My family will soon have been at WMS for 10 years, and it breaks my heart that my kids must graduate and move on. This is so much more than just a place of learning. It's a community that feels almost like family - the teachers are the best you can get, the parents have become my closest friends, and the staff care as much about our kids as we do. Dr. David is wonderful and has lead changes to an already great school that make it truly one of the best in Houston. I am taking the time to write this review because I know the stress that every parent faces in picking "the right school" for their children, which is why you are reading this, and I believe to my core in Westside Montessori School.
As a parent, I adore this school and the approachability of its administration. As a former teacher, I am in awe of the teachers' dedication to their students and their work. As a highschool graduate of Houston's Awty International School, I see that our academics are on par with the elite private schools that charge twice what we do, and I'm confident that my children will be academically and socio-emotionally ready for the rigors of any secondary school. As a school board member, I know that students' wellbeing and success are at the forefront of every conversation.
I grew up in the Montessori system, and I knew that it was what I wanted for my kids, but - just as importantly - I understood that not all "Montessori" schools are the same. Anybody can legally use that label, and so many places do, so we parents must do our research to find LEGITIMATELY Montessori schools. Are the teachers Montessori trained, and if so, are they trained for their respective age levels? Are they affiliated with the American Montessori Society? Do they follow Montessori curriculum, or just use the cute materials? Does the school ensure that each class level is tracking with the levels before and after to be sure that there are no holes in the students' academics? Does the school make every effort to prepare students for academic success in traditional (i.e. non-Montessori) middle schools? Is the school externally affiliated with a private-school association that sets high standards for its members? Do they not only welcome but encourage parent visits and engagement? Are teachers trained to identify learning differences at all age levels, and can the school help if that happens? Has the school taken extensive steps to physically secure the campus? For all of these Westside, checks the boxes.
Montessori-style learning is specifically designed to work for a wide range of students, and WMS does a stellar job of working with students with different needs. Every effort is made to work with families if difficulties are encountered or learning differences are identified. The structure of Montessori learning style is not going to work for every single child, and WMS does everything it can before very rarely recommending that the school isn't a good fit for a student, but that decision is only ever made with the best intentions for the student and their class. The physical, mental, and emotional safety of ALL students, teachers, and staff is paramount and must be prioritized over all else, and WMS does that beautifully (please bear that in mind when reading any negative reviews - I assure you that they are very skewed perspectives).
If you are still reading, I recommend that you come for a visit to see the school. Go into the classrooms to see how happy and engaged the students are. Speak with the staff and discover for yourself how much they care about what they do and how well they do it. Ask for board members' contact info - we are all very willing to chat with you and answer your questions, too, because we all love WMS and its community. I wish you luck in your search, and I hope that your family will be as thrilled with your school choice as we have been with ours. read more
