St. Mary's Montessori School (Rancho Campus)

I toured so many school I promised this is the best school I have seen now. I am a very picky parent (my husband too) but we don't find anything we are unsatisfied with at St Mary.
- I love how staffs here are dedicated and patient to kids;
- I also love how strict they are maintaining to ensure health and physical safety. I saw some schools allow parents joining all school events and anyone can enter school areas. As a parent, I feel so safe about everything what St Mary is doing.
- I am very glad teachers are reaching out routinely to update my kid's performance;
- The environment in school is super clean and super organized/bright. The kitchen is transparent too.
- The most importantly, my kid made a lot progress since she started school this June. She loves school, her teacher and friends. She proactively told me everything she is happy with at school. She likes drawing, dancing, singing. She is in bilingual family but she can gradually understand both language better and better.

Because all of these, I understand why the waiting list line is so long. St Mary Montessori is not only the best school in Rancho Cucamonga, but also the best in the whole greater LA area.

My 4 year old son previously attended a large name daycare where my husband and I saw serious concerns in his educational development.  He was basically left to play with toys and there were no outward signs that the staff cared about his growth.  At this other daycare, he was surrounded by children who were acting out and who were not learning how to deal with conflict and frustration often coming home with bruises, bites and unexplained injuries that the teachers hadn't witnessed.

When we moved our son to St. Mary's Montessori, it was as if a prayer were answered for us.  I immediately felt like my son was in the hands of true educators!  I felt an immediate connection with the staff from my first interaction with Mrs. Nel and her husband Mr. Chris, I knew this was more than just a business venture for them, they truly had a passion for what they were doing and they were making decisions that were in the best interest of all of the children (this could be seen in the delivery of healthy meals/snacks; the new playground equipment that had been installed; as well as the educational focus of each activity I could see the children engaged in).  Within the first two months I saw dramatic changes in my son.  He was becoming much happier, it was obvious that he began interacting with other children and adults in a more polite and courteous manner.   He loves the teachers at St. Mary's!  Within months of transferring he was able to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, identify all of the continents, and was writing.  In addition to teacher conferences where I receive an assessment of his educational development, I receive daily communication and pick up his work each Friday.  This is truly a school, not a daycare.  Our son is now asking to write numbers and letters independently and is showing more interest in attempting to read on his own.  Studies prove that children develop lifelong study habits at this time in their life, and his enthusiasm for education makes me realize his placement at St. Mary's Montessori school was the perfect decision!  My husband and I both agree that if you want your child to learn and take a positive step forward, then St. Mary's is the place for them.

I also love that the school ensures there is a strong connection between the parents and their staff.  I've thoroughly enjoyed attending the classroom parties for holidays.  I saw that one of the other reviews said something about parents providing snacks and juices, etc. - and I wanted to comment that on the very rare occasion that I've noticed a sign up sheet for parents it was to provide additional food so that the parents could attend an event and eat with their child.   I would love being involved more, I would absolutely love the chance to volunteer for any of the events.  I, for one, certainly don't find the requests of the school to be any different than I encountered at the big name daycare - they too wanted a yearly registration fee.  While the parent association has done some fundraising for additional money for special event venues and teacher appreciation, I've never felt it was inappropriate - as those funds shouldn't be expected to come from the money we spend for the normal schooling.
I feel I get more than my money's worth.. St. Mary's is priceless in my opinion!  We couldn't be happier!

Our daughter has attended St Mary's since April 2013. She loves going to school! Some days she isn't ready to leave when we come to pick her up. St Mary's is a school not just a daycare provider. Yes there are several days a year that we have to make alternative arrangements for our daughter because of holidays and teacher prep days. This information is provided to families before enrollment so they can decide if the school will fit their families needs. The tuition is very reasonable for a private school. If you take a tour of the school you can see how much of an investment Chris and Nel have put into starting this school. Every classroom has plenty of Montessori materials for students to choose from. Montessori materials are not cheap. The classrooms are kept in immaculate condition. We are so happy to have found St Mary's and look forward to our daughter spending the next two years there. We only wish St Mary's Montessori taught Elementary ages as well :)

My son has been enrolled at St. Mary's Montessori School for over a year now.  I highly recommend the school for its high quality education in the Montessori tradition, excellent security (video cameras everywhere!), on-site chef who prepares healthy meals and snacks, open communication with the school administration (via email) and wonderful teachers.  My son comes home everyday with new words.  He even has a favorite teacher (Ms. Kelly) and subjects (geography).  Surely that is a great sign.

Addressing some of the negative reviews  -- most seem to involve unexpected fees and days off.

- Extra fees: There are fees and extras at every school.  As a parent you learn to budget for these extras because there is no such thing as "all inclusive" at any school.  Even in public schools they have fundraisers, after-school activity fees, sports uniforms and such.  Many parents budget 10-15% additional for this per year.  I think new parents go into sticker shock, but experienced parents know that this is normal.

- Tuition: Private school education isn't cheap, but St. Mary's is well worth the expense.  It is not the most expensive, but it is certainly the highest quality (even compared to private schools that cost more). Considering St. Mary's fees include an on-site chef who prepares fresh and healthy meals for the children, plus all snacks and drinks, I think the tuition they charge is well worth it.

- Days off: I think those complaints are appropriate for a daycare facility.  But St. Mary's is a school, not a daycare facility, hence the name.  While they do provide care for younger kids, the majority of the students are in primary (Montessori version of pre-K) and it is run like a school. This means some parents will need a second childcare option on non-school days. Both my spouse and I are full-time professionals, yet we are able to manage. The alternative is just to stick with daycare or a nanny for your child instead of enrolling him or her in an actual school.

Overall, I give St. Mary's five stars.  The school administration and teachers are very responsive.  I can tell they genuinely care about our children, which is what matters most in early childhood education.

My son has attended St. Mary's Montessori for the past 9 months. From our first visit, my wife and I knew that we had found a special place. The owners, Chris and Nel, are living their lifelong dream and it shows. St. Mary's is a place where there is love. The staff love the children, and the children love the staff.

St. Mary's is a learning community where children encouraged to love the learning process. The environment is such that it invites the child's curiosity to explore this process on their terms. When my son first began attending St. Mary's as a two-year old, he would cry uncontrollably. It was so severe that we considered pulling him out of school. But Nel and his wonderful teacher, Ms. Jessica patiently worked with him day by day, until he felt loved and safe. Even the other students tried to make the class as comfortable for him as possible. Once he felt comfortable in his setting, the classroom called out to him. It was time to work! His class is surrounded with activities that stimulate his imagination, teach him fine motor skills and encourage personal responsibility. They are not just puzzles or busy work, they are vital first steps in a lifelong learning process. My son has grown so much not only academically, but emotionally, and for that we are eternally grateful. He is so enthusiastic about learning, and his confidence has grown in leaps and bounds.

The facility itself is extremely secure. The furniture, toys and restrooms are all designed with the child's safety in mind. In order to pick your child up, you need a door code and your fingerprint is checked. During the recent wildfires, the indoor air purifiers were utilized to ensure that the children were as safe as possible. The emergency preparedness by the entire staff was evident based on their responsiveness to the situation and their excellent communication plan.

Finally (I was saving the best for last), the staff. The staff at St. Mary's is the most talented that I have ever seen in a child development setting. They are loving and caring, and they always go the extra mile for the students. It is beyond evident that they love what they do and that they love my child. Their work is invaluable and very much appreciated.

In short, there is not another facility within the area code that I would entrust with my child.

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