Best Waldorf School Lancaster Near Me

Kendall Nations: I’m not sure I can sum up just how wonderful DMA has been for our family. We are military and they provide a quick and sound settling place among the many moves and changes our children are faced with. My son started in T-K and will finish kindergarten here. All of the teachers are supportive and encouraging, lending a hand when needed but letting children discover and expand their intellect. Our family’s philosophy is that childhood and early education is about so much more than sight words and test scores and we knew our shy boy would fade away and be lost in a class of 30+ children. We’ve found all that we could have asked for at DMA. Small class sizes, two teachers per class, lots of outdoor play time, no toys but instead educational development tools, a huge focus and emphasis on care of self and care for others. Our son has blossomed, matured, become even more kind and has made friends he’ll keep for life. He entered t-k reciting his abc’s orally and not writing at all and is leaving kinder doing intermediate addition, subtraction, and understanding number relationships, almost reading fluently, reciting sight words, writing all of his letters and knowing all of his sounds of letters. He has a huge understanding for his age of the planet, spatial awareness, connectivity of systems and problem solving. We absolutely adore the Montessori method and at least one teacher per room is Montessori certified-which is HUGE for any school, let alone one in the AV. I taught yoga to the kids as my volunteer activity so I spent a lot of time in each class and seeing and hearing lessons in action. Love this place, please reach out and take a tour!

Mari Elisa Neuhaus: I was a student here... It was amazing! I loved my teachers and the school. In my 3rd grade year I had to move, and I went into a public school for 4th grade. I flew though the whole year as if it was a video game with a cheatsheet. Now I am in 6th grade, all honors classes, with a 7th grade math class. I have been a straight A student ever since Dessert Montessori. I still sing the very educational songs I learned there. Honestly, I am not doing this for the review, I am doing this to tell my teachers that they were, and still are, amazing! I am still in contact with friends I met here. They are striving just as well as I am, I love this school and I hope everyone loves it as well! Lots of love, your #1 supporter!

diana arevalo reed: We are thankful to have found this amazing Montessori school here. Our child has blossomed and we can see the reflection of the montessori methods in him. All teachers are wonderful, loving and truly care about their students. Thank you⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loretta Whitesides: Our family has been a part of Desert Montessori for the past three years. I fell in love with the Montessori method during our walk through and really appreciated the Principal Sharla's energy and commitment to the kids. The community usually has a good mix of ex-pat families and Edwards Air Force base folks. The new Bambino Room for babies is phenomenal. A great place for really small kids to grow up! My favorite is the Birthday Circle a Montessori Tradition that celebrates each child by having them do a ceremony that involves them walking around the sun once for each year of their life. I also really enjoy the very tactile and hands-on nature of the work and the use of a lot of wood in the materials. The teachers also teach the kids tools to resolve conflict and work through their upsets. Some kids were doing multiplication in kindergarden of their own volition. Montessori is about student directed learning- helping them find their own spark and following it. Great stuff.

Melanie Jeffrey: I teach English at a community college, and I place a high value on early childhood education. I researched several schools in the AV and Desert Montessori Academy is hands down the best. My daughter has been attending for three years; she is one year ahead in her academic studies. Because of my daughter's late November birthday, she would have languished in between preschool and kindergarten for an additional year. However, at Desert Montessori the children are given the work they are ready to do. Kindergartners work next to first, second, and third graders so they are encouraged to learn from each other and set higher goals. My daughter will be in first grade in the fall, and thanks to Desert Montessori, I know she is well on her way to becoming a life-long self-motivated learner.

Kristen Cooksley: . Both my children are performing 1 year head of their grades. My kids love going to school there, and often ask to stay longer when I come to pick them up. Definitely fosters a love of learning!

Harry Engel: This is an amazing place. Both of our children have blossomed here. Anyone who is paying for their child's preschool and kindergarten should take a close look at this school. Be aware that the school frequently has a waiting list, so early planning pays off.

Pixie: Their special ed class with ms JaceIs amazing, my son loves coming to school 🙌🏻💙Happy Baby Happy Mom 🙃🙃

Thrxash: I have been here since 3rd grade and it was the best now I am in 6th grade and I had lots of friends there

Marilyn Romero: Staff is friendly. Only issue is parking!

L G: This is an excellent school that makes real effort to engage with families. The school has implemented a school wide policy of Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies, that means discipline is based on positive reinforcement and rewards, not punishment. I observed the Kindergarten class before enrolling my child and I was impressed with the teacher. At that moment she was working alone with about 30 students, TK and Kinder, and they were all behaving and knew the routine. The teacher was very mellow and calm and I think she gives this energy to the kids. When my child attended, this teacher and most all other staff were professional and courteous. It is located in a low income neighborhood, but the staff inside are top quality. They seem to all have an understanding that they don't just serve children, but parents too. They are so welcoming and friendly. The principal has also been very responsive to concerns from parents as well. This is why I'm staying with this school and recommend it to everyone.I didn't give it the full 5 stars only because they are understaffed at times and I believe this to be the main reason for some disorganization at times when communicating or coordinating events. They need more staff and volunteers. That is not their fault. It is a funding issue.

saul ramirez: i went here for 4th grade i am now in 8th grade this was the best elementary school the teachers were nice i had ms.neil i would recomend sending your children here