Montessori Discovery School

We went to this school on recommendation from friends who had visited. Our children had spent 6 months at a national brand preschool with about 100 other kids and it was overwhelming for our youngest who was 2.5 at the time. We toured the school after our friends had made the suggestion and we loved the school. The atmosphere was animated and lively with examples of the children’s art work proudly presented. The teachers were nice and helpful even before we signed our kids up for the school. My youngest would cry and cling to my leg every single drop off at the old school; however, when it came to dropping off at Montessori Discovery School, that all went away. It is such a small, intimate setting, in a small house, you cannot help feel like your children are heading to the right place. Unfortunately, we recently had to switch schools due to the length of my commute to work, otherwise we would have enjoyed more time there. Please do not hesitate to ask questions if you would like.

Great school! Teachers are very professional and attentive. Friendly atmosphere, always plenty of great educational materials and toys, nice yard. It was first preschool for my kids and I’ve checked out about 10 others before choosing Montessori Discovery School and we are very happy with it.

We cannot say enough good things about this school. The teachers are fantastic, down to earth, fun to talk to, and firm (but kind) with the kids when needed.
I honestly had no idea how much preschool would benefit her. I have friends who have also sent their two year olds to other preschools but have not seen the level of development that we’ve seen with ours at MDS.
Since she started, she has become so much more confident, sociable, independent, kind, and polite. They even helped with potty training. I sincerely believe this school has made my daughter a better person, and in turn, made me a better mother. It is truly a wonderful place.

My 3 daughters have attended this school for the past year and we couldn’t be happier. We moved into the area during the summer, and transferred my oldest from another Montessori school. I have always loved the Montessori method and believe kids benefit greatly from this teaching style. However, this school is head and shoulders above our previous one, simply because of how welcoming the staff has been with me and my kids.
Not only do my kids LOVE all of the staff members, but I really love them too. They give me feedback or tell me stories about my kids all the time. It’s so great to know how your kids are doing, or whether they are struggling with something on a regular basis. The staff and I share stories about funny things my kids have done, and I know they love my kids.
I love that this is a smaller environment than our previous school because it means my kids know and love all the teachers, and they aren’t struggling with 30 rotating teachers like at larger programs. They also worked with me to potty train my 2 year olds — by accepting unpotty-​trained 2 year olds, they take the pressure off completely, and let the kids go at their own pace without shame or discouragement. They are more encouraging to my kids than I am sometimes!
I absolutely couldn’t have found a better place for my girls for preschool, and recommend this place completely.

I am so happy with MDS. My daughter started attending when she was 2.5 years old. As of this school year she was off to Kindergarten and my son started. I was wary about him starting because unlike my daughter who was having full conversations at 18 months he still wasn’t talking. They did wonderful with him and all of the sudden his vocabulary was blooming. All the teachers are amazing and my kids love them. My daughter loves coming back to visit and tells me all the time how much she misses everyone even though she still sees them 3 days a week when we pick up her brother.
I love the learning method and all the prep they do for the older kids to transition to kinder. They make birthdays wonderful and every other holiday as well. They love parent involvement and have always made us feel welcome and they listen to us when we do have something to comment on.
I have to admit Nancy and her staff have set the bar very high for me. I was expecting much the same from my daughters new school and they have fallen very short of what Nancy has managed to make look simple.
Dear Unilocal,this comment is for you. I have read all the other reviews including the «hidden» reviews am very disappointed to see other parents reviews blocked. It’s almost like you don’t want to show the true rating of this wonderful school.

Montessori Discovery School is AMAZING! Our family started there in 2011 when my son first turned 2 and now both of my boys attend, ages 5 and 2 ½. The director, Mrs. Dunn, and the rest of the staff have cared not only for my boys, but also for my family, in the 3 years that we have been a part of the school.
My boys truly look forward to going to school each day and as an educator myself, I drop them off knowing that I am leaving them in good hands. Most of the time, they don’t want to leave when I come to pick them up at 3 pm! The teachers care for the students as if they were truly their own.
When looking at preschools, due to budget, we were going to send my son to the YALE program through the Santee school district once he turned 3. Once that time came, I just couldn’t leave Montessori Discovery and now both of our boys attend.
You will not regret enrolling your child at Montessori Discovery School!

My daughter has been going here four about 6 months. She is almost 5 and we switched schools after she was being singled out as a disruptive kid at her old school. Her self esteem was suffering and she would complain of stomachs every morning when she was getting ready to attend her prior school. So we decided to try a montessori based program and MSD has been amazing.
Ms. Dunn, the director and my daughter’s assigned teacher, truly loves children. She understands them and their needs and really targets her program to be developmentally appropriate. Kids are loved here and they know it. Since coming here my daughter no longer complains of stomach aches and enjoys coming to school in the morning. Almost every day there is one special activity (like dance class or zumba or gym bus) that gives my daughter something special to look forward too. When my daughter has struggled to control her behavior, instead of chastising her or labeling her they have talked to me privately (not in front of her) and we work towards a solution. they also do parent teacher conferences which really gives you an uninterrupted chance to discuss your child’s progress. They have worked with us on every level to accommodate my daughter’s needs and truly reward and focus on her good behavior and attributes.
In fact my daughter has started reading in the short time she started here. I could not be more proud!
This is also a community school in the sense that parents are invited and encouraged to participate in various activities. They have holiday parties and use parent volunteers to run games and offer snacks. they do a thanksgiving potluck where all the parents and kids come together to get to know one another. I just love this about MSD.
Also, I noticed one unhappy parents post about nap time. My daughter has always struggled with nap time. She outgrew her naps a while ago and was always in trouble for being noisy and disruptive. Many schools require a 2 hour nape time, which is hard for many 4 and 5 year olds. Understanding that this is not developmentally appropriate, MSD allows a shortened quit or rest time for the older kids. My daughter still struggled with this at the beginning and was more disruptive then most but was NEVER placed in the bathroom. They continued to work with her and no she is one of the best resters in the bunch!

My daughter has attended MDS for over a year now. I feel like this school is the perfect fit for her bc the staff is friendly, they regularly attend Montessori conferences and other staff development days. I love that the school provides dance and music opportunities during the school day! My daughter is growing into a confident and very independent thinker bc of the special attention and care she receives. I have known many families over the past ten years who have sent their children to MDS so it was an easy choice for us to make to choose this school. I am an elementay school teacher and I taught preschool for over 6 years befor that. I feel I have a critical eye of other teachers and I really admire the teachers’ at MDS and my daughter ADORES them all.

My son has been going for over a year now and is loving it! He has grown so much! We started just after his 2^nd birthday and now hes alittle over 3. We found out that our son is mildly autistic when he was 2 ½. Along with therapies he going to and another specialized school hes going to, we wanted to keep him in the Montessori School since he was doing well in a regular school environment. They are working with him and want to help him out with his special needs. He learned his ABCs within the first 3 months of going. Hes learning to open up better with kids his own age and talking alot more which he really didn’t talk at all when he started. I love all the activities they do there and my son always has a smile on his face when I pick him up. Its been the best decision I made to put him in this school!

I first went here hearing decent things about this school. The director was very nice and the staff seemed good. I signed my child up and was excited for him to learn the MONTESSORI way and be really prepared for kindergarten and was hoping to have his kindergarten year there.
Unfortunately it didn’t turn out the way I had hope. The teachers sit under the patio when the kids are playing at the end of the play ground and are not fully able to see what going on. My child had to lay on the bathroom floor at nap time. Gross. He was moved because he was being noisy at nap they did mention that but failed to mention where he had to lay. I heard it from my 4 year old. They claimed but he laid on a mat and it was partially in the bathroom. Unacceptable. You put him on a bathroom floor. That’s disgusting! Last but not least my mom went to pick him up and never had been to the school to pick him up or drop off and they didn’t question who she was, look to see if she was on the list ask for id or nothing. Nobody said one word to her and let her walk out the door with my kid! Some of the teachers are decent one is not. She was rude and would give you dirty looks walk by you smirk and laugh not to mention when my kid would try to talk to her she would ignore him. oh and not to mention licensing had been out because teachers weren’t paying attention and a kid got out of the gates and ran toward the street. Needless to say he isn’t going back!

I looked around for other preschools in our area and the prices were outrageous and the centers weren’t kid friendly. I walked into this school and the staff was friendly and the kids were happily running around in the playground. My two children attended this school and we refer it to many friends, aquaintances. I loved the Montessori approach to teaching as well since it values children as individuals capable of many tasks that normally we don’t think children can handle.