Apollo Academy

We couldn’t be happier with our experience at Mitchell Elementary School! From the moment we stepped through the doors, we felt the warmth, care, and commitment of the staff and teachers. The school has created such a nurturing environment where children are not only encouraged to learn, but to thrive socially and emotionally as well.The teachers go above and beyond to make learning fun and engaging, always finding creative ways to spark curiosity and support each child’s unique learning style. The leadership team is approachable, communicative, and clearly dedicated to the success of every student.Our child has grown tremendously this year—not just academically, but in confidence and kindness too. The sense of community is strong, and it’s clear that everyone here—from the front office to the classroom—genuinely cares.We feel incredibly grateful to be part of such a positive and inspiring school. If you’re looking for a place where your child will be known, supported, and challenged in all the right ways, look no further!

Our experience with Montessori Children’s House of Hyde Park was extremely disappointing, particularly regarding the administration, communication, and emotional and educational environment.As a parent with experience at other Montessori schools, I came here expecting the Montessori values of respect, independence, empathy, communication, and an environment where children feel safe, heard, and valued. Unfortunately, that was not our experience.One thing that stood out was how frequently the administration emphasized that they are a “true Montessori” school and follow traditional Montessori methods. It was repeated so often that, rather than reassuring me, it began to feel like a red flag. When I mentioned experiences with other Montessori schools, I often felt dismissed, and the conversation would return to how this was the “true” Montessori approach. In my experience, there was a sense of superiority toward other Montessori schools.I believe Montessori philosophy should speak for itself through how children are educated, respected, supported, and cared for—not by repeatedly telling parents that one school is more authentically Montessori than another. Methodology should never come at the expense of empathy or understanding the individual child.Another major concern was the lack of transparency and direct parent-teacher communication. Even simple questions about your own child often seemed to need to go through the Head of School before a teacher could respond. I found this unnecessarily restrictive. Parents should be able to communicate respectfully and directly with the educators caring for their children.I also found some interactions with administration and certain staff to be cold, dismissive, and at times condescending. Instead of collaborative and welcoming, the culture felt rigid.Most concerning was the emotional and educational environment. Young children are learning to communicate, make mistakes, ask questions, build confidence, and develop a love of learning. They need to feel safe, supported, valued, and heard.In our family’s experience, I did not feel this environment provided the emotional support or educational approach I want for my children. Traditional Montessori techniques alone are not enough; children also need empathy, encouragement, flexibility, and respect for their individual development.Every family may have a different experience, but based on ours, I would not recommend this school.

St. John's was a sweet, nurturing school in primary and lower, but the middle school experience was very poor. I wish we had moved to private high school in 6th grade.