Montclair Cooperative School

65 Chestnut Street

Montclair, NJ 07042

47 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on November 19, 2024

We are thrilled to have found this school for my daughter, who started in the Pre-K class and is now in Kindergarten. She loves going to school every day and we've been thrilled to see how much fun she has, while at the same time constantly bringing home stories she's written (and acted out with the class), Spanish words she's learned, ASL words, and new reading skills. The social and emotional support from her teachers is exceptional, and the low student-teacher ratio means the teachers have the time to really get to know the kids as unique individuals. The amount of mixed-age experience she gets is another key component that attracted us to the school. The Coop finds numerous wonderful opportunities to have kids of all ages interact and grow. My daughter has loved her "reading buddies" both years (4th-6th graders) and become attached to their classes. At the same time, she loves doing group activities with the younger kids and getting to be the "big kid" in the room. Overall, we could not be happier with the school. It is exactly the type of progressive, kind and engaged learning across all areas (intellectual, emotional, social, physical) that we were looking for.
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2024

Our daughter is in the kindergarten class (she started in Pre-K last year), and it's an incredibly special community of students, teachers, and administrators. The strong focus on community and social and emotional skills is totally unique in the area, and it feels like a true village--the parents and the teachers all support each other and each other's kids. And the teachers really take the time to lean into students' unique strengths to help them thrive. Our daughter has started coming home and saying "I LOVE the co-op!" (Not just "I love my class"). Would recommend to anybody!
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2024

We have been absolutely thrilled with the experience that our daughter has had at the Montclair Cooperative School. After two years in Public School (K and 1st Grade), where she was overlooked and they did not see the additional support that she needed, the Coop provided an incredible learning experience from 2nd Grade onwards. The teachers provide a level of engagement and holistic education that has been incredible, and the experiences our daughter has had from both the classroom and experiential learning (trips to Jamestown, outdoor learning experiences, etc.) have developed her into such a well-rounded person (affectionately a "Co-Op Kid"). There is also tremendous partnership from the parents into the school given that it is a Cooperative based education and this extends to the parent led board. I can't say enough about how the Co-Op has positioned our daughter for going into high school, and to develop as an adult.
Submitted by parent on October 03, 2024

Our daughter began her journey in the early ages classroom at 3 years old, and it has been a wonderful experience! We were delighted to discover a comprehensive school setting at this young age. The beautiful, open space and ample outdoor time were essential for us, and we've seen how well-structured the classroom time is. Our daughter has quickly grasped various educational concepts, and we truly value the strong foundation she’s building in relationship and community skills—like teamwork in cleaning up and showing respect for others—alongside her social-emotional development.
Submitted by parent on September 16, 2024

Our son joined the Coop as a 5th grader last year. We were in search of a differentiated middle school experience to the standard, large, public middle school in our Bergen County town. We are thrilled to have found the Coop, as our son has not only excelled academically, but has thrived in terms of socioemotional development, creative thinking, and executive functioning skills. The Coop is truly magical, where children, teachers and staff, and parents form a community that teaches kids to challenge themselves and nurture their love of learning. The Coop is rigorous when it needs to be, but also meets each kid at their level. The combination of top-tier academics, through a lens of hands-on learning, combined with personal development rooted in being a part of a community- is second to none. We hope you join our Coop Family!
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2024

We are in our second year at The Coop and our family loves it. Our child started in 5th grade and feels challenged academically and supported by the teachers. The campus is smaller than other private schools, but this school is full of heart. We had an experience at a different private school with a larger, flashier campus and had a very bad experience. We chose The Coop after that experience and we are so glad we did!
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2024

We found the Co-op after several years of not finding the right educational experience and environment for our child - and we are so glad that we did. Montclair Co-op offers an environment that welcomes diversity of all kinds, and encourages students to think differently. Originally we had been in our local public school system, but the gaps we saw for our child (even in what is considered one of the best schoolDistricts in NJ) just weren’t working. Parent involvement has been key, and unlike many other schools, we are able to influence various aspects of the growth of the school.
Submitted by parent on September 13, 2024

My children have been going here for the past 5 years. The teachers and administration are so caring about the children. My children really do love school and their teachers and are excited to go (which is crazy to me having gone through NYC public schools). And since it's a cooperative school, by being active and participating in the school community I believe that my child's experience at the school has been better for it.I've seen the school not work for certain kids who have special needs, despite the school's best efforts at trying (e.g. adding additional assistant teachers to classrooms). They are a small school so are not adequately equipped to work with a child that needs constant attention (for example, a persistent behavioral issue that disrupts the classroom learning). They teach the kids how to solve problems vs knowing answers to problems, learning by doing vs memorization, working together with classmates / other grades, and explicit focus on social-emotional development of the child. It's a very tight knit community where the kids frequently interact with other kids in different grades.
Submitted by parent on September 13, 2024

We discovered the Coop in 2018 while searching for alternatives for our soon-to-be 4th grader. From the moment I toured the building, I knew it was the right place for us. That 4th grader is now thriving in 10th grade, and our second child is currently in 6th grade at the Coop.The Coop has provided an excellent, child-centered education that addresses not only academics but also emotional and overall well-being. They meet children where they are, fostering an environment that encourages curiosity, individual expression, and a strong sense of community.While the children's needs are the top priority, the Coop also offers a wonderful community for parents and caregivers, involving both staff and administration. It truly takes a village to raise children, and the Coop has been a vital part of ours.
Submitted by parent on September 12, 2024

As parents of a young child, we were seeking a school that not only provided a strong academic foundation but also fostered a sense of community and a love of learning.This school's cooperative model truly sets it apart, as parents are actively involved in the educational process. The teachers are incredibly dedicated and passionate about their work and encourage the children's curiosity and creativity. The small class sizes ensure that every student receives personalized attention.Beyond academics, the school places a strong emphasis on social-emotional development. We love the emphasis on play-based learning and outdoor education.We are so grateful to be part of the Montclair Coop School community. It is a truly special place where children are nurtured, inspired, and empowered to reach their full potential.
Submitted by parent on July 26, 2024

Our two children have had a great experience at the Co-op. The small classroom size has enabled our children to receive personalized attention and differentiated learning. The teachers really care about the students and encourage them to think independently and problem solve. The field trips and experiential learning reinforce what is taught in the classroom. The school does a nice job of teaching both individuality and reinforcing kindness and social awareness. Parents are actively involved in the school and this gives the school a strong sense of community. Our children are getting a solid foundation, not just for high school, but for life.
Submitted by parent on July 18, 2024

We have been with the Co-op for 4 years and our kids are thriving academically and socially. The teachers and support staff are top-notch. The students learn how to think for themselves through experiential, project-based learning. While individuality is celebrated, there's also a loving and supportive community with deep connections across all ages. It's truly a magical place!
Submitted by parent on June 25, 2024

We have had a wonderful experience at the Co-op, watching our daughter continue to grow into a curious, creative, and kind child. Her teachers know her well and understand what excites her academically, and have helped her continue to blossom in her social/emotional learning as well. I love how creative the school is - so much singing, performing, and collaboration across the grades. We are grateful for finding such a welcoming community.
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2023

My daughter went to The Coop for three years and have to say we tried our best but it is just not a great school. The school is dominated by the voices of a few long-time teachers who really hold the school back. The price of the school does not meet the results as my daughter had to extra tutoring and work to get to grade-level. I don't hold much hope for them until then change some of their DNA.
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2023

Sending our kids to the Co-op was hands-down the best parenting decision we ever made. The school's focus on teaching children to trust themselves, to think critically and be curious. and to work well with others has served them well in high school and in their various extracurricular activities. These are often the same qualities that others comment on in my kids as well. They have benefited immeasurably from being part of the Co-op and being known by their teachers and peers. The Co-op will always hold a special place in our hearts!
Submitted by parent on March 17, 2023

Our children and nephews have attended the Co-op and emerged as well-rounded and intelligent children who thrived at top five NJ private high schools. Since graduating from the Co-op, our eldest child is thriving both academically, socially and athletically. The Co-op thoroughly prepared him for honors level math, science, humanities, and English classes. He is successfully navigating a much larger student body, participating in school activities, and making great friends along the way. Our nephews also thrived at top-notch private high schools post the Co-op, where they were academically successful having been well taught by the Co-op faculty. What we can say is that the Co-op teaches kids to give their best academically, to fully appreciate the value of community and empathy, and most importantly, to be the very best versions of themselves. We love this school!
Submitted by parent on October 15, 2022

We have been so fortunate to join the Montclair Cooperative School community. It has been a magical place for our son as well as for us as parents. The school provides an engaging hands-on curriculum, numerous field trips, social-emotional learning as well as a robust set of specials including music (featuring African drumming), art, and Spanish. Beyond that, this school is the definition of a welcoming community where you feel like your child is truly appreciated for their unique selves and as a parent, you always feel like you have your “village.”
Submitted by parent on October 12, 2022

The coop has been an amazing experience for our daughter. There is such good communication with teachers and my daughter is excited to go to school everyday. They do a great job of having interesting hands on projects, field trips, and group activities. There is an excellent reading tutor and great additional classes (Spanish, music…). The curriculum is strong and the teachers are very nurturing.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2022

We were so disappointed with how quickly the school changed from an enchanting learning space to nothing but a facade. They fired several amazing core teachers and eliminated so many amazing classes (music, library, IT/coding). Parent assists (the very essence of cooperative values), assemblies and field trips - also greatly reduced/eliminated. Sadly, a lot of manipulation was happening behind the scenes. We experienced lack of honestly and transparency from the administration as well as zero implementation of cooperative/progressive values towards the end. To make matters worse, once our children left this school, we realized how behind they were and how little they progressed academically while at Montclair Cooperative School. We had to play a lot of catch up and hire private tutors to get them back on track. This school failed our children.
Submitted by parent on September 05, 2022

What you’d expect from a cooperative is school is not what you get. What I’ve heard used to be great about this school is no longer what they’re about. For the caliber of new teachers that they employ, you might as well go to public. The school is no longer the special place it used to be.I had hoped this school was an emotionally safe space. They are blind to bullies. The school addresses tough issues with fluff as opposed to realness. As a school that tries to please everyone, as opposed to keeping to a standard, they please no one. They tell people what they think they want to hear.