Judith P. Hoyer Montessori School

Posted: February 21, 2025

The primary years were great, but the academics as the students progress is not good. There are a few good teachers in the upper grades, but then there are others that seem to be either uncertified or substitutes. Also, there is no control over student behavior. The administration is not transparent about what is going on in the school, especially with funds. I am thinking about pulling my children and placing them in the neighborhood school.

Posted: February 21, 2025

Posted: February 21, 2025

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Posted: February 21, 2025

Posted: February 21, 2025

Posted: February 21, 2019

My student went to Hoyer Montessori since primary, and while there was homework in the early years of Lower Elementary, that eventually stopped. Students almost never bring home work, because they either are not assigned any or they already did them in class. This begs the question: What are they doing/learning in class when they could already finish their homework?

Posted: February 21, 2019

There are some good teachers in this school, but they are eventually worn down by the politics of and micromanagement from the leadership. Most of them try their best, but their circumstances do not provide a good environment to teach the students effectively.

Furthermore, families should not have constantly chase teachers around for feedback or answers, and my family has had this experience with almost every teacher since we came to this school. We've had to constantly ask for homework copies because they were not distributed to every student or not given on a consistent platform. We've had to take pictures or make copies of completed homework, because one teacher had a tendency to lose them and not give the students credit for the work that the teacher lost.

They do an incredible disservice to students at every achievement level. Special education is practically nonexistent. Struggling students are not given supplementary help. High achievers are constantly bored and not challenged. In one class, they only read ONE BOOK all year.

Quite honestly, Maria Montessori would be rolling in her grave if she knew how Hoyer Montessori was trying to implement the basic tenets of her learning curriculum.

Posted: February 21, 2019

Staff plays favorites among students based on their relationships with them or with their families. It is clear when these favorites act up, bully others, or disrespect other students or even teachers. There are no consequences, so the students KNOW that they can get away with a lot of things and more often than not, their targets get blamed or take on the consequences.

Posted: February 21, 2019

You cannot get an effective response for issues (such as bullying, fighting, and even property theft) that are brought up to the administration. They either skirt around them until families reach their boiling point and escalate the issue or leave the school. In the last couple of years, there has been a mass exodus of families leaving the school to go to other programs because they are tired of being blamed or ignored when they bring these concerns up.

Posted: February 21, 2019

Posted: February 21, 2019

Turning a blind eye and victim blaming are their modus operandi for addressing bullying. Incidents are almost never brought up to the parents of the kids who are being bullied and (especially) of the kids who bully until the kids targeted reach their tipping point and either fight back (in which case they are the one who are punished) or act out. When parents eventually meet with them to address the issues, staff try to minimize the situation to "kids being kids." There are no disciplinary consequences, so kids who bully continue to push the boundaries on what they can get away with.

Posted: February 21, 2019

Families expects two things from the schools where they send their students: Their students get a (preferably solid) education, and they are safe in the school's care. You get neither of these at Judith P. Hoyer Montessori.

Over six years, my family has seen the quality of education deteriorate, especially for the older students, and the disciplinary issues at the school worsen. They ride the coattails of their overachieving students to exaggerate their teaching prowess when in reality, many of the students move on to other programs underprepared and overwhelmed.

The middle school program is a joke. Compared to others in the county, they lack a comprehensive curriculum and supplementary programs that other schools, even the neighborhood ones, offer.

While the school has a great community of families -- the main reason why this review was BAD, not TERRIBLE -- the school takes them for granted and squeezes every ounce from the ones who are willing to volunteer and give back. Yet, when those same people only ask for the decency to teach their students and keep them safe, the school ignores them and treats them like pariahs.

Posted: August 24, 2017

Posted: August 24, 2017

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Posted: August 24, 2017

Posted: August 24, 2017

My son is in 3rd grade this year and his experience at Hoyer has been great. He has a very engaged teacher who has brought his math and reading level to well above grade average. He loves all the "specials". He enjoys PE and Media. Overall the kids are taught to be kind and respectful of one another. The PTA is very active. Tracy Spivey White is a strong principal who runs a tight ship. We feel fortunate to be part of the Hoyer family.

Posted: July 1, 2017

This is year four for us and thus far the PTA, the teachers and principal appear to have an awesome spirit of engagement with the students, whether for support in the class, special events and/or fundraisers.

Posted: July 1, 2017

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Posted: March 20, 2016

Great students, great staff and great parents! This equals a great school community. Everyone in the school community cares about the success of the students.

Posted: March 20, 2016

Posted: March 20, 2016

Posted: March 20, 2016

Collaboration of the ideas of all stakeholders. Transparency on the part of administration, and input from students and parents endures that there is a culture of integrity & fairness.

Posted: June 17, 2015

The teachers and staff at this school are great and help to resolve the occasional problem with students.

Posted: June 17, 2015

Posted: June 17, 2015

Posted: June 17, 2015

This school is wonderful. My kids have been going there for 3 years now and we are very impressed with the staff. The teachers and Principle are very engaging and work with the parents to provide an excellent education for the children. This school is a Montessori School on the Prince Georges County Public school system so you need to get in by lottery. This school goes from pre K to 8th grade. If more schools were like this on the Public System our district would be in the top in the nation. If you live in this district i would highly recommend this school. It is worth it to try multiple times to be selected for the lottery for this school.

Posted: August 21, 2014

This school is a model of community engagement at best! The staff, students, parents and principal work together to make this school a great place for student learning. We need more schools like this in Prince George's County, Maryland.

Posted: December 4, 2011

I have a son in the primary level at Judith Hoyer Montessori (formerly Judith Hoyer Early Childhood Center) and I'm very pleased with the school and his teacher. Ms. McDonald is energetic and attentive to the children and they both like and respect her. She is responsive to parents when they make inquiries and seems to genuinely care about all of her students. While the school, like any other has its challenges, the small potholes and filled in by a very active and on the ball PTA and administrative staff who keep learning activities during and after school relevant and fresh.