that he is receiving a world class education that allows his full person to flourish. I would encourage anyone looking for the best education for his or her child to visit and observe the classrooms, and peruse the classwork that occurs at Odyssey.
--Submitted by a parent

A bit unorganized. Some children seem to do well here, others do not.
--Submitted by a parent

My son entered Odyssey in 4th grade, after having gone to public school up to then. When he began at Odyssey he hated school and the pressure of having to perform to the Standards of Learning exams. At Odyssey, where he was compared to no one else, he relaxed. Four years later, he is thriving there. I have no idea what traditional grade he'd be put into if he went back to public school. And I couldn't care less. He is lucky enough to be in a school which celebrates individuality and the particular talents of each student. I wish everyone who needed this environment could afford it.
--Submitted by a parent

My child attended Odyssey for 7 years, and is currently in 9th grade in public school. My child is in two 10th grade classes (History and Math), and is in advanced Science and English. Apparently, nothing was missed at all. Former classmates of my child who have moved on to public school are faring equally as well, in mostly honors, advanced and AP classes. Some are one or two grades ahead of where they 'should' be, and at least one is even in Governor's school. Besides academics, my child learned social skills, self-discipline and self-reliance from being in the Montessori environment. Odyssey knows what it is doing.
--Submitted by a parent

My child was at this school for 2 years and tested at 2 years behind upon entering public school. He was taught nothing in 2 years. Not only was it a complete waste of money. We had him in private tutoring for over a year as it was recommended that he be held back. He has worked so hard and finally at grade level. It is sad that almost every child I know that attended with him suffered academically and required extensive tutoring and dollars spent after paying so much for private school.
--Submitted by a parent