Scripps Montessori School

Posted: September 9, 2024

We've just started our fourth year at this school, with two kids across four different classrooms. Our experience at SMS has been great. The teachers are supportive and engaged, as is the administrative team. Our kids are learning and happy and engaged. I love being able to drop them off in the mornings and know that they will be cared about, looked after, and taught, and I don't have to worry about them for the next five hours. I trust the teachers and the school to teach and care for my kids.

The hands-on learning, outdoor time, small class sizes, hour-long lunch break, and focus on the child as an individual are also things we really appreciate about the school.

Posted: September 9, 2024

Posted: September 9, 2024

Posted: September 9, 2024

Posted: September 9, 2024

Posted: September 9, 2024

Posted: September 9, 2024

Posted: September 9, 2024

Posted: June 23, 2018

Posted: June 23, 2018

Posted: June 23, 2018

Posted: June 23, 2018

This school is such a special place. I am blown away each time I observe the classroom environment. It is beautiful, calm, loving, and designed for the ultimate learning experience. The teachers go out of their way to provide excellent care and are always so approachable. Most of the teachers have worked at the school for years and are very experienced with children. The school is AMI certified so the teachers and curriculum are top quality. Additionally, my daughter has some special needs and the school goes out of their way to provide her with care and communicate with me whenever it is needed. I can tell that despite her differences from the other children, she feels very loved and accepted. Because the staff is so loving and models this for the class, the children are so kind to her. I highly recommend this school!

Posted: June 23, 2018

Posted: June 23, 2018

Posted: June 23, 2018

Posted: August 3, 2017

We have been traveling the world and our son has been to several schools. We now use Scripps as the baseline of what we expect in a school. We were initially neutral about our feeling but now we really miss Scripps.

Posted: August 3, 2017

Posted: August 3, 2017

Posted: August 3, 2017

Posted: August 3, 2017

Posted: August 3, 2017

Posted: August 3, 2017

Posted: June 1, 2016

Posted: June 1, 2016

Posted: June 1, 2016

Posted: June 1, 2016

My daughter attended SMS from age 2 through Kindergaten. The teachers were phenomenal. They were patient, flexible and caring. There was a cooperative feeling, with the teachers, children, parents and admin. If we had not moved, both children would have attended though 6th. Montessori philosophy aside, I could not have designed a better school or gathered such an awesome staff.

Posted: January 26, 2016

Posted: January 26, 2016

Our family has had a very positive experience at Scripps Montessori School. My son began attending at 20 months while I attended training at the Montessori Institute of San Diego. Last month he turned 3 and a few weeks ago transitioned to a primary classroom. The materials are beautiful and the teachers and staff are warm and friendly. The atmosphere at this school strikes a perfect balance between a strong focus on curriculum and a family environment. Prior to my training, this is the only school I toured, and I did not need to look any further. We felt like part of a family from Day 1. The administrator, Ms. Ciara, has been so good to our family!

Posted: February 8, 2015

We love Scripps Montessori! My 3 children never fuss about going to school. They're just upset when the week is ending and they have two days away from their teachers and school friends. The Montessori philosophy is suitable for each of the kids, even though they are each so different in personality and motivation. This school seems to bring out the best in all of them! We all love the staff, especially the director, Ms. Ciara. It's been a wonderful experience!

Posted: October 13, 2014

Our kids LOVE this school (and as a result, so do we)! What impressed us from the start was the commitment from the staff. They have been with the school a long time, which gives the entire place a family feel. Our kids' classroom teachers invest the time to make them feel special - from challenging them with work they are ready to tackle (and giving them confidence that they can handle the next step) to giving them extra care to help with a bad day (my 3 year old came home delighted with a special hairstyle that her teacher gave her after she had a tough time napping. After two years in private school, we recently transitioned our 7-year-old to Scripps Montessori as well. While she has always loved school, it has been a step change this year. When she comes home from school and we ask about the highlights of her day, she has dozens. The grins betray how much she enjoys her day there. It is helpful to see real progress each week as her work comes home. I have been particularly pleased to see her facing new challenges the moment she masters work - she's thriving on that as well! We can't say enough great things about the school.

Posted: March 25, 2014

Our son started at Scripps Montessori when he was four. We were so happy with the school that we decided to keep him there for Kindergarten. Our son enjoys his classmates and teachers and loves going to school everyday. He is reading at a second or third grade level and is working on work that I believe most second graders would be doing. The school is small so it has much more of a family feeling rather than what you might find at a larger school. All the teachers genuinely love the students and work very hard to ensure each child's success. I would highly recommend Scripps Montessori school for anyone looking to enroll their child in a Montessori education.

Posted: December 7, 2013

Scripps Montessori school provides an excellent education for my son. He loves going to school every day. The teachers are very involved and provide great feedback on a regular basis. Scripps Montessori school offers a variety of after school activities like Spanish and Chinese classes, athletics, cooking, and music.

Posted: July 10, 2013

SMS is an excellent true community oriented Montessori school my 3 kids aged 2 ,7, & 9 thoroughly enjoyed & progressed in. My kids feel at home here with the children, teachers, & the Directress who is so kind & welcoming. The Directress went of her way to make sure all their academic & social needs were being met. My kids had 4 science classes a wk compared to barely 1 every 2-3 wks at their previous award winning Poway school. Their writing increased dramatically as they did it daily..not summaries but critical thinking. Mr. Tom, went out of his way to provide challenging math for my oldest as she was at a level beyond what was being taught. The Catalina experience was a true bonus to their science experience and something my son still talks about. The volume of work done in the classroom was 4x what they did at public school & little homework. My kids loved learning spanish, knitting, true art instruction..no volunteer, & cooking. My baby started fall 2012. Her teachers were very nurturing & patient... we were so impressed at the teacher conference b/c her teachers know her so well & she was evaluated on & mastered 3 pages of skills! She can't wait for school to start again!

Posted: May 28, 2013

My son has attended this school for two years now after attending another popular day care in the area that he hated. (I think it was too chaotic.) He began reading at 4 without pressure from teachers or parents and can do my first graders addition homework. The teachers are loving and gentle. When my son had a medical issue and had to stay home for a few days, they emailed to check on him and called as well. When have you heard of that happening? The director will listen to any concerns you may have and respond quickly and efficiently. At another preschool my older child attended my child was bitten repeatedly and I was told, "well, that's kids." That will not happen here. I read another review that said they showed movies to the kids. During the whole time we've been at this school I have never seen a movie nor a TV show played in a classroom. In fact the only TV I am aware of is in the teacher's lounge. My child loves the healthy hot lunches and the backyard playground. You will LOVE this school!

Posted: June 9, 2012

Our daughter (now 3-1/2) has attended Scripps Montessori for 2 years. We could not be happier with our experience at Scripps. I initially chose Scripps (after comparing it to a number of other preschools) in part because of the warm and inviting feeling we got during our visit. The teachers are wonderful, as is the school's director. Our daughter has been in two classrooms (Tree House when she first started as a little one and now the Sunroom) and she has LOVED all of her teachers. As a mom, I have found everyone to be supportive, patient, and kind. They have helped nurture our daughter's independence and confidence, while also supporting her budding academic skills. We feel very lucky to have found this school:).

Posted: May 13, 2012

Our son is about to complete his 2nd year at the school and there was not one day he would rather stay at home than go to Scripps Montessori. We are extremely happy with the school environment, the attention of the staff to students and the general atmosphere of both the classes and daycare. Every time we walk into the school we are impressed with how friendly the feeling is - between the teachers and the kids, the teachers and the parents and among the kids. Our son has made tons of friends and has been exceeding our expectations in development - from getting potty trained within weeks of starting the school at the age of 2 to starting to read two years later (not that there is pressure to read and count - he just picked it up at his own pace). The most impressive of all is for us to see him functioning as a complete person - seeing his emotional and physical development in addition to the "measurable" progress like math and reading. We will have our 2nd child attend the school when the time is right without a second of hesitation. Highly recommend the school!

Posted: April 7, 2012

Our daughter has attended Scripps Montessori for two years and she is absolutely thriving. She loves all of her teachers and Directress, and loves the fact that she has such caring and responsive adults around her. On the academic side of things, it is thrilling to see her increasingly inspired by her classroom work and fascinated with learning about the world around her. She takes a healthy pride in the great strides she s making in school, and my husband and I can see how satisfying it is for her to learn and develop at her own pace, rather than being subjected to the lowest-common-denominator approach many times used in the public schools. In addition, our daughter is always looking forward to the next adventure that is, always looking forward to the unique and varied real-world learning opportunities her and her classmates get to experience on a regular basis. Great job, Scripps Montessori! Two thumbs up!

Posted: February 9, 2012

This is the second year for our daughter in Scripps Montessori School. She started there when hse was three. And to our amazement she started reading after 4 months. Now she is also good in writing and addition tables. Ms.Ada really understands her very well and adheres to her needs. Also my daughter was a poor eater, with Ms.Ada's continuous effort in teaching her to respect her food, she has improved a lot. Ms.Ada makes her to sit and finish lunch even after lunch time. For a four year old to come back from school and talk about Planets, Continients, Countries in various continents, Banking stuff was very amazing for us as parents. Also our son is also there in elementary classroom this year, We moved him from public school system to Scripps Montessori when we saw how our daughter was performing. Also we feel very safe at heart when we drop the kids at school in the morning. Even though my son came from public school system he got very adjusted to the montessori classroom, because of the constant guidelines from his teachers.Also the Principal Ms.Ciara is always reachable with any issues we have. She is more friendly to the kids too. We are very happy here.

Posted: February 6, 2012

My children have been attending Scripps Montessori School since they were three years old. The school provides a nurturing, academic Montessori environment. Both children were reading by kindergarten. I can see that my children are developing confidence in themselves and respect for others. They have learned to work independently, with focus. There has not been a day that they did not want to go to school. They love their teachers. The administrator, Ciara Concepcion, is professional, warm, and kind. The elementary students just had an international week where students gave impressive presentations about their heritage. Last year, there was an international dance recital where all students participated. For grades 2 and higher, there is an annual school trip to Catalina Island where children are taught by a marine biologist. Tom Newton teaches elementary and understands each child. I have appreciated his suggestions. Parental involvement is high. They encourage healthy food. Before I knew better, I packed candy for dessert and Ms. Ada sent it back! The teachers are bilingual. I would like to see Spanish more formally incorporated into the daily curriculum.

Posted: February 2, 2012

We started our 2 year old during the summer and have had a great experience with the school. The staff is very open and approachable. The facility is beautiful, clean and organized. Best of all, our daughter loves it.

Posted: October 17, 2011

Our 4 1/2 year old son has been attending Scripps since June 2010. Prior to that, he was in a private day-care with one other child. We are extremely pleased with his experience at this school. He seems to be maturing wonderfully and learning and developing new skills continually. We are very happy with his progress. I think the teachers are very knowledgeable, thoughtful, caring and respectful of the children. The Directress is outstanding! She is always available for my questions, concerns and comments whether by email or phone. I honestly cannot say enough good things about the school. Our son seems very happy there and seems to be thriving. The only negatives I have found are relatively minor: sometimes they are late in starting their drop-off line in the morning (particularly during the summer) and the lunches could be healthier.

Posted: October 15, 2011

As a first-time mother who works from home, I needed to send my 21-month-old to school for the first time in 2010. I was nervous about the idea of her being away from me in a new environment, but the staff at Scripps Montessori School was more than compassionate, accommodating and helpful. They worked with me on the transition and continue to understand what it means to be a new parent, and I appreciate this tremendously. In addition, the school's curriculum and programs are outstanding. My daughter has grown socially, academically and physically through the carefully selected materials and Montessori approach. She has developed into a accomplished little lady in less than a year with the assistance of the high-caliber staff at this school. I am so pleased that I found this school and would recommend it to any parent looking for a quality experience for their little one.

Posted: May 12, 2011

Our daughter will be completing her second year at SMS and we couldn't be more proud. She has blossomed socially and academically under the guidance of Ms. Erika and is now reading chapter books and doing simple addition. She has also taken part in the extracurricular dance/tap classes offered at the site. The Directress is experienced and very hands on with the day-to-day operations of the school. There is a sense of community and all children enter and leave the school happy.

Posted: March 14, 2011

I just cannot say enough great things about this school. Here are a few that top my list. The communication with the teachers and staff is outstanding and helpful. They always have great suggestions to help correct unwanted behaviors. This has been a huge help for us. Anytime I need to talk to the staff, they are more than willing to make the time to discuss any questions and concerns. I know that my children respect their teachers because they never want us to tell the teachers if they are misbehaving at home. The flexibility of the after school daycare program is very convenient and affordable. They offer the Chick Peas Lunch program- a local organic, fresh, healthy and affordable lunch that my kids love. Most of the teachers speak Spanish, and that has made my children excited about learning Spanish. My daughter has been in the Spanish class now since Sept. 2010 and loves it. My children love the friends that they have made here and because the school is so multicultural they have learned about different cultures and get excited about telling us. My husband loves how advanced our kids are compared to others their age. A true testament to the Montessori system.

Posted: March 13, 2011

Well it s decided. Scripps Montessori is the best of the best. We toured many schools looking for what we believed to be the best for our children (ages 2 & 5) and this school hands down surpassed even the High and Mighty in town. We attended the Elementary School Open House last month and it was amazing. The presentations that these young children did had my daughter begging to attend this school. I love the diversity of the students and the unrivaled lesson plans and materials that the Montessori system offers. We met some of the parents whose children attend SMS and all had raving reviews for the school, the staff and the extra curricular activities offered including Spanish, dance and sports. We made our commitment for the upcoming year and I can not wait. If you are looking for a new school and have not checked this school out yet please do. It is well worth your time.

Posted: February 23, 2011

This is our first year at Scripps Montessori School and we love it! The director met our daughter and placed her in a classroom that she would thrive in. Our daughter can be quite mischievous and we were having problems with her listening to us at home. Her teachers have a firm, but loving and calm approach. For the first month or so, our daughter was getting into things and doing things that she wasn't supposed to nearly every day. The teacher spoke to her and occasionally would make her sit and think about her actions. Despite that, she loved coming to school every day and actually would look forward to Monday mornings! She's a much better listener at school and at home now. As a parent, I feel like I'm in a very good partnership with her teachers as we both have honest communication with each other and work together to teach her to become a good listener and a kind person. She still has her mischievous streak in her, but she seems to understand the consequences better and getting her to listen isn't the big fight that it used to be.