Keystone Montessori School

We started sending our son to the Keystone Willow Toddler classroom in the middle of the pandemic. They follow COVID precautions and I have very little concern for his risk for exposure (of course it exists but everyone is invested in keeping the community healthy). Prior to this, our son had very little interaction with people outside our household. At Keystone they have provided exceptional guidance to allow him explore his world and master skills. After sending him to Keystone his vocabulary exploded, he was potty trained by 18 months, he wants to be involved with all aspects of day-to-day life (cleaning/cooking/exploring the outdoors). He is clearly excited to learn and loves the new and unexpected. It's clear to myself and my husband that Keystone has had a beneficial influence on his development. Thank you Keystone.

I have two children that have been at Keystone for 6 years. I see a major difference between how they learn and how their friends in public school learn, with my kids learning being the better of the two. Montessori is child-centered meaning it is focused on how the individual child learns and when their brain is ready to learn certain material. This makes it more enjoyable and easier for the child. I plan to keep both of my children in until they reach the 6th grade.

Both of my sons are Keystone students. The first went through the lower elementary program and now my youngest will graduate kindergarten and we plan on keeping him in the elementary through grade 6. We were originally part of a big daycare for my oldest son. A friend asked me to go to a Keystone open house and I was just amazed at the quality of the school! Coming from daycare where they really just work on play and social development I was astonished to see preschool aged kids working in areas of math, reading and writing, sensory learning, practical life skills, conflict resolution, science, grace and courtesy, geography with a weekly Spanish and also a music class! The happiness of the kids and their concentration on what they were doing was really eye opening and showed me what our preschooler was really capable of! The school director says that the most critical time for exposing your kids is the ages from 1 to 6. Everything is taught using the Montessori materials which are beautiful, hands on so a kid can develop a visual picture of the concept and understand it. All the teachers are long term and Montessori trained which is alot of work beyond their B.A. degree. The kindergarten can participate in tennis, skiing and swimming lessons with the elementary kids. The 4 through 6th grade play golf, rock climb and go horseback riding in addition to the other sports offered. The elementary program is just amazing too. The entire school individualizes for every child which is really great for the elementary because they don't have to wait for everyone else to catch up as in public school. Geometry, handwriting, computer, language and grammar, math , biology, history, geography and culture plus conflict resolution, peace curriculum, anti-bias curriculum, class meetings are just great. Incredible teachers and administration are very experienced, kind and compassionate. I know the elementary teachers are trained in a special program to help with kids that had reading problems. My friends son has really done well with her help and now he is back to grade level.If you have a kid in daycare do not wait, go see Keystone because they have a full time childcare throughout the year if you need it. I know some elementary families are hoping the school adds a middle school so they don't have to leave! I know they try to keep the tuition lower than other Montessori schools which I appreciate alot. My boys are so confident now and really love to learn for themselves. I think public school turns kids off so they lose their curiosity and stop loving to learn. It's turns into MAKE WORK and kids only do it for a grade. This school is so different. My experience as a parent i can say that I think Keystone has made a huge difference in our lives and our children's.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about this school and what it has done for my children. From the moment we stepped into this school we felt welcomed and part of the community. From the teachers to the administrators, the staff is fully dedicated to education and to its students. There are always activities going on, field trips, parent education events, EL museum, enriching health & wellness programs, and the list goes on and on. The great thing is that in addition to their stellar academic program, they offer enriching after school programs, and offer extended hours for us working parents! We don't have any family near us, so Keystone has been our family, and it has been the best investment we could give to our children. Why send your child to daycare when you can get so much more for your child at essentially the same price? We are so glad our friends told us about Keystone, and we tell our friends the same thing. Don't waste your time at daycare! It's a disservice to your child and his/her ability to learn so much more during this critical time of development! Not to mention, it's not just the academics, but the holistic approach to developing independence, self-esteem, love of learning, and above all happy, caring young stewards. Thank you Keystone!

Very "up to the minute"educationally and supportive, compassionate community for your child. LOVE all the hands on materials plus they have spanish, music, dance, Zumba, skiing, yoga all part of your childs experience there. Focus on global awareness and diversity right from the start in preschool...love the different cultures! beside outstanding academics my son learned to solve problems and be a good human being! I can't see how anyone could EVER write a bad review ...this place is the BEST!

My son goes to Children's House(3 to 6 year olds). We started with daycare and moved our son to Keystone. Here your child comes first. The founder is busy introducing new programs every year & teachers designing challenging work(small tasks for kids to do) keeping developmental goals in mind. Classrooms are filled with work where child has the freedom to choose what she/he likes. Once they master a work, they move on to the next one & so on. Sounds easy but making our 3 year old to stay calm and focus was a daunting task for us. I have found teachers to be patient and skilled to navigate our child. Our son is very active and he enjoys doing something while not napping. His classroom is filled with variety of work and books & this helps him. Weather permitting, everyday kids have outdoor playtime. Our son makes continent maps in his art/craft session, draws objects, goes to field trips to explore nature, etc. The quality of tools, material & guest lecturers exposed to kids is carefully selected by the founder. Our son has made his way to read phonics book as he still continues to decode new words. He can add/subtract single digit numbers. The credit goes to his teacher & school.

The elementary program at this school is exceptional. The quality of the lessons and level of work my child does while at school absolutely amazes me. I had no idea what Montessori was when we first came to the school -- I was simply looking for a place where my child would be happy and able to learn, and this school has exceeded my expectations. The social consciousness may be my favorite thing after the outstanding academics. Ask about the Wheel of Choice or how the elementary students deal with any problems in a community meeting! The next generation of leaders and problem solvers is being taught right here at Keystone.