Our Experience - Our son was in a classroom of 36 children--an environment that quickly proved overstimulating. At first, we worried there might be a developmental issue, but after evaluation by both an ENT and psychologist, it was clear the problem was environmental, not developmental. The noise and chaos made it difficult for him to adjust. While he initially had some behavioral challenges, he improved significantly over time. Unfortunately, the final incident that led to his removal was not handled appropriately. Our son bit a child out of frustration--at which point staff intervened. However, their response and follow-up reflected a lack of attention and bias; they implied our son was lying because the other child "never does anything." This made it clear they weren't observing closely and were making assumptions rather than investigating. A few weeks prior to this incident, we received a call from CPS--not because of our son's actions, but because the school failed to report an injury he sustained there, even though staff documented it internally. We took him to the hospital and discovered he had a fractured finger, requiring a cast from his hand to his bicep for three weeks. CPS confirmed the school's reporting failure as negligence and contacted us within 48 hours. That alone speaks volumes about the school's accountability and oversight. Lack of Follow-Through on Agreed Behavior Plan My wife and I are proactive, involved parents. She's a behavior analyst who designs behavior intervention plans for special education, so we know what works and came prepared to collaborate. We met with the administration--including the owner--and created a clear, simple behavior plan that everyone agreed to. Yet, it was never implemented. Staff routinely told us they were "too busy" or that "it's hard with so many kids." They even filled out behavior logs after the fact, undermining the purpose entirely. The agreed plan only required a brief hourly check-in with three questions and a sticker. That's not excessive--it's the bare minimum for consistent behavioral reinforcement. We were told repeatedly that they wanted to "partner with us" and that our son was "wonderful," but words don't equal action. The follow-through and professionalism simply weren't there. Concerns About the Learning Environment Frankly, this didn't feel like a true Montessori school. Instead of fostering independence and self-guided learning, children were often forced to complete the same tasks and play with the same toys. Structure is necessary, but Montessori principles are about exploration, curiosity, and individualized pacing. That freedom was absent here. When his first teacher left, staff told the children she was "on vacation." For weeks, our son was confused and asking about her. Instead of using it as a gentle teaching moment about change and transitions, they chose dishonesty, which sends the wrong message about trust and emotional resilience. What We Learned After Leaving Our son is now at a different Montessori school, and the contrast is astonishing. He wakes up excited for school, runs to get ready, and sometimes even asks to go on weekends. He's thriving--no behavior issues, no complaints, and a radiant enthusiasm for learning. His new environment offers freedom within structure, smaller class sizes, and genuine care. He chooses his own activities and feels empowered, not overwhelmed. Final Thoughts We entered this school with optimism and the desire to partner with educators who understood child development. Unfortunately, what we encountered was a disorganized, overcrowded, and inattentive environment. Staff seemed well-intentioned but overextended, and the administration overpromised and underdelivered. We appreciate the time and effort of individual teachers who cared, but the overall leadership failed to maintain communication, consistency, and honesty. The failure to execute a mutually agreed plan, combined with the lack of supervision and the serious reporting lapse that led to CPS involvement, left us with deep disappointment and concern for other families who might face similar issues. We hope this feedback encourages reflection and reform. Every child deserves a safe, attentive, and developmentally supportive environment--one that not only manages behavior but nurtures curiosity, confidence, and joy in learning. read more

I have to tell you that this small academy for the kids is beyond reality. My kids have not attended there in about three years taking them out of it was the worst thing I ever did for their education. The classes are small personal attention is extremely high, and it seems as though they were learning about three grades up from their current level. Kids were happy. They loved their teachers and they loved learning. If by chance you get Mrs Radka to instruct your kids, you would just have hit the gold mine. She spent so much time with my daughter getting over her obstacles with learning it was insane. I financially had to take the kids out of the school and I regret it every single day. My kids are now in public school and it is such a waste of time. They have lost the fun of learning and have basically given up. Mrs Radika if you see this I am so sorry that I pulled Allie out after you spent soooo much time working with her. I truly apologize and I'm suffering the consequences for it. But thank you Miss Radtka for your love for my kids and attention you gave them. read more

My daughter attends and we absolutely love this school! The staff is supportive, responsive on apps about her well-being, etc. She has made lasting friendships in a community we will stay with for years to come. Highly recommend this school if you are looking for a smaller, tight-knit learning environment with a hands-on approach. read more

I have been dreading the day that I write this review for RMA because it means that our little man is no longer attending. RMA was such a blessing for our family. We moved up to Riverside County from SD and had no idea where to start our son. I researched so many preschools and I just couldn't decide on one. One day I found RMA and decided to request a tour. I was blown away since that day. Our son started at RMA when he was 2.5 years old. Now at age 6.5 year, he is already in second grade and he knows multiplication, reading chapter books, borrowing numbers, beginning fractions, etc... people refer to him as a little Einstein and I honestly thank the wonder Ms. Radika for that. Ms. Radika is a wonderful teacher that truly loves each one of her students. I can't say enough good things about her. It's not only Ms. Radika, but also Ms. Diana and Ms. Christina that have also been a huge part of our sons development. Unfortunately, due to Covid, I am working from home and we live in the Temecula area, so it made more sense to enroll our son at at local school, but we do miss RMA. If you are searching for a school the will help your child thrive, this is it. read more

Riverside Montessori Academy - RMA kid! - Montessori Schools Near Me - Riverside, California

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Riverside Montessori School has vastly improved the trajectory of my son's life. I can say that without a shadow of a doubt. They focus on manners and character building at all ages of development in the grades they offer - from day care and pre-K through 4th grade. They've also been able to successfully deploy a curriculum that allowed my son along with all his class to be able to absorb subject matter in Math, Science and ELA that was at 6th and even 7th grade level. My son wasn't even the smartest kid in his class and still was successfully completing 7th grade math problems as a 4th grader. My son was in 4th grade at RMA when the Covid pandemic forced all schools to shut down and switch to online learning. It was a very challenging time for all involved and I was worried about how much it would disrupt my child's growth trajectory. However, to my immense surprise, not only did my son eagerly await online class sessions, he also had built up such a strong sense of responsibility and accountability during his time at RMA that without needing to be told once ever he was always on top of conpleting and submitting assignments to his teacher on time. I have the utmost adoration and respect for the staff and teachers at this school. They are transparent in their mission and vision, and always work extra hard with parents in order to ensure the best chances of allowing the kids in their classrooms to safely bloom to their utmost potential, be it in-person, online, hybrid, or while employing social distancing protocols. Thank you forever. read more

My son has been attending this school since he was 3 years old. He had some difficulty adjusting at first but Miss Deepeka, and Miss Christina didn't give up on him. He didn't like to share and was impatient but he is different in an amazingly great way. He us currently in the lovely Miss Cookies class and she is wonderful. My son is doing great academically as well as socially. I'm just so grateful to them all. Eli loves school so much that it's hard to keep him home when he's under the weather. Thank you all for all that you do!! read more

I really can't say enough good things about this school. The entire staff is incredible. They are understanding and a pleasure to speak to. They are serious about education and really instilled a love of learning in my daughter. The children are taught to be kind and treat each other well. The class sizes are small and the teachers are very attentive. Amazing place Highly recommended. read more

Riverside Montessori Academy - Montessori Schools Near Me - Riverside, California

Our oldest attended the school until the 4th grade and our two youngest are currently attending it at Pachappa campus. The school is relatively small with three classrooms - one for preschool, one for kindergarten and 1st grade and one for grades 2nd to 4th. All kids know one another and it feels like a big family. The environment is much more peaceful than in the public school and the teachers structure their classrooms to create an environment where every kid can learn. There is no chaos and the kids know the daily routines and what are they expected to do. I love the discipline they have at the school that provides the structure and teaches the kids to work independently, to work hard and do their best. They also teach the kids to clean up after themselves. All of this helped my kids learn to do their homework by themselves, are eager to do it and that they are expected to help around the house. Their reading program is superb. All of my kids cannot wait to read their set goal of pages every day and they learned how to read sentences between ages 4 and 5. All of my kids love to read. read more

Update: Very glad that we didn't use Riverside Montessori Academy! In case anyone is curious, after this experience, I decided to homeschool my daughter (and my younger daughter too). She is currently enrolled in T-K (that's like a pre-kindergarten level) at River Springs Charter School and we receive a generous amount of instructional funds to spend on curriculum, learning materials, field trips, and/or lessons. Her educational specialist (the person who helps guide her education and track her progress) is awesome and amazing, and she helps with many aspects of our schooling. It is an incredible joy and pleasure to spend this time with my daughter and watch her flourish and grow into a well-educated and well-rounded individual. My daughter is now reading at a 2nd grade level, doing math at a 1st grade level, learning real history, learning the scientific method through a wonderful science curriculum, taking swimming and horseback riding lessons every week, holding mature conversations with adults, and is just a really cool little person! All acheived without having to deal with these unscrupulous people or have my daughter exposed to abusive teachers! Even if you can't homeschool, JUST SAY NO to RMA! There are better options out there. Give your child the best schooling experience you can! I wish you and your child the best! read more

My older son attended Riverside Montessori Academy for years until he aged out at 4th grade. He was reading fluently at age 4, exhibited exceptional problem-solving skills at a young age, could explain complexities most 5-year-old kids probably wouldn't care to learn about (try talking to a 5-year-old about the democratic process and listen to them explain what the requirements are to be a president!!) The curriculum lets the kids learn at their own pace. Yes, there are tests, quizzes and homework (never unbearable), and we read 5 pages a night. But no one is held back to keep a classroom average. If you're on Book 17, but your friend is on Book 8... it's completely OK! But to us parents, it was more than the academics. We loved that the curriculum also focused on making sure the kids acquired non-cognitive skills-- like helping other kids with their homework, standing in line patiently with their hands behind their back, learning that it's important to stay quietly in the circle during rug time, learning to problem-solve when they're stuck on something instead of just giving up.... These may sound simple, but I appreciate that my son got the personal attention and the basic skills he needed to succeed later on. Now, he is in 6th grade in a public school. He is testing above average on all subjects, has no problems keeping up with the curriculum or doing homework without being told, his Accelerated Reading scores are way advanced, he works well with all his classmates, his teachers repeatedly send me messages of how helpful and great he is to have in their classroom. I constantly hear random strangers gush at amazement when they hear my kids use their manners. Greatest feeling in the world as a mom! I'm not saying the school is perfect, because nothing is. I honestly believe that coupled with the great teachers at RMA and being involved with the school every step along the way helped my son succeed and get the most he could from the Montessori. If there's anything that needs addressed, we have no problems working with the directors and the teachers. It's a small family-run business, so they get to know the kids pretty well. My younger son now attends RMA and we plan on keeping him there until he ages out as well. I can't recommend this school highly enough!! read more

It's my child's first year here and we absolutely love it!! Ms. Emerald is the best! From the moment we walked in we felt safe and welcomed. As a mom I always worry about leaving my child somewhere and how my child will react. But they made sure we had an easy transition. Everyone there is so friendly and kind, I've never had a problem. Everyday that I pick up my child, she is filled with smiles and new stories to tell me about her day. I can't wait for whats in store for next year! :) read more

My two kids have made tremendous progress at this school and the staff is fabulous! After 3 years here I continue to recommend RMA on Pachappa to my friends and family. Teachers and administrators are practically part of the family and are always helpful, open to meet to discuss my kids needs, or just to chat 1 on 1. Administration has always been helpful and flexible even during financial hardships too - I am so grateful! My kids love the atmosphere, their friends, and based on their academic progress, I have no doubts that my kids have earned a solid educational foundation that will help the succeed far into their future. Thank you RMA!!! read more

This school is wonderful. My child is excited to attend every day. The teachers are very loving and he is learning so much. They start teaching reading in preschool and math as well. It's an amazing place for my child. read more

This school was the absolute worst thing we could've done for our son. He was in an in home daycare and transitioned to the preschool when he was 2. Within the 2 months he attended, he became extremely aggressive, cried all the time and would beg us not to take him back. He wouldn't eat his lunch at all the whole time he was there. A couple months after we pulled him out he was able to speak better and told us they would hit him and yell at him. He would come home with unexplained injuries and the teachers would say "we thought he came to school like that". The teachers are extremely cold. One day there was a little girl maybe 2, sitting in the corner crying for her mom and no one was helping her get comfortable or distracting her they were just standing around. Not my kind of preschool. read more

We are so happy to have found this school for our 2 year old- he is now 4 1/2 and loves it. The staff has found the perfect balance of being nurturing yet disciplined with a strong curriculum. A beautiful wide open space with plenty of room and light filled classrooms. We tried far more expensive schools all over the region and our son kept asking us "why can't i just go back to Pachappa" - he would mention the teachers and principal by name and all the friends he has made over the couple of years he has been attending. They do a wonderful job of keeping him engaged and his folder is always packed with beautiful art work and activities done in school. Thank You Pachappa - The De La Cruz family read more

Still extremely happy and satisfied with the school, program and all the educators here! My kids are well ahead in terms of their education and I am so grateful that I have found a place that I can trust with my 2 children both for the education and the emotional needs! read more

My son attended RMA for the 2016-2017 school year. I am extremely happy with the level of care and education received. The preschool teachers were wonderful and great at communicating my son's needs. I recommend RMA for the quality of education and people they employ. read more

This is my sons second year and we absolutly love it! He started at 2 years old, barley in the potty training stage. Within two weeks he was fully potty trained. He started unable to talk and within a year he was abe to have full conversations and recognize all the letter in alphabet and could count to 14. This school is very academic based and holds each child accountable as if they were in kindergarden. My son has matured well and even cleans up after himself at the house with out me having to tell him because that is what standard he is held to at school. Not all children are ready for this type of environment. This is not a daycare its a school. Parents i see that have problems with their kids is usually due to the child not mentaly ready. read more

I am a student, now a junior in high school, that came to this school who also had a sister attend and all I have to say is how amazing, versatile, helpful and open minded this place is. I came here in 2010 for elementary and it was the best experiences I've had throughout all the years I attended this school. Mrs. Chandrapala was such an amazing teacher and principal who did not only helped me succeed but helped me learn and achieve things for the future. The place is amazing and filled with teachers that are nice and mindful to the children. Their curriculum is advanced and informative to one who decides to attend there. They are not only the perfect secluded spot to enroll your children at, but they offer a variety of classes such as ballet, piano, keyboarding tap, etc. to enhance your children's learning while having fun. As you enroll your child at this school, you'll know that the number one priority of them is your children's education and safety. They ensure to help and aid your children's education when needed help, provide the correct comprehension reading skills, provide strong writing and reading skills to everyone in different levels. This elementary school is not like any other school. They provide such great close detail to each and every child to give them the tools and skills needed to succeed in every grade while also going on their own individual pace. They also provide great daycare availability! For any parent who works too early or too late, there are teachers already in campus that take care of your child while also paying close attention on supervising them. I cannot recommend another great place as a school for your child to attend. Your child will love attending this school as everyone there is kind and friendly. I highly recommend this school 100% to any parent who is looking for an affordable, private, safe and in high education quality for their child. As soon as they enroll, they are provided with the material and work that is dedicated to their own pace! read more

My 3 year old just started attending this school in November and he is already signing his ABC's, knows his colors, his numbers 1 to 10 and his shapes. He has learned so much in such a short amount of time. I really love this school, the owners, the teachers and even the students. The atmosphere is very positive, encouraging, and loving. My son loves to go here and always talks about his "friends" and his lovely teachers. The tuition is the most reasonable in the area and their academic curriculum is at their own pace with no pressure. I feel us parents are welcome at any point of the day, as it should be, however I know as a parent I don't want to disrupt my child, or anyone else's for that matter, so I would understand why observing wouldn't be the best option. Children, especially the young ones, do not have a high attention span, and once you have lost their interest it could be difficult to redirect them to the lesson while also keeping the others engaged as well. I can understand why observing would be kept to a minimum. Unfortunately the below reviewer didn't have a great experience, but I can tell you with the time my son has been here we have been completely satisfied. Thank you to all the staff for all your do we appreciate it! read more

My youngest son has been going to this school for about 4 years. I have 2 boys. In reading the other reviews I really don't agree with them. This school has the best curriculum that I've seen around the Riverside area. There's a reason that they don't want parents hanging around the school. Young kids loose their concentration really fast especially if they see their parents. You can pick up your kids whenever you'd like without them knowing a time, which I've done numerous times and didn't run into any surprises. The teachers and advisors there are amazing. I really love the fact that when my son reaches public school he will be more advanced than his peers. The kids are taught in a manner that they understand for their age and its not forced upon them. They will teach at each child's pace and will work with each child individually if needed. Another thing I love is the staff and owners will greet you when they see you, they are all very compassionate, and they make you know that your child is important to them. Another thing is they are always there when needed, even on a personal level. You are never turned away when needing to speak with them at any time. This school has turned into a second family for us and I can't imagine my son going to any other school. I would recommend this school to anyone with young kids. You'll be amazed with your childs curriculum outcome. read more

My daughter has been attending for 5 years, she is smart, well mannered. They teach them so much, and they are very loving and very disciplined everyday. I love this school, she goes to the one off Indiana in Riverside, well worth the money. I wish they went higher than 4th grade. read more

I just wanted to take the time to say how much we absolutely appreciate RMA and all of their amazing teachers on staff. The directors, Mr. & Mrs. Chandrapala as well as their daughter Dr. Chandrapala always go above & beyond in regards to any questions or concerns we have regarding my nephew. It is the most reassuring feeling to have knowing your child (or nephew / niece) is well taken care of while you're not with them during the day. Thank you also to all of the teachers / staff members! They are absolutely amazing as well! The patience, love & care they give each child is shown with such a nurturing nature. They are all appreciated by myself & my whole family. We recommend them with every kind word out there! read more

My daughter has learned so much being a student at RMA. She's only 5 years old, and she reads, does math, and science. I definitely wish I had enrolled her sooner. This was the best choice for my child. read more

Awful place to leave your child. My grandson 21/2 was attending the school off of Central in Riverside. Twice he was picked up with abrasions on his face. not one phone call to his mother or father after incident happened. First time the teacher tried to say that he was dropped off like that then changed her story. Should of taken him out then but thought ok accidents do happen. Second time I picked him up with another bad scrap on his face. All the teacher had to say was he fell again. She didn't even seem concerned. RUDE and insensitive preschool teacher!! In the wrong profession. SHAMEFUL to blame a child and not taking responsibility and doing your job. I will be filing a incident report with the city. You need to wonder why parents are not encouraged to participate in the classroom and told to refrain from looking in on your child. Also his coat was taken from the outside hanging area. His coat was very distinctive and not "taken" by accident. read more

Love this school! Both of my daughters attend Riverside Montessori Acadamy and my son will also when he is old enough. The staff of teachers are second to none, they truly care and work with the kids to bring out the best in their character. The curriculum is outstanding and have advanced my children in both math and reading skills. I highly recommend this school to everyone! read more

My son has been at this school for almost a year and has gained so much knowledge and great manners. Would highly recommend

I'm going to try to keep this short. I enrolled my son that had just turned 3. I would absolutely NOT recommend this school for toddlers. My son was sad and fussy everyday I picked him up for the whole month he attended. I watched the preschool teachers interactions and it was cold and extremely strict. My son started daycare as an infant so he was used to being away from me. To cut it short, I was told "We focus on education, not childcare." Let's be realistic....does that work for a toddler? I gave this place two stars because it might work for older kids. Save yourself the $150 enrollment fee parents. read more

This is the best foundation to our kids. I have (2) kids and this is the 2nd time that we enrolled our kids. The first one is our daughter 10 years ago and the schools curriculum is so effective and im very happy of the results. My daughter right now excelled in academics because of the early tutorials and reading practices. Currrently we enrolled our son here in montesorri too, and they help out my son too to read and write at the very young age and the results is excellent! I really recommend Montesorri academy to all parents to enroll their kids at pre-k and kindergarten because this is the time to teach them in a right way. I would like to thank all the teachers specially at pachappa drive branch to Mr n mrs chandapara, dr chandapara, and all the teachers there who help my daugher and my son to do good in school. read more

I enrolled my 2 year old daughter into the Montessori academy because of the academic program they followed and because they would take a 2 year old and assist with potty training as long as I brought her in pull ups or diaper pants. So many things started happening. First I began to notice some violent behavior towards everyone. She started to grab people's wrists and pull really hard and started yelling at people saying "your in big trouble". At first I thought okay maybe it's the other children so I was letting it slide at home with little time outs. We then started to pick up on something, every time we would pick our daughter up from school they would rush her to the bathroom and put on a clean diaper. I immediately thought this was strange but didn't want to seem like an overbearing parent so I let it go with no questions. Next came an "accident" at school, we picked her up from school and they had her in a change of clothes and her pee clothes in a bag. We didn't really think anything of it until I started to think about it and it dawned on me later that night. How in the world is she having an "accident" (her pants are all wet as well as her shoes and socks) if she's in diaper pants? I asked what had happened, they said they had just changed her and it must have leaked out the side of the diaper (even if that was the case, it would only be on that part of the pants, not all the way down to her socks). Again I gave them the benefit of the doubt and continued to take her. A few days later I went for her "trick or treat" on Halloween and wanted to be very observant on how the teachers were treating and talking to the kids, I picked up on a lot! I noticed the teachers almost bullying the children. They were very snippy, not patient at all and would grab the kids pretty rough. Then the worst part, 2 days after Halloween we picked up our daughter and she had red marks on her chest, I asked what happened and she immediately said "the teacher oweyy me". I know she is only 2 but for her to say that without anybody even putting that into her head tells me that there is some truth to it. Plain and simple they are not treating the kids right. read more

We've been here for about 3 years and love the environment that the teachers provide. The curriculum is up-to-date with common core standards and the kids excel above and beyond that. All the teachers are great and take very good care of all the kids. read more

My son has been attending RMA for over a year and I couldn't be more pleased with our experience. Mrs. Alyssa is a phenomenal teacher. Her love for the children shows through all her actions. We decided to send our son to RMA because of the academic curriculum which has been outstanding. He knows his continents, ABC's, counting and he's reading short sentences. I give all the credit to the outstanding teachers that have become an extension of our family. Thank RMA staff for all your love and support! read more

Great school! Our son has been attending here for over a year. He is currently in kindergarten. He loves his teachers and his classmates. Currently he is working on 2nd grade level math and 1st grade level reading and writing. He is very smart and the individualized curriculum allows him to push at his own pace so he doesn't get bored. When I have had questions or concerns the staff and owners have gone out of their way to make sure they are addressed. We have never been made to feel like we are not welcome but I have to admit I have not tried to hang around after my son has started class, nor would I want to. Also, our son has never been afraid to go to class or been hit or bullied here. Certainly it could happen but if it did I know the school would work with us to make sure it is taken care of. read more