Guidepost Montessori at Prosperity

We attended Guidepost Montesorri at Prosperity campus for 4 months before the pandemic 11/19 - 3/20 and then again for 16 months post pandemic 3/21 - 7/22. Pre-pandemic we liked the school for its teachers, cleanliness, and diversity. Post pandemic the problems were as follows:1. ADMINISTRATIVE TURNOVER: In 16 months I want to say there were at last 3 different heads of school. Communicating with admin was frustrating and inconsistent. 2. COST INCREASE: In addition to a 5% increase annually for all programs, new rate sheets are released yearly for incoming students. From 2019 - 2022 programs increased ranging between 37% - 80%. The 80% price increase was for a half day, 3 day a week toddler option which they admitted they wanted to phase out. To send 2 kids (age 4) and (18months) full time in 2022 (using the 2019, and the 2022) rate sheets was going to cost ($1740 + $2605 = $4345). For both kids to attend half days it would have cost ($1110 + $2085 = $3195). We did not expect the price to increase so much in just 3 years. 3. VALUE DECREASE: While price was increasing, value was declining at the school. a. UNDER STAFFED/UN - TRAINED- Post pandemic teachers were pulled from classrooms to wash dishes, admin was helping out in classes, there were never enough floaters, etc. I often saw misbehaving students being publicly scolded in the hallway or sitting in admin offices. I formally suggested a discipline workshop be offered to all teachers as apart of their training and admin said they wouldn't have a way to do this. b. EXTRA - CURRICULAR - Many daycares offer soccer shots, or Mr. Music etc. included in tuition. Guidepost charges extra for everything. Post- pandemic they offered yoga and a few other expensive pull-out programs. I felt like it further emphasized income disparity at the school. *Also as another reviewer mentioned, the pressure to sign up for bringing flowers and snack was another unwelcomed chore and finance for parents.c. SPACE - The playground is old and needs updating. Parents donate a lot of materials that the school should provide. Inside the school, for the last 6 months we attended they were constantly combining classrooms and shuffling things around which left the hallways in a cluttered disarray. Also, because the classrooms range in age, in the 3-5 year old rooms half the kids nap while the other half work in the dark. It's awkward and could be avoided if they had more space.d. CLASSROOM 10 - As a parent of a half day student, I saw a lot of things happening midday. While Classroom 7, Ms. Carolina's class was a sort of safe haven from all the shenanigan, Classroom 10 across the hall was a mess. Teacher turnover was uncountable. Almost everyday at my 12pm pickup, Classroom 10 would be watching a Disney movie. Students would frequently be standing in the hall being scolded by what seemed to be poorly trained teachers with disciplinary strategies that were awful.4. LUNCH - As someone else mentioned, you bring your own lunch. At first I liked this because my child is a picky eater. But now that we've been at another daycare for a full year, I realize that being given a school lunch each day amongst peers all eating the same thing has pushed my child to expand his palette vastly. It also saves time and money to have a free lunch included.5. ACADEMICS - I would observe my very social child wandering through the room alone, selecting an activity and then sitting alone for 20-30 mins. Ripping paper., using tongs to move beads between containers or poking holes in paper. He complained he hated school. At his new school he is always working in small groups, or centers. He writes legibly and can read basic site word and CVC books. Most importantly he loves school and loves learning. The Montessori approach may be great for many kids, but for my specific child it was NOT a good fit. 6. FINANCIAL AID - The way administration explained it to us was that financial aid was a combination of family need (your debt to income ratio) and program demand. If many families were interested in the program, to the point of classes being full or even waitlisted, no financial aid would be offered. Financial aid would only be offered when program demand was low. My argument is that that's by definition not Financial Aid, that by definition is a SALE. It feels fraudulent to call it Financial Aid when by definition it is not.7. EXITING - If you do attend make sure you understand and have in writing the details of how to exit. We gave 2 months' notice of our August 7 exit date. But because they don't prorate we were billed for all of August. I choose to pick up my child on August 1 an hr after the bill posted. He wasn't able to have a proper last day and say good bye to friends. It sucked and could've been avoided.8. REINVESTING? - It seems like tuition dollars are used more to finance franchise expansion than to support this GP campus.

Huuuu... I hate to do this because for the most part, the teachers are generally pretty nice; but in terms of programming... let's just say that my kids were behind when I moved them to new schools. The Breakdown:Learning: so during the pandemic... well even before the pandemic when my oldest attended you couldn't just roll up in the class to observe. From what I was able to observe through ZOOM on Wednesday's when my youngest attended, I don't like the "learning" that's taking place. My 2.5 yo is roaming around the class from table to table where they have different activities they can engage in on their own. While I appreciate the school allowing my child to gravitate to things she enjoys; I'm not sure she's learning anything. In fact, I'm quite sure she's not prepared for what's to come at her new school, which she will be attending at the time I post this review. Because this class is from 18 mo to 3 (too far of a gap), from what I viewed each Wednesday, the teacher(s) spend a lot of time correcting behavior, guiding, etc the younger kids. The older kids (mine and any other 2ish to 3 yo are left to just.... "play". Yes, this is a part of learning, and at this age kids should have fun; but my child was learning phonics at 1ish and this school does not foster this type of learning at such a young age. Needless to say, my child wasn't prepared for her new school, where the 3 yo are already writing and starting to read. Lunch/Snack: EVERY. SINGLE. TIME I picked my kid up (she attended half the day), her lunch bag was in disarray. I mean containers were half opened, so any leftover food was spilling out into the bag. The bottom of the bag is all sticky and nasty. Sigh.Teachers: My daughter really loved her teacher Ms. Francy. I can at least say that about the teachers my girls had when they attended here. Mrs. Fre was also really nice and caring and Ms. Courtney was very helpful and forthcoming with tips, especially while my child was struggling with bowel movements for a long time. We finally got that under control. They were all very sweet and even gave her the cutest going away gifts. I really appreciate that. Montessori Approach: While the school does work with you when it comes to potty training, independence, etc... it's just not enough for me to love this school like I used to. Only now was I able to actually "see" inside a classroom and now realize that and truly understand that the Montessori approach just doesn't work for us. I understand the philosophy and the approach and can appreciate some aspects of this; however, even after speaking to a few parents that have their kids still attending after my oldest has already left, feel like they are ready to move on as well. I can say Montessori gets you to a certain point when your child is very young, I'd say infant to 2 yo. After that, if you're into safety, independence, cleanliness, discovery phase; this is school is definitely for your child. If you want more in terms of education; you may want to check out other schools. It'll be a difficult process; however, it's worth it if you believe your child is a little more advanced, like my youngest is. Also, research just doesn't really support how well kids in Montessori do later on in life. I had to scour the web to find some info on how well they do if kids transfer out of Montessori schools, how well they do on tests, etc. I have my own beliefs on the positives of this approach for kids; however, it's just not enough to keep me there... especially for how much I'm paying. I feel like I'd need to do way more work at home. Turnover/Communication: Lastly, the administration and teachers have changed so much. Although the communication hasn't. In my 2019 review I commented on the communication and it hasn't changed. Towards the end of removing my child from the school, I made sure I gave ample notice... more than a month to ensure I understood not necessarily the written policy, but any changes that may be in place b/c of COVID. This turned out well after some back and forth with the school; however, it could have all been avoided if ALL of my questions (only 2) were addressed in the written communication I sent to the director. I won't go into details; but this is why I also tell everyone, when it comes to money or anything else you value... get it in writing. I see much hasn't changed when it comes to communication. All in all... this school is expensive still but great for up to 2 yo. After that, you're better off seeking an alternative if you're child is already into reading/writing.

Things I love: Ms Colleen's Nido room and all the teachers in there, the individualized program for my child based on her specific growth edges, and the responsiveness to our critiques which I feel have been few and far between. The ratios!!!! One morning I came in and there were 4 teachers for my 1 child. Where else do you find this in Charlotte? Nowhere! The Spanish speaking component of the nido, allowing babies that early exposure. The approachability of the director and other staff. The friendly and respectful tone. The diversity of the families who attend. I also want to say that Ms Colleen is so good she may actually be better than I am at facilitating my own child's development and growth. Sorry to sound conceited but respect!!!! I have learned so much from her.Cons: all of the above comes at a price. They encourage application for financial aid, but....I observed a toddler Spanish immersion class and did not really see enough to form a strong opinion. Saw a few children who seemed disinterested in the material and yet gears were not switched. My verdict is still out on that. Maybe do some observation before enrolling (Spanish immersion vs English)? But I truly believe the 4 week old - 18 month old classroom is as good as it gets in the QC. The biggest con is that my daughter has had the usual colds seen at daycares. We all know how rough that can be. Overall, we love this place!!!

A very homey environment where children thrive. And don't want to go back home after school ends!!!!My eldest has been going there for 3 years and he loves it.Staff is very nice and so are teachers!!! We love this place.

Everyone takes such great care of our boys at the school. I see all the hard work, every day, over the years...it is no small thing. How the staff care & show them the way, is great & helps us too on our journey to being the best parents we can be.I recognize all they do & we are very thankful not just for teaching our boys, but for always showing love, respect, & being a reliable place of warmth for all.

It's been a bit over a year since my older daughter joined Guidepost. Recently my 2 yo joined as well. The school has been moving towards the positive direction over the past year. I believe it was when Ms. Kayla started to be in charge. She put together a strong admin team with some really amazing people and I see more activities going on and starting to have a community feeling.To be honest, at one point I thought about looking for other school for my daughter as there has been several transitions in her classroom. And the class was not meeting my expectations as a Montessori school. But recently, Ms, Jia and Ms Andrea started as the guides in their classroom, they are caring, cheerful and seem to really care about the kids. They bring energy and structure to the class. I can see how my daughter is being inspired and looking forward to learning new things! I'm really pleased and grateful for what they bring.They are the reason that I sent my 2 yo to the toddler class as I am hoping that she can join Ms. Jia and Ms. Andrea's class when she turns 3. And without much expectations, now I'm pleasantly surprised with my toddler's current guides-Ms. Star and Ms. Courtney. They are also exceptional! They are loving and caring, yet trying to foster the kids' independence. They understand parents' concerns when their kiddo starts as a new student. They are very accommodating and try to give us as much information as possible. Just a little over a month since my toddler joined their class, I see her positive change. Of course we are still adjusting to school life but I'm very happy with her progress and feel relieved that she's with Ms. Star and Ms. Courtney.I know the school experiences largely depends on the teachers in the class. I'm really happy with the current situation, I hope the school will keep it up!

As a parent searching for an exceptional educational environment for my child, I couldn't have found a more perfect fit. This Montessori school truly shines in every aspect, offering a warm and inviting atmosphere, academic rigor, inclusivity, and a genuine sense of family and diversity.From the moment we walked through the doors, we were greeted with warmth and enthusiasm by the head of school, Kayla. We talked to her about our concerns as our daughter is a bit socially anxious, pandemic baby yet very intelligent. She listened and developed a plan of action by suggesting a guide that would help my daughter is all areas. Room 10 is nothing short of amazing. The guides radiate a genuine love for what they do, and their dedication to each child's growth and development is truly remarkable. It is evident that they go above and beyond to create a nurturing and supportive environment where children feel safe to explore, learn, and express themselves freely.The academic rigor at Guidepost is truly commendable. The Montessori method is seamlessly integrated into their curriculum, fostering a love for learning and enabling children to reach their full potential. The classrooms are well-equipped with Montessori materials that engage students in hands-on activities, promoting critical thinking, independence, and a deep understanding of concepts. My daughter has blossomed academically under the guidance of the passionate and skilled educators who truly inspire a thirst for knowledge. Her guides are incredibly knowledgeable with over 15 years of Montessori education background combined. We ended up placing our son in the toddler program because we had so much trust in the school leadership and guides. Needless to say, he cannot get to school fast enough every day. He is running to the door and eager to get there. It is a truly wonderful feeling know that our kids are taken care of as if they were with family.One of the standout qualities of Guidepost for us is their commitment to inclusivity. They celebrate diversity and create an environment where every child feels valued and respected. The teachers cultivate a sense of empathy and understanding among the students, encouraging them to appreciate and embrace differences. It is heartwarming to witness how the school actively promotes a culture of inclusivity, ensuring that all children feel a sense of belonging. The diversity within the staff is also part of why we love this school.Furthermore, the sense of community and family at Prosperity is unparalleled. The school fosters strong relationships between staff, students, and parents, creating a supportive network that extends beyond the classroom. You can feel is as soon as you step inside. Regular communication, parent involvement opportunities, and family-centered events strengthen these bonds and make everyone feel like part of a close-knit family.In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend Prosperity to any parent seeking an exceptional educational experience for their child. The warm and inviting environment, academic rigor, commitment to inclusivity, and the sense of family they offer are truly unmatched. I am forever grateful for the positive impact they have had on my child's growth and development. Thank you, Kayla, Raven and team, for creating such an extraordinary place for our children to thrive!

We have only great and positive opinions about having chosen Guidepost at Prosperity as the school for our child. She joined this school when she was one year old. As an educator, I had very clear ideas about what I would be looking for in a school. We visited many places, but none of them fulfilled our expectations; then, we heard about Guidepost Montessori and started our fabulous journey with them. First, we instructed ourselves about the Montessori educational approach. As a second step, we requested a class observation after a school tour. We were amazed at how engaged and focused the children were while choosing materials to work independently and paying attention to the personalized individual lessons.We still had some doubts about it because we thought it could be too good to be true. We wondered how effective this approach could be for learning since this was very different from the traditional school setting. However, our questions were responded as we observed the progress and growth of our child. We wanted a place where she could feel safe, confident and develop a good character through the interaction with her teachers and peers, and we found it. Since the Children's house level (ages 3 to 6) lasts three years, our daughter had the opportunity to interact with younger and older peers in the same room. Being with older children encouraged her to learn what their peers were working on, which contributed meaningfully to her social, emotional, and academic development. Having the opportunity to help her younger peers helped her develop leadership skills, empathy, and compassion.Because the Montessori approach let our child learn naturally and at her own pace, she developed excellent literacy and math skills. As a result, our daughter is prepared for being in a higher grade level than her age's school level.Our daughter attended Guidepost for four years, and she blossomed on each stage. We are leaving Guidepost with an independent, confident, creative, curious, and respectful child. She is also very well prepared academically.We appreciate all the nurturing and dedicated work of all the administrative team and teachers at Guidepost. We believe in the effectiveness of working as a team between the parents and the school.Guidepost offers a fantastic school program where authentic learning can happen. However, family engagement also plays a vital role in this process. Therefore, we highly recommend Guidepost at Prosperity.Thank you, Guidepost!

We couldn't be happier with Guidepost! After having our daughter in a traditional preschool setting and seeing her struggle, we decided to research different schools that could enrich her life and help with the building blocks for a successful life. We found both and more here! On a whim, we attended an open house and were immediately impressed with the atmosphere and environment. The level of dedication from all of the staff was apparent as we moved through the school and learned about the different programs. Ultimately, we enrolled and us and our daughter couldn't be happier! We are learning about her school life and how to help her along, and she is thriving! If you haven't visited an open house, please do to see how great this school really is!

My daughter has been attending Guidepost since Nov 2017 in the Spanish Immersion program and we couldn't be any happier. If you're on the fence about an education for your child PLEASE set up a tour. You will not be disappointed :)