Grout Elementary School

We were extremely disappointed with Richmond Elementary, and I feel our child sustained emotional trauma from the experience.At the beginning of the year, our child had anxiety entering the building. My mother, who is a special education teacher in the PCC network, quickly identified that the morning routine was poorly structured and not supportive for children with anxiety. There was no acknowledgement of these struggles, nor any attempt to create a positive, independent transition for students. Unfortunately, this proved to be reflective of many other problems at the school.The kindergarten class lacked sufficient support. Multiple children were highly disruptive, yet there weren’t enough teachers or assistants to manage behavior while still helping the rest of the students progress. The English-side kindergarten teacher seemed universally disliked by the students. She appeared burnt out and disengaged, which negatively impacted my son’s experience.The school seems to only intervene if a situation becomes catastrophic, and even then, the tendency appears to be to push the child out rather than provide meaningful support. This approach left my son more anxious than before, and he now dreads the educational process. He has also developed behavioral issues, and even neutral references to Japanese culture (such as a shirt with Japanese writing) have become triggering for him.While we do have a Japanese-speaking parent at home, the lack of structured, supportive systems at school made the program unsustainable for our child. In my view, Richmond Elementary only works if you are a Japanese-speaking family already immersed in the culture and language.I would not recommend Richmond Elementary based on our experience.

We love Whole Child Montessori. We have been lucky enough to send all three of our children there—one recent graduate and two who are currently attending—and it has been an exceptional experience for our entire family.Whole Child is truly dedicated to serving children at this age. The teachers deeply know and love the kids, follow their innate interests in learning, and create an environment where curiosity and independence are nurtured every day. They also support parents by sharing practical Montessori insights we can use at home, which has helped us uplevel our own parenting skills.One of the most special aspects of the school is the beautiful garden, decades in the making. The children help care for it by sweeping and raking, and it provides a rare natural space within the city where they can learn about nature with a dedicated outdoor teacher.The three-year classroom cycle is another huge strength. Having the same teacher for three years gives shy children the time and consistency they need to feel secure, and staying in the same environment as they grow from ages 3 to 4 to 5 allows them to evolve from learners into leaders and teachers themselves.Whole Child Montessori has been an incredible foundation for our children, and we couldn’t recommend it more highly.