Douglas Macarthur Elementary School

Northeast is an engaging community of teachers, students, and parents coming together to support learning. Both of my children have had nothing but wonderful experiences there, and they both went through the “gifted” program there as well. I love that Waltham supports the arts and has a drama elective (with performances) every year, and allows students to start instruments in 3rd grade. Other districts don’t start instruments until 4th or 5th grade. This school is exceptionally diverse, and my kids learned a lot about other cultures and countries just from their friends here—international night at Northeast is also not to be missed! I don’t know why this school ranks low, as it’s run by loving, supportive staff and my kids are way above grade level expectations because of the talented teachers here. Highly recommend!

When we think of LMS, we think of diversity, equity, and inclusion; exploring nature and learning about farming and how to treatour Earth sustainably; practicing Montessori values; and building and contributing to community. LMS’s values are exactly thevalues we strive to live as a family and to teach our children. As a mixed race family, we care deeply about racial equity anddiversity. Both in our personal and professional Iives, we have focused on investing in social impact and sustainability. As childrenof immigrants, we value the Montessori approach that allows children to explore their world on their own terms, learn what mattersto them, and develop into empathetic and emotionally regulated adults. (Which is the opposite of how we grew up!) We’ve had theprivilege of seeing these values come to life through our oldest daughter and her time at LMS. It warms our hearts to hearher telling us about what insects and birds she saw on her nature hike or that some families have two moms or two dads. Now,more than ever, learning to care and respect each other, no matter your background and where you come from, and taking care ofour planet, seems both foundational and revolutionary at the same time. We have been incredibly proud to be members of theLMS community over this past year in particular and to see the school double down, not shy away from its commitment todiversity, equity, and community.