Sacajawea Elementary School

Our child was in the elementary program from 2021-2022. Having had great experiences at the former Montessori school in our home state, I expected a certain standard in Montessori education as Northwest Montessori School stated that their school was fully accredited and recognized by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). The head of school, appeared eager for us to sign the contract and to get our money. As a Montessori trained guide, as someone who attended Montessori school, and observed in Montessori classrooms in the US and abroad, I found the lower elementary program at Northwest Montessori School to be of poor quality. The lower elementary classroom is like a daycare. We didn't get an opportunity to observe in the classroom and we later regretted signing the contract. We noticed practices inconsistent with Montessori method and philosophy. The leadership is also very slow in their communication. The lead teacher in the lower elementary was a stoic, unfriendly, and unwelcoming individual. I was quite appalled to hear that he would call the kids, "dodos." He also failed to provide our kid with adequate number of lessons in many areas, including math, writing, science, and reading. When we brought up our concerns, he either blamed us, our kid, or made an excuse and would not take responsibility. Our child fell behind in reading, writing, and math; science education is deficient in this classroom. Although we did a lot of tutoring at home once we realized that our child was falling behind, we wished we never sent our kid here. The most concerning was when an older child in the classroom targeted our kid and acted inappropriately with him. We brought this to the attention of the lead teacher in the lower elementary, the head of school (Elizabeth Truman), and couple of administrators many times. They were slow to respond. Elizabeth Truman even tried to put the onus on our child regarding defending and there were no real consequences for the other child. They all failed to protect our child while he was victimized many times in the presence of three adults (the lead teacher and his two assistants) until they finally separated the other child a month before the end of the semester. This place failed to provide a safe learning environment for our child, let alone offer a good Montessori education. Fast forward, our child is now back in his old Montessori school. BIG difference. He learned so much since we left this one.

We spent ten years at Waldorf, and now our daughter is in high school, thriving both academically and personally. She’s excelling in her classes, loves to read and write, and continues to ask for more challenges. For anyone wondering about academics, she was more than prepared for the transition.What made the difference was the Waldorf approach: a loving community, dedicated teachers, and an education that values critical thinking, creativity, and empathy. Our daughter has grown into a resilient, capable, and confident young person who loves learning and knows how to care for both herself and others.In today’s world of AI and constant change, we need creative, critical thinkers who can adapt quickly and lead with empathy. That’s exactly what Waldorf nurtures. The transformation by 8th grade was remarkable, and the foundation continues to serve her every day. Choosing this school was the best decision we made for our family.

Absolutely love this school. It's small but mighty with amazing community, curriculum and enrichment programs. Would 100% recommend this school.