Montessori Children's School

Posted: February 12, 2025

Posted: February 12, 2025

Posted: February 12, 2025

Posted: February 12, 2025

Posted: February 12, 2025

Posted: February 12, 2025

Posted: February 12, 2025

Posted: February 12, 2025

My daughter has been going to MCS for 9 years!!! She started as a toddler and is now in upper elementary in the 5th grade. My daughter is thriving!! The teachers here and the Montessori Philosophy have instilled a major love for learning in my daughter. From a young age she learned what it meant to be a leader and a role model. I see this now as she visits the younger children to read or share one of her projects with them. She loves it and they love it. She is so confident and I attribute this to the teachers willingness to let her dive deep into subjects that she loves, to offer opportunities for collaboration and innovation. We had the most 2 difficult years personally and the one constant for her has been this school which feels like family to her. She has excelled here, even skipped a grade because she finished all the materials in the lower elementary classroom. MCS offers individualized education based on where the children are. I am grateful to all the teachers and staff who commit their time to creating an environment that my daughter absolutely looks forward to going to!

Posted: January 15, 2024

I used to work for MCS, the leads only receive 3 weeks of training before they are left to guide 28 children. I was there for 7 months and I could count on one hand the number of lessons that took place. There was zero communication between the guide and the assistants. Children ran wild, screaming, yelling, zero work happening, they spent the whole day coloring/crafting. Concerns I had were dismissed, I was told to be dismissive to the children. The environment was dirty, they have no janitorial staff and make the assistants clean bathrooms and mop without additional compensation. I am certain mold is everywhere in those buildings due to the lack of cleanliness. When I worked there 3-4 people quit before me due to how poorly the school was ran. I have a 2 year old and would have never enrolled her there.

Posted: January 15, 2024

Posted: January 15, 2024

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Posted: May 10, 2019

If you are considering a Montessori school in the Jacksonville NC area, THIS is the one to go to! My son has been going to this wonderful school for 3 years and has absolutely flourished both socially and mentally. Knowing that he goes to a school where the lessons are child-centered, not teacher-centered, and individualized and tailored to how he learns is comforting as a parent. This Montessori school has taught my child to be independent, respectful, thoughtful, and observant. We are so pleased that he is guided to use critical thinking instead of just memorizing lessons. I would recommend this school to anybody looking for an alternative to a traditional classroom! The tour alone will give any prospective family great insight into the powerful Montessori philosophy.One look around and you notice the quiet buzzing of children diligently working and learning in a carefully prepared environment.
We look forward to many more years here at the school and continuing to sing its praises! We are so lucky to have this Montessori gem in Jacksonville, NC.

Posted: May 10, 2019

Posted: May 10, 2019

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Posted: May 10, 2019

Posted: February 17, 2019

The Montessori philosophy does not necessarily sign with assigning homework.

Posted: February 17, 2019

Posted: February 17, 2019

Posted: February 17, 2019

Posted: February 17, 2019

Posted: February 17, 2019

Posted: February 17, 2019

The staff is incredibly intuitive to the needs of the children. The Montessori tradition, philosophy, and environment are the best I have seen on the NC East coast.

Posted: February 21, 2017

We started at the school when our daughter was 4, although she was already bright for her age we decided to try the Montessori school for the first year and if we didn't like it we would switch her to public for kindergarten. After the first semester our daughters positive reviews and the amazing progress we saw, we decided this would be best. She is now in her third year and our 2 year old in her first year. Our oldest has grown so independent and we love that she has shifted from looking to the older children for guidance, to being the one who guides the younger children. The directresses have been amazing every year and I'm surprised that there are negative reviews for this school. While the Montessori school is not right for everyone, it has proven to be perfect for our family. Everyone in our immediate family has toured the school and were thoroughly impressed! We love being a part of this Montessori family and we plan to stay here as long as we can. We Absolutely LOVE this school!!!

Posted: September 15, 2016

Our child attended MCS. We, like many others, are a military family and had to move (the reason why we left we left the school). The school is the best you can find for the area so temper your expectations. The school is aesthetically pleasing and clean for the most part. Communication with parents is a mixed bag - they are really successful is certain areas (mailers and automated phone messages) but they have serious faults on verbal communication (phone or related). At times, these faults can cause a financial burden. The classroom directress gave very little information on our child's progress outside of the parent teacher conference. We relied heavily on information relayed to us by our young child. For the tuition and fees while also considering the area, there are not many tangible items that you will receive from the classroom - meaning any of your child's work/projects/lessons learned. I did receive lots of colored print outs similar to coloring books which was not reassuring. The head office can, at times, be condescending and aloof. Be diligent and persistent with them.

Posted: September 15, 2016

Posted: September 15, 2016

Posted: September 15, 2016

Posted: October 2, 2015

Posted: October 2, 2015

Posted: October 2, 2015

Posted: October 2, 2015

MCS is great!
MCS in Jacksonville NC is a wonderful community of families who want their child to be respected, and loved as they learn life skills and gain strong academic knowledge.
The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and exciting. Students at MCS are provided with the opportunity to care for themselves, each other, and our environment consistently. Each classroom is carefully prepared with rich Montessori learning materials and the educators are passionate about Dr. Maria Montessori's philosophy/method about educating Children.

Posted: August 12, 2015

We are a military family recently reassigned to Jacksonville. I was educated in a Montessori school and my children have been as well.

Upon meeting the staff and touring the school, we were saddened to see how far this establishment is from the true Montessori philosophy. As I observed a classroom, I felt for the children as they are missing great learning opportunities. Personally, I've never seen such a glum group of Montessori children which is opposite my personal experience and concerning. Montessori is much more than offering the target activities of learning. It's a process of human development which must be alive in the staff in order to promote growth in the classroom. I did not observe this during my two tours and observations.

With much Montessori experience behind me, my impression is that those involved with this school are more interested in being affiliated with the idea of Montessori rather than the true process of learning and development.

I suggest parents observe other Montessori schools before they commit to this school. Unfortunately, there are many schools that strive to deliver but miss the mark.

The things I did see that were aligned with my experience is the expectation of parental involvement which is always appreciated. We love our little ones.

Posted: August 12, 2015

Posted: August 12, 2015

Posted: August 12, 2015

Posted: March 5, 2015

This school might work for some, but not for us. Beware and listen to your child.

Posted: February 9, 2014

We've been at this school for almost a decade and have to wonder at the negative reviews. Every experience in life depends in large part on what you bring to it. Montessori is more than a teaching method - it is a lifestyle. Parents who understand & choose it for their families are happy to volunteer and help their child choose healthy snacks for their classmates when it is their "turn" in the rotation. We both work full time and have always had far more than 30 hours of volunteer time. We work with our children, their directresses, and the school in general so that our kids see what it means to be part of a community & how important it is to contribute time and talent. The directresses are highly trained & certified and the individual attention they provide is second to none. If you are looking for a place where your child will be constantly "graded" against their peers, or where you are expected to send your child to school & wash your hands of involvement then this is not the best fit for your family. If you are considering the school, schedule a visit and ask to talk to families who have been here for awhile. Educate yourself on the Montessori method. You won't be disappointed!

Posted: January 2, 2014

I agree with the last review. It sees to me that this school only care about the money and not the student at all! Classroom are crowded! Is a small daycare! For that amount money they ask, and keep asking through the year! Snacks, donations every single month, 10$ a hour per 30 hours a year each family need to pay or volunteer your time to fix a school that YOU ARE PAYING FOR! And Montessori? Really that only using their name but they are not REALLY Montessori. If Maria Montessori would be alive she would be ashamed of this school!!!! I'm glad my kids are out of here.

Posted: November 2, 2013

Coming into this school from another Montessori school I was certain it would be great. However, this school is not a Montessori accredited school. Please do your research. There are 33 children in one classroom with only ONE Montessori certified teacher and 2 that are not certified in the Montessori method. This classroom does not hold true Montessori standards. My children report that they are bored and rarely get individual interaction with a teacher even when requested. I am given no feedback as to their progress and have asked repeatedly. Not only are there tuition costs; but families are also required to purchase snacks for the entire class and also perform 30 volunteer hours or pay $10 each hour. I would gladly remove my children from this school but I will then be billed an additional 90 days tuition. Since my children have been at this school teachers are constantly changing. This school was once a hidden gem, but now under the new 2013 administration it is only about maximizing the classroom size to increase the funding. l should have followed in the footsteps of the many families that wisely left last year! Don't waste your time here!

Posted: November 2, 2013

As a Directress at the Montessori Children's School, I am surprised at the reviews suggesting there is not enough training and "triple" class sizes! Our classrooms have 25 children, and have always had 25 children (since before the new head of school was in place). The Directresses and Directors are all certified. The assistants are not certified, but they each work with Montessori certified leads. We attend more training and have received more wonderful equipment for our classes under our new head of school. Everyone is welcome to attend our training and we often travel to receive more training. The classroom size is ideal, the teachers are trained and certified (and receive training on a regular basis). If we need new materials because something is broken or lost, we simply ask for it. I have a classroom of happy and healthy children with happy parents! Our school is a beautiful campus unlike any other in the area! Come see for yourself!

Posted: September 23, 2013

I absolutely adore this school and school community! The teachers my son is with everyday are loving and sweet. He is learning to read and comes home excited each day. Yes, he is with 3-6 year olds, as a Montessori child should be. I would expect you do some research before you complain that your child is a mixed age class. If you are looking for an affordable, beautiful, loving school... This is it. I am happy to provide snacks, volunteer for the classroom and pay the (cheap) tuition. If you research other Montessori schools, this one is dirt cheap! I cannot say enough about the amazing staff. This isn't just another pre-school. This is a quality Montessori environment.

Posted: August 18, 2013

Not sure of the previous parents surprise that there are 3, 4 and 5 year olds in the same class. If they had done any research into Montessori, they would have known that the Primary class consists of 3, 4 and 5 year olds (Pre-K & K); lower elementary consists of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade, etc. One of the beauties of the program is the younger children are inspired by older students. Older students show responsibility and mastery of work by helping younger students. The Montessori curriculum not only provides the educational component but the social one as well. The teachers love & respect their students and it shows with the deep bonds they form. The teachers will communicate and share their knowledge of Montessori if asked. But interested parents need to remember that this is Montessori and take it upon themselves to work with staff & educate themselves on how to incorporate Montessori philosophy into their lives. While the class sizes have grown over the past few years, I believe the new administrator is working to solve this issue. This school has truly been a blessing!!!

Posted: April 28, 2011

This school discriminates against children with disabilities and screens students (and their family) during the interview. If you don't fit their image, your child will NOT be selected for admission.

Posted: March 21, 2011

love this school and so does my 5 year old! Great environment for to days child to grow in. The teachers and staff are all great and provide the students with an ideal Montessori environment.

Posted: February 1, 2011

I agree that this school is great FOR SOME children. Montessori is not for everyone. If you child is able to work on his/her own and control his/her behavior with little correction then this is a great school. However a child who is needs discipline and guidance would not do well here. The teachers are very nice and love the kids 100%. But know that they do not really discipline the children, it is a very independent environment and they expect the kids to govern themselves. While I like the idea, it only suites a small percentage of kids. You have to guage your child and how his/her personality is. If he/she is outspoken, is defiant, rambunctious and/or likes being the center of attention...this is NOT this school for him/her.

Posted: January 5, 2011

You will not find a school of this caliber anywhere else in Onslow County, it is quite simply THE BEST! Love for this tiny little gem is apparent from the first time you drive on to campus; happy parents, teachers that live and love what they do and, most importantly, children that love to learn. I can not say enough about the Montessori Children's School, every aspect of our experience with the school has been first rate!

Posted: January 5, 2011

As a military spouse, I do not know how I would have survived without the Montessori Childrens School the past six years living in a remote place with a husband deployed most of the time! The quality of education is not to be matched in the area, and the community is incredibly supportive to local and military families alike! I recommend the school without a single reservation for children as young as one up to the age of 12. My children love going to school every day of the year!