Montessori School of the Epiphany

We moved here from Seattle a little over a year ago. When it came to schools, we needed a program that could help our adopted son overcome his developmental delays and disabilities. From 5 months to 20 months of age, he endured medical neglect that left him lifeless and 2%-ile when he was found down and abandoned on the floor at home during a well-check. When we adopted him at 30 months, he knew 5 words and was still crawling. Based on extensive research we learned that Bee Cave Elementary was the best school for our family and so we moved to the area and put our best foot forward while BCE did the rest.We have been blown away by the compassionate brilliant team of educators that have invested in our son’s development. He had significant delays across multiple developmental milestones and over the year has caught up dramatically. With comprehensive testing and collaboration across his team, they were able to drill down to the fundamental development issues that were responsible for his continued delayed progress with motor planning and execution. We were planning to have him repeat Kindergarten, but because of the exceptional talent and determination by our son’s educators, he will be advancing to 1st grade. They’ve done so well, people can’t believe he’s the kid needing a little extra help.A big shout out to McKenzie Lawson for leading this extraordinary team of educators including Ashley Mazariegos, Kirby Bramson, Chloe Kruedewagen, Wendy Johnson, Heather Amitrani, and Megan Ho who have individualized our son's educational curriculum so that he can catch up to his peers. I'm a physician who has been involved with building centers of excellence at multiple institutions and know talent who are committed to be the very best when I see it. I cannot imagine there being a more qualified and committed team overseeing my son's education. They are not only the best in quality but also comprehensive. To be able to rely on our school to deliver the very best for my child… what more could a parent ask for? Our little guy is so wiped by the time he’s home and with all his after-school activities, there is so little opportunity to reinforce his education at home; so, we rely on his in-school education to make all the difference. We are so grateful to all of you. Thank you!

2024 - 25 was my child's first year at Lake Pointe and I expected a lot more from this school. One of the younger fifth grade teachers seemed to hand out large worksheet packets to the kids everyday and call it a day on teaching. Her instruction time and engagement with the kids was not what it should have been. She also told the students that it took her 3 or 4 tries to pass her teaching exam. She said that to encourage the kids to keep trying when they fail, but it definitely raised concerns about her teaching skills. Several of the 5th grade kids said that the art teacher told them all, as a class, to stop talking to their parents abut what they were doing in art class because she was getting too many complaints from parents about the kids not doing anything in art. I agreed, I didn't see much from art this year either, but after she said that, the kids thought they would get in trouble with her if they talked about it. Big red flag for trying to limit the kids communication with their parents. Finally, on two occasions, we had problems with the Smart Tag system for transportation. My child was put on the bus when I followed all the correct steps to indicate carpool transportation.

This school is truly a special place. Led by the owner, Meghan, the staff and teachers genuinely care about each and every child, creating a culture of support and dedication that can be felt throughout the school. From the warm, engaging environment to the way learning is thoughtfully woven into fun, it’s clear how deeply the teachers and staff love and support their students. Each year, parents feel sad to say goodbye to their child’s current teacher—only to discover that the next teacher is just as amazing, engaging, and invested.Our kindergartener initially attended public school, where nearly 100 kindergarteners made the experience overwhelming for him. Three months into the school year, we made the decision to switch, and it was one of the best choices we’ve made. The small class sizes and personalized learning approach at The Magnolia School have truly made a world of difference. For the first time, I can confidently say that my child loves school.Class sizes are intentionally small, allowing for individualized learning that simply isn’t possible in a public school setting. If a child is excelling in a subject or needs additional support, they can move up or down as much as two grade levels in individual subjects. Gifted and Talented services were not handled well at our public school—while my child excelled in math, his reading lagged behind. At Magnolia, his reading quickly improved through targeted instruction and even smaller breakout groups.Whereas we were once told our child would be “fine” in public school, he is now truly thriving—and, most importantly, he loves learning.

Great school/community. It’s been amazing to watch our daughters bloom since they’ve been there.

I am a mother of 7 children and only found out about MSTE relatively recently - in time for my son, Max, (#6 in line) to attend. My only regret is that all of my children were not able to learn under the amazing direction of Miss Annie and Miss Glenda. They both have such an amazing gift with kids - my husband and I refer to them as "child whisperers" and my son, Max, has absolutely flourished under their direction. Communication with the teachers has never been an issue. I will send him in to school with a note and have a response by the end of the day OR if I call and leave a voice message it's always returned that day. Observing the classroom has also never been an issue and this goes for Grandma observing when she was in town visiting as well. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the structure, the framework of order, the positive learning environment, and the amazing patience and character of the teachers. As a mom to so many children, I can see the very real difference Miss Annie and Glenda have made in my son's life and feel so blessed to be a part of it. My youngest will start this fall!!!