Maria Montessori Children's School Foundation, Inc.

My son has been going to MMCS for the past 4 years. I am very, very happy with the school and their method of teaching. Through the use of "materials," children are allowed to fully experience and understand concepts. The holistic approach of he method where principles of science, math, spelling, etc. are integrated in a single activity encourages children to "think out of the box." As a whole, the method encourages more critical thinking in a way that traditional schools--owing to the methodology--are unable.

The class sizes are small compared to most traditional schools--25 to 30 students--with a teacher and an assistant. There are 4 "levels" in MMCF--casa, level 1,2 and 3, which is equivalent to the entire elementary module. There are on average 2-3 classes per level and each class is comprised of children within 3-year age groups. This allows children to learn from one another experientially and encourages them to teach/help the younger ones. It teaches them responsibility experientially. Because of the small class sizes, the parents are assured that their children get the attention they need. They provide feedback beyond the requisite PTCs. The camaraderie among the school's administrative and support staff also renders a feeling of being with family that one feels very secure leaving their children in the school. It gives on comfort knowing that the security guards know your children by name.

The parents are also very involved in the school, maybe owing to the fact that it is a foundation and the parents are "shareholders." Although we don't have large events like school fairs or concerts which are a given among the bigger schools, we have simple "homegrown" activities which showcase the sincere contributions of the school community. The school occupies the old campus of the British School. It does not compare with the facilities of many larger schools but they are adequate and most importantly, well-maintained. The school's fundraising activities are earmarked for small improvements which are undertaken in phases.

All in all, I would strongly recommend MMCS to other parents looking for a progressive school. In the same light, I would also say that the method is not suitable for all children. For those who thrive in structure and predictability, MMCS may not be the right choice. My son is not one of those so MMCS was a perfect fit. It adheres strictly to the Montessori method which has been in use for many decades in various parts of the world so parents need not be concerned about experimental teaching methods.