Mater Amoris School

18501 MINK HOLLOW RD PO BOX 97

Highland, MD 20777

15 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-6
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on August 09, 2023

Our daughter has thrived since joining Mater Amoris as a pre-schooler in 2022. The diligent attention to the Montessori method and caring community have enabled her to really flourish. The school has gone above and beyond on so many occasions to create an environment that brings out the best for all kids, and our experience with the faculty has been great. The mixed age groups really benefit the younger kids by modeling skills and behavior, and also by creating a really caring environment that you definitely would not see in more hierarchical, mainstream schools. The campus is beautiful and the outdoor time and practical skills the kids get are a great feature. I highly recommend.
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2023

I never expected to be a private school mom—we have good public schools. But as my son neared kindergarten, I dreaded the idea of my curious kid stuck inside at a desk or table most of the day…especially after seeing how great his Montessori pre-school experience was. So, we started looking at options.We fell in love with the Mater Amoris campus as soon as we arrived. Woods for exploring, hills for sledding, acres of space to breathe. But the beautiful campus isn’t why we’ve stayed.The administrative and educational team understands and accepts children for who they are. Their strengths. Their struggles. Their personhood. Their potential. I can see how much everyone—from the Head of School to the summer camp volunteers—cares about helping my son learn and grow. And I appreciate their compassion and nurturing through the bumps along the way.And that extends beyond my son to us as parents, too, when we’ve needed the support. The entire staff is committed to partnering with us to help our son grow into the best version of himself. That is why we stay. We love this school and community and can’t recommend Mater Amoris highly enough!
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2018

Our experience at Mater Amoris was very disappointing in the long run. We pulled our child out after a couple of years of elementary school when it became apparent that the professionals at the school were not interested in any true level of structure or accountability to helping my child sufficiently learn the basic structure of math or reading. We had numerous meetings to discuss the lack of progress in these skills and were told that it was our child's fault of not being motivated since the material was always there for them to pick up whenever they liked. Many families left during our time there —it's a small school, so pay attention to why less and less students are in the upper grades. If your child is a natural and engaged learner, they will do fine — as they would in any school really. But if your child in not a deeply motivated learner, this is not the school for you. The small class size did not equate to the support we had expected to help my child thrive. Since we've left and gotten into a different school, he has thrived and done very well after a year of focused catch-up. We love the Montessori method and were sad to see it did not work out at this school. Other families who left and continued in Montessori elsewhere also discovered their children were significantly behind. So Montessori is a wonderful way of learning, with the right teachers and school. Unfortunately, Mater Amoris did achieve this for many.
Submitted by other on September 14, 2016

Mater Amoris came highly recommended by the staff at Rock Creek Montessori where my daughter attended pre-school, and turned out to be a fantastic choice for not only her (she has since graduated and currently attends The Barrie School) but her younger brother as well.The true Montessori methodology employed by the staff has helped shape both children into independent thinkers and doers, with a strong undercurrent of empathy and respect for others.The campus and staff combine to form a safe and positive haven where small class sizes and and unique opportunities allow children to thrive.Staff and administration are readily available and willing to discuss successes, challenges and the individual needs of each student.The family community is very accepting and willing to provide guidance, assistance and answers to new and prospective families.
Submitted by parent on June 11, 2016

My daughter has attended Mater Amoris since first grade. She is entering 6th grade there. If you like classic Montessori education for your child THIS IS YOUR SCHOOL! There is no fluff, no outside/weird materials - it is all Montessori - the "real" Montessori - and I can't say enough great things about the teachers (who all hold advanced degrees in Montessori education), the grounds of the school, and how much my daughter has excelled and grown there.
Submitted by parent on January 04, 2015

Mater Amoris is a Montessori school that adheres to Maria Montessori's approach in supporting the natural development of the child in a well-prepared environment. The teachers are AMI-trained and provide a loving, nurturing, and respectful environment for students to thrive. The students and families are supportive of one another and there is plenty of opportunity to volunteer and get involved in the school community. My child went on to a Howard County public middle school and was far ahead of her peers in truly "getting" the big picture in math because of her experience with math manipulatives at MA. She also gained a love and appreciation for good writing, which has carried her through some challenging (Common Core) writing assignments in the Howard County public school system. Perhaps the most valuable takeaway for MA students is their sense of self; through teachable moments with their peers and teachers, these kids become role models and leaders with integrity in their subsequent school communities.
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2014

Mater Amoris is an amazing school. The traditional Montessori curriculum is the center piece of this lovely school especially in regards to the education of the whole child. The parent community is warm and inviting with many opportunities to volunteer. My communication with teachers has been wonderful. The children of Mater Amoris graduate with a deep love of learning, independence, compassion for others and our planet, and strong sense of self. They are also able to advocate for themselves. This school is a treasure on 13 acres in Ashton, Maryland.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2014

Fabulous. Wonderful. I love this school. My daughter attended from age 4 through sixth grade. The upper elementary teacher prepared her for a smooth transition into all of the highest academic level classes in her new school. From my point of view, her strong academic skills are secondary to the life lessons and character development that was encouraged by the school. The teachers develop within the students a passion for learning, confidence, independence, and kind and gentle responsiveness to each other. This school is a gem. It doesn't get much better than this!
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2014

After sending our son to one of the perennial "Best of Howard County" preschools and finding ourselves extremely disappointed, we started exploring our options. We were lucky enough to have this quiet little gem of a school recommended to us by neighbors whose children had attended there years and years ago. I truly cannot say enough good things about this school and the love and education that our son receives there. The primary program, where children ages 2 1/2 to 6 are together in the classroom, has been extraordinary, and the children in the older classes (the school runs through age 12) are a testament to the type of person that the school produces. We feel so very blessed to have stumbled upon this extraordinary school and now have every intention of keeping our son there through age 12.
Submitted by parent on August 21, 2014

I agree w the other review - great school up to age 8 but pull your kid before they start the age 9 - 12 class. It's got long history of parents complaining and being ignored. The teachers in lower EL are terrific & except for 1 teacher who's been there forever and is GREAT, there is a really high turnover rate. No school board - this is both good & bad. Good athletics, if you like field hockey only. If your kid doesn't like it, no other options. Original founder/principal runs the school & is getting older & has outlined no plan for continuing the school (which makes parents nervous about future, but this concern is ignored). The kids are great, the school is great at not tolerating bullying/expecting high standards of character. The parents are cliquish and there is a LOT of gossip but maybe its because its a small school?Montessori stuff is great but stops being Montessori in 9-12 class even though its supposedly AMI Montessori. Great school just don't go there for 4th-5th-6th grades (unless they hire a new teacher, which they probably won't).
Submitted by parent on June 17, 2014

The school is located in Ashton, Maryland - about 5-7 minutes from Clarksville if you follow Rt 108 toward Montgomery County. It s off of Mink Hollow Road. We are having a great experience there, with wonderful, dedicated teachers and staff, and a very nurturing environment for the children. There are classrooms for 2 to 6 year olds (primary) , then 6 to 9 (lower juniors), and 9 to 12 (upper juniors). The children of different age groups get to know, work with and care for each other. We have been there for two years and have had a great experience with the teachers, administration and the student body. Its a true AMI school - those programs are quite hard to come by, and we are so fortunate to have such a gem of a school so close by. In addition to a great didactic program, it offers beautiful grounds with lots of outdoors time for children, along with a fabulous field hockey program and a very strong music/theater experience. The children that graduate (after 5th grade) know how to think and work independently, cooperate with their piers, and be comfortable in public speaking. Best of all, they continue to love learning! :)
Submitted by parent on June 09, 2014

I love Mater Amoris. My children have benefited immensely from this beautiful school. The teachers are all so wonderful. I only wish it went up to 8th grade. They are so nurtured from their teachers. It is like my son has a second family. He is in 5th going to 6th grade and I would have to say this teacher is amazing. She has helped so much and has kept me updated. Her years of experience is very reassuring. I love this school and would recommend it to anyone that wants their children to be strong open minded kids. I wish I could have gone as a child.
Submitted by parent on April 05, 2014

Excellent school for pre-K to grade 3 but not recommended for upper elementary (grades 4,5,6). Teacher in this mixed age classroom has been there too long & is no longer excited about kids, or Montessori teaching. She's awkwardly out of touch with kids in the 9-12 age group, shows overt favoritism, dislikes parents, and has weak academics; parents have left in droves because of her (she is dismissive of parents, never acts on their input). The administration is aware of the situation and of the exodus of many great families but does nothing. The school turns out great character-based kids but grades 4,5,6 are a waste. The upper elementary teacher does not follow AMI Montessori curriculum and uses non-Montessori-sanctioned materials to try to prepare kids for traditional school, but fails. They are all poor spellers. All other teachers are great; upper el is academically weak & there have been numerous complaints voiced. Enrollment has been dwindling since we left. MA would be a great school if they fixed this classroom and hired a strong, enthusiastic AMI teacher but from the looks of it, they won't.
Submitted by parent on October 27, 2013

Mater Amoris is a lovely Montessori School. The community of parents and faculty is warm and caring. My children have been extremely happy and have gained a strong love of learning. We couldn't be happier with our choice.
Submitted by other on May 27, 2011

My granddaughters attend this school and they absolutely it!!!!! This school has definitely deepened their love for learning. And the teachers are wonderful- so nurturing, kind, encouraging, and motivating :-)