O.E.S.D.#8 - Montecito Elementary School

I can't say enough great things about Montecito!! We're so lucky to have a place where kids can access a Montessori education without breaking the bank. I researched a ton of schools, and the private ones were all super expensive. This public Montessori school not only gives us a quality education but also has affordable aftercare, clubs, and meals. I love that they offer different language options. One of my kids is happy in the English-only class while the other is thriving in the dual- language program. They partner with awesome organizations like amazing arts for aftercare and if we want extra activities we can pick a club for cooking, learning chess, or even dance! This peace of mind has made a big difference in our lives. The way the school focuses on the whole child is truly unique,. Our kids are tough to tackle problems and work together, which is so impressive. Plus, the emphasis on personal responsibility and making a difference in the world is really motivating. Just like any public school, there are budget challenges and some organizational hiccups since the program is new. But overall with a little grace, we feel this is the perfect place for our kids to grow into smart, kind, creative, and engaged individuals.thank you for making this accessible to everyone!

I have a 3rd Grader and Kindergartner at this school and we LOVE it! The staff are all kind and loving, and my kids are both excelling compared to nationwide standards. I love the Montessori philosophy and framework, my kids work collaboratively with other students and also independently on their learning goals. I feel especially lucky that they are combined Montessori and Dual Language so they are getting a strong grasp of Spanish, both have beautiful accents and my 3rd grader is already developing conversational fluidity. At their previous school I was not happy with how much time they were spending on screens (even the brain-breaks were youtube videos), at Montecito the learning is hands-on and relevant.

Montessori, dual language and PUBLIC! Montecito is a true gem in the Central Phoenix area. Montecito has small classroom sizes, comprehensive and fluid curriculum, knowledgeable and dedicated staff and administration, and a great community of involved families. The school benefits from being part of the Osborn School District with access to free breakfast and lunch, a network of other schools and programs to share resources etc. This is a new program and a public school of choice so there are some growing pains and “bonuses” missing that you might have at other public schools (bussing, extra-curricular classes, etc.) But there are a number of vendor-run afterschool clubs available for a reasonable price (Spanish club, cooking class, Lego class, chess club and more) as well as onsite extended afterschool care provided by Amazing Arts. We live in another district that also has a public Montessori school but chose Montecito after our tour. The obvious deep love and care for the students and program evident in the administrators during our tour was overwhelming. Another thing that stood out during our tour was how quiet the classrooms were. We were only allowed to observe from outside the classrooms so as not to disturb the children during their work cycles and they were all so focused on whatever they were doing (working independently, as a group, with the teacher, or in the back of the room cleaning up after a snack). Now that we are at Montecito, and I’ve been able to do in class observations, I see the exact same focus and respect of the environment and others. My children come home with new skills, facts and a sense of accomplishment daily. My daughter integrated into the program very easily but my son struggled with the transition. His lead teacher, aide and administrators have been a wealth of information and so supportive of our family as we work through those challenges as a team. They are currently updating the school and making architectural and design choices that work seamlessly with the Montessori method and a learning environment most conducive to the Montessori child. The renderings look beautiful with open spaces, peaceful and pleasant color schemes, and an abundance natural light and views of the internal courtyard with a community garden. There has been little to no disruption to the students and learning as construction continues. I am so thrilled to be part of this community and am so excited for the lifelong impact this education style, staff and community members, will have on my children. We are beyond lucky and can’t wait to grow with the school!

Child to staff ratio is great, friendly and communicative staff who really want to see the kids succeed, dual language Montessori program is great, breakfast and lunch provided. My personal favorite is that with the Montessori program, the kids really learn from and teach each other learning leadership and communication skills, along with maintaining the same teacher for more than one year. This really helps provide more consistency for my son, easing the transition back to school from the summer. He adjusts much quicker than when he had a new teacher each year. If you’re considering Montecito for your child - I encourage you to take a tour!

This school feels like a community. The teachers and staff take the time to learn about all the children that step onto their campus. My son loves this school and his teachers. As a bonus he is also in the dual language classroom. Montecito is a true gem in central Phoenix.