Columbus Montessori Education Center

Both our kids went there. And they have done very well at high school and college since finishing at CMEC.I cannot say enough, how amazing the program, the teachers and the staff are. I am a fan for life.

Both of my girls attended Columbus Montessori and my experience was wonderful. I believe my girls are independent critical thinkers and strong students because of the start they received at CMEC. The school is a 5-star Step Up to Quality care center run by experts in Montessori education who commit to diverse identities and honoring our differences. 40% of spaces are held for socially and economically disadvantaged students. I believe in the school so much, I am on the Board even though my youngest daughter starts college in the fall. Visit CMEC and give it a chance. I guarantee you will be impressed.

Last week our family was told by CMEC that our son could not attend school anymore. This decision was made less than two weeks after I shared my concerns for bullying with the Executive Director. The reason he can't come back? My "tone" when communicating my concerns for bullying. Settle in because I want to talk to ya'll about white supremacy, tone policing, bullying and how it's connected. Tone policing is a common tool of white supremacy to derail and deflect the valid message of a person of color. In this particular case my "tone" was direct and unflinching toward administration because my son was stabbed with a pencil. Punched in the stomach. Called names. Harassed while using the bathroom. But according to the Executive Director, none of these things "rose to the level of bullying". Lincoln's school cancelled his contract THE SAME DAY I called out the Director of Family Services (a non black woman of color) for her racial stereotyping. She followed down the hallway and calliing me "mean " and "angry". Any black women reading this knows this decision doesn't exist in a vacuum. No matter how "diverse" or "inclusive" a majority white institution claims to be, white people and non black people of color are averse to exploring their own racial bias or stereotypes. Despite the fact that feigned (or real) ignorance around racial bias continues to cause irreparable harm to black children in the education system, white fragility rears it's head every time at the mere mention of racism. White fragility isn't fragile at all. It's violent and oppressive. In this case it led to a unilateral decision that was messy, petty, punitive and retaliatory....toward a six year old little boy. Schools, especially Montessori is supposed to be a safe space, a haven. Not a mirror of the outside world where bullying and racism reign supreme.

On 4/30/19 Columbus Montessori subjected my four-year old daughter to unfair discipline that is counter to their policy, principles, the Montessori Method and the Ohio Revised Code. The Executive Director locked my daughter and herself in a dark and small Observation room that is also used to store a surplus of classroom materials. I have been presented with a Non-disclosure to sign in order to be release from my 2019-2020 contract. I refused to sign. CMEC is enforcing that I pay $6,550 in tuition. This appears to be common practices for the school.

The best Montessori School in Central Ohio. Quite possibly the best private, independent school in Columbus.From 6 weeks through 6th grade. We have three children who have gone through this school from age 3, one is still there in third grade.The Montessori method is a natural learning process that has produced tremendous results in our kids and, quite frankly, everyone else's kids too. Our kids are independent thinkers who enjoy learning.This school's focus on creating an excellent learning environment, diversity in all forms, and true Montessori teaching delivers a great community for families and children.

Regretfully, we sent our child to this school, starting at pre-k. We had an awful experience there. Their style of Montessori was not the style of Montessori I was previously exposed to. We had a couple teachers and administrators try to diagnose our child with a condition and even tried to suggest the treatment she needs. We were sent down a dark path by their guidance! This is wildly unprofessional. Not only that, but I had a teacher share a highly unprofessional email thread with me, where she and a couple other teachers talked disrespectfully about me, then mistakenly shared that email thread with me! After talking to numerous parents, it seems our bad experience wasn't a one off. Multiple parents complained about the same things! They talk a good game, but that's about it. Every given opportunity they had to drop the ball, they did. Do not send your children there. They are NOT accredited by a Montessori accreditation organization. They are only accredited through the ODJFS. Just ask if you'd like to know more, I'll be happy to share.