Rock Brook School

This is an average elementary school. Students do well in this district because the parents are wealthy and pay for outside tutoring (see the FB group), therapy services, music lessons, etc. - even in elementary school. Students are given an evaluation at the beginning of the school year and their progresses is compared to that for the whole year (not against national standards). For example, if your student is the worst in the whole grade level at something, as long as they show continued improvement they will have a good parent/teacher conference, top marks on their report card, and no additional help or services offered from the school. There is no homework, so it is very hard to know what your child should be working on or where they might be struggling. No field trips- except to the woods behind the school. Once a month there is a day of play, where you send your child in with a non-electronic toy to play with. Teachers communicate via email, and often do not respond to them.

I was emotionally abused by my teacher. I was belittled, shamed and put down on a daily basis. Food (lunch) was withheld as punishment along with other demeaning punishments. A swastika was drawn on one of my art works by another student and it was never addressed. Academic skills were not taught or emphasized I was really unprepared for public school in high school along with all of my former classmates who transitioned. Teachers are not trained to use modern teaching techniques and instead babbled on incoherently about Rudolf Steiner teaching and spirituality which was not age appropriate.

My daughter has been at Princeton Montessori School for over 10 years. She started in the Toddler program and is now in the Middle School. Words cannot express how lucky we feel to have found Pmonts, and how appreciative we are of their exemplary staff, facilities, methods of teaching, and overall curriculum which also includes art, music, theater, and after school programs, of which our favorite was a book club. Pmonts has fostered an advanced level of independence in my daughter with school work and home responsibilities. They teach and expect mutual respect among teachers and students. The program teachers and Head of School are always available to discuss any concerns, and they genuinely believe in the curriculum, and care for the children's welfare. When my daughter was in 4th grade, I remember speaking to a friend who is a math teacher in our local school district about what children are learning at that age in math. She was surprised to learn that my daughter was already a year ahead in learning from the public school curriculum. Princeton Montessori School has given my daughter a great education and has allowed her to pursue her own interests while nurturing respect, self motivation and self discipline. Princeton Montessori School has truly been my daughter's home away from home, and we will miss it after 8th grade!