Acorn Montessori School

When my husband and I decided to bring our oldest son to Acorn, he was 3 years old right after the peak of the pandemic. As with many parents, there was a lot of apprehension with this choice but we immediately fell in love with the school, teachers and support staff.

We were incredibly impressed with the way they handled (and still handle) a very difficult time for both parents and children, and instantly made us feel that our child was in the best place possible for his safety and growth.

We then brought our youngest son into the toddler's class and yet again, we knew this was the perfect place; The teachers take into account each child's specific needs and the care, love and patience combined with the warm classroom environment allows for the children to thrive.

Additionally, the staff's communication with parents is second to none. Always accessible, proactive and guiding, instead of feeling a sense of being directed, creates a true partnership between us and them.

I can't say enough how lucky we are to have found Acorn Montessori. We are so grateful to have fostered lifelong relationships with both the other families and the staff themselves. They are world class teachers and caretakers.

The Penders

We are so grateful to be part of the Acorn family! Starting with my child's kindergarten, then primary, and now elementary years,  the teachers have been truly in touch with their students' individual needs and personalities and purposefully set the tone for a respectful, supportive, and fun learning space. We also really appreciate the unique and enriching programs embedded right into the curriculum (e.g. art, engineering, music and performance, yoga and mindfulness, Model UN, etc.). Combined with tons of family-friendly events throughout the year, the students (and their families!) benefit from an engaging, balanced, and diverse school experience!

If you are looking for a warm, caring and supportive environment for your child – look elsewhere, because you won’t find that at Acorn! My two kids (ages 3 and 5) attended Acorn for half of the school year. This school has no right to call themselves a Montessori ! Most of their teachers are not certified in Montessori education and the ones that claim to be certified follow the guiding principles very loosely. In a traditional Montessori school the teachers treat children with utmost respect and love, and provide learning experiences that support the child’s individuality. At Acorn – some teachers are cold, unfriendly and lack compassion. They talk to the children in a very stern or indifferent tone of voice, they use punishment and shame, they take away recess – all things that should never exist in any preschool, but especially one that claims to be a Montessori school. If your child naps, they will spend majority of their day, starting with lunch, in a multi-purpose room (that’s not their classroom) and will be mixed with kids from 3 different classrooms. In addition to that, the nap area is supervised by a rotating group of teachers, so on any given day your child will be cared for by 5-8 different teachers - that is a very stress-inducing set up! If your child is neurodivergent, prepare for the teachers to have zero understanding about neurodevelopment and the fact that some kids learn differently. They will be judgmental of your child’s behaviors and will label them as a “bad kid”. Even when a child is in a fight or flight stress response beyond their control, this school will offer no support to the child and will instead blame the parents for lacking discipline at home. Just in case the above-mentioned reasons are not enough for you, take a look at their state inspection reports from November of 2021 to see that they failed to run the required criminal and child abuse background checks for their staff, in addition to being cited for other violations. Your child deserves a better school!

My husband and I love Acorn Montessori School!  While "shopping" for a preschool for our daughter, over four years ago, we toured Acorn and immediately loved the campus and the atmosphere in each of the classrooms.  We weren't very familiar with the Montessori method, but we knew there would be no better option for us, it just felt right.  In a relatively short period of time, we have learned so much about Montessori and wish that ALL children had the opportunity to learn this way.  Our family has grown and we now have two boys that currently attend the school.  They look forward to going to Acorn everyday!  It is a wonderful environment where they can grow, learn and explore the materials at their own pace.  The teachers and staff are so incredibly caring and nurturing.  The feeling of community is abound at Acorn.  Many different events are held year round for families to participate in such as the Halloween Fun Fair, a book fair, movie nights, parent socials, a Spring egg hunt, etc.

As a parent, I began my search for a preschool for my daughter by making appointments to tour a few preschools in our area. Acorn Montessori School was our first tour. I brought my sister, who is a principal of a highly regarded elementary school in Manhattan, with me. Upon completion of my tour, I turned to my sister and said, "I'm canceling my other tours." She agreed that Acorn was one of the most wonderful schools she had ever visited, and my daughter would be lucky to be able to attend Acorn Montessori School. I am also an educator with over 20 years experience in the elementary school classroom. I have also worked as a staff developer. I was looking for the highest quality education for my children, and I felt confident that I had found it.
After 3 years of watching my daughter grow through her experiences at Acorn, I am happy to say that Acorn has exceeded my expectations. The school has an amazing staff of highly skilled teachers. The administration is very responsive, and the community is a wonderfully supportive group of families. There is an amazing balance of providing students with challenging experiences while still giving them plenty of time to play. I'm so grateful that my daughter is a student at Acorn Montessori School and am looking forward to my son becoming a student in the future.

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