Montessori Country School

Posted: February 6, 2025

I was really nervous before enrolling our daughter at MCS. Karen went above and beyond to ease my fears and make the process more comfortable. To my surprise, my daughter barely cried and enjoyed going to MCS. That speaks volumes or her experience there. She has always been independent, but now she's learning to follow rules, social skills, and even potty training. I highly recommend for the parents who are second-guessing. It's a great school with great families there.

Posted: February 6, 2025

Posted: February 6, 2025

Posted: February 6, 2025

Posted: February 6, 2025

Posted: February 6, 2025

Posted: February 6, 2025

Posted: February 6, 2025

Posted: July 17, 2023

SIGNIFICANT number of families choosing to not return for the 2023/2024 school year. Instead enrolling in other area Montessori schools. What’s going on here?!

Posted: February 21, 2018

Preschool doesn't require homework, but encourages passion for learning all day.

Posted: February 21, 2018

They focus on individual strengths and weaknesses to create a positive learning experience.

Posted: February 21, 2018

I've seen the teachers teach what they call "grace and courtesy" in montessori fashion. Kids learn how to resolve conflicts and be courteous.

Posted: February 21, 2018

Staff must be able to create their own learning environment, but the director is very organized, friendly, and works hard to make the school a wonderful place for staff and students.

Posted: February 21, 2018

There are customized lessons for students based on skill levels, but I'm not sure about learning difficulties

Posted: February 21, 2018

Kids are taught at a young age how to resolve conflicts and verbalize their thoughts and feelings. Teachers are very in tune with the kids.

Posted: February 21, 2018

We love it! My kids are growing to be intelligent and well rounded. They love to learn and enjoy school!

Posted: January 22, 2018

Posted: January 22, 2018

Posted: January 22, 2018

Posted: January 22, 2018

Posted: January 22, 2018

Posted: January 22, 2018

Posted: January 22, 2018

MCS is an excellent Montessori school with a warm, nurturing environment- our daughters loves to go there everyday. The director is awesome and the teachers are AMI certified, experienced and very involved with the students. They follow Montessori methods very closely and it shows in the children's independence and grace and manners. Their French & Music program is awesome too..my 3 year old understands spoken French quite well and can actually play Hot Cross Buns on the piano !! This is a parent-run school so the parent community is very involved. Highly recommend it!!

Posted: December 7, 2016

Posted: December 7, 2016

It is a nice school, Some teachers are good, however, the administration is quite bad. They had Mrs. Benai who doesn't have a formal degree in the field to be the head of school (who used to work as an assistant at the same school) they do have many problems going on between teachers and the administration/board and that pushed many good teachers/employees to live the school. I put one of my children( with some learning delay) at MCS and because some teachers are still working with old methods, and they don't have adequate technics to address challenging children, the head of school chose to dismiss our child from the school (without forewarning) rather than work with us to find appropriate supports.. I heard some parents also complaining about the school not accepting children with disabilities like dyslexia or ASD and that is very sad since Montessori program is made originally for disabled children. The school used to have a good Foreign language program and music program. My child loved Mrs. Wilson, she is a very caring teacher. This school can do better if the administration and the board took different decisions

Posted: December 7, 2016

Posted: December 7, 2016

Posted: December 7, 2016

Posted: December 7, 2016

Posted: December 7, 2016

Posted: November 15, 2016

Posted: November 15, 2016

Our first one came to the school with some serious apprehensions about learning. Perhaps it was something that happened at his previous daycare, or some phase he was going through, he was quite challenging around the time he entered MCS. He would literally cry when we tried singing the alphabet song, would push aside number toys, and had zero interest in drawing. We moved him to MCS in March. By June, he was enthusiastic about learning, would try sounding out letters, and developed a love of drawing. He would continue to struggle sometimes with his behavior, but since coming to MCS we never worried about him again. The teacher - and we are still trying to figure this one out - worked some kind of magic on that boy that helped him to focus and to work cooperatively with others. And when he struggled, they'd help him get himself right again. We have always marveled at the tremendous amounts of patience and understanding MCS teachers had for our kid - and he was just one of many.

Posted: November 15, 2016

The school has undergone a transition from a long-serving administrator to a new one this year. However, the current administrator, Ms. Banai, has been with the school for 15 years already, as both a teaching assistant and as an aid to the previous administrator. The continuity in this role means most of the institutional knowledge that is usually lost with staff turnover stayed at the school. MCS has in general been extremely successful at retaining staff, and many of the teachers have been with the school for at least a generation. Heck – one of the teachers is a former pupil! While this may not be Hotel California, it does seem like most people who check in to MCS really don’t want to leave – whether it be staff or families with their children.

Posted: November 15, 2016

Posted: November 15, 2016

Posted: November 15, 2016

Posted: November 15, 2016

After having our first child go through MCS, from young preschool through to Kindergarten, we are now part of the family with our second, who came in at 2½ years old. The program, the teachers, the administrator, and the families that make up this non-profit parent-ran school all contribute to its tremendously positive effect on the children. Our older one, now in public school, comes home remarks about all the things he learned at MCS and is now covering again in public school. And our little one, just a few months in, is now incredibly independent, can do just about everything on her own, and sings to us in English and French (MCS has Music and French classes for all age groups). Both our children love MCS. Our older one looks forward to any chance he gets to visit, while our younger one will regularly remark on weekends how she misses her teachers and her classmates.
With our first one, we visited all the schools in the area, and took our time selecting what we felt was the best school for him. At the time of the search, we were concerned because he seemed unenthusiastic about learning; he would cry when we tried singing the alphabet song with him (here we suspect there may have been something going on at his previous daycare). So a positive environment was key. We found other schools depressing (church basements, hole-in-the-wall locations, etc), or the teachers seemingly uninterested. Entering MCS was like a ray of sunshine – literally and figuratively. The school is bright: lots of windows and a large property so kids have room to run and natural light to learn. And the teachers are a positive ray of energy. You can tell how much they love teaching. It’s so easy to enter the school and remain, feeling part of an extended family. And our son took to this. He came out of his shell, developed a new enthusiasm for learning, and became the curious, intelligent boy we have today.
The second time around school choice was a no-brainer, and we couldn’t be happier. Our little one spontaneously breaks out into song, at 3 is already counting – in both English and French – and with joy each day tells us about the amazing things she learned. And to think that just four months ago she hardly spoke English, never mind French (we speak a foreign language at home). There are no words to describe just how happy we are with MCS, and would recommend it wholeheartedly.

Posted: October 12, 2016

Posted: October 12, 2016

Posted: October 12, 2016

There has been a change of leadership at the school administrator this year - one which was long overdue in my opinion. I view the change to be a significant positive, and one of the reasons we elected to continue to bring our children to the school. The new administrator is very compassionate with the children and parents, yet very firm when it comes to accepting only the highest standards of excellence in the education quality and opportunities the school provides for the children.

Posted: October 12, 2016

I believe instilling values in children is the parents job, but it is extremely helpful when the atmosphere at the school is so strongly aligned with the same set of values. In my case, the home environment and the school environment both promote high integrity, compassion, and respect, and the complementary nature of this has developed a lovely character in both of my children. I couldn't ask for a better outcome at these young ages.

Posted: October 12, 2016

As montessori certified lead teachers, the teachers follow the children's interests, while guiding them to explore new lessons, and more challenging work. At first it was hard for me to accept this, and I wanted the teachers to push my child to learn as much as possible, but by accepting the methodology, I see rather than pushing my child to learn, my children have developed a love of learning new things, and a curiosity that will serve them far more for their future success, than the ability to be pushed by adults/teachers.

Posted: October 12, 2016

Posted: October 12, 2016

As the mother of 2 children who have attended this school, I consider myself lucky for having found this school, tucked away discretely in Herndon. My children both started in this school at age 2.5. At an age where most children are still at home or in a daycare setting, at Montessori Country School, the 2.5 year olds are learning how to become confident, independent children, surrounded by a happy atmosphere and loving teachers. All the way through Kindergarten, my kids have woken up every school morning full of excitement at returning to school to "do their work" and learn more about nature, the world, and of course, the basics - reading/writing/arithmetic. Upon entering kindergarten, they are more advanced educationally than what I see from my neighbors' children who are entering first and second grade! Both of my children speak and read French, have a love of music, and a have a perspective of other cultures, people, and countries around the world due specifically to what they have been taught and exposed to at MCS.
I couldn't be happier, and only wish this school continued on to even higher grades, so my children could continue their education in this unique atmosphere.
I give the highest marks to the quality of the education, the teachers, the new administrator, and the community at this school. Thank you!

Posted: August 15, 2016

Posted: August 15, 2016

Posted: August 15, 2016

This school needs to get its act together. The new school year starts in 3 weeks, but last year's tuition rates are still listed on the school's website. Someone's fallen asleep at the wheel.

Posted: August 11, 2016

One of my children recently attended the Montessori County School for about 1 year and had some challenging behaviors during this time period. We as parents consistently addressed these behaviors both at home and with the classroom teacher and director. Sadly, the director chose to dismiss our child from the school (without forewarning) rather than work with us to find appropriate responses and supports. This school's major flaw is that they only seem to work well with "cookie-cutter" families and children. Our experience told us that if they see a challenge, they will cut you loose, regardless of your efforts to work with them or your child.

Posted: August 11, 2016

Posted: August 10, 2016

Posted: August 10, 2016

Posted: April 7, 2015

Contrary to a recent post by "a parent" Montessori Country School is not moving away from the Montessori way of teaching. I have had 2 children go through MCS (one will graduate this year) through the Kindergarten year and cannot rave more about the benefits this school provides and foundational structure it instills in the children. Not only are the teachers wonderful and love to teach, but the environment is warm and inviting to the point that my older child always talks about how safe he feels there. The after care options that MCS offers are there because of the demand within the surrounding community and is a huge benefit for parents who work 9 to 5 jobs around the DC Metro area. On top of the wonderful and nurturing school environment, I must say that the education and foundation for learning that MCS provides are second to none. My son left his kindergarten year reading chapter books and doing math problems in his head, to name only two of the benefits from being at this school. I wouldn t hesitate to enroll another child in this school or to enroll them in advanced grades if the school offered it.

Posted: April 6, 2015

MCS is amazing. As a non-profit, parent-owned school, it remains focused on education. The Young Preschool class (for 2-1/2 to 3 year olds) is a warm, nurturing environment where kids are excited to learn. They practice real-life skills as well as skills that provide a foundation for later academics (counting, sounding out words, etc.). In Preschool and Kindergarten, kids are encouraged to ask questions and find out more about the world. They work at their own pace and take pride in their learning. Our oldest child learned how to read books well above her grade level - and she could add, subtract, multiply, and divide. But her class also learned how to knit hats, and delivered them at the end of the year to the cancer ward of a local hospital. The students take French and music classes, and other enrichment classes are available after school. The After Care option is great for parents who work full-time or need to pick up their child later in the day. If you're looking for a supportive school at an affordable price, you should check out MCS. The education your child receives will give them an advantage going into 1st grade.

Posted: March 18, 2015

This school is in serious decline. Although it has "Montessori" in its name, the Administrator and Board President have slowly been converting it from a Montessori preschool to more of a non-Montessori preschool focused primarily on before and after school care. MCS used to be a very good school, but it has had some financial difficulties in the past year or two. Enrollment is down significantly. Perhaps this explains the short-term focus on improving operational cash flow by focusing on before and after school care. The most experienced teachers (2 of them) were let go just before the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year. The Board leaves a lot to be desired. Parent participation is minimal. The Administrator is controlling. Please think twice before enrolling at this school.

Posted: September 30, 2014

Love it! My older daughter started going last year and now her younger sister has joined her in the young preschool program. Both are also in aftercare since my wife and I work full time. When the school is closed for things like teacher training or parent-teacher conferences the aftercare is still running.They love going to school and they are learning so much and becoming very independent. The other kids and parents at the school are great, my children have made many good friends. It is a parent-owned non-profit school so tuition is reasonable and the school is very responsive to parent needs/wants. They recently updated the schedule to match very closely with Fairfax County Public Schools. They also updated parent participation rules to make it easier to get a tuition discount for helping out. There is a music class and a French class, each twice a week, and frequent extra activities the kids can sign up for like soccer and cooking classes where they bring in outside instructors after class is over (when my kids would otherwise be in aftercare). There are a lot of activities during the year outside of the school for the kids and parents to get together. We're very happy!

Posted: September 15, 2014

Pros: Extremely involved parent community Qualified teachers and staff. Best part of the school: Afterschool teachers are AWESOME! Cons: They do not have an indoor play area. Last year when winter was harsh, kids spent all the time in their classroom! All the hours you spend helping the school do not count towards Parent Participation(PP) hours. Very Expensive - Too many days off, unnecessary early closings Worst part: Different conference dates than FCPS.

Posted: June 1, 2014

We toured several montessori schools in the area before enrolling, and MCS stood out by a long shot. Now that we have our daughter at the school, we absolutely love it. The school has a warm loving atmosphere, and everyone truly cares about the students and families. The education my daughter is receiving is outstanding, I am always taken by surprise at how much she is learning in PreSchool. Also, the school is not for profit, and I think it leads to a greater focus on the kids. I would highly recommend this school to families in the area.

Posted: January 17, 2013

MCS is AMAZING. We loved it when we first took the tour, and we love it even more 3.5 years later. Mrs. Kashif & Mrs. Wilson's Young Preschool class is a warm, nurturing environment where the kids are excited to learn. They practice real-life skills (pouring, washing) as well as skills that provide a strong foundation for later academics (tracing, counting, sounding out words phonetically). Then there's the incredible Mrs. Mills, who was taught by teachers who were taught by Maria Montessori herself. She & Mrs. Banai inspire and challenge the children to ask questions and find out more about the world. Their classroom is a truly magical place. Students work at their own pace, celebrate their successes, and take pride in their learning. The kindergartners learn how to knit hats, then deliver them at the end of the year to the cancer ward of a local hospital. The teachers' compassion and concern for others has a tremendous trickle down effect on the children, who learn to be kind, responsible citizens. If you're looking for a supportive, structured preschool or kindergarten environment at a very competitive price, you owe it to yourself - and your child - to check out MCS.

Posted: June 6, 2011

After visiting several Montessori schools in the area while pregnant with my first child, I toured Montessori Country School. I immediately felt at home in such a quiet, nurturing environment where everything had it's place and the children were so involved in their own learning that they hardly noticed my presence. The teachers and staff are phenomenal. My kids are extremely happy and excelling in all subjects, and getting great social interaction and learning respect for themselves and others and the environment. I have 2 kids in the school now, and one to come. My oldest (now in KG there) lives for math and music. My second child has flourished in this environment and still has several years to go. I can't say enough about the teachers and the entire school. The school sells itself, and because of the non profit status and the environment there, allows and encourages parent involvement in many ways, which is one of the things I love about it. If you are looking for a school that will allow your child to realize their potential and love learning in a non competitive environment during the critical preschool years, you need to check out Montessori Country School.

Posted: June 16, 2010

My son has just completed kindergarten and my daughter will continue her preschool education at MCS next year. MCS is a not-for profit school that offers an environment that benefits the entire family. Both of my children have enjoyed a rewarding educational experience and we are delighted with the school.

Posted: May 10, 2006

It is a great school with very experienced and patient teachers and which encourages a lot of parent participitation. They need to add more grades with such a well managed facility.