Oak Knoll Montessori School

Eric Ostby _{on Google}

Jan 8th, 2020

Excellent accredited Montessori school. I have two sons who have gone to Oak Knoll. The staff is dedicated, loving and well trained. The best part is the strong family community, my kids have made best friends and my wife and I have made friendship with other parents. Michel is an excellent head of school, trained and experienced and dedicated. I plan on sending my baby girl there when she is 18 months. Highly recommended.

S K. _{on Yelp}

Apr 6th, 2019

Oak Knoll Montessori school is a very special place. Both my children have been attending the school since they were 17-18 months old. Ms. Corrina, who has been the Toddler class guide for over a decade is the most incredible, kind, and skilled teacher I've ever met and she got both my kids the best Montessori start. All the other teachers my kids have had (with the exception of 1), have been superb. Regardless of what happens at the helm with some high turnover of leadership, what matters most is what happens in the classroom, and it is truly magical to watch the kids learning how to learn, self-correcting, mentoring one another, developing skills they will take with them through life. If you don't know much about the Montessori method, it's worth researching it before sending your kids here. There is no homework and no testing and no grades. For me this is a huge plus. For some parents it's too uncertain as they like having concrete assessment tools. But if you're constantly in touch with your child's teacher and observing the classroom regularly, checking in with your child about their progress, it's very clear how much they learn and how well they learn. The biggest problem Oak Knoll has is its lack of marketing. It's a hidden gem in Pasadena/Altadena. The school does a terrible job of sharing its achievements with the wider public. Don't let the few bad reviews here deter you from considering Oak Knoll for your child. Every school has its ups and downs. I've stuck with the school for about 10 years and am so glad that I did. I truly feel my kids will leave here with the best possible education.

Luis H. _{on Yelp}

Jan 4th, 2019

Oak Knoll is an AMI (Association Montessori International) accredited school nestled in Northern Pasadena.  From what I have heard obtaining and maintaining this accreditation is very difficult and for parents starting their journey through researching and touring schools this accreditation should aid in narrowing down a decision.  My wife and I did not have a deep understanding of the Montessori method when we first toured Oak Knoll but after some quick reading we both gained an understanding of what to look for when observing a Montessori classroom.We did tour other AMI accredited schools but the differences in the application of Maria Montessori pedagogy ( method of teaching) quickly became evident when we observed an Oak Knoll Classroom.  I will do my best explain what we witnessed in our first observation but I highly encourage parents to schedule an appointment for an observation as it is something that has be experienced first hand.Our first observation was of a primary classroom, (ages range from 3-5 in a primary classroom).  The first thing that we noticed was the environment.  The classroom is meticulously arranged to help the children navigate the space independently.  We witnessed children working together to re-arrange tables and chairs into a better configuration for a group lesson.    The second thing we noticed was the self guided lessons that were taking place.  This is an amazing thing to witness; we saw children working together in small groups and others working on their own.  We also witnessed the benefit of mixing ages in the classroom.  Older kids could be seen guiding younger ones through presentations and materials.  Children essentially teaching other children was a bit mind blowing.  What we saw was essentially a community of children all working together to create a space that allows for concentration and self-motivated learning.Walking away from that first observation my wife and I were in disbelief that a classroom of children so young could foster an environment for great concentration.  Our son is now in his second year of primary and the milestones that we have witnessed have a been a joy to see.  I hope that other parents looking a great school for their children will find this review helpful.  Oak Knoll is a truly special place and I highly recommend checking it out.

James L. _{on Yelp}

Oct 27th, 2018

I gave 1 star after many years with Oak Knoll.  Too many issues to even mention here.  Disappointments.