Montessori Child Development Center Of California

What a wonderful gift this school is to give to your young child in their early learning and development. My child has been there for the past two years and she is learning in so many ways - practical skills, gardening, swimming, manners, in addition to what you might expect related to early writing, reading and math. The setting of the school is bucolic at its best, boasting a wide open backyard with a garden and farm animals which the children tend to, as well as an expansive lawn and free play area. The staff is stellar - from the owner, to the administrator and all the teachers, aides, and after school caregivers. Their passion for the program and care for the children is evident in everything they do - from frequent email updates, monthly newsletters with lots of pictures, thematic learning programs, special parent teaching nights, twice yearly sing alongs performed by the children, and a school sleepover as part of the summer program! It's all carefully planned and enthusiastically received by the kids (and parents)! There is a reason this school has been a mainstay of the Poway community for 35+ years. It's a special place and we feel very fortunate to have our child attending the 3 year program, which evolves each year based on the child's age as they grow from student to teacher, gaining independence and confidence as they learn skills that will carry them throughout their school careers and beyond.

We enrolled out 4 year old daughter at MCDC last year and have been watching her grow and develop into a happy, curious, independent and confident young girl. She is learning so many things -- addition/subtraction, writing, reading, how to make recycled paper, the human skeleton, singing, cooking, gardening, the life cycle of water....etc. She is also learning to be loving and caring of other people, animals and even insects. She tells me not to kill spiders because they are living things. We are very happy with the school and thrilled to see our little girl growing and developing so well. We love all the staff -- everyone is super passionate about Montessori teaching and also very caring and attentive to the kids. Ms Carolyn is an amazing teacher and Makena loves her. Thank you for a wonderful year and we are looking forward to another wonderful year at MCDC. Thank you!

My husband and I visited five different Montessori schools before choosing MCDC and we couldn’t be happier with our choice. When making our preschool decision for our son, we wanted a place that would be fun, spark friendships and teach him his numbers and letters. But more importantly, we wanted a place that would foster the development of his character and reinforce the virtues we were teaching at home. The staff and teachers at MCDC not only teach patience, community, love, discernment, mindfulness, confidence and discipline; they embody it. They provide the perfect mix of love with discipline, patience with order, independence with guidance. You can see the level of sacrifice each staff member exudes to ensure the best outcome for the students. All of their dedication is apparent in way my son is developing. In addition to their over-the-top-wonderful staff, I love the environment. The gardens, fruit trees, farm animals and wide open grassy spaces allow my son room to explore and discover. It gives the school a country feel in the city. It reminds me of the big back yards we had in the Midwest to play and discover. My son just turned 5 and is reading and writing beyond my expectations. But, even more important is the peace of mind and confidence I feel in the morning dropping him off knowing he is in the best possible hands. As a parent, you make so many sacrifices for your children and it's nice to know for the hours he is at school, the teachers and staff share that same level of love and dedication. As with any Montessori school, it was an investment for our family. But, we feel the skills he is learning and character he is developing is worth it. I would offer my highest recommendation to MCDC!

When I was looking for schools for my kids, MCDC was the first one that popped into my head. I was one of the first children to attend MCDC. When I spoke with Marijane she remembered exactly who I was from all those years ago. The independent learning is what made me more interested in bringing my children here. They focus on what the children's abilities are. I love that the school is in a house setting. There are animals here and a garden the kids get to work in. They also have a wonderful summer school program. My children are 9, 8, and 3. My oldest went to kindergarten here which helped them excel at public school. My youngest just loves the school and her caring teachers. I don't think you will find another school with this setting in Poway. This school is definitely the place for my kids and I would recommend it to any parent.

We fell in love with MCDC when we first visited it almost 4 years ago. Even it's quite a drive from our house to MCDC every day, but we sent our daughter there for 3 years until she graduated from the kindergarten last year, and now her younger brother is the kindergartener there this year. My daughter is a super shy girl and she didn't talk to anyone in school (including the teachers), not a single word, for more than 1 year. With the patience, love, and continuous communication with the teachers, we saw a big change in the kindergarten year. She became the leaders in the school and loved to teach and show work to younger kids. She is still shy (that's her personality), but she gained her confidence. The most amazing part is that she gave a graduation speech in front of all the people! I can't emphasize enough how important the kindergarten year at MCDC is. That's the time when the kids complete their montessori journey. That's the time when they build their leadership and confidence. MCDC builds a very good foundation for my kids and we recommend to many of our friends. You will love their natural setup (did I mention they have goats?), which is so different than those "modern" schools. We like to give our kids an opportunity to learn in this type of natural environment, I think so will you.