Hermosa Montessori Charter School

Posted: August 12, 2026

My experience working at Hermosa Montessori School was extremely disappointing, and the biggest issue I witnessed was the administration and the way parents were treated. From my perspective as someone who worked there and had the opportunity to see what happened behind the scenes, the way certain situations involving parents were handled was often unprofessional, dismissive, and lacking in genuine communication. What was especially concerning was witnessing parents who were simply trying to advocate for their children being treated as though they were the problem for asking questions or expressing concerns. Parents should feel comfortable communicating with their child’s school without feeling dismissed, blamed, or made to feel like an inconvenience. Unfortunately, that was not always the environment I witnessed. There appeared to be a significant disconnect between how the school presented itself to families and what I observed internally. Communication from administration could be inconsistent, and rather than addressing concerns openly and professionally, situations sometimes seemed to become more about protecting the administration than actually listening to the families involved. Working in a school requires more than providing an educational program. It requires trust, transparency, accountability, and respect for both employees and families. Parents are trusting the school with their children, and they deserve to be treated with dignity when they raise concerns. Employees also deserve an administration that communicates clearly and supports them rather than creating an environment where concerns are difficult to address. This review reflects my personal experience and observations while working at the school.

Posted: August 12, 2026

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Posted: June 8, 2026

I do not recommend this school to anyone. My daughter studied there for three years. At the end of the first grade, they sent us a document-which must be filled out annually to advance to the next grade-but because the school sends out so many emails every day, that specific email got lost. Over the course of five months, not a single person bothered to ask whether or not we intended to continue our studies at the school! Upon the completion of the first grade, they informed us that my daughter would not be advancing to the second grade because they had no available spots-despite the fact that she had already studied there for three years. The child is stressed because she won't see her friends anymore and won't be going to the school where she knows everything. The school administration is simply terrible; they do whatever they please, and there is no way to keep them in check.

Posted: June 8, 2026

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Posted: July 12, 2023

My child has had a great experience at Hermosa. When I first toured the school, I fell in love with the campus but did not know very much about the Montessori method of education. I have enjoyed learning about it along with my child, and have been surprised by what a supportive community we have found at Hermosa. The teachers, admin, and leadership have all enriched our experience. Some of the aspects of Hermosa that I appreciate include: the focus on character development and monthly virtues incorporated into the lessons and school work, the thoughtfully created and diverse after school programs offered like drama and soccer, and the overall alignment I feel with the school community to facilitate my child's development into a successful and good person. And with each year, I have also seen the effort within the school community and leadership to continually innovate to offer the students and parents the best experience possible, through extracurriculars like art and music class, playground improvements, new after school programs, lunch programs, improved parking, etc. I would recommend Hermosa to any family interested in Montessori or just open to an alternative and enriching learning experience.

Posted: July 12, 2023

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Posted: May 31, 2023

Would not recommend. I had 3 children here and all three left this school hating school! Preschool and Kindergarten is wonderful here but after that forget it!! Teachers never listened to the parent and children concerns that they needed help; since there are no test and no grades to confirm what they are learning: there is no way to confirm this without parents outsourcing. When I finally took my youngest out of here at the end of 4th grade they were 2.5 years behind in reading and 2 years in math. I had to have them held back. My oldest was emotionally scared by their upper level teacher form of 'punishment': never letting them go outside for recess and eating alone because their work wasn't done. Again they asked for help but was never taught what was needed or expected. I am happy to say all my kids have finally all graduated high school with honors but no thanks to Hermosa Montessori. I regret that I kept them here as long as I did.

Posted: May 31, 2023

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Posted: March 28, 2022

As a student who went to this class kindergarten through eight grade I would say I have an overall good experience. But the school definitely had its ups and downs, there is a very high teacher turnover rate. According to the setup in my fourth through 6th grade we were supposed to have the same one teacher all years but I had at least four and multiple teachers in a single year. The school does do a good job of accommodating different peoples academic level, especially in math. I loved first through 3rd grade, Don and Diane are amazing teachers. Although the principal is kind of terrible. The school is great as long as you never interact with the principal. I loved the minimum amount of homework and the freedom was amazing. They allowed each student to use their time how they wanted as long as all work was completed. The school has a great community and if you want your child to make friend this is a good school.

Posted: March 28, 2022

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Posted: June 24, 2020

I wouldn't recommend this school to anyone who is actually wanting authentic Montessori. However, it may be the closest thing possible to it in Tucson. If you know anything about Montessori, which I do, all you have to do is listen and watch what your kids are doing to understand that most teachers here don't actually know what they're doing--like using the test tube work for 1st graders before Golden Beads, stamp game, and bead frames. That's why you get a massive gap in a student's education. My child tested below grade level and was ill prepared for higher levels of math because they don't understand basic math concepts which are the foundation of most other schools. Teachers and staff are unreceptive to hearing these criticisms, so nothing will be done about your students education unless you do it yourself. The campus is beautiful, the classrooms are beautiful. But beware of judging this school by it's cover...

Posted: June 24, 2020

Children do not generally receive homework in a Montessori school prior to grade 6. However, children in lower grades are frequently having issues not completing their work and there is little to no follow up from teachers. If you want to make sure your kids are actually learning, you better be on top of things as a parent. Half completed assignments will receive a star stamp and the teacher just moves on.

Posted: June 24, 2020

Most of the teachers have little or no experience as actual Montessori teachers. Most are trained online through NAMC - North American Montessori Center. Very different from AMI or AMS if you are familiar. There is no guidance to new teachers on how to offer a Montessori education.

Posted: June 24, 2020

This school promotes these values for students.

Posted: June 24, 2020

Sheila Stolov is the principal, teaches, and sits on the governing board. She can't do all of these things effectively, and frequently misses days of school as a teacher and is unavailable as an administrator. Response times are slow and communication severely lacking.

Posted: June 24, 2020

Children who need special attention generally get it at Hermosa.

Posted: June 24, 2020

A lot of emphasis is placed on student communication. The staff in charge of social communication do a great job dealing with student conflicts and fostering a peaceful environment.

Posted: August 27, 2019

The teachers work with my children to get work done at school. There is occasional need to work at home on special projects and alike.

Posted: August 27, 2019

We have had excellent teachers in every way. The principal teaches as well which is very helpful.

Posted: August 27, 2019

So much about the school promotes character and virtues.

Posted: August 27, 2019

We are very happy with the leadership. We are listened to and our concerns are addressed. The admin is available and helpful.

Posted: August 27, 2019

Our children participate in special education and speech. We have excellent support and ongoing communication.

Posted: August 27, 2019

There is no bullying that I have heard of or had my children report.

Posted: August 27, 2019

We couldn't be happier at Hermosa. We have two children here in the upper program and middle school. It's a fantastic school in every way. The school has excellent academics. Staff is the best and the administration is supportive.

Posted: June 7, 2019

If you have the right kind of kid, fully understand the concept of the Montessori approach, and are willing to accept poor leadership with a handful of wonderful teachers that to keep the school going, your child may just have a great experience. It’s a beautiful campus from the outside, but our experience proved to be anything but beautiful, for the most part. I will repeat, this school is not for every kind of kid.

Posted: June 7, 2019

Essentially, all work is done at school (for the most part, especially in the lower communities).

Posted: June 7, 2019

Pre-k/K is exceptional, lower el (1st through 3rd) is satisfactory, lower el (4th through 6th) is an absolute mess; few teachers ever stay more than a couple of years, and the Middle School (7th and 8th) is exceptional.

Posted: June 7, 2019

The veteran teachers at this school thrive on providing an environment that nurture the virtues of life.

Posted: June 7, 2019

With many years in the educational world, I feel confident in stating that the leadership at this school is by far the worst example I’ve ever witnessed in my life. I honestly don’t know how the school keeps going. If you are considering going to this school, it’s important to know that parents are not supported, and you will be frowned upon if you voice any concerns/ideas.

Posted: June 7, 2019

We had to pull our child out of the school because it was very difficult to receive any kind of support for special services. Many children at the school suffer from speech impairments that are not evaluated early enough, in my opinion. You will not find very many children with severe learning disabilities at this school, if any, and there is a reason for that. The school is designed for a certain kind of child.

Posted: June 7, 2019

Posted: December 30, 2018

There was no preparation for the homework load that came with Hermosa's middle school. There needs to be an easing into the homework load that is given to students in 7th and 8th grade.

Posted: December 30, 2018

In the few situations that teachers are teaching actual lessons, they do a good job, but there are not many lessons for students. Montessori is supposed to be a working-at-your-own-pace school, but there are some things that are difficult to learn on your own.

Posted: December 30, 2018

Sometimes there were good demonstrations of character, but this is more at the lower level. As students get older, there is a tendency for poor character, and this issue is not resolved and instead progresses to get even worse in middle school.

Posted: December 30, 2018

Most students are able to develop strong leadership skills, but the school struggles to help those who are naturally introverted to develop those leadership skills.

Posted: December 30, 2018

All students work at their own pace, so they are able to move slower/faster according to their needs. Those who work slower mostly occupy the teachers' time, and students who move faster don't always have access to teacher aid because of their speed.

Posted: December 30, 2018

The disciplinary system is failing. They fail to get both sides of the story or to even consider that there may be an illogical explanation. Punishment is given to students even when they are not in the wrong, and students never face the consequences of their actions.

Posted: December 30, 2018

I was able to move faster than I would have if I had attended a public school, but I am by no means smarter than other above average students. I feel that if I had attended a public school, I would have been just as fine off. The school does a terrible job of dealing with conflicts and is not willing to compromise.

Posted: December 8, 2015

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Posted: December 8, 2015

This is our fourth year at Hermosa. I have a child in third grade and a child in preschool. We have been very happy with the authentic Montessori environment of this school. The school has high training standards for the teachers it employs. My older child has needed extra help in a couple of areas. I know that about a third of the current school population receives Special Services (Special Education). The fact that this school is still excelling in spite of that number really speaks to the quality of the teachers and the Special Education staff. Our teachers get paid less than their district counterparts (unfortunately), and work at Hermosa because it's what they are called to do. Family and friends always comment on how polite and conversational my children are, much of which I definitely attribute to the Montessori environment.

The only complaint I have about the school is the administration. At times, the principal and administrative staff do not do a good job of communicating clearly with parents. While disappointing, this complaint pales in comparison to the whole-person education that my children are receiving.

Posted: August 24, 2015

I am a new parent at Hermosa. My child came from a co-operative pre-school prior to transitioning to Hermosa. This school took very pro-active measures to ensure my child had a gentle and intentional phase in to full day kindergarten. This made all the difference for our daughter to feel secure with her new environment, caregivers/teachers and community. I have only been met with a community and staff that has the highest emotional quotient of any school I have researched. I spent two hours with the director who also addressed all my questions regarding all the new neuroscience and neuropsychology in education. It was important to me to find a K-8 school to minimize transitions and provide her the tools she needed to be not only a critical thinker but a creative one. I have no doubt that this school takes the time to address the needs of all at a level that supports their individuation and long term growth.

Posted: August 24, 2015

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Posted: May 19, 2015

I have been associated with Hermosa Montessori in more than one capacity for more than thirty years. My history with the school includes two generations of children in my own family attending Hermosa, as well as providing special education support services to the school community. As an independent contractor I provide professional services to countless Tucson schools. This position allows me to have a 'front row' seat view of administration and staff practices. Without exception, Hermosa Montessori is outstanding in every way. I believe it is completely inaccurate, and borderline slanderous to state that this administration discriminates against any child. There is in fact, an unconditional acceptance and regard for all children at Hermosa Montessori. For years I have observed the administration and staff extending far beyond what is required of them. Consistent effort and care is extended towards children, and families. As previously stated, I believe the above review is both inaccurate, and borderline slanderous.

Posted: May 11, 2015

My son is a Kindergarten student at Hermosa right now, and he's about to move into the first grade class. My son has special needs and we were worried that he would not be ready for first grade. We got an evaluation and the school went over it with us and explained to us how the transition to first grade would work. They really went above and beyond to make sure he was taken good care of. My older son is also a student in the upper elementary class. He loves it and has learned so much about science. Anne is a wonderful teacher.

Posted: September 26, 2013

This is our second year at Hermosa, with a child in pre-K and another in early elementary. After an initial adjustment period, we are all very happy with the school. Our preschooler has grown by leaps and bounds. Our second grader has had some pretty significant issues with her performance level--Her teachers identified the concerns right away, and we were met with a caring and knowledgeable multi-disciplinary team and timely and appropriate services. The staff at Hermosa has a long history of attention to seeing the child holistically and stays in touch with current brain and educational research in order to assure their teaching methods are effective -- The parent community is intelligent, involved, and supportive. This is a school environment that is true to all that is wonderful about Montessori and a fabulous school for so many reasons...

Posted: July 21, 2013

I am actually a student of Hermosa Montessori and this year I will be attending 8th grade. My school is quite unique compared to other schools and isn't for everybody and sometimes it can be challenging completing work, but that only happens if you don't try or open your mind to this style of work and teaching. My teachers teach a year above our grade level so all of the students, including myself, learn above the standard. That might be another reason why people find it challenging. The only problem I have with this school is some of the teachers in the Middle School, which I am currently attending. The teachers at the Middle School are somewhat rude and lazy (slow, if you will). One of the teachers actually left the school to pursue a different carrier leaving us with a rude teacher, a slow teacher, and a new teacher who is hopefully really good as a teacher. Another problem I have with the school is that everyone just seems to retire or leave including the students. Other than that Hermosa is a great academic school and has excellent teaching standards in a friendly environment.

Posted: October 26, 2012

Double standards run rampant at Hermosa, there is absolutely NO consistency in regards to disciplinary action taken by the administration. Teachers will "write up" one student for an infraction and "look the other way" on the same infraction by another student. This is also the case when disciplinary infractions are reviewed by the administration. Teachers go out of their way to help a few students and ignore the needs of other students, leaving them behind. What would Maria Montessori do?

Posted: September 18, 2012

As a parent of a preschooler at Hermosa, and a parent volunteer in the classroom, I was so disappointed to read the negative parent review about the school and teacher. I don't know how long this family has been at Hermosa, but there are always 2 sides to every story. I have witnessed my child's teacher (Mary) handle many situations with children in the classroom. Each time she handled with love, patience and genuine concern for the children. Many other parents say the same about the other teachers. I do not know who their child's teacher is, but I have been around the school and involved in the parent organization long enough to see that the teachers at Hermosa are the most dedicated and loving teachers I have ever met. They go out of their way for the school and children and often on their own time. I have been so happy with my daughter's education and look forward to sending my other children when they are old enough. I am sorry this other parent has had such a negative experience, but I would consider that there are more issues going on than we know and the teachers need to look out for the entire community as a whole. As for me, I will continue to be an advocate for Hermosa!

Posted: September 17, 2012

Our experience with Hermosa Pre-K has been horrible. Our child's teacher refuses to engage us at all, and has given all indication that she is NOT invested in our child's success. She has been rude, condescending, and detached. Our child recently experienced a significant transition and has struggled somewhat throughout that transition. Our child has not been aggressive or physically inappropriate, but has had some difficulties focusing and settling into the classroom environment. The school has been completely intolerant of this, they do not recognize that our child's struggles are temporary, and they have little investment in helping our child feel more comfortable and secure. Administrative staff have lied to us many times. Overall there appears to be a lack of adequate leadership to establish appropriate boundaries and expectations of professional conduct. We are shocked by the extreme lack of professionalism, integrity, and interpersonal warmth, especially given that they are teaching very young children. It does not surprise me that our child did not feel welcome or comfortable in this environment! This is not a school that I would recommend to everyone.

Posted: June 28, 2012

We just finished our first year at Hermosa and we're looking forward to the Fall. I cannot imagine having my kids anywhere else. The environment is so calm and peaceful and both of my children grew so much in their first year. My daughter can be a very moody and difficult child and we noticed a lot of improvements with her over the year due to the conflict resolution that they practice in the classroom. My son has been a very strong reader and the teachers made sure to keep giving him work to do that was at his level even though and he was not held back in any way. We absolutely love the school, its leadership, and its staff!

Posted: June 27, 2012

Our children are thriving at Hermosa, and we can't imagine a better school. They are learning advanced academics, enjoying the best fine arts program around, and getting individualized attention thanks to the amazing student:teacher ratio. More important than all of that, though, is that they feel safe, secure, welcome, and valued at Hermosa. The Montessori method encourages students to think for themselves, which develops their self-esteem and intrinsic motivation to learn. It's such a powerfully tranquil, joyful community that our children look forward to every day at Hermosa. In fact, they wish they had classes over the summer because they miss it so much! We absolutely LOVE Hermosa!!!