CHM@L or Creative Minds International (CMI)

[Anonymous]

What are your thoughts on Capitol Hill Montessori @ Logan vs. Creative Minds. Which would you pick.

1st grader at CMI got a waitlist spot at CHML, but I'm worried, because I really don't know much about the CHML school community, etc.

Anyone have thoughts? Mean things to say about either school? i welcome it all

[Anonymous]

there are a LOT of posts here about serious-sounding concerns about CMI all over this board. Know several families who have left because of very negative experiences.

[Anonymous]

Meh to both.

[Anonymous]

This is tough, because I would highly recommend getting out of CMI but I'm not sure CHML is going to be satisfying in the long-term, either.

Happiest former CMI families I know all lotteried into Hardy feeders.

[Anonymous]

I would pass and try again next year.

[Anonymous]

Hold out for a spot at ITDS, that's where the CMI escapees like to go.

[Anonymous]

Lol- thank you this is OP. I appreciate all the responses (and the meh made me lol).

Lots to think about. We left our NE neighborhood school already- so we’re at CMI now.

We really only need a spot for the next 1-2 years; after that we’re likely leaving DC altogether to be closer to family.

Appreciate all the feedback everyone.

[Anonymous]

It’s insane to me anyone goes to CMI post-kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

You can still go back to your neighborhood school.

If you strongly believe in Montessori, CHML works for some families, especially in elementary (I know several kids on my kid's team). It's a brand-new building and not in a bad location.

[Anonymous]

I woudn't switch, since you're planning to leave anyway. It isn't worth it. Unless your commute would be substantially shorter or you really want Montessori.

[Anonymous]

CHML is totally adequate for primary. Nice location. Very nice building. L-T's great club/enrichments provider just started there too, so I'm sure they'll have great after school programming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I woudn't switch, since you're planning to leave anyway. It isn't worth it. Unless your commute would be substantially shorter or you really want Montessori.

I actually probably would switch. Friends who fled CMI said that moving schools made them realize that their kids learned literally nothing during some years at CMI. No progress. They wish they had left sooner.

[Anonymous]

We had a pretty bad experience at CHM@L and the administration is notoriously bad at communicating, including last year when one of the long-term subs was arrested at school for showing explicit pictures/videos to kids on his phone. Like every school it's dependent on your guide/teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a pretty bad experience at CHM@L and the administration is notoriously bad at communicating, including last year when one of the long-term subs was arrested at school for showing explicit pictures/videos to kids on his phone. Like every school it's dependent on your guide/teacher.

Oh my god!

[Anonymous]

As a former CHML teacher, I would advise against it. Most of the veteran/established teachers who could successfully navigate both Montessori and DCPS requirements are now gone.