Guidepost MontessoriReviews of guidepostmontessori.com

I deeply regret enrolling my son at Guidepost. In my experience, they do not have the means to provide a stimulating and safe environment for an active toddler. The head of school was unprofessional and did not follow the policies outlined in the handbook. Please do your research before sending your children here. There are many concerning issues with this company as a whole as well as with this specific facility that you can find on Google and Reddit. Quite a few of the 5 star reviews are by employees or the spouses of employees, not unbiased or unprompted reviews. My son is at a new school and it is a night and day difference between it and Guidepost. I didn’t fully realize the inadequacy of Guidepost until I had another school to compare it to. Don’t waste your money or your child’s potential here.

My kids have basically grown up at Guidepost Montessori San Rafael. Our daughter started in the Nido program when she was 7 months old. Our son started in Toddler and has now moved up to Children's House. We've been here for almost two years, and I'm still a little shocked by the things my kids come home knowing. When I was pregnant, I realized how important early childhood development is, and it was really important to me that anyone caring for my children be truly knowledgeable in that area. Many nannies and au pairs are wonderful, but they don't always facilitate learning with intention. The staff here have studied early childhood development or are currently studying it, and you can see it in the way they care for the kids. The belief that children are capable runs through everything the guides and staff do, and it's the heart of the Montessori pedagogy. Instead of putting on a child's shoes for them, they teach the child to do it herself, with more patience than I've ever had as a parent. It's hard to do that as a mom, and I'm so thankful to have them as partners in teaching my kids these things, because they do it in such loving ways. And we see the results at home. My 3.5-year-old insists on getting his own glass of water and gets frustrated if I try to help, because he knows he can do it. He recognizes letters and numbers, has mastered his colors, understands small to large, and has started to grasp categories and geography. His language is so robust that he sometimes talks more like a 5-year-old. My 15-month-old comes home with songs and hand gestures for nursery rhymes. She loves using her fork and spoon, and she knows that shoes go in the basket, trash goes in the trash, and laundry goes in the laundry. She feels so proud of herself when she helps pick up, and she claps when we're done. One moment I will never forget happened when my baby's Nido classmate moved up to the toddler classroom. She spotted him through the window, and they were both so excited. Ms. Ana, the head of school, opened the door so she could say hello. My daughter walked straight over and hugged him, and he hugged her back. They touched each other's faces in the sweetest way, like they had really missed each other. It was such a beautiful moment to watch two little humans do that, and it comes from the relationship-building they learned together in the Nido classroom. The administrative team has been just as kind to our family. During a difficult season, they created a special schedule and rate to accommodate us, and later they were incredibly gracious with financial aid, which has allowed us to stay. Ms. Ana also writes a thoughtful intro to the weekly newsletter that brings us back to Montessori principles and gives us ideas for continuing them at home. If anything happens at school, like a minor accident, they call us right away. I always feel informed and included. We plan to stay through kindergarten, even though we could choose free TK, because we've seen what this early investment does for our kids. They're confident, independent, curious, and respectful of others, and it shows in how they focus, manage their emotions, and treat their friends and teachers. If you're nervous about leaving your child in care, especially as a first-time parent, I understand, because it's so stressful. This staff truly loves children, and they do it in partnership with you. I don't think there is anything more you could ask for.

Our son graduated from Guidepost last year from the Spanish class. He is thriving in his new Kindergarten class. Very confident starting school and meeting new students, doing well academically and independently navigating a new school. Sometimes it is hard to appreciate the experience your student is getting until you see them become young, independent leaders somewhere else. Thank you!

The second I walked in I felt all the staff connecting with the children. I can’t get over the engagement. I would recommend to any parent that demands a true connection with their child.

The Palm Beach Gardens FL location is fantastic. Ms. Nikki and Ms. Meagan have built a welcoming and nurturing community, which has helped to foster a great learning environment for my son. We look back fondly on our time here, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend this school to other parents.

When evaluating childcare options available to us, we gave this Guidepost Montessori school a call. We were fortunate enough that they had an opening just at the time we needed it, a few months later. Disappointed with other local options, we were excited to find this place that matched our desire to encourage growth for our curious daughter, without relying on screens, but instead focusing on careful and loving guidance. We were blown away with the care our daughter received while she was there. Her teachers had an obvious love for the children and really felt like they became part of her family. We could not believe the video they sent of her mastering one of the harder challenges for her toddler class, an extensive "work cycle" where she was able to independently retrieve the materials she needed, complete the task, wash the cloth in the sink, and return all the supplies where she got them. She was just barely 2 years old! And so proud of herself, which just made us incredibly proud of her accomplishment. Her teachers were just as proud of her too, which really cemented that we had made the right choice with this school. Potty training was a breeze with their guidance, and when she transitioned to Children's House, she was received just as warmly and began learning Spanish. She enjoyed her time there a lot, excitedly telling us her colors and numbers in Spanish. Our family had to move away out of state, and truly, leaving this school was the hardest part. We will always remember fondly our experiences there with the teachers and staff, and we definitely recommend the school to anyone who wants a loving, structured environment for their children to grow in. For those that are interested in academic results, with our move we wanted to continue her education at least with some Montessori school, but the one near us requires the prospective student to go through an interview and show how capable they are. We need not have worried, as our daughter's experience at Guidepost Montessori set her up for success as she easily passed the interview process, with them making special note of how engaging and capable she was, "definitely a Montessori child!"

Our family has had a wonderful experience with Guidepost Montessori school. From the beginning, it was clear that the teachers genuinely care about understanding each child as an individual, not just managing a classroom. Our twin boys have grown tremendously in their independence, confidence, communication, and ability to navigate the world around them. They are naturally imaginative and curious, and this environment has given them the freedom and structure to develop those qualities in a meaningful way. We’ve also appreciated how the Montessori approach encourages children to take ownership, solve problems, and become capable in age-appropriate ways. Most importantly, our boys feel comfortable, supported, and excited to learn. Choosing this school has been one of the best decisions we’ve made for them, and I would absolutely recommend it to other families.

All 3 of my children have attended this campus across ages 0-6 & we love it so much! All of my children's teachers have been wonderful, professional, warm, and genuinely care about each child. We especially love the Mandarin programs for the benefit of early exposure to language. My oldest two have graduated and had very successful transitions into public school due to their strong foundation at Guidepost. We are so grateful to be a part of this community.