Desert Garden Montessori

Reviews

• Submitted by parent on February 02, 2025
  My child attended DGM’s Toddler program from Summer 2023 to Summer 2024 before we switched to a new school. Here’s our experience with their enrollment process, classroom care, and policies. Large playgrounds for both younger and older kids, giving them plenty of room to play. Organic lunch is one of the best in the valley. However, I did have other concerns.Enrollment Struggles:DGM has a long waitlist, we were repeatedly told to wait two more weeks but still heard nothing. It took months of persistence before finally receiving the contract.Classroom Concerns:My kid came home with bruises and bite marks, but we never received incident reports. When we asked the teacher what happened, they could not explain and gave vague answer: "sometimes kids paly rough"High turnover of assistant teachers. Parents weren’t notified of staff changes, so we never knew who was with our child aside from the lead teacher.School Policies & Costs:DGM frequently asked parents to attend social fundraising events, and donate money for improvements, yet tuition still increased the following year. By 2025, they required a one-year contract with a full-year tuition due at the same time, and a $2,000 penalty AND one month notice for leaving early. There were no refunds for missed days, and late pickups were charged by the minute. Also, many days off and long summer break (need to pay extra tuition for enrolling in summer school).Class Size & Learning:They kept doing the same drawing (freestyle painting on a small white paper) for the whole year. She eventually got bored and lost interest in going to school.The toddler classroom had over 20 children (ages 15 months to 3.5 years). Older kids got bored, and younger ones didn’t get enough attention, making it hard to say if it truly followed Montessori principles.Lack of Communication:Teachers provided no feedback on our child’s progress, only basic logs of eating, napping, and potty breaks.
• Submitted by parent on July 10, 2023
  I highly recommend Desert Garden Montessori. My child is actually excited to learn as the methods work for our family. The lead teachers have been there for 20+ years. My child is very emotional and they have been very supportive and communicate with my husband and I on the progress and giving us recommendations to help at home. The community and family engagement is the best part about this school! We love coming for curriculum nights and pasta nights! Not to mention it is very important for my child to have a well balanced diet which includes an organic lunch everyday at school.
• Submitted by parent on October 06, 2022
  I don't trust this school. Too many family and friends working here. Most teachers are not certified teachers and are just friends of the ownership. I highly recommend you research the articles written about the owner's son in the Ahwatukee Foothills Newspaper. The Walters family is trying to hide from what their son did to a student. But the Walters Family helped their son avoid arrest by funding his travels during a police investigation, funded his bail, funded his life while the court process took place. While the family is not necessarily responsible for what their son did, they chose to ignore signs of a family friend and student whose entire personality changed. Then when the relationship was brought to light, they stayed silent and stayed in control of the school and refused pleas to step down and audit the school policies and then made the working environment for staff unbearable and eventually a month before sentencing told the staff they had to choose sides. The side of the school and ownership or the side of the victim. SO much turnonver has happened and what is left is a toxic shell of a school. I wish they would sell to a complete outsider with a love of Montessori and hire teachers with certifications and way less family and friends.
• Submitted by parent on October 05, 2022
  Our son attended for two years. He was bullied and told the teachers. The school never notified us, it wasn't until our son told us that we went to the school to find out what was happening. It took a while to get it to stop. His class also had a trip to Utah that ended early because of discipline problems and had to come home early. There was a lot of teacher turnover while we were there. He is not as proficient in math now. The cost of the school is not worth the money. You can find much better schools without paying the high tuition here. I would not recommend this school.
• Submitted by parent on July 01, 2020
  I love this school and what it represents. DGM students are part of a family and graduate with education for today and into the future!
• Submitted by parent on June 30, 2020
  DGM has been an amazing experience for our two sons and our entire family. Spectacular curriculum, focus on social & emotional health, a robust athletics program, organic cafe & kitchen on site, and various music programs as well!
• Submitted by student on June 03, 2018
  My experience was so horrible!!! If you have a child that is from a public school and is going threw puberty do not send them here they cannot handle it and the frown apon it. I was bullied to tears which everyone saw me crying and no one asked to help or anything. I come from a different type of family who isn’t perfect and we’re not rich and going to a school where majority of the students are rich and everyone thinks they are perfect was not a good idea. I went there in 2013-2014 im 20 know and even driving by it hurts me thinking about how they mentally and emotionally killed me is really hard to this day in 2018 where i still have dreams about it
• Submitted by parent on May 01, 2018
  As a parents of 4 children that attended and are currently attending its been the best decision for our family. The kids have learned they have have a voice and that they matter. Our children have flourished as kind, giving, nurturing & loving human beings. We love the village created at Desert Garden it's amazing! Students make long life friends and so do parents. You owe it to your children to tour the school, meet teachers and see for yourself the environment the children get to learn in which, starts from infant to middle school. You will be amazed as we were when we toured back in 2004!
• Submitted by other on June 02, 2015
  DGM has been an absolutely amazing experience for our son! At first we were concerned that the cost would be overwhelming for all that is offered and were surprised that DGM was at the same cost as other daycares we toured. The classroom staff is attentive to his needs and he has developed to a level that we are astounded by. His love for music , art and the outdoors are all part of his daily activities at DGM. The school is organic and has an extremely diverse menu for the children. The administrative staff is caring and friendly, knowing everyone in the school by name and constantly goes out of their way to assist. We are so impressed with all DGM has to offer and would highly recommend this experience to our friends and family.
• Submitted by parent on January 23, 2013
  We waited two years to get our son into this school and I can truly say it was worth it. What truly separates this school from others is that you genuinely experience and feel the great support the school has for your child. They almost bend over backwards to ensure your child is happy and is in a nurturing environment. The teachers are not condescending or tired like you experience at other schools. They are cheerful, enthusiastic and genuinely love their students. They go out of their way to accomodate students from nearly every angle. They offer vegetarian, vegan and diet specific meals. The school is very diverse and that is reflected in it's students and faculty. The class sizes are small and there is a great deal of one on one teaching. There is a real sense of community and that is apparent in the Harvest festival and other events. There is a lot of demand for this school so if you are interested, I would be aggressive about interviewing and getting on the waiting list early.

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