Atala Montessori School for Creative Expression in Homestead

Posted: September 10, 2025

We have now begun our third year attending Atala. My original plan was to relocate my daughter after Pre K to our home school which would allow us to walk her to and from school. Mid way thru the first year, I arrived to pick her up early one day, and the security measures to get to her, from the locked gate to get on school grounds, the locked door to access the hallway to her class, and then her locked classroom door, I felt so secure with her being there that I decided that day we would be staying with the Atala Montessori program. The teachers were kind, welcoming and supportive. My daughter, who had not previously been in any day care, was thriving in the Montessori setting. She was reading by the end of her Pre K year, and she LOVES school. She enjoys the extra classes this year, of PE, Art, Spanish, Drama and music. I adore all of the office staff and very much enjoy our hello's each morning, and we still remain in contact with her previous teachers. I like that it's a smaller/private school, and that it will extend into middle school. I truly cannot express how grateful I am to have found this school, and the impact it has had on my daughter.

Posted: September 10, 2025

Posted: September 9, 2025

We're thrilled to share that Atala is under vibrant new ownership, bringing fresh energy to the school! Please note that reviews prior to 2025 may not reflect the exciting changes happening now. Both of my children, currently in 2nd grade and kindergarten, have been part of the Atala family since preschool, and theyre absolutely loving their third week of school. The new administration is pouring creativity and enthusiasm into making every day fun and engaging for the kids.

If youre seeking a warm, close-knit private school experience, Atala is the perfect choice! Drop-off and pick-up are seamless, and the curriculum is enriched with dynamic classes like drama, music, PE (led by a jujitsu coach!), Spanish, and art, alongside strong academics.

Atala also offers a fantastic after-school study hall to support students with their academic needs, plus a variety of exciting clubs like chess, book club, art club, and cooking club, ensuring theres something for every child to explore and enjoy.

Posted: September 9, 2025

Posted: April 29, 2021

I believe the teaching is very poor, this is the only school that teach mathematics only twice a week. There is no PE, no sports, art. There is not social distance in the pandemic, no cafeteria. The teachers can be great but your system is horrible. In 2021 no Central AC. I believe you are still living in the 50s. I have been living in USA for 50 years and I have never seen anything like this. You deserve to be reported. I prefer not to talk about the staff!! One day I had to go to the office and I found the principle without shoes and eating in the lobby of the office. I believe that is very unprofessional!

Posted: May 23, 2018

My children are too young to have homework yet- but you better believe they both asked for workbooks for Christmas so that they could "have homework". They come home from school most days wanting to complete a few pages that had to do with certain lessons they're currently focusing on.... It's really as simple as getting the kids excited to learn- which is exactly what they do at Atala.

Posted: May 23, 2018

The teachers at Atala care about these kids on more than just an academic level- they care for their overall well-being. It means so much for our children to have so many caring, trusted adults guide them in the right direction.

Posted: May 23, 2018

The entire staff cares for each child in every aspect of their life. They give the kids understanding for one another, developing empathy, respect, and generally becoming an all-around good person.

Posted: May 23, 2018

This school is teacher-led, and with so many great leaders who deal with the children every day, they come up with GREAT ideas to not only get the students excited about learning, but also to

Posted: May 23, 2018

Teachers are able to help the kids one on one at Atala, and being a Montessori school, the kids are encouraged to help each other as well. With so much support, it is easier for kids with learning differences to find a way that works for them. We don't all fit into the same size box, and shouldn't expect everyone to learn the same. Atala goes above and beyond- sometimes that means creating a song to remember something, expressing yourself through art, a visual representation of math, language repetition, or even introducing therapy dogs every so often just to ease children who are having a hard time.

Posted: May 23, 2018

With young kids, we have been on both sides of the spectrum. Atala effectively notifies parents of each incident without causing confrontation. They reinforce good behavior at school and even give advice on how to implement good behavior and empathy at home. They also hold several workshops for kids and parents to better behavior, self esteem, boost confidence, support, etc. Some of these workshops are held for kids during the school day and some are for families off campus. Many of these workshops focus on not just creating a happier or more caring environment by implementing positive reinforcement, but giving your child the tools to do so themselves with others in their life.

Posted: May 23, 2018

We are so thrilled to be attending a school where the kids can get a great education as well as become well-rounded individuals. School aged kids seem to have to deal with more issues with each coming generation, and we are so blessed to have a staff also thinking about their wellbeing mentally, physically, and emotionally something we feel is just as important as academics and necessary for being able to succeed in life.
As far as academics, The Montessori methods used at school can also be applied at home and in everyday life. I was fortunate to have several of these very same Atala teachers as my own, years ago. Once in a new school, there was hardly a concept foreign to me- even once in high school. I felt I had already learned everything they were throwing at me. In great part due to these amazing teachers.. I loved my teachers then, and I love the teachers that my children have the pleasure of learning with each day.
More importantly, the kids here are happy, smart, and loved by their extended Atala family. I couldn't be happier that my children are in such great hands. We absolutely love this school, and you will too.

Posted: October 27, 2017

My 5 year old son has been a student at Atala Montessori for 3 Years. He started in the Toddler class, and is now in Pre-Kindergarden. I'm a self-directed early childhood educator and mom, so my review of this school, comes from a perspective of what I feel is age appropriate for his behavior, development & most importantly emotional well-being. My son is an HSC (Highly Sensitive Child). He thrives in an environment with minimal changes, where he can build long lasting relationships, which is why I am very fond of the Montessori method of grouping children with the same teacher and students for multiple years. Atala is true to the Montessori practice, and has allowed my son to take his time where he needs to, but also excel in areas where he is skilled to do so. This has been of great value to me, because it shows that they understand how children move at different paces and that there is not only one approach to learning.

I do not have much interaction with most of the teachers at this school, however the administration is very organized and always a delight in general conversation. I highly recommend the Spanish integrated classroom teacher and teachers assistant. They are a nurturing group of women, who have taken the time and effort to deeply get to know my son. They both have an extensive background in early childhood teaching, and are Montessori trained. But, beyond any certification(s) they have, they are respectful and receptiveness to diverse solutions in working with us and are always ready to have an open discussion, to make my sons experience better. And for THIS reason alone, I would HIGHLY recommend this school. His teachers have set a foundation of compassion and empathy for him, which has consequently rewarded him with a love for learning. And while, I do ultimately believe education starts at home, with this dynamic team effort of home/school, I couldnt imagine having him in a better place (for now).

The one area in which I think the school lacks, is in the amount of free, unstructured play they schedule. Unstructured play allows for a tremendous opportunity of real-time problem solving, however its not an area my son typically has issues with, since he is a rule follower.

Posted: June 5, 2017

I absolutely love my daughter's teachers. They are amazing.

Posted: June 5, 2017

My daughter has the appropriate amount of homework for her age.

Posted: June 5, 2017

My Husband and I are very happy with Atala Montessori, and most importantly our daughter is very happy. We can't say enough nice things about her teachers. The staff here is Montessori trained, and they are the only school in the area that is a member of the American Montessori Society. We truly love it here, and highly recommend it!

Posted: March 7, 2017

My daughter has flourished greatly since the beginning of the school year. We are happy with her progress. She has also made great friends along the way. The staff is all in sync, and the teachers are fantastic!

Posted: March 7, 2017

My children have been at Atala since the school started. They've been through the preschool program and are now in elementary. There is nowhere else I'd rather have them. This is a true Montessori school, teaching children to become independent thinkers and explore their environment.

Posted: January 9, 2017

Kids argue and fight all the time.

Posted: January 9, 2017

This school does not care about the students.

Posted: January 9, 2017

Atala has been around for 6 years and has a University Business model. No one is in charge because most of the teachers are owners. Thus, if someone is not doing a good job guess what happens nothing. The director of the school is an FIU alum, a lifelong bureaucrat, who had the audacity to tell me she only has five minutes for me to discuss my concerns. Apparently, she forgot that this is a private institution and I am paying for a service how incompetent could she possibly be.
One funny thing that transpired in our conversions regarding a solution to the math was that she mentioned that she has a doctorates degree; she was visibly upset as I asked her for solutions. When I looked at what she did at FIU, she ran the music department; she is quite accomplished in music. But I guess running a business is not part of the doctorate curriculum from where she got her degree.

Posted: January 9, 2017

The upper elementary teacher lacks the patience.

Posted: January 9, 2017

I recently withdrew my child from Atala mid-year - that will tell you how bad the situation had gotten. What I witnessed ranged from favoritism to degrees of bureaucracy and lack of concern for the success of children. I will go through each of these observations but first, lets establish some facts. Atala is a Montessori school. As it pertains to most subjects they perform adequately, which is not ideal if you are paying, but nevertheless, they get the job done. One of their greatest failures is the Math they have chosen to teach, the Singapore Curriculum. I withdrew my child from Atala because the upper elementary teacher is not properly teaching math to the 5th-grade kids. Eighty percent of the kids were receiving failing scores. I approached the teacher and the administrator about it and suggested they give the kids more practice work to learn Singapore word problems, which most kids in the 5th-grade class were having difficulty. They said that they could not do that. They said that the kid has to ask for more work. Really?!? I said. What 10 year old voluntarily asks for more work? I was also told by the fifth-grade teacher that prior to a test she asked the kids if they understood the material, the kids said yes, so she didnt cover the material prior to the test. Mind you, the kids have been failing the math tests since the beginning of the year. I was also told that the kids should be able to do the work because the class from last year did it successfully. What they failed to mention was that the kids from the last years class have been working on Singapore math for 5 years.
More disconcerting were the behavioral problems my child had at Atala that were exacerbated by their approach to solving said behavior problems. Admittedly, my kid is not piece of cake; she is opinionated, talkative and playful. We dont condone disrespect though but I am not raising an employee, I want a CEO, not a puppet. I give her options and cooperate with her to solve problems this is my approach. Atala, however, treated the kids like 5-year-olds and needless to say the class rebelled. Atala has been around for 6 years and has a State University Business model. No one is in charge because most of the teachers are owners. Thus, if someone is not doing a good job guess what happens nothing. The director has a doctorate in music and knows nothing about business.

Posted: May 28, 2015

My daughter received a Miami Dade county public school education from K-3rd grade. I just enrolled her here at Atala Montessori to received a Montessori education from 4th grade-8th grade. So our goal is to keep her in the small classes until high school. She feel in love with the school and met new friends right away. So excited for her.

Posted: May 28, 2015

My daughter just enrolled in Atala Montessori for the 4th grade upcoming school year. I am already gappy for her and she hasn't started yet. She starts in August. So excited. I love the staff. Very family oriented. Small school with small classes and my daughter is artistic so she will excel her. I believe. Thanks.

Posted: September 24, 2013

This is a great school! I came to this school with reservations about the Montessori style of education and they have done a great job of showing me how Montessori should be done! The teachers have experience, the directors even hold PhD degrees in education, they truly know what they are doing!! The whole school is a family, they care and create a real school environment. There are after school clubs, field trips, and activities that involve parents. They are also involved in training and continuing education for the teachers at the school so they stay on top of their credentials. This is truly a great school and worth the money!

Posted: August 24, 2013

Atala Montessori provides a nurturing environment for our children. They have a great after-school program, too. But mostly you can tell that the teachers and staff actually care about the children. Both of my kids have attended since the school opened four years ago. Parents are welcomed to visit the classroom, volunteer as room parent, or take part in any number of activities in which the school participates.

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	No neighborhood name	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Homestead	FL	2.6 mi
2	Doral Estates	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Doral	FL	24.8 mi
3	Weston	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Weston	FL	43.2 mi

Base	Distance
Homestead Air Base	5.2 mi.
US Southern Command	24.5 mi.
Miami Coast Guard	29.2 mi.
Coast Guard Opa Locka	32.5 mi.

Atala Montessori School for Creative Expression

Homestead, FL 33030

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Atala Montessori School for Creative Expression

Homestead, FL 33030

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