Colchester

The receptionists are very rude. Great school but I subbed there a few times and the really bring the atmosphere down which is so disappointing being that they are the first faces you see. Maybe it’s just an attitude towards subs but that’s not the kind of person you want working with your children. Very unprofessional.

I have two children at Occoquan; one in fourth grade and one in first. They love going to school, have loved all of their teachers, and all instances where they needed support have been handled superbly. The teachers, administrators, and staff are all fantastic, and have supported our entire family, not just our two students. The principal, Mr. Lint, has gotten to know all of my children, even the younger siblings that don’t attend. Highly recommend this school.

Great teacher with great communication . My daughter she is really doing good at Killy.

I love the teachers and most of the staff. The educational opportunities at this school are fantastic and my kids love going to school here. They provide a safe learning environment. However, I have a couple complaints. One, my daughter recently told that she told the councilor that she is bullied and she was ignored. That is a major no-no. Also, there is one lady that works in the front office that is extremely rude, condescending and aggressive. I'm shocked that she is allowed to keep her job as a front office worker with her attitude. I'm sure that I'm not the first person to have an issue with her... she is obviously working in the wrong job. My kids teachers are wonderful, the school has a phenomenal music program and the lunches are really good as far as school lunches go. I wish that they had Spanish classes and after school sports/lessons like enterprise elementary has. That would be awesome.

My experience here was awful the teachers and staff members are lacking to do there work for example they don’t pay attention as much to the students I heard that students were vaping in the bathroom and talking about starting Gangs and other violent activities.

I regret enrolling my child at Cardinal Montessori School. Despite its Montessori branding and legacy, our 2024–2025 experience was disappointing—marked by poor leadership, inconsistent communication, and inadequate care.We toured in February, submitted paperwork and payment promptly, then heard nothing until June—when we were added to the ProCare app with no guidance. In July, the school claimed invoices had been sent, but we never received them. Email headers showed we weren’t copied, yet they insisted otherwise, making us feel gaslit. The director once showed me a photo of my 3-year-old chewing paper and told me to “talk to her about telling the truth”—while the administration failed to model honesty themselves.Parent Night was announced last-minute, with no childcare or virtual option. I was told “no supplies” were needed, only to find out later—after tax-free weekend—that water bottles were required. Communication was delayed, unclear, or missing entirely.My daughter came home multiple times with injuries—swollen lips, scratches—none of which were documented or followed up. I began recording her accounts, which revealed a pattern of peer mistreatment. Still, no formal plan followed. Her orthotic shoes went missing for weeks. Once, she returned from a trip with no underwear. No one called or helped. I often picked her up with shoes on the wrong feet. Montessori encourages independence, but 3-year-olds still need help.Despite frequent requests for feedback, I was only told—over six months in—that she “struggles to focus.” Meanwhile, I received constant notes about age-typical behavior. She was unfairly singled out and under-supported.Staffing was unstable. The kind lead teacher wasn’t allowed to tell parents about her maternity leave until the last minute. No transition plan was shared. A chaotic Zoom call (cut short by a free account) summed it up.Other red flags:• Advertised 6:30 AM opening was really 7:00• No meals provided• Last-minute closures• No clear leadership or hiring plans• Relied on free Gmail/tools for communicationThe final straw? The director remarked she could “tell when [my daughter] switched homes”—a loaded comment in a co-parenting family.I stayed a year. It was a year too long.We’ve since moved her to a nurturing, structured school. I still believe in Montessori—but under current leadership, Cardinal falls short.

We had an over all great experience with St. Thomas Aquinas Regional School. My 4 children attended elementary and middle school. They all learn and thrive at the school, academically, socially, sports and most of all spirituality. They prepared the children for high school. The teachers are encouraging and supportive of the children to be successful. There are areas for improvement but they listen to the children and parents- teacher org.