Christian Family Montessori School Feedback

[Anonymous]

I've looked at various threads with feedback on CFMS but none that seem very recent. Can anyone provide insight as to: teacher turnover/retention, student retention (do kids trickle out due to DC lottery?), handling of behavior and/or bullying, academic success in the lower and upper elementary classes, where do kids go after graduating, family involvement? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've looked at various threads with feedback on CFMS but none that seem very recent. Can anyone provide insight as to: teacher turnover/retention, student retention (do kids trickle out due to DC lottery?), handling of behavior and/or bullying, academic success in the lower and upper elementary classes, where do kids go after graduating, family involvement? Thank you!

Turnover: I think turnover feels like a bigger issue at a school as small as CFMS. With only six or seven teachers, and long-established relationships between teachers and families, any turnover feels traumatic. With that said, the main classrooms teachers are all pretty static. There's turnover at the "assistant" level year-to-year, but not more than I would expect since many of the assistants are Montessori teachers in training, so they move on to teacher gigs.

Student Retention: Yes, there is some trickle out to Montessori charters, but a big swathe of the student body is actually from PG and MoCo, so there are not charter options.

Behaviour and bullying: I think this is *mostly* better than in public, with the exception that I don't think the "kids solve their own problems using negotiation" tool really works when one kid is being ostracized. So, the tools in use at CFMS work well most of the time, but there have been times that I wish an adult had been involved sooner because the dynamic had turned toxic against a single kid.

Academic success: This is another kind of mixed bag. Here's what I would say about CFMS and really most other nontraditional schools. There are kids who do well at CFMS who would do well anywhere (your basic Type A intellectually curious striver).

There are kids who do well there, and would not thrive in a traditional classroom (kids who really need to self direct, or whose learning is asynchronous).

Finally, there are kids who really would be better served in a traditional school. I love CFMS, but if I had one criticism it would be that they really think Montessori will solve most issues. Some kids really need something different, and sometimes I think they are a little slow to admit that a child isn't just "on their own timeframe" but actually needs intervention.

After graduation: Boys tend to head to similar private schools, namely St. Anselm's. Girls from PG and MoCo often just go to their zoned middle school, or a magnet within it.

Family involvement: HUGE. Remember how I said upthread that I had one criticism? I guess I have two. I would say that families where both families work FT outside the home are the exception rather than the rule, and it can be hard to break into the SAHM Motessori 4ever club if you work.

Overall, it is a wonderful school community. It has quirks, and isn't right for everyone, but for the right kid it can really help them thrive.

[Anonymous]

The all day primary teacher isn’t good at all. The Traditional primary teacher is excellent. The Director of Education also isn’t good and lacks perspective, which explains why the All Day Primary teacher is still at the school despite parent rumbles that she isn’t great. I think if you are in Traditional Primary (which usually only parents with SAHM or dads can do) then you should be fine. I would go elsewhere if your intent is to stay at the school long term and you plan on being in All Day primary.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the feedback!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The all day primary teacher isn’t good at all. The Traditional primary teacher is excellent. The Director of Education also isn’t good and lacks perspective, which explains why the All Day Primary teacher is still at the school despite parent rumbles that she isn’t great. I think if you are in Traditional Primary (which usually only parents with SAHM or dads can do) then you should be fine. I would go elsewhere if your intent is to stay at the school long term and you plan on being in All Day primary.

ADP family here and this does not track with our experiences at all. We love the ADP teacher and have not heard any "rumblings." So, YMMV, obviously.