St. Mary’s Montessori School Rancho Cucamonga & N Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

My 4 year old son previously attended a large name daycare where my husband and I saw serious concerns in his educational development. He was basically left to play with toys and there were no outward signs that the staff cared about his growth. At this other daycare, he was surrounded by children who were acting out and who were not learning how to deal with conflict and frustration often coming home with bruises, bites and unexplained injuries that the teachers hadn’t witnessed.

When we moved our son to St. Mary’s Montessori, it was as if a prayer were answered for us. I immediately felt like my son was in the hands of true educators! I felt an immediate connection with the staff from my first interaction with Mrs. Nel and her husband Mr. Chris, I knew this was more than just a business venture for them, they truly had a passion for what they were doing and they were making decisions that were in the best interest of all of the children (this could be seen in the delivery of healthy meals/snacks; the new playground equipment that had been installed; as well as the educational focus of each activity I could see the children engaged in). Within the first two months I saw dramatic changes in my son. He was becoming much happier, it was obvious that he began interacting with other children and adults in a more polite and courteous manner. He loves the teachers at St. Mary’s! Within months of transferring he was able to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, identify all of the continents, and was writing. In addition to teacher conferences where I receive an assessment of his educational development, I receive daily communication and pick up his work each Friday. This is truly a school, not a daycare. Our son is now asking to write numbers and letters independently and is showing more interest in attempting to read on his own. Studies prove that children develop lifelong study habits at this time in their life, and his enthusiasm for education makes me realize his placement at St. Mary’s Montessori school was the perfect decision! My husband and I both agree that if you want your child to learn and take a positive step forward, then St. Mary’s is the place for them.

I also love that the school ensures there is a strong connection between the parents and their staff. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed attending the classroom parties for holidays. I saw that one of the other reviews said something about parents providing snacks and juices, etc. – and I wanted to comment that on the very rare occasion that I’ve noticed a sign up sheet for parents it was to provide additional food so that the parents could attend an event and eat with their child. I would love being involved more, I would absolutely love the chance to volunteer for any of the events. I, for one, certainly don’t find the requests of the school to be any different than I encountered at the big name daycare – they too wanted a yearly registration fee. While the parent association has done some fundraising for additional money for special event venues and teacher appreciation, I’ve never felt it was inappropriate – as those funds shouldn’t be expected to come from the money we spend for the normal schooling.
I feel I get more than my money’s worth.. St. Mary’s is priceless in my opinion! We couldn’t be happier!

My son has attended St. Mary’s Montessori for the past 9 months. From our first visit, my wife and I knew that we had found a special place. The owners, Chris and Nel, are living their lifelong dream and it shows. St. Mary’s is a place where there is love. The staff love the children, and the children love the staff.

St. Mary’s is a learning community where children encouraged to love the learning process. The environment is such that it invites the child’s curiosity to explore this process on their terms. When my son first began attending St. Mary’s as a two-year old, he would cry uncontrollably. It was so severe that we considered pulling him out of school. But Nel and his wonderful teacher, Ms. Jessica patiently worked with him day by day, until he felt loved and safe. Even the other students tried to make the class as comfortable for him as possible. Once he felt comfortable in his setting, the classroom called out to him. It was time to work! His class is surrounded with activities that stimulate his imagination, teach him fine motor skills and encourage personal responsibility. They are not just puzzles or busy work, they are vital first steps in a lifelong learning process. My son has grown so much not only academically, but emotionally, and for that we are eternally grateful. He is so enthusiastic about learning, and his confidence has grown in leaps and bounds.

The facility itself is extremely secure. The furniture, toys and restrooms are all designed with the child’s safety in mind. In order to pick your child up, you need a door code and your fingerprint is checked. During the recent wildfires, the indoor air purifiers were utilized to ensure that the children were as safe as possible. The emergency preparedness by the entire staff was evident based on their responsiveness to the situation and their excellent communication plan.

Finally (I was saving the best for last), the staff. The staff at St. Mary’s is the most talented that I have ever seen in a child development setting. They are loving and caring, and they always go the extra mile for the students. It is beyond evident that they love what they do and that they love my child. Their work is invaluable and very much appreciated.

In short, there is not another facility within the area code that I would entrust with my child.

My 2 boys have attended St Marys since their opening and we couldn’t be happier with our choice of a preschool. The main reason we chose St Marys other than the great facilities, quality teaching, etc that so many others mentioned is the trust we have in the teaching staff. My wife and I both work in the medical field caring for patients and what most patients desire is that you do the same for them as you would for your own parents, child or family. I feel that Chris and Nel have the best intentions for our children and consider everything in ensuring that they develop and progress through their formative years. I know that when I drop off the boys daily, they are in the best hands because I’ve witnessed how much the teachers sincerely care about them.

There has been some criticism of fees and events/field trips that I personally feel are unwarranted. For example, when there is an optional activity/event such as the aquarium or a mothers day breakfast, Chris and Nel take into consideration the emotional trauma to your child if the parent chooses not to participate or have his/her child participate. Rather than being a criticism, I think it’s very considerate of them to avoid situations where your tearful child asks why his/her mom isn’t attending while all the other classmate’s moms are. I’ve volunteered so I’ve witnessed this firsthand. Recently there was a end of year performance and graduation in a very nice high school auditorium with stadium seating. Sure you had to buy a $5 ticket to probably help offset the costs of renting the building. However if you ask most parents whether the comfort and seating arrangement was worth the $5 vs being in a flat auditorium where it’s difficult to see, I think most would say it is. Once again, Chris and Nel have thought out all these details for the parents and most importantly your child.

Overall, we know there are other options/choices of schools but we continue at St. Marys because it’s quality teaching with a staff you can trust. They take every precaution and consideration in mind to ensure your child is safe, healthy and happy. We appreciate all the enriching activities that they plan for our children and most importantly value the consideration of their self esteem and development.