Spring Valley Montessori School

I am one of the Directors at the school, and I'm also a parent. My daughter is in 7th grade and my son is in 5th grade. They both started with the school in Preschool. I want parents to know that the Administration takes parent concerns very seriously. If you are a parent, and have concerns, I urge you to make an appointment and discuss your concerns with us. We will talk to all of the concerned parties to see the complete picture; we are usually able to come to a good resolution for all parties involved. When resolving issues, we like to work quietly behind the scenes, so that no student, parent, teacher, or staff member feels singled out or gossiped about. Part of our education is Peace Education we teach the children how to resolve disputes through compromise, and that is how we like to address parent concerns. As a parent, I am happy. We ve been with the school for 11 years. I love that we have a low teacher/student ratio, so that our children can advance as far as possible in every subject. I love that my children love school! And, I love talking to them about what they are learning and seeing how complete their understanding is. --Susan Hancock, Finance Director
—Submitted by a teacher

Spring Valley is a wonderful school. My two boys attended Spring Valley for four years and feel at home there. SVM teachers and office staff are considered family to my children. When they see my child it isn't just a student they know by name, but they genuinely greet them and are invested in their lives. The campus is full of nature, something my children will never forget. Releasing salmon in the stream, watching the blue heron by the pond, seeing the baby birds nest each spring, listening to the woodpeckers on our walk to class, and the beautiful hummingbirds that feed by the office are all part of my children's memories at SVM. I highly recommend SVM. It is an investment we chose to make for our children will never regret it.
—Submitted by a parent

I have met several children that have attended SVM and seen them grow and move on to high school and college, the parents of these children have been active with their children through their school years and I believe this has helped and is neccessary to matter where your children go to school. I get the impression that some parents who take their children to SVM or any other private schools expect the teachers and only the teachers to "teach" their children and think they do not to have to help with their homework or take an interest in what they are learning. Even though your children are at a great school it is to their benefit for "you" to be involved in all matters of learning. Submitted by a past educator

"Mom when I am in 8th grade can I volunteer in summer school?" That for me says it all. A child that has been at the school for 8 years just cant get enough of it. Thank you Spring Valley for creating such a love of learning and a safe enviroment for my child to be who she is suppose to be not pushed to be. My kids love school everyday when we have break they are itching to get back to school. They want to learn and are never bored because there is no limit on how high they can go. That in itself is a reason to be at Spring Valley. Great Campus! Great Educatin! Montessori is an amazing way to get kids to love learning. The kids always look like they are having a great time. Would reccommend to all my friends. There is no bullying and regular harrasment that you see and hear in other schools. The school feels like a family. You can never please everyone all the time but even like the comment that is neg below mine her children are still at the school and she is happy with the education. The fluff beyond that for me really doesnt matter just my child and her learning to set her up for life.
—Submitted by a parent

We've had a child at this school for a few years. The teachers have been great for the most part. However, the administration of this school is in need of an overhaul. The administrator is happy to meet and discuss items, but after a few meetings we noticed there was no follow-through to address the issues we discussed and no return communication. Additionally, there are two individuals that cover the office duties. One is helpful and friendly, while the other makes you feel lucky to receive the time of day from her. With the level of tuition and associated fees, I expect the school to act/respond in a professional manner. When our child started attending this school, one of the parents warned us about the administration and told us not to expect much from that side. It took some time to notice, but that statement holds true.
—Submitted by a parent

We were excited to learn about SVM and decided that we would invest the 30min each way of driving to go there each day for our 6 year old daughter. Tuition for 1st grade is around $1,000 per month and so we are investing quite a bit in this school. We started school, my daughter was liking the school for the first couple of days. The following week or two, we started to notice a pattern. The front desk staff seems arrogant and bossy. They weren't very friendly, just seemed like they wanted to get back to doing their work. Not a good first impression. The 1st grade teacher seemed to have a similar attitude. My daughter came home crying and upset several days in a row. My daughter loved her other Montessori school and teacher, a night and day difference between SVM and our other Montessori school. Listen to your children - they tell you what is happening in the school while you are gone and how it makes them feel during the day. We decided to discontinue our attendence in the school mainly due to the bad feelings I was having at the Front Desk and with the 1st grade teacher. My daughter also didn't like how the school made her feel and was consistently upset. We don't recommend.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children who have attended Spring Valley Montessori School from Preschool (age 3) through 3rd grade. I have felt that there is no better alternative for early childhood education, for providing my children with a strong educational foundation, for providing my children with challenging academics, and for teaching my children important life skills. The thriving learning environment is full of a community of teachers, students, parents, and administrators who care about the children and their success.
—Submitted by a parent

My child has been at SVM for 2 years in pre-school and is ready and excited to start kindergarden. She has blossomed under the attention of very caring teachers who worked with her needs and gifts. I am very pleased with her academic learning and look foward to see her grow and learn in the next year; it is well worth the investment of time and monetary.
—Submitted by a parent

My child has had a wonderful preschool experience. She was in preschool for two years. We are so happy with her progress not only academically but socially and emotionally and are looking forward to Kindergarten next year. Not only does my child love her teacher but we also appreciate the teachers and the staff.

After 8 years at this school, with my oldest, my youngest will not continue. The 4th-8th grade math instruction has been awful. After researching High Schools, I found that he was not given the skills needed for the advanced programs. He was not taught Algebra I, until I requested it, when I told them that the High Schools required it. I was told Geometry was a 10th grade subject. The math teacher said my son wasn't ready. I have had to send my kids to Mathnasium. Working with their tutors, both kids are were brought up to grade level math. My 8th grader had been working on the Algebra I and Geometry that he should have been working on at Spring Valley. He was very much "ready" for these subjects, the math teacher just didn't want to do the work. At one report card conference, she said she "didn't have time" to help them with math. Spring Valley does not use the WA State Test. I was told this is because it is a "bad" test. But after having my children take it in 4th and 7th. I believe they do not want their test scores compared to Washington, as they are afraid that it will make them look bad. It is sad that this great school has gone down hill in math.
—Submitted by a parent

My son attended this school for 2 years. While the staff was friendly, I found that the academic rigor of this school lacking. My son was not pushed academically to succeed and the school provided limited resources to support his growth. For the average student, this would have been OK, however with a child working 2-3 grade levels above, this made for some boring times and trouble. My family would have been better off investing the price of tuition in college savings and enrolling my son in one of the choice elementary schools in the area.
—Submitted by a parent

The love of learning that the teachers at Spring Valley encourage is hands down amazing. The kids are excited everyday to go to school. They are not waiting for spring break. Learning is fun again. I wish I could have gone to a school like this when I was young I probally would have gone farther. Hope I can afford to stay till 8th grade!!
—Submitted by a parent

I attended there from 2008-2009. I don't think I was getting enough education in math. The teachers are nice, and creative. My teacher Ms.Whitman was really fun. I enjoyed the other teachers too. I had a fun school year. Homework and vocabulary exercises were helpful. -Addie Mae Thompson
—Submitted by a student

In addition to the Montessori curriculum, French & music are incorporated. Madame (French teacher) is on staff to immerse students in French. Students are at ease with the language and sing songs and perform plays in French during Spring Performance. The music teacher teaches every Friday to study instruments, musicians, & various music styles. Students annually raise and release salmon hatchling into Hylebos Creek, which runs thru the campus. Kids are very respectful of and hands-on with nature and the beauty of it; the campus is conducive to that. I'm very pleased that the school offers such an inherently enriching program during school hours. Consistent with the Montessori method, SVM prepares students for life skills, not just to pass Iowa tests or get thru the school year. Students here are different--on the whole, they are delightfully inquisitive about life and have a zest for learning.
—Submitted by a parent

In Montessori, where students spend 1-3 years in 1 classroom, parents get personally invested in teachers, whose career decisions may lead them elsewhere. My child is in their 3rd year @ SVM (since PreK). I have every confidence in the school to choose great teachers (they also educate Montessori teachers, so they retain the cream of the crop) and believe in the core, traditional Montessori values of the school. The ratio of 2 teachers per class is outstanding-at any given time, I can ask either instructor about my child's progress and they show me. The teachers and principal are VERY receptive to parent inquiries and love to educate parents. Their love for teaching is evident. Visit the school and observe the children's strong propensity for learning fostered in the Montessori way. I interviewed many parents and schools before selecting SVM and am very happy with my decision.
—Submitted by a parent

Spring Valley once had a lot going for it and could be considered one of the best elementary schools in the South Sound. It has unforunately gone downhill quicky. The vast majority of the teachers are useless and those who are wonderful are leaving. This will be the last year my daughter attends. It looks like we won't be only ones.
—Submitted by a parent

This is the 5th year at Spring Valley with multiple students. I am no longer happy and highly disappointed. My child's self esteem, confidence and math have been neglected since the start of 3rd grade. I would attribute part of this to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders being in the same small room but not solely. I am still very happy with Pre-School to 2nd grade and am sad to say that it is time for us to move on due to the upper grades.
—Submitted by a parent

This is an excellent private school, have a very low student to teachers ratio, a class of 25 has on an average 3 full time teachers, great teaching enviornment with lot of individual atention
—Submitted by a parent

My child has attended this wonderful Montessori for two years, since she was 3. The teaching is excellent, the curriculum much more advanced than other preschools. At 4 1/2, she is learning lower and upper case cursive beginning writing, French, beginning Math and I couldn't be more pleased. Highly recommended!
—Submitted by stephanie graham, a parent

My child has attended this school in Kinder, 1st and now 3rd grade. This is a school where the children come first. Each child is encouraged to do their personal best without being labeled. The teachers are kind, highly skilled and work hard to bring out the best in each child. Thank you for bringing out the best in my child.
—Submitted by a parent