Pebblecreek Montessori

The staff are awesome, the rates are great, and our kids love it! more

LMMontessori is a great center for kids. The facility is bright and neat, and the staffs are always patience, polite, and sweet. I remembered Ripple Goel is the first person I met in the center, and her smile makes the center difference. she made a tour for me and explained things clearly. I feel she is willing to give personalized attention to my child. she asked me how to pronounce the words on the language sheet and show care of willing to try to understand my child by learning the words. I also feel warm when they remember and called our names every time we walked in and out. And definitely feel very impressed with the zero violation in the center. I am glad I make the decision by choosing LMMontessori to grow with my child. more

I know that everyone has different experiences with different schools and that all places cannot make everyone happy. Please do not let the negative reviews of this school sway you from considering it for your child. As in all businesses, someone upset tells hundreds of people and those who are happy usually tell no one. I have had my children here since my daughter was two. She is now 5 and my son is 2 and has been at PCM since he was about 5 months old. We could not be happier with the education that our children are receiving. Yes, at the younger ages there does tend to be more staffing changes as they move teachers to different rooms but this really does not happen beyond age three. I think that the changes are more difficult for the parents but the children know all the teachers (it is a small school) and all the teachers that we have had contact with have been nothing but loving. Firm, yes but we like that for our children. If you have a child who is academically excited, this is the place for them. They have no boundries for what your child can learn. I could list all of the beautiful things that they are doing at this school and how well my children are doing but the list would be quite lengthy. Both myself and my husband are doctors and feel strongly about quality education. I cannot recommend this school enough. This is our home. more

This school is awesome! Our son has been attending since he was 6 months old. I can't believe how much he has learned. Months ago he started saying his numbers and letters. He is now moving into the bilingual program and I can't wait to see what he learns - even teach mom and dad some Spanish. We looked around at other places before selecting this one. It was, by far, the best of 5 places we visited. The headmaster took us on a tour of the entire school and explained the Montessori way as the child progresses - she invested alot of time on us even though we were just looking. We were impressed about how clean and organized the school is, especially compared to other places where the floors were covered in Legos or smelled like urine - gross! Pebbecreek takes pride in its school and keeping it neat and organized. Our son is already good at picking up after himself and closing doors at only 16 months old. Now, if mom and dad could do the same sometimes. The staff is phenomenal!! They are so dedicated to what they do and want your children to develop into independent thinkers. They helped us so much when our son was young and being a new parent, we didn't know much. It was great to have their expertise! I was so comfortable with the staff that the first day I dropped off our son for a full day, I had no anxiety what-so-ever, I knew he was in good hands. I know some people think that they are too young to wear uniforms, but I'll be honest, it's been great! You don't have to worry about the latest trends or who's wearing what. Uniforms allows them to focus on learning. Plus, I don't have to think about what he's going to wear each day, makes it easy! No uniforms are required in the infant room. As far as food - they have a chef. He makes them healthy and nutritious meals, not just hamburgers and nuggets everyday like public schools. Each morning for breakfast, our son has something different. I haven't seen the same thing back to back. The school is very multi-cultural and community centric. They have cultural awareness week every year where the students learn about cultures outside of their own. As far as those that complain about donations, that's part of any school no matter where you go. Everyone thinks that tuition should cover everything, but it usually covers operating expenses and supplies for the classes, but not enhancements or other needs. I love this school and want to help it, since that will also help my son and others - you don't have to contribute to everything. Sometimes your time is all they need, not necessarily money. I was worried when we started since all of our friends have older children, but it didn't take long to meet other parents and see how friendly and welcoming they are. As far as communication, this school excels in it. Whether it's the administration or room moms, you always know what's going on and what's coming up. I could go on for a while. Short version - this school is great and have never regreted my decision. I would highly recommend this school to anyone. more

My childs experience with this montessori school was horrible.I truly believe that it did more damage than good. My child had a total of 4 different lead teachers and seven different assistant teachers in approx. half a year. There was a cold manner some teachers used with my child. One of his teachers told me that while changing for a summer event outside he was acting up so first his place in line was threatened to be taken away and he straightened up....but even after he had decided to obey the teacher and stand up straight to get dressed as he was told , the teacher went even further and told me that his clothing was denied to him for a time period while the other children got dressed "because he needed to see" were the words the teacher used. I personally dont think that food, drink, clothing or acceptance should ever be denied to a child Those are not privelages that should be allowed or taken away at the teachers transgression they are human rights! I should have listened to my child when after the first week of being in the same teachers class he hid behind me when he saw her coming down the hall and started crying. There are a few teachers who are absolute angels there, their hearts lie with the children, If your teacher is loving and fair then your child will quickly warm up (in a matter of weeks) if there is something wrong with their environment ...they will never like going there. Also, while the menu is healthy, many times children dont eat it because it consists of a lot of vegetables(most kids dont eat veggies very well), so they just go hungry and wait to eat until snack or until something is served that they enjoy eating. They probably eat a lot at home, mine did. I did not agree with the tone of voice used with the children at times(I would hear it passing by classrooms or in the halls during the day), the lack of emotional attatchment to the children (will be reflected in your children around the teachers, with mine he was afraid of her), and methods of discipline used with them. I feel as if my child was expected to grow up much faster than he was ready for. His new school and I are working on trying to teach him that it is o.k. to be himself, he will not be punished for it. Looking back now I see that he felt the unacceptance of who he was by his teachers. they teach young children to all do things a particular way, to be uniform, sit in circle all the same, carry work, roll a rug, a certain way, walk in line a certain way, which are all o.k., they are needed for school, but shoud be balanced with time to be themselves, to create, to imagine, to form who they are in the inside and believe what they formed is good. It is not balanced in this school. Look at the classrooms, there is hardly anything if nothing to just imagine or just create. Everything is about the work which has strict guidelines to follow when doing it. If children are spending most of their day following somone elses guidlines there is no room to foster the growth and self acceptance or idividuality. The only time they were allowed to think freely was when it came to choosing works, in this they were allowed to gravitate to which work they wanted to do the way they chose fit as long as the work they chose was developmentally appropriate. But even each work has a series of rules and guidlines that they had to follow in order to help foster their learning...but again learning achieved, childlike imagination, whimsical artfullness and natural playfullness lost. Their rooms have no dress-up, no art centers, no toys that a child can freely imagine with. more

My 3 years old daughter went there for half a year until we had enough of this place. The school is a self promoting snobbish institution, and really not worth the outrageous tuition. Management is cold and uncaring towards both parents the children. It's all about the money. The director acted like a dictator and forbade us parents to talk with each other in the parking lot!!! And she knew well why - there were complaints about mismanagement and a dissatisfaction with the way the school was run. There were stories among the parents that the school threatened parents with law suits when they did not comply with the director. That's scary! There was even a rumor about one parent who filed a complaint against the school and shortly thereafter had CPS show up at their house with a bunch of unfounded allegations of "child neglect". This is just nuts! If I could give the school zero stars, I would. Do not even consider!!! RUN!!! Pros: None Cons: Expensive, awful management more

This is one of the worst schools in the area. My kid has been going there for 6 moths.... any I am looking for a new school. Pebble Creek is a glorified expensive day care. The kids don't learn any thing!!!! The techers and the owners very unfriendly and SNOBY. Everytime I see the teacher of my child's class I feel like asking WHO PAYS for YOUR SALARY!!!! They don;t have the time to talk to you and feel like they are doing you a favor my being in your child's class room. I can get this treatment from my teenager w/o having to pat an arm and leg. Wonder how these so called teachers treat the kids, parents are not allowed to visit the class or even view your child from outside. The food is low quality food and the parents are not kept up to date - no communciation on how your child is doing!!! Do me a favor and register your child in a free public school... you will get a better service... the plano ISD food menu is posted before the month starts... the so called credited school where you pay more than 1000 a month takes two weeks to post the lunch menu on line.!!!! Who cares how many certificates you have on your wall... it is all about how well the childen and parents are treated. Very very disappointing experience!!! The BAD and SNOBISH attitude starts from the top to toddles teachers... definately not a trait that makes them suitable for child care!!! Pros: Location Cons: MANY MANY MANY MNAY more

Two of my sons graduated from Pebblecreek. One currently attends the upper elementary. The teachers are truely dedicated to their students and the Montessori method of teaching. The programs provided by the school are remarkable. I recommend visiting the school to observe the classrooms. Pros: Great teachers and dedicated staff. more

Where does one begin... This school is beyond disappointing. I'm going to bullet point: -Not all Lead Teachers are Montessori certified. -You are badgered constantly to donate money; to pay for a brand new elementary school. -Extreme lack of communication between administration and parents, as well as administration and teachers. -Outrageous fees for enrollment. -Requirement of uniforms (which is not TRUE Montessori) -I have witnessed a student not permitted to eat lunch with their peers and then required to eat on the floor. -Claim to have a Infant Montessori Program but couldn't be further from the truth. -Teachers seems underpaid an exhausted. -My student is routinely fed stale hard pretzels for snack -Quality of food served for meals is close to that found at McDonalds or worse. Overall this school is a joke. Please do your research and educate yourself what a TRUE Montessori school should be. Unfortunately, I'm out thousands of dollars but hopefully this will save you the heartache and money. Cons: Too Many to List... more

We send our daughter to PBS 2 years ago.I have noticed teachers are overworked/underpaid?.They are not willing to work out on any issues at all. Has conflict with montessori values within themselves and touch of arrogance everywhere.Fundraising activities goes on and on despite high tuition fees( $2 for popcorn party?) .unnecesary rules and regulation (uniform policy with only ----brand etc etc), tardy notes ( for kids at age of 2?)No field trips,absolutely no direct communication between teacher and parents. Overall I continued the school to avoid uprooting my child till she goes to kindergarten..but will not recommend this one for any kid.. Good luck if you are stuck like me Pros: hot food Cons: money asking, no outdoor activity,poor educational stand more

We recently moved back to the US after a year of having our son attend school in the UK. Honestly, I thought he would do just fine in public school, so we enrolled him in our neighborhood public school, where he remained for one semester of the first grade. Boy, was I wrong! However, rather than tell you everything that went wrong with his public school experience, let me tell you how our situation really turned around once we found Pebblecreek Montessori (PCM). After interviewing numerous private schools, I was convinced that I was on to something very special when I entered PCM. That said, after growing up in the public school system myself, I was a bit apprehensive at first. I was also *very* nervous to put my son through, yet, another change since he does not adapt to change well. I felt as it I had one shot to get it right; I just couldn't bare to put him in another bad situation. I was very concerned that if I didn't 'get it right', his impression of school would be very jaded and he likely would not embrace school, but rather reject school in general, which, of course, no parent wants. Fast forward a few short months: my son is now starting his third month at PCM and *still* tells me weekly how much he loves it and how thankful he is that my husband and I made the switch for him. Within a few short weeks of being at PCM, I felt as if I had gotten my old son back. His confidence has returned, and most importantly, he is happy. He has told me numerous times that the environment is very good for him - challenging, yet still fun. I could honestly go on and on and on.... The school we chose for our son is the single most important factor in his development, in my opinion. While making the decision is a tough one for parents, I encourage you to reach out and call parents whose children currently go there. The school office should be able to provide you with contact information. Best of luck! Pros: My son is taught in a meaningful way, not in a 'one size fits all' manner. Cons: N/A more

Overall, our experience at Pebblecreek Montessori has been very good. There have been issues from time to time with some teachers, but no more than any other school. Most are very willing to work out any issues with the parents and children. Though I will admit, at times, that I have felt judged or "looked down upon" when my children misbehaved. My biggest complaint is that the school administration constantly badgers parents to attend fundraisers and other activities. I am not talking just talking about a childrens play or something. I am talking golf tournaments, formal dinners, auctions, parent training classes, etc. I understand their desire to create a community around the school. However, we have older kids in public school, sports activities, church activities, civic activities, etc. Our time and financial resources are already so limited. We shouldn't be made to feel guilty that we cannot give more than I already do. However, that is exactly the tone of some of the emails that we receive from them. We already sacrifice to give a large pct of our money to the school for tuition. I wish they showed more respect for that. We want our children to have the best start possible in preschool, and that is why we have them in Montessori. Still, it is just preschool, and we have to have some perspective. I know they are trying to build the elementary program and a new building. It seems to me that they are asking the primary parents to fund the elementary programs that most will not attend. Other than constant badgering for money and fund raising, for the educational experience taken alone, the school is recommended. Pros: Great teachers, great educational and learning experiences, extra-curricular activities Cons: Expensive, Constant requests for additional money, Slightly arrogant more

My son started at Pebblecreek just after his third birthday, his first experience outside the home. The teachers, or Guides, were very loving and caring with my boy as he transitioned into the classroom. I have been touched by how gentle, respectful, and kind his classmates have been toward him. There have been no behavioral issues among his peers, which has allowed him to LEARN!! During the past year, my son has grown emotionally, socially and academically. I have made an effort to be involved at the school, and believe that increased parent involvement and community will be the key to on-going success and growth for the school as a whole. Pros: Great teachers, value, and overall environment for learning Cons: Need additional parent involvement more

I am very pleased with PCM. This is the first year my daughter has attended and she has done well! The school is very true to the Montessori methods. The school understands its purpose and its mission and stays true to it. The teachers are very nurturing and caring. The place has a family atmosphere. Everyone knows my daughter's name, even those people who are not her specific teachers. We receive regular communication from the school and/or our daughter's room parent. The most important testament to me is that my daughter loves going to school. One area that the school could work on is better planning on events, meetings, etc. Dates regularly change for meetings and events, some because of unforeseen events, such as weather issues. It is difficult for us 2 family working parent households to adjust our schedules so quickly. In addition, some events have seemed to have been thrown together at the last minute with requests for donations and/or parent involvement within a day or two of the event. We want to be involved parents, and more upfront planning and communication would be great in helping us meet that goal. more

I was lucky to stumble upon Pebblecreek Montessori 6 years ago. I enrolled my child as a 3 year old, and we are now in 3rd grade. I have been pleased with the education we have received. PCM does use the Montessori method well, and it has given my child an excellent foundation for life. Since being in the elementary, my child has thrived and now far exceeds all average standards for her grade level. Not only that, but she has learned life skills that she can carry with her as she grows. The elementary teacher has been a blessing and I couldn't ask for better, ever! I will praise her to the stars as long as she lets me. The school itself, has had some issues. I can't say that I have always been pleased with the way the school is run, or how they have handled themselves on several occasions. There have been numerous issues that have made me question our attendance. The benefits have, however, outweighed the costs. My feeling is, while the administration and management are crucial, your school is only as good as your teachers. As with any school, you can't always choose your teachers, and some are better than others. We all have our differences, but what makes this school a nice place to be is the welcoming of diversity and teaching the children how we cooperate and work together to make the world (and classroom) a better place to be. I can't personally speak for all teachers at PCM, but I know that the one we have is superb! I hope that as a parent, you could choose this school not based on what the administrative staff tells you, and not even much of what the parents tell you, but go visit and ask the children what they think. I feel that what THEY think and what THEY learn are the most valuable in terms of recommendations. They are the ones that this is all about. As long as the teachers are good, and can work well with my child, and as long as my child is happy, we will continue here as long as possible. Pros: Great education and learning life skills. Cons: Administration and business management lack finesse, needs to listen more to parents wants/needs. more

I did not know anything about the Montessori teaching methods before my daughter started going to Pebblecreek when she was 3. I never anticipated I would be willing to pay for it past kindergarten, especially since we were in one of the highest rated public school districts in the area but after a couple of years there we knew it would be a mistake to take her out of this school. She has thrived and is a very eager learner. She loves the school and the teachers. When she did start to struggle, her teacher immediately brought it to our attention and we were able to use the resources within the school to help her. The elementary teachers challenge the kids and teach them lovingly. The school has become like a second family to us. The parents are very involved and some have become close friends. If you value your child's education and are willing to make whatever monetary sacrifices you have to, in order to ensure that your child receives the absolute best education then you should consider this school. Pros: Excellent learning environment and teachers Cons: none more

My son started at Pebblecreek in 2nd grade, after a very frustrating year in PISD. We saw an immediate turnaround. He actually started coming home from school happy! The Montessori materials and environment at Pebblecreek are wonderful, the teachers have been warm, caring and have gone above and beyond to see that he achieve academic success. They were able to catch a learning difference early on and make classroom accommodations to make sure his learning environment suits his particular needs. He is now a 5th grader who consistently tests above grade level, (several grades above in some areas), is a caring, independent and responsible child who loves learning. I would attribute that to the teachers, staff and environment he has been in for four years at Pebblecreek. We have signed him up for 6th grade and hope that the school might be able to expand to include the middle grades by the time he reaches 7th. This is an outstanding school and I recommend it to anyone looking for the ideal learning environment for their child. My son gives it five stars as well!!! Pros: Caring teachers Cons: None more

The teachers at Pebble Creek Montessori (especially elementary teachers) work really hard and it is a worthy school to send your child to. They each take their own time away to help the children learn and they nurture them. But not all people appreciate that. My son goes there and he has grown much in his knowledge. Although the price may be high, it is the education that counts. Some of the remarks seem like a personal grudge against the teachers for your own child's shortcomings . This is a problem that the teachers alone cannot solve. The parents must also put effort into their kid's education and help them focus. As I had seen in the very recent one it talks about the accent of a teacher. It is not their problem that they are from a different country or that they have an accent. It would have to be the education that matters. Pros: Teachers, way of teaching Cons: none more

It depends on which teacher your child gets. At the elementary level, one teacher doesn?t teach concepts very well, and contradicts not only the Montessori way but also common sense in how to bring out the best of children and foster children?s emotional health. In that case, a public school is a much better and safer place. A lose-win situation will not be able to sustain. Not sure if any family would like to experiment on their children while paying a high tuition so that who knows when, a disqualified teacher will, hopefully, grow. As a very minor issue, having someone with heavy foreign accent teaching spelling doesn?t work very well either. more

Our daughter started at Pebblecreek after a bad experience in other Montessori school. We found at Pebblecreek the right environment for our kids (our son has also joined the school a few months ago). We simply love the teachers and the care they give to our children; they are well prepared and trained in the Montessori philosophy. The administrators are very cooperative and concerned about the families. It is true tuition is high but good education does not come free. Pros: Perfect Montessori environment Cons: Closed for two weeks on December more