Discovery Montessori School

"I visited Discovery Montessori School during summer camp to pick up my student, and had such a great time. The students were building baking soda volcanoes while learning about what causes a volcanic eruption. I was impressed by Ms. Tristyn's lesson and the students' grasp of the topic so quickly--I certainly didn't know what magma was when I was 6! All of the students were so kind and respectful to each other and it was comforting to know the classroom was bully-free. Finally, the new owners have made wonderful updates to the property that reflect the polish of the strong curriculum here. I love the updated parking lot and freshly renovated interior and my student loves the manicured outdoor play areas."

"To say that we love Discovery, now Fairlawn Heights Discovery Montessori, seems like such an understatement. This school, this community, has been nothing short of a godsend for our family. When we first came there, just before the start of the pandemic, we'd just taken our oldest little person out of a school where insufficient transparency and low expectations had really undermined her confidence, success and love of learning. 3 years later, that same little person - no longer so little! - has graduated and been admitted into Miller South VPA & is moving on feeling confident and fully prepared to tackle the opportunities & challenges of middle school! So very much of that transformation has been due to Discovery's nurturing environment, commitment to the Montessori method and willingness to meet students (& their families) where they're at to help them cultivate confidence, a love of learning & the educational skills they need to succeed. The impact of Discovery is equally apparent in our younger children who've been attending since pre-K. The orientation towards learning, the cultivation of their curiosity and encouragement to explore new interests, is radically different from what our oldest received in a traditional school. Our 2nd grader is already reading chapter books at a 3rd grade level! Having the mixed aged classrooms has been a game changer for our youngest, who's neurodivergent, affording more time and space for maturing & skill development than a traditional classroom would have offered. As an educator, I can see the value in teachers' emphasis of mastery over perfection so clearly (students receive correction packets, where they aren't just told something is incorrect, but challenged to independently *determine* why there's a problem & then to fix it). It's given our kids an understanding of learning as a process, not product, an understanding I so wish that more of my college students had come equipped with! We've seen that same commitment to care and academic preparation as Discovery enters its next stage as the new Fairlawn-Heights Discovery Montessori School. The insistent emphasis on academic development - even during the summer program! - has allowed our youngest to not only avoid the summer slide in skills, but to make some substantial gains in reading & writing over the last 2 months. It's been especially exciting seeing the new influx of energy and innovation during the transition in leadership this summer. On one hand, it's been a comfort to experience the same care, consistency & concern for students & their families that we've come to expect from Discovery. That was clearly evidenced, for instance, in the administrators' willingness to extend summer camp for an extra week to accommodate parents' schedules. On the other hand, it's been wonderful to watch the transformation of the school's physical space and the introduction of new processes, like the streamlining and ease of having online access to all of the registration forms. We've been particularly impressed with the new programming Ms Tristyn is bringing to the curriculum. I can see a clear through line from Ms Lakshmi's legacy & her insistence on attending to the development of the whole child through cultivating mindfulness & inquiry with activities like gardening & yoga, to Ms Tristyn's incorporation of new enrichment opportunities like martial arts and a *STEAM lab* to continue expanding our kids' growth & experience. With the school year off to such a strong start this week, we're excited by the promise of what the next year holds. As the school enters its next phase as Fairlawn-Heights Discovery Montessori School, we're so happy to see how everything is unfolding. Most importantly, we feel so blessed and lucky that our littles will get to continue learning, growing & developing in a community that feels very much... like family.  Thank you Discovery! We look forward to learning & growing with you in the years to come! Jovonne Bickerstaff, PhD"

"I absolutely love the new renovations! I remember passing by the road thinking “ Wow, this place looks dusty.” The roads leading to the school was cracked and honestly, I didn’t know there was a school there. Now the roads look wonderful, parking spots are now available, and the garden is just beautiful. 10/10 !"

"To all parents considering enrolling their child(ren) in this particular Montessori, do your due diligence. The management has changed and now it’s not as professional as it used to be."

"This school is ABSOLUTELY THE MOST AMAZING SCHOOL. My children went here for several years and the experience at Discovery Montessori has followed them throughout their entire educational career. This school had my girls reading on a 2nd grade level in kindergarten, doing 4th grade math in the 1st and 2nd grade. The skills and confidence they taught my children are skills they will use for the rest of their lives. They even taught me about my girls different learning patterns. It changed the entire dynamics of how I am able to communicate with them even to this day. I love LOVE LOOOVE This school!! I am so grateful that my girls were able to experience this type of education and love from the teachers and staff at Discovery Montessori."