My husband and I made the tough decision to move our toddler from the daycare he had known since he was 6 months old to Monty's Montessori. We noticed at the last daycare, he would come home irritable have excessive rashes, dirty, along with staff communication issues, screaming at drop off, dirty/broken equipment, and so many other issues. Immediately at Monty's, we noticed a difference. The teachers are very clear, caring, and sincere. The equipment is so well maintained and shared well with classmates. Now both of my sons attend Monty's and my toddler sprints to class every morning. My infant is always smiling when he sees his teachers and both classrooms have great communication. Any questions or concerns we had out of curiosity has been answered by the front office and everyone has been extremely polite. We love how engaged the staff is with the families and how receptive our kids have responded to the changes. Our only regret is not having moved our toddler sooner and to join the Monty family years ago! read more

Monty's Montessori - Constant happy photos for our little guy! - Montessori Schools Near Me - Calimesa, California

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We have also previously had to disenroll our 3 littles ages 5, 4 & 3yrs from montys due to multiple issues surrounding administrative staff. (director jaimie & office secretary angelina) we had been previously pulled into the office and accused of non payment of an obscure amounts of $ equaling multiple weeks of tuition (total of $3,189) though upon back checking bank statements i was able to provide proof of not only all completed payments but multiple overcharges aswell, when provided with all of these documents ( backdated to our 1stday of registration up to current day) we were immediately met with not only hostility but a huge lack of accountability from the office staff as to where the miscommunication and or differentiating amounts had stemmed from as all childrens accounts must be enrolled through autopay upon registration through the brightwheel app. we were never given an explanation as to why we were ever overcharged and had to communicate with office staff in order to resolve all over payment issues also. following this incident not only we were continuously met with hostility from montys staff, but multiple times our kindergartener over heard private conversations pertaining to said issues being discussed openly and loudly between school staff aswell as mrs. jaimies husband. ( who turns out is not a listed employee of school, despite being on campus consistently) upon submitting our kindergartners 2 week notice (postdated for Dr.Lisa Gilfillan) we were immediately met with texts / messages from both angelina and jaimie pertaining to details stated specifically in notice. all accounts had again since been confirmed as paid and up to date, all bank statements were mailed and received, though just two days prior to our daughters last day with montys we were notified via email that if we did not submit the final payment amounts in cash / in office they would then withhold our daughters kindergarten academic records. following this email i again messaged, emailed and mailed all bank statements and proof of payment from brightwheel to montys academy aswell as dr. lisa gilfillan to which we recieved zero responses. go charter, go homeschool, go elsewhere! entire experience has been rather unfortunate as we had very high hopes for both montys and the staff. read more

Our family ultimately decided to withdraw our daughter from Monty's Montessori because it was no longer the right environment for her. Over time we experienced ongoing communication issues with administration, and concerns we brought forward were often dismissed rather than addressed in a constructive way. As months went on, the interactions with administration began to feel increasingly uncomfortable. Instead of working collaboratively when concerns were raised, responses often felt defensive or confrontational. As a parent, it started to feel like bringing forward normal questions about my child's experience was met with pushback rather than support. There were also situations where things discussed privately seemed to be talked about openly in the office, and unfortunately our child overheard comments that made her uncomfortable. That was very concerning to us as parents. In addition, there were basic care concerns that added to our decision. There were days our child came home having barely had any water, and when we asked about it we were told she needed to refill it herself, even though she sometimes struggled to open her bottle. Individually these things might seem small, but over time they created a pattern that made us lose confidence in how concerns were being handled. The final straw for us was an incident involving inappropriate content being discussed among the children. At that point we felt it was necessary to remove our daughter from the school. Every family's experience may be different, and we genuinely hope the school improves in how concerns from parents are handled because the children deserve a supportive and respectful environment. read more

My family has been at Monty's for the last 3 years with our older just graduating out of the preschool classroom to Kindergarten. During that time, the teachers and staff have gone above and beyond to not only foster and teach respectful, independent kids but also care for our family. My son started in the infant room at 4 months and was faced with many health issues during the first year. Despite the challenges, the whole school worked with both licensing and our family to create a plan for him. Over the years I have watched my kids bring home not only academic skills but practical life skills as well. I cannot thank everyone at Monty's enough for making us truly feel like family. read more

There's better schools, and better admin. Didn't have the best time. Pick a better school. Headstart waitlist is worth it. Don't risk your child's safety. I'm so glad Lisa took her time to reply. My daughter is epileptic. They discriminated against us then made things right to have someone with her on the playground. Very nice of them. Too bad my child still got injured at their daycare, because they don't count heads before closing the door. Once again I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND. read more

I really enjoy this school! Their procedure to enter the school and pick up a child is exceptionally secure which eliminates most public school worries. Additionally the children are so bright! I would definitely recommend this school to anyone with young children ! read more

My son really enjoys his Montessori school. The hands-on learning approach and supportive environment have helped him grow in confidence and independence. We're pleased with his progress and the overall experience. read more

As a mommy, it's never easy to entrust your child to just anyone. Let me tell you about how lucky we have been for the past year and half ... when we enrolled Aiden in school, he was a little behind others his age. I look at how far he has come in the past 1.5 years under "teacher Moe moe" and I get overwhelmed with excitement. She and the other teachers have really transformed aiden into one smart cookie. I will forever believe in the Montessori curriculum and will forever be grateful for her love and guidance for our little guy. She truly loves aiden as much as us. We will miss you teacher Moe moe and want you to know you will always be family. Thank you read more

Monty's Montessori - Montessori Schools Near Me - Calimesa, California

We have been richly blessed by having Cole at Monty's for the past, nearly, three years.  He has grown a lot physically and academically because of his time with all you all.  Cole is very confident and is used to doing things himself because of the teaching at Monty's.  We can tell that you take Maria Montessori's maxim of never doing something for a child that they can do for themselves seriously.  Our son is self sufficient in many areas of his life because of the teachers and staff at Monty's. We want to thank Teacher Karly, Teacher Frank, Director Monique and the other staff members at Monty's for loving Cole so well in his time at Monty's.  It's been terrific and we thank you for everything you have done for Cole. read more

Wonderful day care facility ! I have trusted them with my 3 children for the past two years. Staff is kind, patient and understanding with all of the children. My children are always happy to go to school here. They genuinely follow the Montessori learning method. Love this place ! read more

I wanted to leave an updated review since my son has been attending for about two years now. Monty's continues to prioritize student safety-they added some additional fencing and a gate code last year, and because they have followed all the COVID pandemic guidelines so closely they have been open when other daycares and schools were not. Since my husband and I are essential workers, this has been imperative for us to continue to provide services to our community during the pandemic. Monty's also uses gentle discipline and the Montessori philosophy which are extremely effective for children with diverse support needs. The classrooms have a "family" atmosphere and the teachers emphasize kindness. For a while, my son has been the youngest in the class and the older kids watch out for him, help him, and always make him feel included. On an academic level, my two year old has a great vocabulary, knows all his colors and letters, and can count to twenty! Even better than all of this, he is happy to go to school and loves his teachers, which speaks to the wonderful care that he receives at Monty's. I highly recommend this school! read more

Monty's Montessori - Monty's fall activity 2021, school pumpkin patch - Montessori Schools Near Me - Calimesa, California

Started my 1.5 year old son here a few months ago, and we've really enjoyed being part of the community. He's just starting to talk, but his vocabulary has expanded rapidly since we started attending. When I ask him if he had a good time at school, he will often say the names of his teachers in the middle of his happy babbling. The staff definitely follows the Montessori way of fostering independence and respecting the child. Their playground is amazing, too! Would recommend wholeheartedly. read more

We had the pleasure of taking a tour for preschool. My daughter seemed to really like the place. I'm fact she's wanted to stay lol. I thought the curriculum was very different in a good way. Looking forward to making a decision soon as far as enrollment read more

Called multiple times I was informed that I would get a call back or an email and I never did. Times like this people really need a reliable trustworthy daycare to watch their children and this is not it if they can't even call back to give a tour or pricing. read more

I was very disappointed with Monty's Montessori. Debbie called to offer me a spot after waiting week a week when it clearly stated they had an opening. She told me she would be calling to set up a time to come in and sign up, but then went on vacation. During the time she went on vacation the spots were filled without any phone calls. Very poor communication, and the director seems to be unavailable at all times. read more

I have only good things to say about Monty's Montessori school. I had toured others preschools, but my son gravitated towards this one. On our tour he began playing the the objects in class and asking questions. I enrolled my son when he was 4 and he was well prepared for kindergarten. All of the teachers are so dedicated to the kids and put in long hours everyday between the early care and after school care they provide. However, they always respond promptly to emails or texts. They even send you pics of your lil' ones occasionally or post to the parent portal. The Montessori method grew on me as my son progressed and Teacher Monique is awesome! read more

My son has been at this school since he was in pre-k. I originally chose this school because he has a late birthday and wouldn't be able to start kindergarten until he was almost 6. Through their program, he was able to start at 4.9 years old and that was just the little bit we needed. I was going to enroll him until he finished kindergarten and then transfer him (as a single mom with a low paying job, it was difficult paying for the school) but he loved it so much and I loved how much he was learning. The student to teacher ratio is amazing and not like anything in a public school. He's in class with older kids that help them with their work and they are able to move up in a certain subject if they are beyond their grade level. My son was pretty smart before joining this school but he's gotten so much smarter and the teachers all let me know he's one of the smartest in his class. When I had trouble paying, they worked with me so that my son could continue at this school. I recently ran into trouble taking him to school due to my work schedule and they also have been assisting me with that so he doesn't miss school. He is now in the 2nd grade and has been attending for over 3 years. Every year they have worked with me on the payments and every year I keep going back. My son never complains about his school and though sometimes he doesn't want to go to school (he's a kid lol), by the time I pick him up, he doesn't want to leave. I highly recommend giving this school a chance. My son has learned so much in terms of books and behaviors. read more

The negative reviews here are not "dishonest". The teachers are great and friendly, the admin is friendly until you have a concern or complaint. They have high student and staff turnover, and yes they are very rude and retaliatory when you do have an issue you try to address. Every parent I've spoken to that has pulled their kid out (5 so far) has cited the administration as the problem. I could go into further details, but they will comment that my review is "dishonest" and made by a "disgruntled" person. This is their go to defense and I've heard it directly from the admin before. I was very disappointed after having my son there for three years (pre to 2nd) to finally see their true colors when I had a minor complaint that I asked them to work with me on. I was already going to be switching schools the next year due to financial reasons as the school is expensive. But when I called Dr Lisa to bring up my concern, her immediate response was a snarky "well you're disenrolling next year anyway right?" and the conversation went downhill from there. I then refused to speak to Lisa in a manner that wasn't recorded (text or voicemail), and pulled my son out. They then demanded his workbooks for "end of year assessments", which weren't necessary as his new school wasn't asking for anything. I found the books from Monty's were all empty. It was the end of the school year, and they were completely empty. It's debateable that the children are learning anything at all. I even debated leaving a review because it's easier to just be done with them instead of fearing some sort of petty retaliation. We switched to a public school and there is a world of difference. There's no comparison between the two. My complaints listed above aren't even the the tip of the iceberg. Would not recommend, at all. read more

I love the atmosphere here and staff, my daughter Charlotte loves her teacher Amanda. She's learned to write her name and she accommodates her spunky personality. Jen and Veronica in the infant center love my youngest kali like she is there own. Deborah in the office is always a pleasure to talk with and teacher Pauline and Monique are wonderful as well. Overall awesome safe place with a staff that cares. read more

My 20-month old grandchild has been attending since October. We were so worried about putting him in a preschool, but Monty's has exceeded our expectations! He is socializing and playing with children and is talking more and more each day. All of the women interact with the children in such a positive way. When my grandchild is upset, he will seek them out for hugs and reassurance. That makes me feel good to know he trusts and feels comfortable with them. In the beginning, dropping him off would be so difficult for both of us. Jennifer and Veronica would kindly send me a picture of him playing and smiling before I would even leave the parking lot. I love that he is so close, too. Great location, amazing staff, and clean. The outdoor play yard is beautiful and shady with lots of trees. I am always recommending their care! read more

During these covid trying times we needed to find a preschool for our 3 year old who was well behind with his speech and social development. Monty's had the availability and flexibility that we needed. They offered in person which was not available in the majority of places and we needed some sort of intervention. 5 months later he is speaking and is able to control his emotions. He received structure and socialization at Monty's and we are forever grateful! They adhered to every restriction for covid and was extremely flexible with our schedule. His teachers were exceptional and the staff was extremely responsive and professional. THANK YOU AGAIN!!!! read more

My son has attended preschool here for almost a year, and he really enjoys it! Drop-offs weren't easy when he first started, but his teacher Amanda is so sweet and great at engaging him. (She'd text me pictures of him having fun after a hard drop-off to make me feel better too!) I love how they offer extracurricular activities, such as music & dance classes, kung fu, yoga, and Bible camp. This school goes year-round, which is convenient. This last summer, they had weekly themes, such as farm camp and water camp. My son loved the farm animals they brought in for farm camp, as well as playing in the water slide jumper during water camp. Also, the playground at this preschool is huge and nice with lots of shady trees, and my son just loves it! read more

Great school and great staff. My son attended preschool and now is there for kindergarten. He has learned To count in English and Spanish. They give each child the attention they deserve. read more

Do not bring your children to this school. Office is highly unorganized. Teacher seems extremely overwhelmed. Something is not right about this place. read more

I went for a tour and when speaking on the phone with the woman she made it seem like she would be giving me the tour but she rushed through, ignored my questions and brushed me off to the daycare teachers.. there were about 5 children and 3 seemed to have the cold because the next day my daughter ended up being sick.. they have a good program but not sure about customer service.. I visited another daycare afterwards and it was amazing compared. read more

My granddaughter attended Montys for 3 years and is now in kindergarden. She is reading to the 3rd graders. I love the staff and they always worked hard to make sure she was getting the right attention where needed. I would recommend this school to anyone that has a child eager to learn.. she runs circles around the kids in her class and I thank the teachers and staff at Montys for helping her become the smarty pants she is today :) read more

My daughter has been coming to the Montessori for almost two years now and they are amazing !! The teachers are very great and treat each kid based on their likes and skills. My daughter is 4 and already speaking Spanish and learning to read and write. Amazing school with extra amazing people !!! read more

My son is on his second year of preschool here and my daughter on her first year of preschool naturally for a mother it's very nerve-racking to try to find the right place And staff to watch over your children. I love this Montessori they have been very helpful over any obstacle I have may have encountered they always try to find the best solution and do what works best for me and my children. Deborah in the office is amazing! she might get busy and have to get back to you but she always does she is extremely helpful. Teacher Monique is an amazing teacher as well as Teacher Mirtha. There are several assistance that help out in each classroom that are very helpful as well and I hear great things about from my children. Having a peace of mind knowing that wherever you're sending your children that they are safe and well cared for is extremely important and I have found that with Monty's Montessori in Calimesa read more

I absolutely love this place! My son started going here at around one year old, but I was a nervous wreck. He had only ever been around family and I was so terribly worried about trusting someone else to watch and care for my son the same way I would. However, I cannot say enough praise of this place. He has become so social in the year that he has been attending and the teachers are amazing. As a teacher myself, I tend to be very critical of different academies and such but I will absolutely be sending my son (and new baby when he is old enough) here for as long as possible. The social enrichment and academic information he is learning as a young child has had an incredible effect on him. As far as the facility goes, it is clean and well kept. There is a large, shady outdoor area where the children can go to play as well as clean pathways and walkways around the entire school. The doors are kept locked at all times, which, as a teacher, gives me peace of mind. The teachers always have an eye on everyone and there are no wandering children around campus like I have seen many times at public schools. Parents and other staff are friendly and there is so much parent inclusion such as teachers sending pictures of the student to the parent throughout the day, the ability to volunteer, or specific events hosted by the school encouraging parents to be involved. If you are a parent that is extremely nervous or doesn't tend to trust others in watching your children, just take a tour and try this place out for a couple of weeks. I promise you will be extremely happy with this wonderful academy! read more

Absolutely horrible! I will not take my son back even if they paid me. Amanda and the rest of the teachers did not meet any teaching standards. He was not learning at all and I hardly ever saw the director at the school and constantly my son would be sent home with a write up. I asked why and if they would see my son push any kids? Amanda's answer was, "Well, the kids tell me and they don't lie." Really? These kids are three and four year's old. So, that tells you that my son was being picked at and not liked there. I didn't think not wanting or disliking a four year old would be possible in an adult. My son at one point did not want to enter the classroom and he's very social and loves to be around kids. I would observe my son a lot at birthday parties or anywhere where they would be kids to see if he did the things Amanda claimed he was and he didn't. Still till' this day he tells me, "Teacher Amanda didn't want to give me a sticker and she gave the rest of the kids stickers." My son's last time at that school was November 2016 and still remembers that. Yes, I believe him! My son started this new school and has been there for three months. Not one complaint from the teacher, not one. She states, "He's a great listener, finishes his class work and is awesome with his classmates." That tells you a lot! He was being picked on and not liked there. If my son was being such a bully, then I'm sure he would be the bully at this new school. My son is not a perfect four year old and just like any other kid, they have their good days and bad days, but what I do know is my son was not being a bully like Amanda said he was. As a mother, we know our children and as a mother we're here to protect them. Protect your children and be very careful with this school. I DO NOT recommend this school at all! read more

Ahem...where do I start. Well for one thing I would like to give -2 stars for the 2 months our 2 year old attended here. They poorly suited to deal with 2-3 year old kids and put all her behavior in a depressing litany letter to us of her behavior problems when in reality they were expecting 3 3 and a half year old behavior from her. In fact they accused her of violent behavior. We now have her happy and smiling in a private daycare where she hasn't had one problem other than letting the teacher know (and she already knows it) that she is in the terrible twos and isn't all ways agreeable every second. And it costs us half the high price this ill equipped and understaffed preschool is giving its students. Run don't walk away! read more

My son has been here for almost 1 year. I am very happy here. Everyone is nice and genuine. My son had a hard spell and everyone worked as a team to find solutions inside the classroom to support him. I appreciate this school. It's like my sons home away from home. read more