Northwest Montessori House

Ratings & Reviews

1903, W. Koenig Lane Austin, Texas 78756
Mon - Fri 7:15 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Tel: (512) 451-6134
Fax: (512) 451-6192
E-mail: nwm19@sbcglobal.net

Review From Yelp

09/08/2012 Posted by Shelly G.

"i absolutely adore NWM. my son was there from age 18 mos. until he was almost 6. i am in a wheelchair, and they were super accommodating to me during our entire tenure. the teachers are wonderful with the children, in all age groups. the director, Ms. Ali, is wonderful. my son entered kindergarten reading at almost a second grade level! he soared academically. he also made a lot of good friends - most of whom went to different schools after NWM and we still see, and plan to see regularly. i can't say enough good about the school - the teachers, the curriculum, the play, the administrators, and everything."

Review From Yelp

08/20/2012 Posted by Courtney W.

"My son began attending Northwest Montessori at age 3 and is starting kindergarten this fall. He reads on a 1st grade level, does multiple digit addition and subtraction problems, and has learned so much about geography and science. He has thoroughly enjoyed his time there, and we couldn't be happier with the education he has received. The teachers and assistant teachers are fabulous, and it's so obvious that they have genuine affection for the kids. The classes are diverse and the teachers really encourage learning about other cultures and traditions. Our 2 1/2 year old son has been at NWM for a year and already recognizes numbers 1-10 and most of his letters. It's a wonderful school, and a TRUE preschool--not daycare! We are confident in the educational foundation our boys have received and know they will be well prepared for elementary school. It's a fantastic program!"

Review From Yelp

08/20/2012 Posted by Allen W.

"We had two children at NWM for three years. It could not have been a better experience! The school is well-organized, child-centered, and diverse. Staff are experienced and provide a warm, caring environment. Our children entered first grade well ahead of their peers, and best of all, they love to learn. They will never forget Ms. Ali and their other teachers at NWM!"

Review From Yelp

04/18/2011 Posted by Kate R.

"In the past 5 years, my family has tried "every" daycare/preschool in the Austin area: The Children's Courtyard, Shoreline Christian School, Kindercare, and more..."

"I wish I had know about Northwest Montessori years before I actually discovered it. My daughter learned in 2 months what the other schools didn't teach her in years. The teachers and staff at Northwest Montessori are fantastic, nurturing and dedicated. Other big pros: The teacher to student ratio is about 1:6. You won't find that at any other school."

"If you are a health-conscious family, this is also the place to be. You get to pack your own lunches. We left Shoreline Christian School because the daily snacks consisted of rice crispy treats, chocolate pudding, Coke foats (yes, you read this correctly) - and when the lack of nutrition was addressed with the school director, her response to the parents was "Well, I guess this just isn't the place for you." At The Children's Courtyard it is forbidden to bring your own food, so your child is forced to eat the fried steak fingers, French toast with syrup and the plethera of other diabetes-inducing meals they serve."

"At Northwest Montessori my children have made wonderful friends and recently wrapped up an amazing Science Fair which would impress anyone. I wish more preschools were as dedicated to education, nutrition and overall well-being of children as this school. We will miss them terribly as my daughter "graduates" next month."

Review From Yelp

03/27/2011 Posted by Angie U.

"NW Montessori provided an amazingly positive learning and caring environment for our child! Our daughter started attending NW Montessori at 18 months, and we left the program just after she turned four due to our relocation out of state."

"All her teachers were nurturing, creative and dedicated. Even the teacher aids exhibited the same passion for their work and the children as the lead teachers did. The skills our daughter learned were impressive, and perhaps even more impressive was how enjoyable she found the whole experience. Now she regularly tells us, 'Mommy, I really, really like your new work, but I miss my Texas school.'"

"How proud she was to demonstrate her cutting skills, her ability to zip her jacket herself and to be a part of the annual science fair! Not to mention her enthusiasm for the opportunities to sing on stage at the various programs they had."

"Now the teachers at her new school remark how exceptionally gifted she is with numbers, science concepts and reading. Not that we don't think she's exceptionally bright, but clearly the time she spent at NW Montessori advanced her well beyond the typical four year olds in other pre-school programs."

Source: Yelp Filtered Reviews

Review From Yelp

12/13/2012 Posted by Robert W.

"I'm a strong proponent of the Montessori method. Both me and my sister went through Montessori as children, and I firmly believe it was a huge factor in us succeeding throughout our educational careers. When looking for a program in Austin, Northwest Montessori was the only one that I felt had the right "feel", in terms of teacher accreditation, diversity, classroom space/size, and fun...it reminded me of my own experience as a child. You really can't beat it."

Review From Yelp

08/23/2012 Posted by Bill S.

"My wife and I sent both our children here. My daughter entered kindergarten knowing how to read, add, subtract, and multiply. My son, who enters kindergarten this fall, has the same skills. They made a lot of good friends and they both love going to school."

"The teachers are kind, patient, and generous. There is a spacious playground in the back, and the kids have plenty of time to play. There is lots of time spent reading books and very little time watching TV, and even then, the shows they watch are educational, e.g. Magic School Bus. In addition to the standard curriculum, your kids have the option of studying gymnastics, dance, and Spanish."

"The student body is racially and (I suspect) religiously diverse, which I think is a good thing. It is never to early for kids to meet people who have different backgrounds."

"I recommend this school without reservation."

Review From Yelp

08/23/2012 Posted by Bill S.

"My wife and I sent both our children here. My daughter entered kindergarten knowing how to read, add, subtract, and multiply. My son, who enters kindergarten this fall, has the same skills. They made a lot of good friends and they both love going to school."

"The teachers are kind, patient, and generous. There is a spacious playground in the back, and the kids have plenty of time to play. There is lots of time spent reading books and very little time watching TV, and even then, the shows they watch are educational, e.g. Magic School Bus. In addition to the standard curriculum, your kids have the option of studying gymnastics, dance, and Spanish."

"The student body is racially and (I suspect) religiously diverse, which I think is a good thing. It is never to early for kids to meet people who have different backgrounds."

"I recommend this school without reservation."

Review From Yelp

05/15/2011 Posted by Shinta S.

"My daughter went to this school when she was 2.5 years till she was 5 yrs. She is now 8 yrs. She used to be a skittish little girl, afraid of doing most things. But now she had blossomed and grown to be a well-rounded girl. She has done really well in elementary school so far because of her Montessori background. It is not just the materials that she got exposed to, but also the great learning habits that the teachers instilled. The best part about this school is that it has the right amount of balance between structure and fun/free activities. This school has worked so well for our daughter that we are now sending our son to go there. And he loves it."

Review From Yelp

05/11/2010 Posted by Heather Z.

"Having an extensive background in education research, my husband and I had high expectations for any pre-school program we would select for our twin boys. Over two years later, we are still quite happy that we followed the advice of another parent to give the program a try. The teachers are all very experienced, and provide structure and support while still being nurturing. Additionally, they help children value education and become motivated independent learners. My children gained many skills in the program, both academic and social. I feel they will be heading into Kindergarten way ahead of the curve. I highly recommend this program!"

Source: Yelp

NWM is a fabulous place

07/14/2012 Posted by Shelly G.

"NWM is a fabulous place. my son was there from 18 mos. thru 5 1/2+ years. i am in a wheelchair and the staff were always more than accommodating to me. my son started kinder reading chapter books and correcting his public school teacher. i'm sure she hates that (i would), but kudos to NWM!"

This is a great school!

08/20/2012 Posted by Allen W.

"This is a great school! We had two children at NWM for three years. It could not have been a better experience! The school is well-organized, child-centered, and diverse. Staff are experienced and provide a warm, caring environment. Our children entered first grade well ahead of their peers, and best of all, they love to learn. They will never forget Ms. Ali and their other teachers at NWM!"

Exceptional School and Wonderful Teachers

07/29/2010 Posted by msree

"This is the perfect choice for parents seeking a school that emphasizes manners, academics , physical, mental and emotional development. Children in this school are far ahead of their peers in reading, math, social studies and science. The science fair, July 4th, winter holiday shows and other cultural/academic activities during the school year boosts the confidence of the children and they are so proud of their accomplishments. My daughter attended this school for the last couple of years and I know looking at her confidence and reading/math achievements, that she is more than ready for kindergarten. She has in fact been refusing to attend another school and wants to stay in her current classroom :) During the time she was in this school she came home everyday excited to talk about her different activities/ skills performed that day and the plans for the next day. She looked forward to going to school everyday and would be very unhappy if for any reason she had to stay home during a school day."

"From the toddlers to the pre-k/kg, the teachers in this school are very caring , polite, dedicated, enthusiastic and truly love their students. This is a great place that fosters true love of learning. I am very happy that I chose Northwest Montessori to lay the foundation for my daughter school life."

Pros: Wonderful teachers, strong academic/social foundation
Cons: None

Great Teachers; Great Learning Enviroment

07/20/2010 Posted by jenl06

"My daughter as been attending NW Montessori for 9 months and we haven't had a single negative experience. She absolutely LOVES her teachers and is so excited to come to school every single day. I have seen significant improvement in her overall knowledge and am constantly told by others how smart she is. All of the teachers are very loving and I know that my child is in the best hands possible. I would highly recommend this school to anyone with a preschooler! "

Pros: Absolutely Everything!
Cons: n/a

Excellent School

07/13/2010 Posted by lauram0218

"My child has been attending NWM for almost a year now. He is now almost 3 1/2. Everything about him has grown so much! They helped with his potty training, his vocabulary has grown tremendously, his manners, everything! The teachers are very caring and give each student wonderful, individual attention. As the children get older and move up to another class, the experiments the teachers do with the students are incredible, as well as the art projects. Oh, and the lesson plans are amazing too! There is nothing I can say that Northwest Montessori doesn't do for your child! "

Pros: Everything!
Cons: None

One of the Best in Austin!

09/02/2009 Posted by smisri

"Northwest Montessori is as good as it gets when it comes to child care, education and a nurturing environment. More than anything else, it is their amazing teachers that make it better and differentiate it from other run-of-the-mill schools. My son went to Northwest Montessori for three years from age 3 to 6. He used to look forward to going to school every day and loved the happy and exciting environment at school. My son is more than ready for Elementary school.

I absolutely love Northwest Montessori House of Children. They really motivate and encourage kids to do their best in a very fun and loving, nurturing way. Ms. Ali, the teacher for the 4-5 year old age group is full of energy and has to be among the best teachers in Austin. She is personally committed to making it a wonderful experience for all the kids and parents and is genuinely interested in making sure that the kids are learning. The feeling within the school is absolutely positive and inspiring.

My wife and I consider ourselves fortunate to have found this fantastic school and we highly recommend it to all parents looking for quality education and care!"

Pros: Great Teachers, Nurturing environment
Cons: None

Outstanding school

12/11/2008 Posted by cgtzb

"My child has been at Northwest Montessori since he was 22 months old, and he is now 3 years old. From the first day of school for him, we've continued to be impressed by the quality of the teachers and the program at NWM. My child has serious food allergies and is also pretty sensitive about trying new things. I was worried about his food allergies and whether the teachers would take that seriously. I can honestly say that he has not had a single incident at school and I attribute that to the outstanding quality of the teachers. I was also worried he'd resist school and not take to the teachers. He was previously in a mother's day out program where he was never really comfortable. I thought it was his personality. But from day one at NWM, he loved it. I think it's because the teachers I always feel they really get to know the kids and make them feel so special. They are wonderful educators and really great listeners. I would recommend this school to people who wish their children to have a nurturing, safe environment for learning and exploring new things. i could write so much more about this wonderful place."

Pros: Extracurricular activities offered, experience of the teachers, value, class size, shaded playground
Cons: Wish there was room for more parent involvement

Northwest Montessori House

08/26/2008 Posted by cw341

"My son has been at NW Montessori House of Children since he was just over 2 years old. Now 4 1/2, he has learned so much not only academically but also socially and behaviourly. The NWM program is not just learning the alphabet and numbers but assisting with potty training (glad we're through with that!), manners, learning about other countries, cultures, nature & space, doing artwork, how to play and get along with others, how to be quiet at times(!), etc, etc. NW Montessori has fun days for the kids throughout the year (i.e. summer splash day) and has special programs in December and July 4th. As a parent, I have felt a true partnership with the teachers of my son's classes. My son's teachers love what they do and I have the utmost respect for them as they help their students grow in so many ways."

Pros: A happy child who loves his teachers and his preschool days.
Cons: None

Excellent montessori school

08/22/2008 Posted by sujathav

"This school has wonderful, bright teachers who clearly care about each student. My child came home with knowledge at age 4 that I don't think I ever had e.g. knew all our presidents and all 50 states (and capitals) in alphabetical order! This school is one of the best I've seen and my child was happy and thriving there. My only complaint is that it stops at age six..."

Pros: Excellent, caring teachers and lots of student body diversity
Cons: none

A Great Experience for you and your children!

08/22/2008 Posted by redd146

"We have had the honor of having our daughter in NW Montessori for 2 years. Our son will join her in January, 2009. We continue to be impressed with the loving structure that is provided by the teachers and the curriculum. She has excelled due to the Montessori teaching methods and does very well academically as well as socially. She loves to go to school each and every day, and to us, that is one of the most important aspects of school - to instill that true love for learning early!"

Pros: Longevity and stability of teaching staff; fully shaded playground; sense of community with the other parents; Christmas & Summer Programs!; curriculum; location
Cons: not a single one

Source: Citysearch