Bay Montessori School

Posted: February 10, 2022

I’ve worked with two Montessori and a couple daycare centers in my career. This school has been the worst I’ve ever been a part of. The original curriculum was a good one but now it’s not the same a lot of teachers aren’t qualified and are inexperienced on how to truly deal with and connect with the kids. Incident reports aren’t reported or filled out every time something happens like they should parents aren’t always notified. A lot of unfair treatment in the workplace and the kids.

Posted: February 10, 2022

Posted: February 10, 2022

Posted: February 10, 2022

Posted: February 10, 2022

Posted: February 10, 2022

Posted: February 10, 2022

Posted: February 10, 2022

Posted: January 10, 2017

My son has been at Bay Montessori for 10 years. Yup that's right 10 years.

He started in the "big house" when he was 3. He's now in the middle school in 7th grade.

No school is perfect, but Bay comes close. The teachers here care, the school is a small enough to allow for individual attention, and they have been EXTREMELY flexible and supportive with my son's ADHD.

I've read the other reviews, and every parent needs to make their own decisions about their kids education. Montessori is about the individual student - not about "standardized" education. It can be hard for parents to relax and work with the school, but I have watched my child become an amazing, kind, caring person. Bay helped that happen.

Posted: November 19, 2016

I don't work at the school, my child has attended it for the last 3 years and I have nothing but praise for the place. We've had a few minor 'moments' along the way but they've been sorted quickly and I'd actually be suspicious if there wasn't the odd hiccup! That's life!!!

Posted: August 21, 2015

We enrolled our three year old daughter during the beginning of the year (2015) and has been attending Bay since, to include the Summer Camp. I believe the consistency of attending the same school, same schedule, and same teachers has allowed her to develop her curiosity, self-confidence, and reliance. Bay Montessori has been essential in fostering an environment in which she can grow and learn at her pace. The staff at Bay Montessori, are professional and put student’s interests first. As a parent, I do not know the inner dynamics of the organization. However, as a working professional with 20 years’ experience, all organizations have their dynamics, and none is perfect. Therefore, to judge the quality of the school based on the inner working of the organization, instead of the responsiveness they provide student, is a disservice to both the school and the students.

Posted: August 21, 2015

Based on what I have seen first hand, the teachers hold the students accountable and allow them to make decisions. For example, when students start a lesson, they are politely asked , when they are done to put things were they belong. If the student doesn't comply, the teacher walks over to the student and asks them to please put things away, and gives them a reason as why they need to put things away. Providing a reason , instead of a "YES" or "No" answer, creates an environment in which students develop honesty, integrity and fairness.

Posted: June 4, 2015

There are many good things happening at Bay Montessori. The community is a good one, with parents who are involved and teachers who care. The grounds are beautiful. The classrooms are well stocked with all the Montessori materials. Administration tries to work everything out so that parents and teachers are as happy as possible.
However, there is an underlying dysfunction at the school that I could never quite identify. Children are rough on each other - much more so than any of the 15 other Montessori schools I've visited in my teaching career. Teacher turnover is extremely high: more than half of the teachers employed at the school left or were fired during my four years teaching at Bay. In their effort to keep parents happy, administrators frequently give partial information to parents and staff. (As an example: I'm almost certain that both 5 star reviews of this school were written by "a parent" who is also an administrator.)
I wanted to love Bay. I have personally dedicated a huge amount of my time, money and energy to Montessori education, and Bay is the only Montessori school within an hour of the base. However, after teaching there for four years, I handed in my resignation. My children and I needed respite from the drama.

Posted: June 4, 2015

Posted: June 4, 2015

Posted: June 4, 2015

Posted: March 16, 2015

Check first the accreditation of this school. This is a mediocre practicing "Montessori skills" school. The school continually accept students throughout the schoolyear, which means your kid will not stay in one class for the whole year. They will distribute the kids in 2 classes at some point if they feel that they are overload with students enrolling in the middle of the year, because of the "open enrollment". Make sure to read their enrollment policy first, since this school is expensive for what it really is. Make sure you're paying for an actual Montessori program with a Montessori accredited teachers.

Posted: July 18, 2014

We enrolled our 3 yr old in Fall13. After a few days, he refused to return and we pulled him out. During this experience, we noted: The facilities are impressive at first. But we found the rooms were not really clean: a glance behind furniture revealed at least a year's worth of dust. The nap room smells of mold or smoke; our child's clothes reeked of it. The staff does not answer phones. Calls go to voicemail and usually not returned within a business day. Parents are expected to drop a 3 yr old off at the curb! If you walk your child to class, you must remain outside. An appointment is required to observe a class. When we removed our child we were informed there is no refund during the "30 day trial period". A complaint was filed with the BBB, Maryland Dept of Education, and the American Montessori Society (AMS). The BBB complaint ended in an unresolved status and can be found on their website. The DoE informed us that Bay was a private church school; interestingly we saw no church related activities. The AMS profusely apologized and informed us Bay is only a member and not an accredited AMS school. I do not encourage anyone to avoid this school but get all of the information.

Posted: June 11, 2013

With 13 acres, the openness and natural setting of Bay Montessori was appealing as we were looking for a school for our child. We were even more impressed with the classrooms we visited and observed. We were sold on the school as we observed children moving throughout the classroom unimpeded by the teacher as they chose lessons to perform. Our son has blossomed in this environment and Bay has exceeded our expectations in every way. The low student to teacher ratio allows my child one on one teaching and we really think this has allowed him to flourish. Bay Montessori is the best educational option in Southern Maryland.

Posted: June 11, 2013

Bay Montessori has provided our children with an excellent educational setting. We like the independent learning of going at their own pace, rather than the pace of the teacher. The classrooms are designed in a way that invites learning and the children are not just sitting in chairs listening to a teacher tell them what they need to learn. My first grade daughter is reading on a fourth grade level and my pre-k son is reading and writing and has become more sociable and outgoing since enrolling at Bay. Montessori is not for every parent as there is an expectation that what is practiced at the school should be adopted at the home (i.e. items placed at the child's level to serve themselves, special area for children for reading materials, places for their shoes, etc.). Montessori is not just a method of learning, but a way of life for many Montessori families.