Our son loves it at Valley Montessori School, and is truly thriving! He has gone all the way through the Toddler program, and is now starting his 3rd year there, in Primary class. We honestly did not know very much about the Montessori program when we first checked it out. But the more we learned about it, the more we liked. It is designed to instill confidence in its students, letting them explore and grow at their own pace, and preparing each child for a lifetime of learning. We learned much more just by seeing it for ourselves -- after taking a tour of the school, meeting the teachers, and speaking with Admissions staff about the program, we were impressed. Throughout the process, they worked hard to help us better understand what the school is about, and to answer our many questions. It soon became clear that this was the right place for our son. The overall philosophy of Valley Montessori is to foster a child's innate curiosity, through the various well-structured activities ("works") that the children perform. The children are able to gravitate toward things that spark their interest. Students gain confidence by mastering one concept before branching out, or exploring more advanced concepts. There are a wide variety of activities for children to work through, corresponding with different subjects. The works are creative, presenting concepts in a way that is playful, and that attracts the student. As the children become absorbed in these activities, they seem to be having so much fun, they hardly realize they are learning. But most importantly, the teachers at this school are absolutely amazing people. Every one of them that we have met at the school comes across as very nurturing, intelligent, patient, and extremely well-trained. They are in tune with what the children are going through, and the level of care and attention they show toward each of the children is easy to see. This is a school that obviously cares about their teachers and staff, gives them time and resources to develop, sending them for regular workshops / training. They are true Montessorians, and it shows. The school environment is very clean, well-laid-out, and welcoming, giving children the perfect setting in which to learn. If you get a chance to observe a classroom there, I would strongly suggest it. Each one is a peaceful little society, where children and teachers work together to maintain a harmonious and orderly place. This gives students a predictable and comfortable (and most often, amazingly quiet) space in which they can learn and grow. They are mixed-age classes, where the younger child gets a chance to learn from the older children in their class, while the older kids gain confidence reinforcing their own knowledge sharing what they have learned with younger classmates. The school promotes and uses a Positive Discipline approach, resolving differences in a way that is respectful to the children. They even have classes for parents to learn how to better employ Positive Discipline techniques in the home. The children know what is expected of them at school (and at home, if you use it there), and they have the opportunity to share in problem-solving process, not just to have everything dictated to them. The school's list of accreditations is a detail that may be easy to overlook, but to me it is extremely impressive. They have worked to obtain full accreditation from the American Montessori Society (AMS), the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). This is definitely NOT just a childcare facility that hung out a "Montessori" shingle, to attract more families. They truly care about the philosophy and the methods, which have been proven extremely effective. Bottom line: if you want to teach your children how to LOVE learning, harness their natural curiosity, and really grow their knowledge (not just to shove facts into their brains in order to pass a test), then Valley Montessori is the place for you. We firmly believe that it has already been a life-changer for our son, as he has shown amazing advancement in the time he has been there. He is surrounded by wonderful and caring teachers, and (importantly, as an only child) has made many great friends to grow alongside. We plan to keep him at VMS throughout the entire program (up to Middle School), and we firmly believe it is the best school to help him reach his full potential. read more

I am a former VMS student from way before they built this campus. From before the middle school was a single room behind the Livermore Valley Tennis Club. I wanted to say that I attribute much of my present success to the advanced education I received at this school. They really encourage children to learn at their own rate, accommodating those who learn faster and those who need extra help. Beth Marshall was my teacher for most of my years here, and I know she no longer works there, but I hope they still teach in that style. The way they let the parents and children set the child's own standards for grading, and have the child assemble their own portfolio and present is unique (as far as I know). We kids felt like we had some say in how we were being taught and had more interest in school than I think any kids in public school had. By the time I entered high school at Amador, the only classes that compared at all in quality were the honors and AP classes. Besides the outstanding education I received, I fondly remember the field trips, holidays, PE classes, electives (enrichment), meditation, etc. It was a very stimulating environment and I'm glad I got to experience it. I am giving 4 stars because I don't know if what I experienced as a child is still the norm for VMS now. For any who care to know, I am now pursuing my PhD in Molecular Bio at UCSD. How much is nature vs. nurture, and how much VMS contributed to the "nurture" aspect, I don't...but looking on Facebook at my VMS classmates, I can say that all of them seem to be thriving as well. Really though, it may be because all of their parents are brilliant and therefore have lucrative careers that allow for them to send their children to schools like this. I don't know. PS-The teachers here (at least the ones I had) really care about the kids. I have seen and corresponded with some recently and was very touched to be so remembered. Thanks, VMS! read more

My kids went here in their early years. Super dooper expensive, and not quality education. The teachers are not even up to standard CA. read more

I have three children that attend this school, all ranging from toddler to elementary school and I cannot imagine ever having my children go elsewhere. This school is amazing. My oldest attended two other private schools in the area prior to our move to Valley Montessori and there is no comparison to the support, care and teacher interaction that you get here vs. any other school. Toddler- hands down there is absolutely no other place that your child will be more loved, enriched, engaged and allowed to be themselves in a safe environment than at this school. The teachers are amazing and the children learn to be independent. It is done so in a way that they are SO excited to learn and play and have fun. My son went form a toddling toddler to such a independent loving little man that cleans up after himself (at age 2) knows how to put in his own jacket and shoes, all his colors, etc. Amazing. Primary (ages 4-5) - i LOVE the different ages in the classrooms. The older children are such great teachers to the children and it's such a great way for them (the younger kids) to get excited about learning more. My daughter is the youngest year of this age group. She is supported by the most amazing teachers that let her explore writing, practical life all while her little mind is interested in. She is with the same teachers for 3 years so they get to have such a strong bond and trust built during this time. Lower Elementary (1st-3rd grade). I just cannot say enough about the administration, support staff, teachers and all involved with this school. They have been such a great support system helping my son in areas that he needed support but doing it in a way where he felt successful, not down on himself. He is learning at his pace so that what he is learning he is retaining and able to put to use. Love this place. The staff, teachers, administration, parents and entire community that comprise this school is unlike any other that you will find elsewhere. It is truly a community of individuals that want what is best for the children and will do anything within their means to make your child feel loved and succeed in this environment. It IS a different approach to learning than a traditional school but for me and seeing what I have seen at so many other schools in the area...and seeing how all three of my kids have grown and are just happy little people I could not imagine going elsewhere. As for some of the comments here about the school not being amazing, they simply are unfounded. NO it is not a school that is ONLY focused on academics. They focus on the WHOLE child meaning your child will learn to be a part of a community, learn to work in groups, learn how to care for the environment, for themselves, how to be a good person...ALL while they are learning academics. Your child will be engaged, loved, supported and excited to learn at this school so I hope my review helps! read more

Love love love this school!! As a child, I attended this school and enjoyed being part of it. I love how I was able to learn at my own pace but yet still have to keep up with the academic schedule. I was able to transition to a public middle school (the old VMS did not have a middle school) with ease and I felt bored in some classes, especially math, since I was already learning algebra when I was in 5th grade. Now, my 3 year old daughter is enrolled in the primary afternoon classroom. She has been attending VMS since she was 2. The teachers are great and the classrooms are designed specifically for children. My daughter loves going to school and looks forward to going. I love how not only do they children learn the normal math and language, they also learn how to be polite and learn to be independent. I highly recommend this school to any parent who would like to give their child that extra love and care that the staff at VMS provide. read more

We love VMS! This is our first experience with Montessori education and we are very impressed and becoming devotees. It seems that the teachers genuinely care about my child and I'm also enjoying the sense of community I feel when I visit the school. I know parents who travel from all over the East Bay to bring their kids here and I consider myself lucky that we live in the neighborhood. My kids are only 2 & 3 years old so I haven't decided yet if I'll keep them at VMS through the 8th grade, but I feel confident that they are receiving a first-class pre-school education. read more

This is a great school...I just wish I could afford private school but we are lucky because we got into the local public charter school which offers a really great alternative to regular public school. In terms of comparing this school with other private schools, it is one of the the more affordable schools. I think some of the other reviews that complain about the expense are comparing it to day care centers. My son attended the toddler and primary programs and he is now in Kindergarden at the local public charter school. My younger soon is now in the primary program. I was aware of the potential struggle for the transition from the montessori program to the public school program. I expressed this concern with my son's primary school teacher and she spent some extra time with him on his fine motor skills like writing as well as some of the other things that would be expected of him. His transition has gone very well. Their music program is excellent! My younger one never really liked music, but after a few month of having Jack, the music instructor, play live music in his class, he now sings ALL the time! My kids will certainly learn the academics and yes, I do spend time with them to make sure they are learning it, but this environment is just so well rounded and that isn't easy to come by in public school. This creativeness allows for outside the box thinking. Like I said before, if I could afford private school, this would be the school my kids would attend. read more

We love this school so much! We started our 4 yr old in the toddler program (for kids 18 mos to 3 yrs) where there is approx 12 kids enrolled with three teachers. It is an amazing experience to observe 12 TODDLERS content with various "works" listening to classical music. You wouldn't believe it unless you see it. The program embraces kids and teaches independence so your kids gain confidence at an early age. My youngest turned 2 a week ago & he can already put his own jacket on. And, he is so proud of his other practical life accomplishments, such as cleaning up his own spills. My oldest is currently in Primary (3 to 6 yrs old). He has diverse interests and his teachers embrace this to bring his learning to a higher level. For example, he loves sharks and one of the teachers brought in shark teeth to share. Kids are encouraged to follow their interests. With my son's diverse interests, he won't be encouraged like this in public school, so we plan to stay there with both of our kids through 8th grade. Teachers at all levels are always available for consultations and guidance or feedback. I love how commericalism is not embraced here, too. There is a focus on individual respect for one another - which seems to be lacking in other schools. I highly recommend you observe in the classrooms and/or enroll in the parent "Discovery & Journey" class offered 2x per year for a nominal fee. You will experience toddler through middle school, and won't be disappointed. It is well worth your time and energy to check out this fabulous school and quality, caring teachers. read more

Our son has been in this school since he was 18 months, he just turned 3 and is in the primary program. The teachers here have been wonderful and I can't imagine a better place for him. His verbal abilities are very advanced for his age and he knows all his colors and numbers up to 20, and all shapes with 4 sides or fewer. One thing that really stands out to me is his interest in, and compassion for, other people. He loves to talk up every random stranger and usually looks them in the eyes while talking, something most adults don't even do. When kids, or anyone really, get injured or seem upset or hurt he always has to go check on them and ask if they are OK and try to understand what is wrong. This is something I don't really see in many kids his age or his older cousins, and I believe Montessori is to be credited for helping his compassion flourish. He has been in a total of 3 classes now, Cypress, Oak and Birch as well as doing nap in Oleander. Our experience with the teachers in all of these classes has been stellar and I feel they really go above and beyond to make sure each child gets the type and amount of attention they need. Obviously I can not speak to how well he might do compared to children in a "standardized" school yet, but we have him here because we believe in this philosophy and trust that a love for learning is the most important thing a child can develop at this age. We do plan to keep him here as far as he can go and I will add updated reviews as he progresses. We will monitor his progress and will move him out if it seems he is not suited for the learn at your own pace environment. It may not be for everyone or every child. If it is important for you that your child be taught to pass standardized tests on a certain set schedule the Montessori philosophy might not be right for you, but if you believe that the mainstream method of "teaching" children leaves much to be desired then take a look at the Montessori program and this school in particular. One last thing, check the bad reviews for this school and you will find that most of the 1 star reviews are done by people with questionable names and only one review to their name, or don't really provide any real valid reasons for giving only one star. Go see the school for yourself, attend the open houses, and talk with the staff and teachers and then make up your mind. read more

What a great place to have your children In preschool. My friend works there, she really cares about partnering with the family. Teaching children is her love of life. read more

Both of my children started in the toddler program at VMS and have moved into the primary program. They have had teachers who care about their success academically, socially, and emotionally; who truly get to know each child's personality and interests; who encourage them to be the best versions of themselves and stewards of their environments. The classrooms are peaceful and inspiring. My son (currently a second year primary student) comes home with new songs and stories every day that detail the things he's learned. He's adding and subtracting, learning to identify sounds of letters, reading and writing short vowel sound words, constantly sharing new vocabulary, and more. Most afternoon conversations on the drive home from school start with "Mom, did you know..." or "Today I learned that..." What I love most about this school is how much it has come to feel like a second home for my children. They know they are safe, cared for, and that they matter in their classrooms. Particularly during the covid-19 era, this school and the staff that works there have gone above and beyond to support our family. read more

Two years ago, we paid $100 to be able to put our younger daughter just get on the waiting list, but until now we receive no info from VMS. My older daughter was in 3 weeks summer programm of VMS once, but she doesn't like the place, and only stayed for 2 weeks. My daughter complains other kids kick her or grab her hair. Well, the facility of the school is great, the building is well designed, kids room is spacious, the play ground is also very nice. read more

Valley Montessori School is a wonderful place where children can learn at their own pace while being gently guided in a way that helps build self esteem and instils the highest values. Learning early on that there are consequences for their behavior my children learned to take responsibility for themselves and their actions. The teaching staff is a warm group that makes you feel welcome right away. While the entire program is A+, the Toddler and Primary programs really do shine compared to other preschools. All you have to do is come in and observe to see the amazing difference that will stay with your child through a lifetime. read more

I'm usually one of the first people to raise the flag for the montessori method, and particularly for Valley Montessori School. We LOVE that school and their philosophy. The montessori philosophy is different from public schools in that it's based on developing the whole child in all areas of life, and is reliant on the child's desire to explore and learn. It's more of a hands-off environment than most of us were taught in, but it fosters independent thinking and self-reliance in a child. It's still a structured environment where they learn everything they should under California curriculum standards, but not in the "sitting at a desk, listening to a teacher lecture" format. Also keep in mind that not all montessori schools are created equal. A school can call itself a montessori school, but that doesn't mean that any of the teachers or staff are trained in the montessori method. VMS is the only school in the state to be accredited by both the American Montessori Society and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. This means that all of their teachers have been trained and certified in the montessori method. Both of my sons are at VMS. I like that they are in classrooms with kids that are different ages The older kids become mentors to the younger ones and they develop a special camaraderie. We plan on keeping both boys at VMS as long as we can (the school currently goes through the 8th grade). My husband and I are 100% certain that VMS is the best private school in the area, no doubt, and that our kids will get an education that will put them ahead of the crowd. Yes, it's pricey but every economist will tell you to spend your money on school now and it will pay off in the future in terms of scholarships and getting into the best colleges. read more

Phenomenal teachers who care about your children, their learning, and their futures. The teachers at this school love teaching. The learning environment is great, and facilities are very clean. While the tuition is not the most affordable, good teachers tend to go where the money is. VMS also reinvests that money back into the infrastructure of the school such as security camera installation, billiards that further protect the playgrounds from vehicles, and parking lot safety improvements. read more

I checked this place out when we first moved here from Alameda. My son had been in a Montessori in Alameda and I was looking to find one here in the area. i ended up NOT sending my son here and ill tell you why. I came in, dressed in my work clothes (jeans and a polo) after work one day. I stood around for quite some time before I asked for help/information. i was quickly handed a folder with info and nothing further. No conversation, do you have any questions, how did you hear about us, nothing. I felt that they didn't want my business so i didn't give it to them. I ended up finding a non-Montessori school a few blocks away where I could immediately sense a Montessori influence without the attitude. If you're working in the office, you are the first thing a potential client sees and hears, please pay them mind. read more

I am also having an issue with the school claiming to be strictly non-religious. When we were looking at the school that was one of the main things for us, the school had claimed that they do not celebrate any religion in any way. In Bay Laurel, they celebrated all sorts of religious occasions including Hanukkah (that involved lighting the menorah for a whole week, dreidel play, food etc.), Diwali, Christmas, Kwanza, etc. BUT whenever anything from the Middle East, especially anything regarding Islam, is mentioned, they almost freak out and claim that it has religious grounds (hello? menorah? Dreidel? RELIGIOUS!!!!!!). And their songs often have a religious connotation, especially around the Holidays (religious celebration often called Christmas else where). I have no problem in them calling it Christmas, but please don't insult my intelligence by calling it the Holidays and still doing all the Christmas related stuff. Second year in the primary was great. We moved our daughter to Palm. Jen and Jolie took very good care of the tri-lingualism issue and our daughter was very happy. The issues of the year before were still bothering me and I never felt a resolution. So, I decided to voice our problem through yelp and the principal, Mary Ellen, contacted me via email immediately. We met and though I did not feel any use of the meeting, I decided to withdraw my bad yelp review, after all we had found a great classroom. That year the religious / cultural discrimination issue repeated and the teacher was told to cut an Islamic celebration short. I was appalled, especially that whenever I celebrate my culture I know exactly how to separate culture from religion. I think either allow all cultural celebrations (something promoted in the Montessori environment) or ban them all, but do not favor some over the others. And when I introduced the celebration to the children, I intentionally did not mention religion, but rather looked at the cultural aspect and the traditions in my country. For Kindergarten year or the third primary year, I once more had a lot of problems. The school and the teachers have reassured me that my daughter would academically be at the same level as her peers in public school? I had asked them several times if she would have a problem going to 1st grade in public school having done her Kindergarten year at VMS and they assured me every time that she will be at the same or higher level as her peers in public school. By December, I still saw no reading and barely any math. I addressed my concerns to the teachers, who once more reassured me that my daughter will catch up and by the end of the year would be at the same or higher level as her peers in public school. By the beginning of 2010 she joined the LIPS program and still nothing. When I asked for a meeting, both teachers, Ana Suan, Anne Clark and the reading specialist were there and all seemed convinced that my daughter is just fine and that they have nothing to worry about academically. They kept telling me that she will get there at her own pace. I gave them the guidelines for a first grader in public school and showed them how far she was from those guidelines, but got no real reaction. By now I knew that we are sending our daughter to public school for sure and I kind of gave up on saving my daughter the trouble of having to struggle academically and being at risk of repeating 1st grade. I started working with my daughter from the Kindergarten book from public school. I have to say that that was the only time I felt that my daughter got exposed to such work. She could not sound words out, she barely recognized any number above 12 and had no clue about mathematical concepts. Oh and she had a hard time figuring out shapes such as; hexagon, octagon and trapeze; let alone drawing them. My daughter now goes to 1st grade in Pleasanton Unified School District. She is reading at level II when her classmates are reading at level IV. She sees a reading specialist 4 days of the week at school, who has helped her in 1 month more than anyone at VMS has helped her in the 3 years of primary. She does not know her basic shapes or how to draw them. Also her understanding of math concepts is lagging behind! She also did not use scissors correctly, which her teacher in public school fixed within a week or so, by having her use total control scissors. My daughter has to struggle in her young age to do things that her peers have mastered last year; their Kindergarten year! read more

Valley Montessori School is a special place. I can't imagine a better place for my children. But don't trust me or the other reviews. I urge you to find out for yourself by visiting a classroom. You will be blown away. You'll marvel at the lack of desks in rows, that the teachers on sitting on the floor with the kids, not lecturing from a black board, that the children are all quietly working hard without having to be directed to do so. That's how we were exposed to it. We first visited, looking for a pre-school for our 3-yr old. We quickly fell in love with it. We have one child in MS who started at age 3, and another in 3rd who started at age 3-months. Unfamiliar with the Montessori Method? No problem, most people are at first. First of all, it's not a new fad or some sort of weird New Age commune. It's a proven educational system that's been around for over 100 years and is practiced in over 20,000 schools in the world. Basically, it boils down to a couple of key differences from traditional educational models: * The kids are in mixed aged classrooms. 4-6 year olds in Primary, 7-9 year olds in Lower Elem, 10-11 year olds in Upper Elem, and 12-14 year olds in Middle School. Younger kids can go to older ones for help, and older students get lessons reinforced by teaching it to the younger ones. * The children are allowed a choice of activity (within a set of options) and can pursue their interests. They are never bored and are always stimulated. * Low student to teacher ratios: 8:1 to 12:1. * Children learn by using hands-on materials developed by Maria Montessori. Using concrete materials helps reinforce lessons and make concepts like math and spelling easier to understand. Watch video explaining this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQl-7Lmm4hE The program works. The teachers are exemplary. They are highly trained and certified in the Montessori curriculum. With such a low ratio, they know your child intimately. They know his/her strengths and weaknesses and they "follow the child". (And specialists are available for those with learning challenges). In addition to the core curriculum, my kids get regular classes of art, PE, music and Spanish.... Just the sort of "extras" that are typically cut from public schools. My kids are happy, caring and imaginative. They will be well prepared for high school. Alumni routinely are placed into advanced high school courses. The test results show that the kids are testing well above grade level: http://www.valleymontessorischool.com/sites/default/files/test_results_2007-11_complete_battery.pdf Montessori schools graduate bright students who think globally and outside the box. Need proof? Look at this list of graduates: Jeff Bezos--Amazon founder Jimmy Wales--Wikipedia founder Sergey Brin & Larry Page--Google founders Katharine Graham--Owner & editor of the Wash. Post. YoYo Ma--Musician Julia Child--Chef, author After spending a day moving from class to class, I came away with the following observations: * The classrooms promote a joy of learning * The culture of courtesy is strongly promoted * The sense of independence & confidence that is encouraged in the child * The gradual encouragement of group learning by the arrangement of the furniture. Toddlers have tables for one and work independently. Primary students have tables for two and work side by side. Elem has tables for four and are starting to work jointly on projects. MS has large tables for many, encouraging group cooperation. * The children are learning without realizing they are * We couldn't imagine the children getting bored. There was so much to explore. We were always left wanting to do more. * It was interesting seeing the concrete give way gradually to the abstract. In the upper levels, the math materials, for example, are still present, but are relied upon less. * It was clear how the teachers treat the children with respect * The consistency of the materials level to level. For example a cone is always blue, a verb is always round and red, and a "10" is always blue. * The children built up their confidence at the lower levels and were able to take on challenging works at upper levels. * The children were encouraged to think for themselves, be creative, pursue their interests, and not be afraid to speak up in a group. * We wished we could go back to school and do it over again Finally, several reviewers have complained about the cost. Well, yes, it is a private school, so there are free alternatives out there, if you are willing to go to public school. However, VMS has consistently made it a goal to be affordable for the community. Tuition at VMS is half that of the average Calif. Independent School. Our tuition is also significantly lower than peer Bay Area schools, including Athenian, Aurora & Beacon. I can't put a price on inspiring my children's imagination, engaging their mind, and captivating their heart. My children are worth it! read more

Valley Montessori School - VMS at sunset - Elementary Schools Near Me - Livermore, California

The management of this school is a total mess. Each family's address and phone numbers are posted online without prior authorization. I just hope there are no sex offenders among fellow VMS parents. Assistant principal Ann sent out emails to every parent without using bcc options. I never allowed the school using my child's photo, but yet his photos are shown online. The student sign in sheet is even messier. You could sign in your child on one sheet and sign off at a different sheet. Who is going to check that each child is signed in and signed off each day? As for the new principal, she is absolutely a liar. All those wonderful 5 star reviews are so fake and unreal to me. She had hired someone to give wonderful reviews when she was with another school. She certainly could do that to this school. She also discriminates kids. Livermore is a middle-class town without super public schools. Therefore, VMS survived throughout the years. Working moms are very rare at this school. I agree with one of previous posts that those full-time moms work very hard with their kids, so their kids keep up with average performance. The teachers at this school are not educators at all. To cover the low teacher quality, this school use the so-called MONTESSORI method to the fullest. If you child does not learn, or does not perform, then he is not a regular "montessori" child, because montessori said all children will be attracted to the rich classroom environment. This claim totally excludes its teachers from any responsibilities they may have. Another tactics this school has is to show how many years of experience some teachers have. Read along school web site, then you will see how the school brags about itself. Years of experience do not transfer to accountability. VMS also markets itself through its close affiliation with American Montessori Society, when most bay area Montessori schools stopped paying hefty fees to AMS. Indeed, Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) maintains much higher standard. read more

My daughter was here 18 months to 2 years and counting. Michelle and Lisa are amazing teachers; safe, attentive, intelligent, loving, and fun. The facilities are amazing. The administrative staff has been great. Top notch. read more

My daughter began as a student in Valley Montessori's first ever toddler class at the age of 17 months. She stayed until she graduated middle school in 2011. The experience she had at Valley Montessori School was invaluable. The teachers and curriculum are second to none! Aside from receiving a quality education, she learned independence, self confidence, compassion, and respect for herself and others. When she graduated from VMS, my daughter chose to attend Livermore High School (I wanted her to go to the new charter school). As any parent whose child had attended a private school for her entire life, I had concerns about sending her into the world of public school, fearing that she would be intimidated and unable to adapt to such a large school population. I also feared that she would be lost in the academic shuffle after receiving the individual attention and sense of family that she had experienced during her 12 plus years at VMS. My daughter is now in her Junior year at Livermore High School in AP and Honors classes with a 4.25 GPA, and has a wonderful circle of friends for which I give a ton of credit to VMS. When I was desperately looking for a pre-school for my daughter, I was not specifically looking for a private school, but I am so glad I chose VMS. It was one of the best decisions a sa parent that I have ever made. Thank you VMS M. Chew Livermore Ca read more

Both my kids went to VMS's preschool for years and had a wonderful experience. My kids and I were happy with every aspect of their preschool. The Montessori approach is ideal for very young developing minds and bodies, and my children clearly benefited from how it is applied at VMS. My kids were stimulated to be creative, curious, thoughtful, kind, reflective, exploratory, confident, focused, present, and joyful. The teachers at the school helped me (at my request) learn to apply a much more positive and effective style of discipline than I would have applied otherwise. If you haven't been in to check out what VMS is about, go in and see for yourself! read more

We have two children at VMS and we could not be more thrilled. My son is in a primary classroom and he he started last year in the toddler classroom. My daughter is in lower elementary and she was previously in three years of primary at VMS. My children are really receiving an education for a lifetime and they are learning so much. VMS is more than the school my children attend, but a community of parents and faculty working together to help the children grow and learn and become well rounded people. There are many social gatherings throughout the year to foster that sense of community. It begins with United Nationas day and really takes off from there with many other events as well as guest speakers and parenting workshops. My daughter is in her first year of lower elementary and she told me last night that she is learning geometry, I learned geometry in college! She has a hunger for learning and the teachers are there to facilitate that learning, but it is all her! She is moving at a rapid rate and the beauty of the Montessori classroom is she may move at her own rate. The children also learn grace and courtesy and a respect for oneself, one's peers and one's community. The children are given the tools to resolve conflict and come up with soltuions to classroom issues. The children's voices are heard and respected, this is not true of many schools. The faculty does an amazing job of accomodating parents requests/concerns. They are working with us parents as partners in our children's education. The teachers are so kind, respectful, thoughtful and just outstanding! We plan to keep our children through to grade 8! I must also mention that our test scores are off the charts! We do participate in standardized testing, but they do not teach for that purpose. You can see for yourself http://valleymontessorischool.com/sites/default/files/Test_Results_for_website.pdf . They also offer amazing teacher to student ratios: Toddler is 1 to 4 Primary is 1 to 12 Lower Elementary is 1 to 12-14 Upper Elementary is 1-10 Middle School is 1-11 VMS is a great school with awesome teachers, amazing children and a warm supportive community of faculty and parents alike! Schedule an observation or a tour today, you won't be dissapointed. read more

What a wonderful place to grow and learn! My 5 year old is finishing his 3rd year in primary at VMS (currently in his "kindergarten" year) and we couldn't be happier. Montessori is a wonderful approach to learning, and VMS does Maria Montessori proud. My son feels empowered that he gets to help chose what he'll work on and when; at the same time, his teachers (he's been part of Alder, and now Cedar, classrooms) are well aware of his strengths and development needs and how best to help address them. My son is working through the usual material of reading, writing and math; he's also growing strong in character and spirit - traits that often are glossed over in early childhood education. He's also empathetic and compassionate - attributes VMS encourages. In my experience, this school works with parents very well and is responsive to parental questions. Both teachers and staff have been very helpful in all manner of requests or concerns. The parent community is also supportive and welcoming. I feel very fortunate my son has had these three years and we will miss the school terribly. We are moving out of the area this summer - otherwise he would continue to Lower Elementary in the fall and his younger sister would start in the Toddler class, too. read more

Our 2 younger kids go to VMS. It's been mostly a positive experience academically and socially for our kids, but like any school, it is not perfect. We've had some issues, but we believe, when discussed with administration, the issues were dealt with promptly and effectively. read more

Our first child attended VMS from the age of 18 months to 3. We then moved and 2 years later decided to move back to the area specifically for this school. We have re-enrolled our now 5 year old and 2.5 year old into the primary and toddler programs. The staff is truly family orientated, and the curriculum really follows the Montessori way. It allows our children to learn in a manner than is encouraging rather than forced. For the past 2 years we toured all the top private schools in the bay area and our children attended one of them. None of them compared to VMS. read more

Good to great............three children,12 years of Montessori education, transition to public HS was easy and my well educated, self directed, proactive students could not have had a better education! I have no regrets about having sent my children to VMS. It was worth every penny and struggle along the way. I recommend starting early and committing through Middle School you will not be disappointed. read more

I have three children. My two sons attended VMS's toddler and primary programs. We really loved the toddler teachers and the primary teachers really cared about both of my sons. However, the teaching method was not a good fit for my eldest son. We had numerous parent teacher conferences in primary and he was sent to their on staff OT specialist because he would not focus in their classroom. A very telling moment was when the VMS teachers stated that he was focusing well during the space segment but that they could not figure out how to keep him interested in what they were trying to teach him. When he completed his second year of primary, he was frustrated with school at VMS and stated he thought he was bad at school because it was so hard for him to listen to his VMS teachers. However, he was concurrently enrolled in a once a week hourly Chinese language class where he was doing well and taught in a traditional group class method. For example when he left VMS, he could only identify 70 % of the letters of the English alphabet but knew all 37 characters of the Chinese alphabet and could sight read simple words in Chinese. So we opted to send him to public school for kindergarten and he has flourished in the public school. He receives above average (4) in all subjects and most importantly he believes he is a good student. We believe his difficulties in his primary years resulted from a poor fit with him and the VMS teaching method. Our second son had an overall positive experience with his toddler and primary classrooms. His teachers worked very hard with him, especially since he has a speech delay. However, we had issues with the current administration, specifically their enrollment and educational contract, which is why we decided to move him to another private school. The contract changed in 2012 after the new head of school came on board. It now makes the parents responsible for the entire tuition as of 8/1. even if your child does not attend a single day of class. The contract makes no exception for parental job loss or having to move and gives the school the sole right to terminate the contract. We were not comfortable enrolling him under those circumstances. We could not know the class size (there was uncertainty as to how many primary classes there would be due to low enrollment), who was teaching him other than most likely his previous teachers, and most importantly if he was happy, continuing to grow and would fit with the new set of students. We lacked an ability to assess him whether he was a good fit after the school year started at all under the new contract. The head of school, Roz, defended the contract stating that she believed that this was a normal contract for private schools in the area. Having toured the vast majority of private schools in the Tri-Valley, I can now only conclude that she was making comparisons to SF or somewhere else. Despite having visited over 30 private schools in the Tri-Valley, I never found a similar contract. I believe this contract is one of the reasons enrollment for new students (particularly in the primary years where there are lots of other private school alternatives), is why enrollment has steadily declined since Rox came on board. I think the administration should rethink their contract because without change, I will send my youngest elsewhere like I have with my second son. read more

I pulled our kids out of this school. Many parents have done the same most recently. When I applied initially, for weeks there was no response. Phone calls went into a voicemail, with no response back. Finally after we got in, realized that the teaching quality was not at par with various other schools, no particular structure or school reporting in place and a head of school that did not seem to care about many families that were leaving the school. Complaints and concerns were not addressed and yet they keep on raising the fees over the years. Many parent teachers vs professional, trained teachers. I would not recommend it. read more

Don't bother...super pricey and your kid will not meet the required level in reading, writing and maths when he transfers to public school.

I called to ask a few question about the school and when the admissions director heard I was from Antioch she commented "ugh! no!" I have never felt so belittled before in my life. I own two prosperous companies and want my son to get a great education, so thank you for informing me of what type of people you are. Judging someone solely on where they live vs.. what they can afford for their children. Shame on you. read more

If you can get past the admissions challenges, the school itself is very nice and the teachers are wonderful!

Excellent school for a well rounded education. Very clean and safe environment. Has music, second language and more science than public schools. Extremely expensive! read more

We are new to Valley Montessori this school year and it has been nothing short of amazing. The teachers are warm, welcoming, loving and provide an academically rigorous curriculum. They are able to balance various ages in each classroom with their Montessori approach. The student-teacher ratio remains small which is the best predictor for success academically. My daughter is thriving at Valley and is happy going to school. She clearly has gained the "love of learning" that Valley tries very hard to instill in every child. We came from a very well established independent school in Baltimore and worried that trying to find something similar in California would be very difficult. This has been a perfect fit for both my daughter and our family. The families, teachers and employees have welcomed us with open arms and continue to guide us through our transition as a new member of Valley Montessori. I would strongly advise a visit to see the school to make your own judgement call. I am very sad to see poor reviews online. I can't imagine my daughter going anywhere else! I would give the school a 5 star review but believe there is always room for improvement and growth. read more

This school is outstanding. From the brilliant philosphy developed by Maria Montessori to the wonderful teachers who carry it out beautifully. My daugthers have been there 9 years now. They have developed a true love for learning, a great work ethic and are caring, respectful individuals. They are well adjusted, academically sound, and prepared for whatever life gives them. I can't say enjoy positve things about this school. Definitely a 5 star! read more

My daughter has been going to this school since she was a toddler. She is now in lower elementary (1st grade) at Valley Montessori. She is reading at above 2nd grade level and is doing 2nd grade math. I give all the credit to the school and the teachers. It is an amazing environment for children. The cost is completely reasonable -just compare it to the cost of other private schools in the area and you will see. I have several friends who have been sending their children here for many years (through 8th grade) with absolute success. I am a former public school teacher and have many concerns with the structure and politics behind public education, which is one of many reasons why we chose to go private as well as Montessori. Best decision we ever made. read more

We remain very pleased with the school, my son is thriving in Middle School and is challenged every day. He can's wait to get to school. The teachers care about each student and work with each student based on their needs. Regular field trips support the classroom instruction and encourage learning/intellectual stimulation. I have found the teachers very open to questions and feedback and they partner with me as a parent. I highly recommend this school! read more

My children attended this school where they developed a love of learning and a respect for people's differences. It is a warm, caring community of professionals. read more

We have had both our children at VMS almost since birth. This is an incredible community. While we have always been happy with the school, this year we went from fan to super-fan. Our daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes a mere two weeks before the school year began. The teachers made the time on very short notice to meet with the diabetes educator to get training on how to help our daughter manage her diabetes. The diabetes nurse educator requested a minimum of three people from the school attend in order to justify an on-site visit. I just get choked up even writing this - every single Middle School teacher attended, the art, music and PE teachers attended, the head of school attended, the principal attended, even the support staff including some office and IT personnel attended. Our daughter's education and health has been fully supported, and we cannot thank VMS enough. The teachers, administrators, and other staff members are truly committed to each and every student, and will definitely go above and beyond what is required in order to ensure their students are able to focus on their education. read more

I can only speak for the full day toddler program. My daughter started going to this class since last October. We couldn't be happier about her first school experience. The teacher student ratio is only 1:4 and sometimes even lower, and I've never heard or seen any other school can offer so much attention to each child, especially when they are as young as 18 months to 3 year old. The teachers in Oak Room are loving, warm, patient and professional. My daughter didn't speak any English when she first started, but with help of the teachers, she quickly adapted to school life and picked up English. She loves going to school everyday. Hands down the best full-day toddler program in Tri-valley area, we recommend it to every parent who is stressed to pick out the "perfect" first school for their kids. Too bad we will have to move our daughter to another school due to life changes, we will definitely miss the teachers here read more