Although my kids no longer attend this school, I continue to recommend it to my friends and family. They are currently expanding, and it's exciting to see the growth! This school gave my children the strong foundation they needed to excel in their next steps. A heartfelt thank you to Ms. Ban and Mr. Jay for being so wonderful! read more

We've been part of the school for over 4 years, with our oldest starting at 2 yo in Ms Shubra's class and then onto Ms. Sharee's class in Room 2. Our younger daughter also followed suit. We can't recommend this school enough - both our kids have loved their time at CMS and we are sad to leave. Room 2 with Ms. Sharee has been the best experience - the teachers are so kind and patient, truly caring for each kid. It's amazing how good they are at knowing every child, even those not in their own classrooms! Our kids look forward to going to school and our daughter pretends to be the teachers all the time when she's home. If we had the option of staying past Kindergarten, we would (seriously, we've asked Ms. Ban multiple times). read more

UPDATE I randomly just noticed the negative reviews because I was sending the profile to a friend to check out and I just can't.... those are not even remotely true. CMS is the best school I have ever been around - and the husband and wife that run it are literally our kid's guardian angels. Ms. Ban has helped me immensely outside of school also - from discussing elementary schools, middle schools, potty training.... all of it. My son is potty trained because she went so far over and above for him (and for us). Parent only get asked to pay for field trips and the spring concert which is expected quite frankly and VERY affordable...as well as optional. The spring concert is literally one of my favorite things of the year and the field trips (which I volunteer for every chance I get) are amazing opportunities for the kids to get out and do exciting things. There is no way they make money on those for all that you get out of the experience. I need Ms. Ban to run my life the way she runs the school - our daughter started elementary and is way ahead of her milestones and that is 100% because of the amazing education, curriculum, and organization within CMS. Childcare is SO expensive everywhere but I find CMS to be extremely reasonable for this area and the other schools (all of which we looked at and assessed). Even so, I will never regret a single dime we have given them - we are keeping our kids there through kinder specifically because the program has been so amazing and the kids (all of them, not just ours....) THRIVE. If people drive nice cars or have nice things that is none of my business and maybe just suggests they have been successful? I don't begrudge anyone for that in the slightest - they provide a service that is EXCEPTIONAL. Outside of adding staff I haven't noticed much turnover at all - that's actually one of the things I love the most - I consider the teachers to be friends now because I have known them ALL for 4 years since my oldest daughter started there. They hire well and run a tight ship and everyone that has worked in education or around a preschool/daycare should know that speaks VOLUMES. The teachers care and check in on our kids just as much as family - their sick policy is consistent in my experience across 4 years at the school but they also CARE. I totally spaced one time telling them we were going to have family in town and keeping our kiddo home and the teachers were all SO worried that our son was sick, checking in on him, on us.... Either grumpy trolls negatively impacting a stellar small business because they don't have anything better to do with their time or something else that reflects more on them than on the school itself..... ignore ignore ignore. I'm happy to discuss 1:1 my experiences if anyone is still on the fence because I feel that strongly about how amazing this school and our experiences have been. Sincerely, A parent with an account that shows my picture and actually has history associated with it vs a throwaway.... read more

Our family has had an incredible experience at CMS! We have two children enrolled, and our extended family has also chosen CMS for our children's cousins--it's truly become a family affair. What makes CMS stand out? * The quality of education is outstanding. The curriculum is both challenging and personalized to each child's pace. Parents with older kids have told me that their children entered kindergarten ahead of the curve thanks to CMS. Beyond academics, they instill real independence in the kids--teaching them life skills in a way that truly embodies the Montessori philosophy. * The teachers are warm, engaged, and truly adored by the kids. Seeing a teacher outside of school feels like spotting a celebrity--our kids run up to them with huge hugs! * They partner with parents in such a meaningful way. Thanks to their support, both of our children are potty trained, and whenever we're navigating a behavioral challenge, they offer thoughtful advice and work with us to find solutions. * The heart of the school is the husband-and-wife team who clearly love what they do. They genuinely know and care about each family. On my first tour, Ban (the Head of School) greeted every child by name--it was clear right away that this was a special place. * Field trips and the spring concert are a wonderful bonus. Not all preschools offer them, and CMS makes them both accessible and affordable. The extra cost simply covers the bus and entry fee, and the experiences have been so enriching for our kids. I was blown away by the quality of the spring concert. Very special experience for a parent, and a wonderful nod to performing arts. * Their tiered pricing model is reasonable compared to other preschools in the area. They understand what working parents need and offer flexibility that's hard to find elsewhere. Finding a preschool that checks so many boxes--strong leadership, loving teachers, high-quality education, and flexible enrollment--felt like a rare find. We're so grateful for CMS and couldn't recommend it more! read more

Works well for some situations, but no frills. Strip mall setting and most rooms don't have windows. Much of the equipment in the backyard seems to be used/ low rent. Close to zero greenery out back. Husband/Wife who run the school drive fancy cars but (especially the wife) will stiffen up and not accept any input for improvements if it means a dollar of spend or additional work for them. In fact she will hold this against you. Classrooms are small and packed to the hilt with 24 children. If your kid requires some extra attention, you are out of luck since they will not do a single thing to accommodate any special need as small as it may be. read more

Our daughter has been at CMS since she was 18 months and we have seen her grow so much. She is 4.5 years old now and in room 6 with Miss gaby and Miss Ibti. They have been incredible, very patient and have taught our e so much! We are so grateful for this special school and look forward to sending our second daughter in the fall! read more

CMS is a wonderful learning environment for preschool. My oldest started when she was 3 years old. I started my second daughter when she was 18 months old. Ms. Ban and Mr. Jay work so hard and are there every day. They don't have other people run the front desk creating a school community feel rather than it feeling like a business. All of the teachers are warm and wonderful and care so much about the kids. The Montessori learning style is so helpful for preschool aged children and both my girls developed important skills at CMS. It is a calm but stimulating environment where all students help contribute to the classroom. They learn to sweep up after themselves, use rugs for work and roll them up, wash their tray after eating, cut apples to share with their friends, make flower arrangements... the list goes on! Both my girls finished at CMS reading and very ahead for their age in math and I think CMS prepared them well for the transition to kindergarten. They are happy, confident and capable because of this wonderful school. read more

Our family moved from Dana Point to Encinitas right at the start of the 23/24 school year. Prior to moving, I was calling around Montessori schools to see about availability for our soon to be 5 year old. I called CMS and spoke to the Head of School, Mrs. Ban, who was so gracious and kind. While they didn't have any openings in the classroom, she didn't rush me off the phone but provided insight into other Montessori-based schools nearby that may have an opening. After touring several schools and not feeling they were the right fit, and as luck would have it, CMS had a last minute opening in Mrs. Grace's class! Our son is very shy and opposed to change, but Mrs. Grace and Mrs. Sherri provided a caring, nurturing, SAFE and welcoming environment. They provide an academically challenging curriculum while building necessary life skills for these formative years. We feel blessed to have had the opportunity and experience to attend CMS. The CMS administration (Mrs. Ban and Mr. Jay) and the teachers genuinely care for the families they serve, as is evident every morning when they greet the families and kids at the front door with a smiling face. We will miss CMS! read more

All of our kids have/will attend CMS as we have found "our" community there. The teachers are friendly and amazing! Our 5 year old learned to read, write, and do addition/subtraction/multiplication/division in kindergarten. All but 1 of the teachers has been there for almost a decade or more. During COVID, Ms. Ban was one of the few schools with the sensible policy to allow parents to tour the school with a mask. She is incredibly organized, talented, and great with the kids. She accommodates students and families to make sure the experience is individualized and to top things off, the pricing is extremely reasonable! The toddler class will help with potty training as well. The spring concert is a very special experience for the families to enjoy. There are also cool extracurricular classes all year, field trips, and cool cultural programs put on at the school. My only complaint would be that I can't send them there until they go to college read more

Central Montessori School - My son at his CMS kindergarten graduation with his sister (student at CMS) - Preschools Near Me - Encinitas, California

This is not an Authentic Montessori School The owner charges parents for field trips and even for the end of year concert Teachers seem to be buying supplies themselves and even asking parents ! the tuition is far too high for that The owner will charge a family for being late and not others. Their Sick Policy seems chaotic Oir daughter was sent home sick , No Fever and had to stay home for 48 hours another child with fever who committed that same day was at school the next morning Not the worst , Not the best read more

Our family has thuroughly enjoyed our experience at CMS. We have two children enrolled. Both of our kids started at CMS at 18 months and have thrived. Each room they have been in has been excellent. The teachers all seem very invested in the children, enjoy their jobs and our kids have bonded well to the teachers. The school has a nice pace ans structure with adequate outdoor time and play. We have especially enjoyed Room 6 where our oldest will be spending his second year there. Ms. Gaby and Ms. Ibti work as an excellent team and my child looks forward to seeing them. I see real progress in his advancement in academics, confidence and maturity. Younger aged rooms offer great supervision, care and development. The teachers in the younger rooms greatly assist with guidance on potty training and other milestones. We've toured a handful of other local schools and have been content with our choice. The extended hours after school are affordable and we greatly appreciate the staff. The school offers a variety of filed trips and special events including a Spring Concert which was a highlight for our family. read more

We tell everyone we know how great CMS has been for her. Our daughter's growth is truly a reflection of all the work they put in. I remember when she first started she was so very shy, just beginning to know her letters and still learning to cope with emotions. We have so many stories of lessons she's brought home, many of kindness and compassion. It's been a joy to hear their lessons through her voice. She's taught us shapes that we didn't know. And regularly surprises us with facts she's gathered somewhere. Looking at her today! Reading chapter books to US at bedtime; doing multiplication; reciting Flora and fauna facts; helping out at home and taking care of herself and her friends. We could not have found a better experience for her these past years. I can't wait for for her brother to have his turn! read more

Central Montessori School - Circle time - Preschools Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Both of our kids currently attend CMS, and we couldn't be happier with our experience! They both started at 18 months, and in these four years, we have seen them grow into wonderful little people. Our 5 yr old son is already reading and writing; he even comes home with little books he wrote himself! I love that he and his classmates write each other cards and trade drawings. It's heartwarming to see friendships forming at such a young age. A big part of why CMS is so special is the low teacher turnover. It's created a strong community feel - we've known the teachers for years and they know our kids! All of the teachers are fantastic and genuinely care about the kids. My son's current teachers Ms. Sharee, Ms. Charlene, and Ms. Denise, do a fantastic job fostering kindness, independence, and curiosity. Can't tell you how many times my son tells us random facts about space, reptiles or whatever the theme of the week is. I appreciate that the teachers not only focus on teaching but also encourage his own personality to grow and shine! read more

Our granddaughter has attended here for 1 1/2 years. They are caring, nurturing, challenging. And the result is that she is THRIVING. This is the ultimate goal for any parent (or grandparent!). Highly recommended! read more

As we send our youngest off to kindergarten next week, I'm reflecting on what a complete blessing Central Montessori has been for our family. We joined CMS in January of 2021, after our previous school closed permanently during Covid. I'll be honest, we had silly reservations at first ("I remember thinking: it's in the Homegoods parking lot?") but one meeting with Ban and we knew we had found a place our kids could call home. The community feel of the school is rare, and the teachers and Ban and Jay all set an environment that just feels so good. The teachers take great pride in their work, and know your kids truly for who they are. My oldest is thriving now in elementary school, and I have complete confidence that my youngest will as well. CMS gave them a stable, loving, nurturing, FUN environment to "learn how to learn" in. We will miss the CMS family! read more

I would absolutely recommend Central Montessori to friends and family in the area. My kids spent the last 1.5 years there and they had fun, learned so much (and their approach made them also love learning), made great friends, and I felt like the staff and owners truly cared about the happiness and well being of the children. Considering it's location (in a mall next to homegoods), I probably wouldn't have given it a second thought except that another mom highly recommended it. Don't let the location deter you, behind the small entrance is a large facility with many well put together classrooms and playgrounds in the back. Our teacher, Ms. Miriam continually went above and beyond, taking care to understand each child and figure out how interact with them each individually while also encouraging them to cultivate friendships and kindness with each other. They were always having fun learning new things but also being creative and exploring. Overall we were so happy! They had great protocols during Covid and my son genuinely wants to go back and visit after his day at Kindergarten just to say hi. Thank you Mrs. Ban, Mr, Jay and Ms. Miriam for everything! read more

My grandson has grown so much with the excellent teachers and staff here. Now it's time for my granddaughter to have that same great experience read more

I can't say enough good things about CMS! My 2.5 year old daughter has attended two other preschools in the past, neither of which compared to the experience we've had here! The staff has gone above and beyond to keep the kids healthy during these strange COVID times, all while being there to support us parents who need childcare and don't have the option of keeping them home full time. I was very nervous to put her back in school, but she is truly thriving and I feel confident that the teachers and staff at CMS are doing everything in their power to do what's best for the children. I'm so happy we've found our preschool "home" and I will not hesitate to enroll our second child as well when he's old enough! read more

We had a great experience with Central Montessori School. Our daughter started at 18 mos and is now finishing at 5+ years old (she took a year break during the pandemic.) She was always happy to go to school, had lots of variety in activities, developed a joy for learning, and learned a tremendous amount with tailored instruction. Plus she had fun! The teachers are organized and nurturing and Ms. Ban (head of school) is very responsive. We recommended this school to our neighbors who are happy they switched to CMS. It's a great place! read more

My family has had a very positive experience at CMS. Five years ago, when my son was ready for preschool I toured around a variety of preschools. I was immediately impressed with Ms. Ban, the head of the school. She provides excellent leadership and is always available. She has been an amazing support for my family throughout the years. My children had the opportunity to be in class with Ms. Grace and Ms. Belen. They complement each other well and provide a loving, supportive, calm and fun learning environment. The teacher's aides have been so wonderful to my kids giving them assistance as needed nurturing them to find their confidence. The leadership and faculty are passionate about their work and truly care about the kids. I have always known my kids are in exceptional hands at CMS. I highly recommend CMS. read more

Our family had the pleasure to be a part of Central Montessori School and we are very amazed by their perfection. I have 2 kids the both went to Central Montessori School and they've both learned so much! I am very impressed by how much they know already and sometimes they teach me a few things. The schools teachers are beyond caring and they go above and beyond to make children happy. The owners did a marvelous job at keeping the school running perfect and safe for everyone. When both of my kids graduated and started higher grades, they knew so much. Its really nice to see my kids learn and enjoy this school and watching how involved they get. highly recommend this wonderful school to friends and family. read more

Great School! The environment is calm, teachers are amazing, very caring, loving and truly interested in providing the best to the kids. Love the Montessori method and it's amazing to watch how involved all kids are. My lil boy started at 18 months in October 2012 and he loves going to school. The head of the school, Ms Ban is wonderful, smart and always has time to listen and give you advice. Couldn't be happier! I highly recommend it! read more

This has been a great preschool for our family. We have 2 kids currently enrolled and it's our second year here with plans to attend again next year. The teachers work with each child to meet their individual needs. The school also works to present interesting activities throughout the year that keep all the kids excited and engaged. We will miss this environment when we move on from CMS. read more

Absolutely the best preschool in North County hands down! We moved to Carlsbad and visited 95% of the preschools. To be honest, we did not visit this school at first bc I was not keen on going to a school in a shopping plaza. After not loving any of the schools (rowdy kids, bad smells, inexperienced teachers) I happen to be at Home Goods and decided to drop in with child and husband in tow. We were given an immediate tour and knew this was the school for us! It was quiet when we walked in, all the kids were concentrating on their work. It smelled nice. And over the course of two years I fell in love with the teachers (especially Ms Toufan Mrs Aixa and Ms Annie) and the school coordinator Mrs Ban. We started with 2 days a week/ half days. My daughter begged and begged to stay longer and longer and we ended up going four days until 4! She ADORED Ms Annie!!! I couldn't believe everything she learned! She could write her name by 4 and knew so much spanish we were calling a friend who spoke Spanish to translate for us. At dinner she would say "si me gusta". Mrs Ban was at the front door welcoming everybody every morning and was incredibly flexible with us especially when we were trying to figure out the days and times we wanted. She was always happy and positive and always had time for me. I was surprised by the review below about the "perfection" bc I felt they were not like this at all. They believe each student learns at their own pace and they are VERY patient with them. My daughter didn't do most things "perfect" but the teacher made her feel like she did the best job ever. Also regarding the lady who lost her registration fee- it is not in small print. It is clearly in the agreement. We left the school year early due to a job change and of course they kept our registration fee. I knew they would and it is in every other school's agreement that I saw. Just a part of going to a private school. Anyway- we are back in Florida and not a day goes by that I don't miss this school and wish I could find one half as good. I can't recommend this school enough! By the way- we were there for over two years, I was the room mom and spent a lot of time at the school and never ONCE saw a child being picked up the wrong way and it didn't matter if I were in the middle of a conversation with a teacher, if she saw a child acting up (I never saw a child hit but I'm sure it has happened) the teacher or Mrs Ban would excuse herself and take care of the problem immediately. read more

My daughter has been at CMS for 2 years now. The Director and most of the teachers are absolutely wonderful. They provide a very warm, positive and structured environment for the children. It is obvious that they are passionate about their work at the school and they truly care for the kids. It is a very open and welcoming school and Ms Ban, the Director, is always available to answer any questions I have. read more

Central Montessori School is an educational school that kids love coming to. The teachers are nurturing and provide limits. The environment is amazing to watch-kids are engaged in their leading, and everyone is calm read more

This school is amazing. My son attended for three years an I have every intention of having my twin boys attend as well. Everyone at the school is loving. My son is headed into 1st grade and is able to do 2nd grade work due to the attention he received at this school. The structure is perfect and the love he received daily is what helped him excel on all levels. read more

So going on here for about 5 years and with my second child! this school is really great! I owe alot to the teacher Ms. Yolanda, she saved my child's life when she was choking on a grape i packed her.She hid her face, and if not properly trained, a teacher wouldn't have noticed her face was purple! Ms. Yolanda noticed her odd behavior, saw she was choking and did the Heimlich maneuver to save her life. We are forever thankful! Also, my child has a problem with separation anxiety which they totally helped with. She will wear her pajamas to school but the caring teachers help her adjust, say a quick goodbye to me and help her get dressed every day!!! The teachers are amazing!!!! So caring, my daughter loves all of them! its a very positive atmosphere and she is learning so much and has made wonderful life long friends. read more

An incredible school! A rich learning environment with kind, nurturing teachers. The grounds and classrooms are very well taken care of. We moved here this past summer and searched high and low, and found this school to have everything we needed. This is my child's first year there and we have only wonderful things to say about it. The school is a safe and secure environment, in a very unassuming location. read more

Recently moved to the area, found this school was convenient to our home. We were impressed at first, then starting noticing our kids were not learning as much as from our previous montessori school. At first, we didn't give much thougths, then we met some parents and heard plenty of complaints about the school. We then tried to pay more attention and we noticed some of the complaints we heard were in fact true. Some of the teachers there don't even speak good English there. Most were foreigners if not all. A few times we brought our kids in, we noticed there were too many kids for only 1 teacher in the class and that were not they've told us from the beginning. THEN it really got us when we received a letter from the state board informing us that they have found some violations coming from this school after complaints were filed from some parents. Well, those violations listed were what we've noticed as well during the time our kids attended the school. Then we realized the school was not up to par and immediately withdrew our kids. We have found another local school for our kids and boy, what a different. We highly don't recommend this school to anyone!!!!! read more

Please be very thorough before sending your child here. I took my second son here based on a recommendation and when I toured the school the director was very nice and everything seemed fine, I never got a bad feeling from this place. But after we started, my son was crying when I left, crying when I picked him up, with salt tracks down his cheeks from the crying throughout the day. The teacher was nice, as was the director, but they just didn't know what to do. Some of the other kids were mean and on a couple occasions, I saw them push my son and yell in his face when he was just standing there and no one stopped them! I also saw a child crying in another class was taken out of the group and made to sit by himself in the corner, which I never saw in my older sons preschool. So after this stressful experience, I couldn't take anymore, I figured it was probably a combination of the mean classmates, the minimalistic, uninviting environment and the montessori way of teaching that is very strict and "if it's not perfect, it's no good" (those words were actually spoken by the teacher) and I don't want my children to view imperfection as such a horrible negative. I took my son out and the kicker was they kept our deposit, our months tuition AND the last months tuition! The small print states it is non-refundable which I missed because logic tells me that if we do not attend school that month of June, we should get it back. Nope, so, a very EXPENSIVE lesson learned. Oh and as a side note: after one week at another preschool, my son was crying because he DIDN'T get to go to his school!! read more