General Sessions Judge

After some changes in the staff, this place has gone through mournful deterioration. My child attended the school for about one year and things were getting worse and worse during that time. Open communication between the school staff and our family was missing and problems that were many were hidden from us. Both physical and verbal bullying was every day reality for my child here. The staff would do nothing to stop this and deny the problems.

In this school also questionable discipline is used by means of extended time outs and excluding children from classroom activities for extended periods. Families are not aware of this, and I only learn to know what is happening when I went to observe the classroom without further notice. The school staff will tell parents anytime that they are not even using time-outs.



This place had such a negative impact on my child's development, especially on the self-esteem. I really regret that I did not remove my child from this school much sooner, but trusted the assertions of the school staff instead.

You will not find a place in Oak Ridge where the staff cares more about your child. It has a family atmosphere and above simply educating your child, the Montessori philosophy is based on letting your child do for themselves. The self-motivation and growth I have seen in my children since attending this school has been wonderful. I am so grateful for the foundation that has been built by this school and the staff for my children's future.

This is a great place to bring your children to truly give them a headstart on life--not just intellectually, but emotionally and spiritually as well. Our little one has gained confidence and emotional resilience being there. My wife and I credit the first-rate staff and deep immersion in the Montessori method and philosophy.

The staff at the Montessori School of Oak Ridge are like family to our child. It truly is a community. Do not confuse the benefits of a school like this with what your child will get from a daycare. MSOR is only slightly more expensive than a good day-care, but the benefits far surpass the costs.



Our child has encounter three years of a supportive, educational, and enriching environment that goes above and beyond our expectations. Having an early childhood education and development focus for our child has reaped great rewards. She is confident, she has developed a wonderful network of friends (the kind of friend you want your child to have), she is reading, she understands many fundamental math concepts, she loves geography, science, and doing practical things for herself.



We've been encouraged by the school to allow her to learn and grow by also allowing her to teach herself how to do things as well as "teach us" things she knows and can do. Again, the confidence she has in herself will certainly aid her as she grows through the rest of her years (I expect especially during the insecure teen years).



I cannot say enough for what the school has done to help both our child and us as parents to learn, grow, and connect with others.

My 4-year old son has gone to this school for 6 months now, and it has been a great experience for him and for his father and me. Because attending a Montessori preschool for one year before we moved to Oak Ridge seemed to really improve my son's self confidence, social skills, and ability to concentrate, we looked at all the Montessori preschool options in the Knoxville and West Knoxville area. We settled on this one due to a combination of the facilities, the staff and the proximity to our house in Oak Ridge. The teachers are always attentive and communicative with us, and their many interactions with us throughout the school year have made it clear that they genuinely care about our kid and his development. The frequent opportunities to meet teachers, staff and other parents at the school has given us a sense of community. It's a small school, but we think it is just right for kids his age, giving him experience with a variety of his peers in a setting that isn't overwhelming. We plan to stay through kindergarten and return for the summer program through age 6!