Chesterfield Montessori School

If you're here because you're curious about if Montessori is right for your child, this is your sign that CMS is a school you should very seriously consider. I was a student here back in the early 00s, from 1st-6th grade, and I can honestly say that CMS was the catalyst for a lifetime of joy of learning. Many of my most cherished memories come from my time at CMS: learning long division with the "racks and tubes" in lower elementary; tracing the chronology of our history on the timeline of life; presenting a research project on stars in upper elementary. At CMS, I learned more than just math facts and how to write an essay--I learned how to be responsible for my own learning and how to nurture meaningful relationships with my teachers and peers. I have now returned to the CMS community as an adult and have found that the school's commitment to its students and to the Montessori approach has not wavered. CMS is the real deal - the Montessori education is authentic and empowering, and the staff care a tremendous amount about the students and the school's mission. If it's not already, CMS should be on your short list of great options for your child.

My kid loves to go to school EVERY morning - this tells everything. We were lucky to find such a great school with high diversity and full faculty engagement. In addition, the whole CMS team were so willing to work with parents to support each student during this uncertain time. Joining Chesterfield Montessori School is truly the best decision we made in 2020.

We enrolled both of our children at CMS as toddlers and 14 years later, are still grateful for our decision. They have grown up to be independent, thoughtful kids that love to learn and ask questions. The Montessori philosophy has served them well and cultivated a wonderful place (safe and challenging) for them to grow and develop. If you are looking for an authentic Montessori experience, Chesterfield Montessori School provides that. If you don't know much about Montessori, we encourage you to learn more about how it cultivates curious, thoughtful, community-minded kids that are respectful to their peers, adults and younger kids. The no homework/test policy is a wonderful way for the kids to work hard at school and then come home and spend time in sports/extracurriculars, with friends and family and to just be kids. Note: When my oldest graduated from CMS and went to a traditional school, she was able to ease into the tests/homework easily as CMS had developed her time-management skills, the ability to self-advocate and to be comfortable speaking to/approaching her teachers when needed. Our second child is still at CMS and we continue to see her growth and develop from year-to-year.

Chesterfield Montessori School continues to amaze me in their unwavering commitment to providing their students with the very best. I graduated from CMS in 6th grade back in 2005 (when there wasn't yet a 7th or 8th grade, otherwise I definitely would have stayed) and my memories of the school have always been extremely bright and joyful — a community that I was excited to be a part of and teachers that I looked forward to spending my days with. Fast forward 15 years and I've had the honor of reengaging with the school and community to give back. I thought my memories must be rose-tinted by my age, but I'm more energized than ever about all this school offers. The staff truly care, the teachers are so devoted, and the community has so much to offer. If you're at all considering Montessori for your children, trust me when I say you do not want to miss out on this extremely rare, true Montessori experience.

Chesterfield Montessori School ("CMS") is a wonderful institution. I highly recommend considering this school for your child's education. First, teachers and staff give children individual attention to ensure they are able to thrive. CMS is able to do this because it is a small school. With under 200 students total from the toddler program through its middle school program, there is never a concern your child will be just a number. Even in the toddler program CMS is no simple "day care" for your child to be looked after while you are at work. Your child will develop skills and receive kind attention. A CMS toddler class is orderly and calm. It is amazing to see small children all individually pursue their own interested activity (or work as they call it). Definitely not the stereotypical chaotic environment associated with a daycare environment. Second, the emphasis on character development and independence in tandem with academic skills is a strong selling point for CMS. The Montessori method encourages curiosity by having students research and experiment instead of memorizing abstract formulas and concepts in dusty old textbooks. By having the child perform the research on their own they become more interested in the topic and vested in finding out answers and discovering more. This type of environment encourages your child to be a lifelong learner. The student body is very diverse with dozens of nationalities being represented. The school holds an international grill fest every year where parents make and bring food representing their culture. Lack of variety is never a problem. Finally, CMS is internationally accredited by the AMI (Association Montessori International) ensuring it continually maintains strong educational standards anchored in the Montessori method.