Children's Montessori School

PO BOX 3510

Lompoc, CA 93438

11 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-6
Type

private

Find Homes for Sale in this School Zone

Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 06, 2022

HORRIBLE SCHOOL! Seriously, they only care about the paycheck. Teachers will allow bullying to occur and not tell the parents. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD HERE
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2015

I am very impressed with the school. My 4 year old son is learning how to sound out words, write words and numbers, and is beginning to learn about addition. These are skills that are currently being taught in the kindergarten classroom in the public schools! My son is very happy at the school, and he has really grown and matured since attending. I believe that the children are taught to be respectful at this school, and there is an expectation that parents also are following through with teaching these important life skills to the children, in which I am in complete agreement. There is also a beautiful new playground and an amazing garden now. The hard work of fundraising paid off to provide a brand new playground during the 2014-2015 school year. There are also many social opportunities available during the year as well as fundraising events for parents, children, and the community to participate in. This a wonderful school, and we are very happy to be a part of it!
Submitted by parent on November 05, 2013

My daughter began going to this school after her 2nd birthday, and is now, at 6 years old, in her first year at the elementary level. She is reading, writing, and doing math well beyond her grade level: reading chapter books of 100+ pages, doing larger sums in her head, and writing in paragraphs. I believe much of her progress can be attributed to the curriculum and classroom structure. While Montessori at the elementary level may be less familiar to parents than the early education, the individual-based instruction has been incredibly beneficial for our young student. We are very happy at this school, and the tuition is a bargain for the quality of education received.
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2013

Our children have attended CMS since Spring 2013 and we are confident that they are receiving a quality education. The Montessori method has been beneficial to both of our children, both in the Primary and Elementary classrooms. The teacher quality is exceptional. They truly care about each student in their care. We strongly believe in the Montessori Method which offers research and evidence to supporting their techniques. I would recommend CMS to any parent looking for a high quality school for their child.
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2013

My two sons attended CMS until high school. I prize the gentle, positive leadership of their teachers. Respect was a key attitude in the classroom; different learning styles were accommocated; and education in the fine arts was integral, not an aside. One son became a music major in college and has sung professionally in San Antonio, Texas, teaches voice and directs church music...while currently investigating graduate school options. Though he was interested in everything, including caring for the marine life in the school's salt water tank, he benefited greatly from his annual experience in the Christmas concert and fully-staged musical productions each summer. The other son is currently studying mechanical engeineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. During his sixth grade year at CMS, it was apparent that a learning challenge required specialized tutoring. The flexibility of the school to enhance his education by releasing him three hours per day for five weeks was the absolute key to his future. Had he been in public school, this could not have been feasible. His confidence increased; his testing began to reflect his ability. Win-Win! A great education!!
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2013

I was impressed since the first day my wife and I visited CMS by the manners of the older child giving us a brief tour. Shortly after enrolling our two sons we realized the emphasis on each student becoming independent thinkers, not something that characterizes the attitude of education in our public schools. Many tasks were studied independently, and guided by their teacher to pursue tangents that the kids were interested in investigating further. The enrvironment in the local public schools had become reckless and disrespectful, with many teachers unable by law to discipline the students. Chaos was the result. Our three oldest children, who attended public school, supported enrolling their younger brothers in CMS. Additionally, we thought it very interesting that several CMS students' parents were teachers themselves in the local public schools. They, who knew much about primary education, felt their children would get a better, more wholesome education at CMS! We agree and are so greatful that we were able to have our youngest attend CMS. I wish we had a higher economic demographic locally so that more could attend, and more money available for the school and its students.
Submitted by parent on October 23, 2013

This is our 2nd year at Children's Montessori School, and our son has come leaps and bounds. The teachers make my son feel comfortable, happy and confident. Through the different "lessons" that the kids are taught to do and eventually "master", the children are taught to focus their attention on one thing at a time. You would be surprised how exponential the carry over from school-life to home-life is. Merely attending a "non-montessori" vs a montessori children's birthday party, shows parents the huge differences between the "run of the mill" preschooler, as compared to a preschooler that is attending Children's Montessori School. Although there was a "learning curve" on how to behave and act at school (for the child and the parents alike), my son adores his school, his friends and mostly his teachers. Another awesome aspect of this school is the Parent Community. We are a community of parents who care deeply about our kids education and well-being, and sharing our kids accomplishments and comments about school is a daily habit! If you have any question as to if you will like this school, I urge you to simply set up a tour and speak to the teachers.
Submitted by parent on August 13, 2013

The preschool program here is fantastic and we found the elementary program to be very good as well. I like that the children are encouraged to learn additional skills such has prioritizing their own work and that they're not simply following directions. My children have all done very well there and the problems they were facing in the public school system slipped away as they progressed through the grades at Children's Montessori School. There are things I wish were better but that would be true anywhere. I'm very pleased with the experience from my children's educational and developmental perspective.
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2013

Overall, it's decent for preK, due to a lack of alternatives. I like Montessori, and initially it was a great fit for our child. Unfortuanately, as our child matured, they no longer fit into the school's regimented expecations and began having serious self esteem issues. Worse, they lack outdoor time especially if your child misbehaves. As another review stated, "If the child acts, "silly," they will not be allowed to sit with their friends at lunchtime," this is true. It is definately the parents' job to raise respectful children. The school's director is about 40 years in the past and lacks the follow-through to adequately deal with change. Further, you the parent will be blamed for your child's behavior while at school, even if they are obvoiusly picking it up from another student. The school has no playground, eventhough donations and years of fundraising monies have been dedicated for it. Instead, it appears the money was spend on exterior beautification which the children never see. There are small academic benefits for 2 & 3 year olds that deserve mention, but after that it's a painful, expensive and time consuming stuggle to get through to joy of the elmentary side.
Submitted by parent on April 20, 2013

Overall, this is probably a good school for preschool age childen, especially given the lack of quality preschools in the Lompoc area. I am a believer in the Montessori method, and wanted to believe that this school would be a good choice for our child since we had attended other Montessori schools in the past. Unfortuanately, that was not the case, as our child did not fit into the school's regimented expecations. Just as one other reviewer stated, if your child misbehaves, they will have playtime (which is incredibly limited to begin with) taken away. If the child acts, "silly," they will not be allowed to sit with their friends at lunchtime. It is definately the parents' job to raise a respectful, orderly child. But the teachers at the school lacked the follow-through to adequately deal with our child, even in the most basic of situations, and then they laid the blame on us as parents for our child's behavior while at school. The school also has no playground, despite substantial fundraising monies earned for that purpose. Outdoor time is limited to 20-30 minutes per day, out of a 7 hour day. The academic benefits of the school should be noted, but at what cost?
Submitted by parent on May 16, 2012

If you would like your child to be a controlled zombie send them to this school. If your child is unique or has any kind of personality that is outside of the behavior expected, they will be treated terribly. Had to file a report against this school for laying hands on my child. If you are lucky your child will fall in line. and get a great education. If not they will have all play time, activities, joy stripped out of the day. Also, expect to donate lots of time and money to keep the school running, or you will pay an extraordinary amount of money.