My child just aged out of a few years at MCS. I see our family entered the school just after the…read moretransition to the current operator, Ms Li. I have nothing but positive things to say about her and the staff at MCS. She took over the operation just as we hit Covid and the work they've put in to keep things running -- and then make capital improvements and prioritize grounds care on top of it -- I see the love they put into their place. As far as the schooling goes, I'm happy. Really enjoyed the small size, multi age classrooms, and their commitment to the Montessori Method. "I've got friends..." who tried Montessori schools elsewhere with poor results -- but none of their schools sounded like MCS at all. For my two cents, the environment MCS cultivates daily is safe, considerate, honest, and supportive. I'm on my only child so preschool research wasn't a major priority for me. But now, having seen my child grow through MCS and the instruction Ms Li provides-- both to students and staff -- I would recommend any parent consider this school. It's the real deal. I've been so impressed. And because I'm clearly a MCS fan, I'd like to add my own thoughts regarding the ownership transition. I didn't experience the old owner everyone loved. I did experience some parents choosing to leave the school, in part, because of the results of the change. I liked the school enough to stay here as long as i could. My thoughts today: (1) everyone seemed to like the decisions of the old owner; (2) he sold it to the owner; (3) today the new owner seems to have it under control and is putting her mark on it -- sounds like the old owner made another good decision. Since we started at MCS, I've seen a consistent child-first atmosphere from the staff that does not compromise on the child's experience. They've not kept around staff that did not fit. They have invested In the building and landscaping. And they even have a little monthly newsletter now. It's an awesome little school and you deal right with the operators. I love it. Plus Ms Li is really on it about the Montessori Method and she walks the talks. She's a real professional.

A common theme you will notice is "suddenly removed". They have 0 accountability and the solution…read moreis to always kick kids out with no notice, no conversation, no effort to have due process. This is not for extreme behavior, it's for developmentally appropriate struggles.

My son went here for preschool for 2 years. It is a super cute school with a nice community vibe…read more He learned a lot this past year with his teacher, Miss Olivia. He has been writing up a storm and has started to read as well.

My daughter has been going to Arcadia Montessori since she was 4yrs old in Preschool and she has…read morebeen loving it. The teachers are all great and front desk crew is so sweet and always helpful. Since attending she has grown so much independents and confidence. We love Ms. Kristin and her classroom.

We LOVE Montessori Academy! The teachers and administration are so loving and committed to the…read moregrowth, learning, and well-being of each child. I love how each child is treated as a respected individual. A couple mornings ago, my 5-year-old had my husband sit down on the floor, take a few deep breaths, and he lead my husband in morning meditation. We did not teach him that, I assume he learned that at school. What's also great, our kiddo is very cautious and after just a few short weeks at school, his confidence is soaring. He LOVES to learn and do his school work. Montessori Academy is really a community. Do you know how they say it takes a village to raise a child? This is our village!

Beautiful school creative teachers especially Miss Andrea ,very energizing. Teacher creates a…read morefriendly environment focusing on teamwork. Lots of interesting field and nature trips

Sending my 2 children to CCM is one of the best decisions that I have made. The teachers and staff…read moreare incredibly talented and caring. They have gone above and beyond to help my children succeed. The campus is beautiful and provides the children with the opportunity to explore their natural environment and learn through hands on activities. I highly recommend CCM to any parent looking for a quality Montessori education for their child.

CCM has been in my family for almost a decade starting with my nephews and now my own children. It…read morehas been the best environment for my kids to develop and grow in. All the teachers are absolutely amazing and truly care about each child. I love all the extra curricular programs like Spanish, music and yoga. They also have a mini barn with goats, donkeys and chickens that my kids get to interact with daily. You can't go wrong with choosing this school. They have been a top learning institution for a very long time and that speaks volumes! Thank you CCM for all the positive things you have brought into our family!!

I saw some negative reviews here and I felt I need to speak up. We decided to switch over to NCA…read morefrom another school and we are so glad we did. We LOVE NCA for many reasons: 1) Their communication is the best. They use Slack for communication among parents, teachers and school staff members. The tool really forms a community and promotes transparency. 2) They have the best teachers. They love kids and their work, and kids just naturally love them back. They pay attention to details like filling up a water bottle for my kid when they are taking off to an after school class. It breaks my heart when my kid left NCA last year and we had to say bye to their favorite teachers. Thank you, Miss Samantha, Miss Cassie and Miss Jennifer, for giving us a wonderful year at the school. You set the bar really high for what great teachers look like in my kid's heart! 3) They have the best hot lunch. Their chef prepares delicious and healthy organic lunch and snacks every day. My kid would ask for multiple rounds and 'big scoops'. 4) NCA teaches kids characters well because of their great culture. Respect, positivity, empathy, all these super important traits would serve the kids well for their lifetime. The kids learn these naturally by interacting with adults and other kids in the classroom and school. Anyhow, we are so lucky to find NCA. We would highly recommend NCA to every parent we know.

Our daughter started here a month ago and she seems to enjoy it. I know my husband and I love this…read moreplace. The staff are very friendly and I appreciate the communication tool that is used at this place. Would recommend checking out this place if you're interested in putting your child in day care / preschool that is play-based.

This small school is a gem. My wife and I toured several Montessori programs in central Phoenix…read morebefore deciding on MCH. We love the staff, the curriculum and the other families that attend. Our son started in the beginner program where we saw him grow leaps and bounds developmentally and socially. He is now in the Primary program, and everyday I'm impressed with the knowledge he brings home and how articulately he is able to express himself to adults and peers alike. All of the lead teachers are Montessori certified, but the primary classroom has 2 leads, both certified and a kitchen assistant who cooks with the children and an outdoor assistant. Compared to the other schools we visited the children have more opportunities because of this arrangement. The school is private, so there is tuition even at the higher grades. However, we noticed that because it stayed private when all the other Montessori schools we toured were charter, it seemed to stick closer to the traditional Montessori curriculum we read about in our research. Children were not tested in any standardized way, and the teachers seem more able to truly follow the child. At one of the Montessori charters we saw 5 year olds doing standardized test practice during our tour. Yikes. Another thing we love about this school is how close knit the community is. When we toured we found out that one of the teachers attended the school and all of her children have been through the program, the director's husband was a student there and all of their children attended the school, etc. There is only one of every classroom so the children all know each other. Our son loves all of his friends and speaks of school excitedly everyday. On the weekends he begs to go to school to play with his friends. We have been so pleased with MCH, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a caring, small and diverse school community.

My kiddos attend this school and it's been a wonderful experience for both of them. The teachers…read moreprovide classic Montessori instruction and work with each kid to know where to push them and where to help them. Very happy with our experience here!

our daughter went for a summer camp and she loved it. thanks to all the teachers. I recommend…read moreSpirit of hope.

Great school my daughter attended and loved going in the offer many great Montessori driven…read moreactivities and learning based on hands on experiences including petting zoo and water days for extra fun definitely recommend

This school has given my child more growth and development than I could have hoped for and…read moregenuinely believe she would have received in another setting such as an individual nanny. The best part of this school are the teachers who have infinite patience and experience!! I have been with them since the infant room and can't recommend them more!

QI is an excellent school! I can't say enough good things about it. My son went here for pre-K and…read moremy daughter has been enrolled from infancy to her preschool years now. The teachers are wonderful - always positive, kind, encouraging to the kids, attentive, loving, everything you want in caretakers for your children. The facilities are clean and inviting with great activities for the kids to learn and okay. My kids learned so much independence and confidence from attending QI along with building some great friendships they still have today. I recommend QI for anyone looking for child care in Cave Creek!

DSM is a wonderful place! Ms Paty offers an academically oriented Montessori program and it is very…read moreobvious that she has years of experience with children. She is an amazing advocate for your child (education). My son had no experience reading at his prior preschool and he is already working on his first book 3 months into DSM. There are clear expectations on what is coming up for the school year (holiday breaks, half days - ie no surprises if you are a working parent) and they provide aftercare if you need it. If you are on the fence about DSM, give it a try. I'm glad we started!

Our daughter started Desert Sky Montessori August 2024 and is thriving! She loves all her teachers,…read moreon track to read by 4, and socializing wonderfully with her peers. We could not be happier with the skills and creativity we have seen since starting!

We feel incredibly lucky to have found this school. It's AMI-approved Montessori with a beautiful…read morecampus, and you can truly feel the care and intention that has gone into building this community for over 28 years. We currently have one child in Primary and one in Elementary, and both are thriving beyond what we ever expected. Our extended family has even commented on how much our kids have grown -- not just academically, but in their confidence, curiosity, and love of learning. What stands out most is how personal the experience feels. The teachers are genuinely caring, and we love that there are bilingual educators and an environment that supports the whole child. It's so refreshing to see our kids learning in a way that goes far beyond "sitting at a desk and memorizing." The school offers an abundance of enrichment and extracurricular opportunities, and it's clear they're focused on supporting each child as an individual. We are truly grateful to have our children grow up in such a safe, nurturing, and inspiring environment... even if part of us wants to keep it our little secret!

Last August 25th, after reflecting on the challenges my son faced at DMA in September and October…read moreof last year, I felt ready and shared a down-to-earth personal review.   Instead of receiving public feedback, I received a certified letter from a law firm, demanding for my review to be removed immediately, otherwise "we will sue you to obtain an order requiring you to remove it, and to recover significant monetary damages against you, including, but not limited to, punitive damages, and the attorneys' fees and costs Dynamite Montessori incurs in the case under A.R.S. 12-341.01 and A.R.S. 12-341". They reminded me of a contract clause that restricts what families may share publicly about the school without prior written consent. This clause is part of the agreement that parents must sign when enrolling their children. So, in the interest of focusing on providing for my son instead of defending myself against what I feel are insubstantial accusations, I am removing my previous review. We were part of the DMA family for almost three years. 100% involved and devoted to all the school activities. Our son attended from June 21, 2022, until November 1, 2024. In my personal opinion, DMA can be a good choice for any "non-Montessori" child to gain some exposure to a Montessori environment in their early years. The place looks pristine, with the right materials, strong infrastructure, and opportunities for children to learn--especially if they happen to be among the more "gifted" ones and can learn by themselves. I have been a Montessori mom since our son was born, and we initially thought this was the perfect place for him. Last year, however, in his third year of primary, my son developed a behavior we felt unrecognizable to us and was told "not to be kindergarten ready" and "maybe not a good fit for a classroom at all". My family, especially my son (5 years old at the time), went through a nightmare that took almost a year to recover from. Fortunately, today he attends a large Montessori school where he has adapted beautifully and is thriving as the amazing child he has always been. In his new school he is considered a bright kid and so far, there is not a single incident regarding his behavior. Looking back, we feel that his experience at DMA was heavily affected by a classroom dynamic that was challenging for his naturally calm demeanor. Today, we are sharing our feelings, in case it helps other families who may be uncertain--whether you already have a child enrolled or are considering enrollment.