Bloomington Montessori School

1835 South Highland Avenue

Bloomington, IN 47401

21 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-6
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on June 05, 2024

We are so happy to have found Bloomington Montessori School! My kids have thrived there even through the pandemic and schooling from home. Being directly involved there for 9 years now, I've witnessed the positive changes and growth in the leadership and overall structure of the school. One of the most important aspects for me is that they utilize Positive Discipline techniques which is very much in alignment with the Montessori philosophy. As someone who has also completed Montessori teacher's certification, it is extremely evident to me that BMS continually strives to be true to the method. Now that my oldest has completed Upper Elementary, I can truly say that the Montessori method as a whole has been great for her. She's well prepared for middle school and will be going in still having the light in her eyes and the love of learning. We love Bloomington Montessori School and highly recommend it to anyone who feels personally aligned with the Montessori philosophy.
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2024

My kids have attended Bloomington Montessori for 8 years, and we’ve had a fantastic experience - especially in the preschool and lower elementary classrooms. One of my kids hasn’t really clicked with their upper elementary lead teacher, but the faculty and staff have been great about communicating and troubleshooting with us.My kids feel totally comfortable expressing themselves authentically, conflict between peers is resolved thoughtfully and effectively, and the students are all encouraged to be good global citizens and stewards of their environments. My kids love when visitors come into the classroom to share an aspect of their culture, an animal ambassador, or a special skill, and were particularly fond of the Kindergarten nature walks in the Magnolia classroom.Is it expensive? Yes, I won’t lie, it’s kinda up there, but it’s been worth it for my family.
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2024

We love BMS. My kid has been attending Montessori school for 2 years and I'm so impressed and proud of her progress. She has learned so much and she is always happy and excited for new challenges. The teachers are constantly rotating subjects in a seamless manner which keeps the children engaged. The blended age learning style really works for our child because she learns not only from the teacher but from the older children in class, it also helps her practice her kindness and patience by helping the youngest kids. Some of the things they teach them are practical life skills, so she is always eager to help around the house with cleaning, food prep, gardening, etc. She is in the Sweetgum classroom with the lead teacher April and we are very pleased with her leadership and with the kindness and professionalism of the other teachers (Terri, Nancy and Lindsey). You can walk your kid to their classroom so you get to see the class and how the students are working independently in such a calm and nice space. I always get quick responses from the teachers whenever I need help with anything. She gets to stay with the same teachers and the same classroom for 3 years which I think is unique from other schools. It is a community, our kid is constantly invited to birthday parties, play dates and the parents association is always planning fun events for the parents and students to come together.They also have a Spanish program and the teacher Paola is very fun and knowledgeable.The director Quinn and subdirector Jess, are very accesible and they are always there in the front office as soon as you come in, so you can always talk to them. Mc Kenzie at the front office is very attentive and quick to help with anything. One of my concerns about my kid starting prek so soon was the food but I'm so pleased with their food. Emily preps fresh and healthy food for them everyday, my kid now likes to eat curry, pea soup and all of the variety of food they prepare for them. They don't get any processed foods or snacks and that is very important for us. We have nothing but positive experiences with the school.
Submitted by parent on May 16, 2024

I suspect some of these reviews are older from under the previous administration because the current administration has been well-versed in Montessori philosophy and discipline. I have had three children at this school for the last 5-7 years. All the teachers have been wonderful and supportive. Children are encouraged to work independently and work at whatever their skill level is for subjects. Classes are small for a great student: teacher ratio. I have a child with sensory processing issues and the teachers and administration helped him tremendously with emotional outbursts. This school truly helped my children find a love of learning. Teachers are always responsive to my concerns and suggestions for ways to help my child with their struggles.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2024

We have spent a significant amount of time at BMS over the past five years, and it has all been time very well spent! Our children have excelled academically in the classroom settings, and socially within the BMS community. They are learning an impressive variety of skill sets, which often surprise us when we chat about their days. We feel confident in the education they are receiving, and our children feel confident in themselves from being in such a caring and supportive environment. We appreciate the individualized care that the teachers give our two unique kiddos. We also appreciate the teacher’s well-honed skills and dedication. We are thankful to have found BMS and look forward to many more great years there!
Submitted by other on May 07, 2024

I have been so impressed by the dedicated teachers and staff at Bloomington Montessori School! My grandson's teachers went to great lengths to support and him and his special needs during earlier struggles. Today he's a successful and happy boy and I'm sure it's largely because of the amazing teachers he's had here at BMS.
Submitted by parent on April 18, 2024

I would definitely recommend my sister went and it is an amazing school
Submitted by parent on April 01, 2024

Would give a zero. The kindergarten teacher told me and my husband that she wouldn’t be able to teach my daughter to read and write since there were “too many children” and that we’d have to figure it out on our own. Not worth the money if they make you teach your child on your own because the teachers won’t take enough responsibility. Bullying is also out of hand here. The education and environment is absolutely horrible, please, PLEASE don’t put your child here for your own good.
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2023

My daughter attended the upper elementary program after transferring from an out-of-state public Montessori School. The teachers were supportive and helped to her to feel empowered, self-confident, and worked to assisted her in developing her executive function skills. After graduating, she attended a local public school and is excelling in all things!!!! Thanks BMS!!!
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2023

In this school, my child was bullied repeatedly while the teachers knew about it. They didn't believe her when she said she got hit by someone, because they thought that person was "too nice" to hit my child. My kids didn't learn ANYTHING here. Everything is very disorganized and teachers favor other students. My kids were behind when they moved to a different school, because Montessori didn't teach them enough. PLEASE don't go to this school. It's a horrible environment to keep your child in.
Submitted by parent on May 02, 2022

I have three children at this school currently. I feel each child is treated differently based on their strengths and weaknesses. There have been some struggles with transition from one class to another but largely, I feel my children are seen for who they are as individuals and the administration is so supportive when a child is struggling for whatever reason. My children have never been "punished" but rather are sat down and the situation is discussed so their voice is heard. I am very pleased with their education and development as people.
Submitted by parent on February 09, 2021

Like any school, a child's experience at BMS is highly dependent on their teachers, particularly their lead teacher. What makes BMS different is they spend three consecutive years with the same teacher. This can be great or not so great. We experienced both. It's unfortunate, but our positive experiences were overshadowed by our profoundly disappointing experience with the upper elementary classroom.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2020

Bloomington Montessori School is a caring, intentional and respectful learning community. Right away, we could tell our son's curiosity and love of learning was being nurtured and empowered in the classroom. We have found the school families to be friendly and fun, and simply adore the teachers and staff. The teachers are skilled, kind and dedicated. I couldn't imagine finding a better, more trustworthy place for my son to spend his days learning and growing!
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2018

While the Montessori philosophy promises a child-led education, the 6-9 classroom regularly employed punitive punishments like taking away recess if the child "fell behind" in their "child-led curriculum". There was poor communication with the parents; parents at the beginning of one school year were told about certain curriculum changes, and those were later modified without further communication with the parents. The lead teacher (now Director) in the 6-9 classroom had a history of difficult interactions with one of our children (it was bad enough that another teacher at the school approached us with their concerns about it!), so we attempted to work constructively with her to help her navigate the child's (extremely mild) anxiety issues. This teacher had at times paired this daughter with children that were bullying her in the classroom, dismissing our concerns about the classmate, laughing that "well, they may be fighting but it makes her vocal; sure, she's screaming, but that's a good thing, because she's coming out of her shell." This teacher treated our child's anxiety like it was a disciplinary or tough love issue and responded angrily as if the effort to work constructively with her on the issue was an attack. The classroom regularly discusses issues related to peace and community, but the leadership doesn't appear to live up to it. They reacted defensively and dismissively when several parents attempted to provide constructive feedback about certain policies that were not inclusive. Honest effort to work together as a community was dismissed as "negativity." "My way or the highway" appears to be the rule, which doesn't demonstrate much dedication to the community. We were quite happy with the other teachers in the classroom, and with the community of parents, the aftercare program, and our Pre-K experience. Unfortunately, the school has high turnover with its teachers and aides, so I can't recommend it, in its current state, as at this point it's like gambling with your children's education.
Submitted by parent on April 15, 2018

This school has provided a sense of community and empowerment to my children. They are capable and independent and have learned so much about the larger world.
Submitted by parent on April 14, 2018

If you are invested in your child's education, especially inspiring a love of learning, intellectual curiosity, and creativity, this may not be the best option for you. Children at BMS are taught a peace curriculum that is at odds with how the school operates in the community of Bloomington. Rather than being an inclusive school based on the Montessori method, it is an elite school that has an international study body but not a diverse student body in terms of race, income level, or disability. High academic achievement is a by-product of the lack of diversity. There are three pre-school classrooms, two lower elementary, and one upper elementary classroom. There are fewer students in the upper elementary because many families move their children to public school for the following reasons: 1. BMS does not accommodate children with disabilities. There is no social worker, special education teacher, inclusion teacher, or school nurse. 2. BMS does not accommodate children with allergies beyond the pre-school classrooms. 3. There is a waitlist for the lower and upper elementary that is not transparent.4. There has been a high turn over in teachers in the past six years (from 2012-2018). This may be in part due to lack of teacher training (very few teachers have degrees in education), low salary and lack of benefits, no path for advancement, and lack of harmony among the lead teachers and their aids, which is evident in the classroom. 5. The curriculum in the lower elementary is inconsistent and this can be frustrating for even the brightest child. This is related to high teacher turn over. To address this, the school has a Director of Montessori Programs, who is also a teacher. Thus, there is no oversight of the teachers. If parents have questions about their child's education, there is no recourse beyond the teacher. 6. The school does not deal well with bullying, especially with regard to disability and race.7. There is no gym or auditorium and sports are discouraged because they are seen as at odds with the peace curriculum. 8. Music, Spanish, and Art are often taught by the lead classroom teachers and only occasionally are they able to hire additional teachers in these areas.
Submitted by parent on April 13, 2017

I would advise caution in choosing this school. My preschool son was expelled after a year and a half for inability to control impulses. We tried to work with the lead teacher on discipline techniques, and she would not entertain anything that didn't conform to her philosophy, which essentially boiled down to just talking to the child when he didn't conform to her expectations. In my estimation, 3 and 4 year old children are simply not 100% rational creatures yet. Once it became clear to the teacher that her techniques weren't working, she was quick to dismiss him. We found it very uncaring and irresponsible. The academics are wonderful, and my child thrived there academically. But not socially, which is what preschool should be emphasizing, in my opinion. There are other excellent teachers at this school.
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2014

My experience with BMS started when I worked for a year as a teacher's assistant in the 6-9 (1st-3rd) classroom before returning to graduate school. The wonderful outcomes I saw there persuaded me to put my son on the waitlist for the preschool just two weeks after he was born, and now as he is finishing his second semester at BMS, we are seeing so much fruit from the teachers' patient and consistent approaches. One thing I would point out is that BMS stands out even among Montessori programs. Beyond the native virtues of the Montessori method (which is truly the way to go, especially for young children), BMS has strong music instruction and Spanish starting at age 3--taught in a way appropriate to the children's absorbent minds (not as a "foreign language" but through small-group immersion experiences like stories, games, and songs). BMS is also more "academic" than some Montessori schools; in the 6-9 classroom, children do independent research, science, weekly literature circles, and math. I saw them rapidly progress in mathematics. I saw such a range of personalities thrive, and there is no better environment for cultivating native curiosity, self-direction, and self-control.
Submitted by parent on December 13, 2013

We thought about sending our children to the Bloomington Montessori because we watched the children of parents we knew blossom into intelligent, inquisitive adults with a life-long love for learning. These children (now adults) heavily credited BMS with helping them to be who they are. After investigating the Montessori methods and researching student outcomes, we felt it would be great for our children. Each classroom has at least one head teacher that is a certified Montessori teacher with one or two assistant teachers with training in either Montessori teaching or degrees in early childhood education. The ratio of students to teachers is kept at 10 to 1 or lower. Students stay in the same classroom with the same teacher for three years so the head teacher really gets to know each child. Montessori education works best when a child starts young (3 or 4) as their natural curiosity is nurtured to increase attention span and focus. They also learn time management skills at a very young age by establishing their work plans (starting in the first grade) which will serve them well for the rest of their lives. I cannot recommend this school highly enough.
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2013

I do not recommend....questionable staff hired, who do not have adequate teaching experience, and questionable past. Not worth the money and worry.