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Our experience at Greenspring Montessori was extraordinary. I recommend the school with the strongest possible enthusiasm to anyone looking for a Montessori education through 8th grade, and it may well be a good match for other students as well. It's definitely a unique type of education and community, and perhaps not for everyone, but I have found the faculty, staff, students, and other families to be almost universally kind and empathetic. By far the greatest values here are the consistent implementation of the Montessori philosophy and the differentiated learning. It can look untraditional, but students are going to get the skills they need to learn and live—and they are probably going to love it. If students excel in one area, they will be challenged further; if they need extra help, they will get it. The student-to-teacher ratio is incredible: essentially every student has an individualized learning plan. Parents and students are constantly informed of progress without punitive evaluations. The enrichments exceed expectations: the students had remarkable experiences in art/music, including field trips and big productions; they seem to all love physical education and their coach (which is really saying something); and the travel opportunities (including internationally at no additional cost) were positively life-changing experiences. The atmosphere is one of collaboration, not competition. Their commitment to diversity in all its forms is palpable and transformative: we see all types of people amongst the staff, guides, and students, including economic diversity (through fair-minded scholarships). The positivity in such a place is infectious: everyone feels they belong. Concerns are heard and addressed swiftly and effectively through a dedicated team of professionals. While the lack of competitiveness and the remarkable freedoms that students enjoy may give some parents pause as to whether Montessori adolescents will transition well into high school and "the real world," the evidence is overwhelming that Greenspring students succeed and thrive wherever they go. (They come back to visit as proof!) It works, and without overemphasizing standardized testing. Graduates go on to some of the very best (public and private) high schools around. And the students emerge well-positioned to be critical thinkers and global citizens. The value of a Greenspring education transcends the test scores and book learning, and the sense of community is priceless.

When my oldest started kindergarten at a public school he would tell me how much he hated school, and how he hated learning. I could not understand how a 5-year-old could "hate" learning, but then I realized that learning to him meant sitting and filling out worksheets. I attended an elementary Montessori school and remember loving it, it was a safe space that fostered curiosity and wonder through self-exploration, and it had been the basis for my lifelong love of learning and discovery. I visited Greenspring Montessori and immediately realized that Maria Montessori's principle of creating a suitable place that fostered the children's innate interest to learn was at the heart of the school. My son started at GSM in first grade, within one year at the school his attitude towards learning had shifted, he was excited and curious about learning at school and at home. The teachers have continued to support him and guide him, especially in math which is a subject that he struggles with.

We joined the Greenspring Montessori community in the fall of 2012 when our daughter was 3. She is now 14 and in her first year at George Washington Carver's School for the Arts in the literary arts program. Our son joined the community when he was 2.5 and is now in 5th grade there. Like his sister, we intend for him to go through 8th grade and then hopefully get into a magnet school program. When looking for schools, it was very important to me that the people who are educating my children are both kind and respectful while also challenging them to go beyond. This is a fine balance to strike as so many of the adults in our world rely on shaming tactics to try to motivate our children. I found that at Greenspring Montessori. The staff and teachers here are amazing, emotionally-intelligent people who've both pushed my children academically while also supporting their social and emotional growth. I believe it takes a village to raise a child, and I'm forever grateful to the Greenspring Montessori village for partnering with me in raising two smart, confident, emotionally-intelligent children who know how to advocate for themselves, how to problem solve, and how to be a good human.

Greenspring is a fantastic learning environment for our children! The guides and staff are phenomenal and incredibly invested in the children's educational and emotional growth. I love the sense of community developed by the school that can be felt immediately on the campus. Our family has experienced every level at Greenspring from Young Toddlers through Adolescents and have been increasingly happy with each new level. We love that our children are getting a broad educational base. The emphasis is not only on language arts and math but also history, geography, and the sciences. The hands-on materials and the ability to discover and experience takes learning to an entirely new plane of learning. Greenspring's curriculum aims to foster the whole child by encouraging a healthy sense of mental, physical, and spiritual well-being and the students are always looking for ways to improve the world around them. It is important to note that this method of learning involves quite a bit of freedom and child-led learning which may not be suitable for all children. However, if this type of structure is a good fit for your child, I cannot recommend Greenspring strongly enough. Our children are flourishing and truly love learning.

It is a tall ask of any parent to trust a group of humans to help raise their children. Our children are our everything, and we aim to offer everything to our children. We aim to create a life where our children can thrive, where they can learn to be their best selves, where they can explore their truth, where they can be real, where they can feel safe, and where they can be seen. We have two daughters who spend their days at Greenspring Montessori (currently 4 and 3 years old). Our daughters are seen. They are heard. They are acknowledged. They inspire and they are inspired. They lead and they are led. They are learning in such a natural, exciting, true world. The guides at Greenspring Montessori are indispensable. They demonstrate patience for and understanding of each individual student the way a family member might. In essence, because they are family. The administration and senior leadership are accessible, willing, and open. They lead and live by the notion that "we are better together", and we feel that as a family. Daily. On an afternoon family adventure a few years ago, we drove by Greenspring Montessori, and our daughter who was only 3 at the time said, "Mama, look! This is my home when you and Daddy are at work!" Yes, my love, yes it is.

My daughter has been at Green spring for over 11 years. We weathered many changes at the school, but feel that it continues to grow as a strong Montessori community. It is very small and the upper level students are sometimes at a disadvantage as a result, but I feel the skills learned in this small community will support my child beyond her academic career. Thank you.

My wife and I are new to the Montessori Method of learning. Our son is a 2yr old Toddler and has attended Greenspring's young toddler program for nearly 6 months now. I can not say enough good things about this school and the community that supports it. In just this short amount of time our son has exploded with curiosity, confidence, and compassion.. Its astounding how they pull this all out of the children at Greenspring. Its most noticeable when he interacts with kids his age that attend conventional schooling. For lack of a better expression, its night and day the difference. It seems that he has leapfrogged these children in so many ways, but most noticeable being speech, motor skills and most of all confidence and how he carries himself. They have really put him in a position to be a leader and we can not be happier. He is so excited to go learn everyday.. We cannot be happier with our decision to send him to Greenspring. On top of it all, the facilities are outstanding. Simply an inspiring place to learn and grow.