CMP - Carmichael Campus

I LOVE this school! My kid too.I consider a priviledge and blessing to be able to be part of it.Every school has troubles and misunderstandings but from over 600 parents 7 are unhappy or just cmp carmichael did not work for them, does not make this school worth of only bad reviews.Every time I had a question, principal, teachers, dean of students and administration have been so helpful and nice to us. This school is tk-8th grade.Gated.

OK...so...our daughter started out in Kindergarten there. Her teacher was fantastic and the school community was a pleasure. First and Second grades were pretty much the same story. We noted that their alternate language training was to provide them with a Rosetta Stone account and...well that was it. No follow up or guaranteed exposure in class. Then they moved to the new campus ...and OMGWe would here 'Mrs Kim's' voice mails every night on the phone "Good evening Carmichael Parents...I am the good fairy princess..". They have reorganized their parking loops and traffic flows 8-10 times in the time that we have been there. They even began controlling the way you exit the parking lot...yes redirecting traffic on public roads. The administrators cordened off all parking spots for themselves...forcing parents to park a block away if they want to walk there younger child in. They even started making the kids wait in the cold, out in the breezeways until 10 minutes prior to class so that their 'facilitators' had preparation time.Yes...facilitators...not teachers. My daughter was one of 30+ kids in a single class from three different grades, and not one was on the same lesson. The one teacher never had one on one time with her, and very little time to speak to even her grade as a whole. Essentially, the way they have organized it there, is that your kid is in a correspondence course, and with a bit of luck they get a visit from a teacher. They say it works for some.

We attend the Carmichael campus, we moved our 1st grader from Carmichael El, & it is such a big improvement in the work environment. I would definitely recommend our school, our campus, to anyone wanting more for their kids, want their kids to benefit from a mixed grade class, learn time management, have the ability to learn at their own pace, or if they struggle with sitting in a desk. The kids learn empathy & classic games & skills. The kids have access to Rosetta Stone. There are tons of amazing after school programs specializing in the sciences & arts.The classrooms are quiet for the most part. The Montessori material is beautiful & appealing to the students. My daughter was thrilled at the learning environment. The gated Campus is beautiful & well cared for by the parents and students. Currently with uniforms it make getting ready in the morning so easy. Full time Art class, library & science lab.At my 3rd year & with 2 kids on campus I find lots to help with. With class field trips, holiday banquet lunches, fairs, parades, a-thons, Art Docent, reading with kids, dinners, breakfasts, hot lunch days, campus clean up days, & now my first year as a room parent. I love our school parents. They are so willing to help. They all want whats best for their kids & to give them the best experience. As a charter school CMP don't get the funds that other schools get, so our parents step up & make it work. I have had my fair share of the schools growing pains, with 3 new to the school teachers (2 with no Montessori training and 1 who was new all around) as well as 3 who were seasoned Montessori. This school does it's best to give them all the support a school can to anyone new to any school. The new teachers have mentors & training on & off campus. Each year they quickly find their groove.The office staff is supper friendly and makes themselves available. I struggle sometimes, but its cause I love my kids & want the best, I know the Carmichael campus wants that too. So I know my positive resolutions come from my attitude & my Montessori approach & understanding as I work things out with parents, teachers or staff, most especially with my kids.

This is the best school I could have chosen for my children. Through public schools growing up and my time in the military, I learned about many different schools. When I finally decided to settle down in my hometown, I researched many schools for my, at the time, toddlers. They went to the Montessori Children's School (MCS) on campus and absolutely loved it. We transitioned nicely to the elementary/middle CMP school on the same campus and have been here a few years. As a single mother who has enough to worry about, it is comforting to have always know they always have attentive, loving and caring teachers that care about them and their individual development. We have had so many great experiences with the teachers, fellow students, and parents that I hope to keep them at this school until they reach high school. This school encourages parent participation, which I love. This is partially because through birthday parties, school events, and constant online feedback, I have seen how much the parents try to be the best we can be for the children. My understanding is this campus is a hybrid of Montessori and public schools due to requiring charter school funding. As a result, they are tested the same as they would as a public school. I am pleased that my children have scored well on these tests. My initial reluctance with Montessori was my children's innate social need. I have found that, like us as adults working, they are offered a quiet structured time to work on our projects to our level, and then let free to have fun with friends. As a result, they have a confident and empathetic sense of self and those around them. I cannot say enough great things about this school and the administration. I look forward to staying until high school. Thank you CMP Carmichael!

I've already reviewed this school (see 11/16/16 review.) Have a little more to add after a phone call I've just rec'd from my daughter. Apparently my grandson's new school has been trying to obtain his Kindergarten records from the CMP Carmichael campus since the beginning of the school year. No luck. While CMP Carmichael is admitting that he went there for Kindergarten during the 2015/ 2016 school year, they're unable to locate ANY of his records. "His queue is empty." The new school was finally told this today after months of attempting to obtain them. Unacceptable. Do yourself and your child a big favor and stay as far away from the CMP's as possible. The good news is that my grandson continues to THRIVE and LEARN at Charles Peck. Sweet boy.

When a person considers the International reputation of the Montessori education, and vast amounts of money that this type of education costs, I would be so (I am) a little more grateful for the opportunity to go to this type of school. There is a tremendous amount of responsibility to setting up and running any type of organization. I am wondering if MATT V has had dealings with the public education? And the wall that a parent hits there? I have 2 grandchildren that attend this Campus and I can see the challenges the staff have moving into new classrooms. Running 1 class room is challenging enough try to organize an entire campus. Well, come on now, let's get real... could you do it? The gates, badges, and organization are all there for the children's safety. Look what measures that are in place in some public schools to offer safety? I have found that the teachers are very friendly and helpful and are trained to be so flexible to meet the children's educational needs.I've yet to see a public school that has monthly Pancake breakfasts? Where the parents can come and eat with their children and other parents and students - I have not seen the public school teachers come and walk their students out to be loaded with curbside car service. If parents choose to walk their children in, that is their privilege to do so - I see new moms come and sit on the picnic tables and let their children play - I have found the Principal to be nothing but kind and friendly. I have observed the teachers and aids to bend over backwards to meet the students needs in a professional, friendly manner. We do not live in a perfect world. Each of us is continuing to adjust and grow in every area of our lives. I consider it a privilege to have my grandchildren attend this school. L. K.

CMP Carmichael was a big disappointment. We brought our child here with high hopes of a caring environment. After only three weeks we are taking him out due to bullying and flat out abuse. The reaction from the staff when we brought up the many incidents was pathetic. This school is not interested in actually supporting children on their academic path. I would not recommend taking your child here, especally if they are new to the 7th and 8th grade program as there will be no support for the new kid whatsoever. To tolerate a child being abused by other children when the ratio is so small is beyond unacceptable.

Ca CMP is a parody of Montessori education, but they are part of a much larger group of schools, also pretending to be Montessori. They may, at times, convince themselves that they are actually just that. The teachers are self-centered and extremely lacking in the kindness and courtesy that defines Montessori education. The parents are products of the "Me" generation. They think they are beyond human decency and kindness. The children are misled by both parents and teachers. CA CMP is an aberration of Montessori, not a reflection of the principles of holism and progressivism expounded by Montessori. Montessori is an extremely positivist, alternate, anti-establishment form of educational methodology that cannot exist under the fascistic guise of modern educational methodology. Also known as NCLB. This school is painful to behold for those of us who know what Montessori actually intended to result from her pedagogy. Avoid this school! Avoid public Montessori schools altogether. Once they were actually more true Montessori, but with all of the control exerted by state and federal agencies, the co-existence of holistic education and traditional government controlled education is not a possibility.

The Carmichael Campus of the California Montessori Project is horrible! The school is extremely disorganized. Communication between the administration is lacking and what you do get is guarded. Things are changed at the last minute, without giving parents any advanced notice. They emphasize a small class size to get you in, but then increase the class size a few weeks into the school year by closing one class and distributing it among other classrooms. At that point you are stuck there. The principle Ms. Kim is disrespectful and condescending to the parents and many of the teachers. There is a very high turnover of teachers. Ms. Kim runs this school like a dictatorship, she doesn't care about parent or teacher opinions.

My daughter has attended CMP Carmichael since 2009. Over the last six years, the campus has gone through a relocation and great growth. When I considered the public school kindergarten options in this area for my child, CMP Carmichael seemed like the best option. Now as she's starting sixth grade, I am still confident that CMP Carmichael was a great choice. The teachers and staff are very engaged and are definitely invested in seeing the children grow and learn. The school environment is one where grace, courtesy and respect are modeled, taught and expected from the children. The staff and administration have done an excellent job overall working with my daughter's learning needs. While no school is perfect and no school always approaches things in a way that makes hundreds of families simultaneously happy, my feeling has been that overall, this school is an excellent option for families looking for an alternative to the typical neighborhood public schools.