Is SSMA really that bad?

[Anonymous]

We were originally planning to go to an affordable, accredited, private Montessori program, but due to the uncertainty of next year/distance learning, we are re-thinking our prek-3 match to Shining Stars with high wait-list numbers elsewhere. We've heard mostly mixed reviews on classroom experiences via local listserve (and reading things on here): some said they had a wonderful year in the classroom with an excellent guide, others not a great guide/guide who left during the year/different guides each year/unbalanced ages in classroom. We've also heard the administrative issues, and that kids aren't exactly at grade-level, but how much does "at grade-level" really mean through Kindergarten when other kids are just starting school at that age in the rest of the country? Is it really as "undesirable" as it's made out to be for the primary years? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Not an SSMA parent, but my understanding is that the primary years are fine, but you definitely want to jump ship by third grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not an SSMA parent, but my understanding is that the primary years are fine, but you definitely want to jump ship by third grade.

Which is the same advice you would hear about your neighborhood school. Montessori isn’t worth it IMO, and certainly is the program least likely to transition well to distance learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not an SSMA parent, but my understanding is that the primary years are fine, but you definitely want to jump ship by third grade.

Which is the same advice you would hear about your neighborhood school. Montessori isn’t worth it IMO, and certainly is the program least likely to transition well to distance learning.

Actually...I’ve heard nothing but good things about the distance learning coming from the Montessori charters.

[Anonymous]

It'll be fine for preschool and K, assuming their building problems don't re-emerge. For elementary, the test scores are just awful, worse than other Montessori schools so they can't use that as an excuse. Ask yourself why a school with mostly non-at-risk kids can't have the majority of kids on grade level. A lot of the kids are scoring a 1 on the PARCC test. That's just so far below expectations for their demographics.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure SSMA is fine for PreK, but who knows how next school year will work out anyway, especially given that Montessori classrooms are large and it's nearly impossible to expect 3 and 4 year olds to social distance.

[Anonymous]

So far I don't think anyone on here actually has experience at the school. I don't either but those I know who attend seemed happy with it this year. Hopefully someone chimes in. You can always jump to the private school later on if you don't like it, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not an SSMA parent, but my understanding is that the primary years are fine, but you definitely want to jump ship by third grade.

Which is the same advice you would hear about your neighborhood school. Montessori isn’t worth it IMO, and certainly is the program least likely to transition well to distance learning.

Actually...I’ve heard nothing but good things about the distance learning coming from the Montessori charters.

We're at a different Montessori charter and we've been really pleased with how we've been able to transfer a lot of the concepts/work/schedule in distance learning. Of course we don't have any of the specific Montessori materials and my kids definitely feel comfortably telling me that the materials are nicer in their real class, but with some help from the school, we've found good stand-ins for a lot of the materials.

[Anonymous]

Current SSMA parent. We have been pleased with our child's prek3 - K education - couldn't ask for a better teacher. Also - the school community is fantastic.

Has the school had issues - yep, not going to lie. After chatting with parents with kids in DCPS and charter schools - I realized that most schools do have issues. You just have to go with your gut and decide what is the best fit for your kid.

[Anonymous]

Former SSMA parent here. Had our son in the school for two years. Yes, it is that bad. I had a good experience with our teacher the first year but then she left and we had a rough year the second year. The administration is awful, lies constantly. While our current school is far from perfect, I feel like the school administration, parents and teachers are broadly on the same team rather than at odds with one another. If you get a good teacher, who sticks around and you don't run into any issues you need help from the administration with, you may have a good experience. The problem is, as soon as you have the slightest issue, you realize how rotten things are at the core of the school.

[Anonymous]

Parent of a primary and lower elementary student. Both kids have fantastic teachers. The school isn’t perfect, but I can tell you that communication issues have improved significantly this school year. The parent community is great and have been impressed about how quick they were able to pull together distance learning in comparison to well regarded Dcps schools. By the second week, their distance learning program was full in motion. Teachers have been remained on top of everything (following up with families, having daily interactions with kids, providing feedback on school assignments etc.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were originally planning to go to an affordable, accredited, private Montessori program, but due to the uncertainty of next year/distance learning, we are re-thinking our prek-3 match to Shining Stars with high wait-list numbers elsewhere. We've heard mostly mixed reviews on classroom experiences via local listserve (and reading things on here): some said they had a wonderful year in the classroom with an excellent guide, others not a great guide/guide who left during the year/different guides each year/unbalanced ages in classroom. We've also heard the administrative issues, and that kids aren't exactly at grade-level, but how much does "at grade-level" really mean through Kindergarten when other kids are just starting school at that age in the rest of the country? Is it really as "undesirable" as it's made out to be for the primary years? Thanks!

My question would actually be what plan if any does the private school have for distance learning or adjusting class sizes to follow the cdc guidance. What happens with tution and other fees during any further mandatory school shutdowns.

No one no's yet what the DCPS plan(s) are, let alone how well they will implement them. Most Charters will take their lead from dcps as far as what is acceptable as class room size, combination of distance learning and in class learning, class sizes etc. Which may of may not follow the cdc guidance. But if you know people SSMA you might ask if they have been given a plan for how they school expects to handle such things.

If the private is able to make the needed accommodations to meet the cdc guidance particularly the smaller class sizes and cleaning then I might stay with them. They may have a better chance of staying open more than a public school. Though all the shared hands on, choice of any activity in a Montessori classroom seems like a bad idea in general. I don't understand how most of the kids are not sick half the time anyway. No clue how you would clean every thing in a Montessori class each day unless you really limited what is in the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Current SSMA parent. We have been pleased with our child's prek3 - K education - couldn't ask for a better teacher. Also - the school community is fantastic.

Has the school had issues - yep, not going to lie. After chatting with parents with kids in DCPS and charter schools - I realized that most schools do have issues. You just have to go with your gut and decide what is the best fit for your kid.

Why are the test scores at SSMA worse than at other Montessori schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a primary and lower elementary student. Both kids have fantastic teachers. The school isn’t perfect, but I can tell you that communication issues have improved significantly this school year. The parent community is great and have been impressed about how quick they were able to pull together distance learning in comparison to well regarded Dcps schools. By the second week, their distance learning program was full in motion. Teachers have been remained on top of everything (following up with families, having daily interactions with kids, providing feedback on school assignments etc.)

I'm sorry, but the idea that the school is on top of distance learning is insane. SSMA's distance learning is a joke. My preschooler literally had a lesson over zoom where her teacher demonstrated the motion to be used in teeth brushing. I would simply opt out but the school has said that they are taking attendance during distance learning and will refer families to CPS for 10 absences. My suspicion is that CPS has bigger things to worry about right now but getting my child to listen to 15 minutes of idiotic chatter from her teacher seems easier than dealing with a potential CPS referral.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a primary and lower elementary student. Both kids have fantastic teachers. The school isn’t perfect, but I can tell you that communication issues have improved significantly this school year. The parent community is great and have been impressed about how quick they were able to pull together distance learning in comparison to well regarded Dcps schools. By the second week, their distance learning program was full in motion. Teachers have been remained on top of everything (following up with families, having daily interactions with kids, providing feedback on school assignments etc.)

I'm sorry, but the idea that the school is on top of distance learning is insane. SSMA's distance learning is a joke. My preschooler literally had a lesson over zoom where her teacher demonstrated the motion to be used in teeth brushing. I would simply opt out but the school has said that they are taking attendance during distance learning and will refer families to CPS for 10 absences. My suspicion is that CPS has bigger things to worry about right now but getting my child to listen to 15 minutes of idiotic chatter from her teacher seems easier than dealing with a potential CPS referral.

We've been gone from SSMA for a couple years now, but the idea of Regina telling the school that they will be reported to CPS if they miss 10 Zoom calls for their preschooler is so crazy that it has to be true.