Heartwood Montessori School

This school has been wildly inconsistent since we started. They presented themselves well when we came for a trial visit last year, but the school has not lived up to our expectations whatsoever. First of all, the place seems severely understaffed. If a teacher is absent, there's no real backup plan--it often ends up being a wasted day. My child often comes home reporting that the teacher seems overwhelmed and frustrated. Naturally, this does not make for a great learning environment. When we were considering the school, it was with the understanding that the upper school was being moved to a farm. That plan fell through, and the upper school has been primarily held in a small room on the existing campus. We were led to expect that my child's classroom would have a teacher and an assistant the assistant now rarely can be there because she is needed in other areas of the school. The art teacher had to leave for health reasons (which is understandable and unfortunate), but the art program at the school since her departure has been very inconsistent. Beyond the many inconsistencies, changed plans, and general lack of organization, there's the education factor. My child's teacher has sent more than one email home to parents riddled with spelling errors. My child's work is corrected seemingly without rhyme or reason. When I look at English/spelling work, some words will be corrected and others won't be. On one recent occasion, a misspelling had been "corrected" to a different misspelling! Math has been fine. And that is the height of what I can say about the education factor. Science has been nonexistent. There was a "science workshop" conducted at one point that consisted of a few science-themed craft projects, and that has been it. For the whole year. We definitely will not be returning to the school, but beyond that, we will have to work hard at home to supplement this year's so-called education so that my child will be ready for the next grade level at a different school. With my child being in lower-school years, at least it's easy enough to correct some of the poor educational habits this school has established I would never trust them with an upper-school education, where the topics being tackled are more complex. And I would STRONGLY advise any families considering this school to look elsewhere.

My son went to Heartwood for K-5. Now that he's at Broughton, he's having to double up on Math courses because he was behind in Math; he had trouble with Math at Daniels but once he got the swing of things, quickly excelled.

Heartwood Montessori does not spend enough time on Math and Science - they are more interested in the "Egg Project" than a Science Fair.

Heartwood is great if your child is wishing for a career in acting and writing, but not Math and Science.

I had my two children at Heartwood for 8 years. They went through the preschool and elementary programs. The Montessori method is great, the Heartwood teachers are fantastic and well trained. Many have been there over 10 years. Academically, Heartwood is great because children are allowed to learn at their own pace, with guidance. The administration is very accessible, as are the teachers. I loved it.