Carmel / Zionsville Maria Montessori International Academy

We have been pleased with the quality of care our children receive. Both my children have been attending 2 days a week since they were 3 months old, and my oldest is getting ready to transition to kindergarten. I have enjoyed watching her learn to read and write, but what makes me excited is the way her Montessori teachers let her learn at her own pace and all the practical life skills she has acquired. I also love how flexible the school has been with us and allowed us to have the children there 2 days a week which worked great for our family (many of the other preschools I looked at were 3 to 5 day programs).

We've had 3 children at MMIA over the last 18 months, and it's been great for our family! Here's a breakdown of our experience by child so far:nnOur oldest attended a nearby daycare/preschool from 3 months until Pre-K, but we were disappointed with the lack of curriculum once we hit Pre-K. By the time we found MMIA and made the switch, our oldest only attended for 6 months before going to public school Kindergarten, but even in that short time we saw large jumps in her math and reading abilities and general interest in learning.nnOur 2nd child has attended from age 2.5 until just turning 4 recently. The larger amount of outside play and less rigid daily schedule has been great for her. We're eager to see how she progresses over the next two years compared to the experience our oldest had at the other daycare.nnFor our 3rd child we've LOVED the infant care. Our older two attended the previous daycare and there wasn't much individualized attention due to their higher child/caretaker ratios. We saw a lot of staff turnover at these younger classes, too. So, when having our 3rd we looked into hiring a nanny given our previous experience. 6 months later we're so glad we sent him to MMIA. Their child/staff ratios are very low. The teachers provide a lot of individualized attention and care. The infant staff here seems more dedicated and the administration provides a lot of training, which I expect will help them retain a great staff.nnHighly recommended!

What a wonderful school! We love how the school incorporates the infant class on their field trips and celebrations! Our son has had so much fun traveling to different places and celebrating different holidays with all of his buddies at school! We look forward to many more fun trips in the future!

Strengths:n-Teachers: The head teachers all have degrees in the field in addition to their Montessori training. The support teachers have advanced training as well. They know each child's academic strengths and weaknesses as well as their personal ones, and individualize their teaching styles. There is extremely low turnover of the faculty and staff. Even the subs know my children and their interests and hobbies. My children are safe and loved when I'm away. Most teachers are bilingual, as are many children.n-Curriculum: The curriculum is common to Montessori schools, and is adapted to the child. It respects the child as a whole person and allows them to develop self discipline, curiosity, and skills in addition to mastering typical topics. This school is special in that it has a music/dance/yoga/art curriculum in addition to the unusual. The school meets all the requirements for certification (I asked and looked it up too), but chooses to use the cost of the certification for a big summer project each year for the kids. Expect optional field trips, extended care, and wrap around care for some breaks and holidays.n-Building: The building is nice; big rooms with natural light and separate doors for outside in each class. There are sinks and potties for the children, with a flow between rooms for exchange of children and activities if needed. Meets highest safety standards (certificate in the window). There is a washer and dryer, so you aren't responsible for your kid's sleeping stuff and extra clothes each weekend.nPeople: The other parents who come here are all committed, passionate, interesting people. Having school friends over is easy; their friends are kind with good self control and their parents are comfortable supporting the children's independence.nnAreas that work for us, but might not be your choice:nFood: There isn't a cafeteria, so you pack lunches every day. Also, there is a snack calendar and families take turns bringing assigned snacks. This is fruit, veg, grain, and protein snacks, and most parents bring awesome snacks that keep my kids coming back for seconds. Expect that cost once a month about... Maybe every other.nBreaks: If you are familiar with Montessori, you know it has more time off than a typical daycare. This school does a good job of supporting the parents who need child care in addition to education, but it won't always match your work schedule. They do have a parent night out every month that is nice.nScreens: There isn't screen time/computer time. We teach them these skills at home. The teachers have a device where they can post your child's photos/diaper changes like most places, but expect a once a day update. These might not even be done every day, because your kids are getting eye contact instead. I like this, but it was an adjustment.nFor us, the pros outweigh the cons.

My experience at the Maria Montessori international Academy was awesome! My daughter entered the school at the age of 2 and stayed there for about two years. My daughter had delayed speech and once she became involved with the school her speech began to improve even more. I appreciated how the staff was caring as this is my only child and I had first day school nervousness like most parents. The staff was always respectful and responded to any of my questions quickly. I watched how the staff interacted with the children and I was SO impressed! The children were respectful, caring, and emphatic to each other. My daughter was later diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum and this environment was the best environment for her. This school was the perfect start to my daughter's education in a way that I felt she wouldn't got any where else according her needs. I can't say enough about how Maria Montessori cared for my daughter and set her on a path for greatness. I would't have changed a thing! We were lucky to have this school as her foundation. They rock!