Prospective parents: please look at the numbers before you enroll…read more
My biggest advice to parents considering Woodside Montessori Academy in Millis is simple: don't make your decision based only on the school tour or the Montessori philosophy. Ask questions, look at the numbers, check public records, and talk to families who have actually experienced the school.
Ask about enrollment and retention. How many students are currently in Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, and Middle School? More importantly, how many students who enter the elementary program actually stay through Middle School? In my experience, enrollment drops by around 50% in the higher grades. Prospective parents should ask the school for its actual retention numbers.
Ask about teacher turnover. How many teachers have left in the past five years? How long have the current teachers been at the school? What is the teacher turnover rate?
Check the EEC records. The public EEC record lists a 2025 investigation in which non-compliances were identified. The school never shared this investigation with parents, and we were kept in the dark about what happened, what the non-compliances were, and what corrective actions were taken. Parents should review the EEC records themselves and ask the school for an explanation.
PE and facilities are concerns. The school does not have a dedicated PE facility. Students have used the school's backyard and the front yard of a nearby church for PE. In our experience, some students were exposed to poison ivy there. There is also no dedicated music teacher.
The school also does not have a dedicated room or auditorium for plays and large performances. For school plays, it has to rent a large room from a local church, requiring students and parents to leave campus for these events.
Ask about the approximately $1,000 activity fee. We did not receive a clear accounting of how much was collected, how much was spent, or how much money was left. I am not accusing anyone of financial misconduct; my concern is transparency. Parents should ask exactly what this fee covers and request the details.
Ask where graduates go. In my experience, many Middle School students who continue to high school attend Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School. There is nothing wrong with a vocational high school, but prospective parents should ask for actual graduate-placement information.
Ask about Spanish. If Spanish is important to your family, ask students to speak with you in Spanish. This may give you a better sense of how much they are actually learning from the school's Spanish program.
Talk to current and former parents, especially families whose children left the school. Check EEC records, ask difficult questions, and compare Woodside with other schools.
For our family, student retention, teacher stability, facilities, enrichment, transparency, high-school outcomes, regulatory history, and the school's willingness to listen to parents all matter.
Do your homework before committing your child--and potentially many years and thousands of dollars--to any school.