Peace Montessori

Since joining Peace Montessori back in February 2011, we have seen constant and dramatic improvement in both our son’s social and academic skills. He is now five years old and missed the cut off for kindergarten due to his September birthday. We have a daughter that is in first grade and he loves to read her books and do her math homework. We can only attribute these great achievements due to the teachings and philosophy of Peace Montessori.\r \r He's always so excited to come home and let us know what he has learned today in his learning plan. Whether it be a new continent and the countries that are in it to new math equations from greater than or less than and knowing the difference.\r \r In addition to the daily curriculum, Peace Montessori also offers specialty classes as part of their curriculum like yoga and Spanish for example. We would highly recommend Peace Montessori to anyone who is considering any other preschool or daycare. We cannot be more proud of our son and how well he is doing!!\r \r Sincerely,\r The Horvath’s - Very Proud Parents\r more

We toured the entire Triangle area looking for schools that were truly focused on the children as individuals and ""got"" the original Montessori approach. At the very end of our search, having not have much success, we stumbled across Peace Montessori in Cary/Apex, NC and couldn't believe what we found - the answer to our prayers. :) We took them up on their offer to tour the facility and meet with the teachers. Our child took to them quite quickly and also had great interactions with the other kids immediately. The environment is very loving, nurturing, and supportive of the learning needs and pace of the kids. In this world where some many schools want to force a learning agenda on all kids at the same time and same pace - whether they learn the material or not - it is nice to know that places like Peace Montessori exist that celebrate the uniqueness of each child and provide the space for them to develop as fully rounded and respected individuals. We absolutely refer Peace Montessori to our friends who are looking for a place for their kids to get a well rounded education. more

Peace montessori is an amazing school. We were impressed with our first visit to the school when I saw the current students very polite and even though they were 3-4 years old, they came and took our 3 year old along with them to play/eat without being asked by the teacher. I always believe that we need to give space to our kids to learn by themselves what is right and good. Also we need to nurture their creativity by letting them follow their instincts. Peace montessori supports this very well and their way of teaching is unique and outstanding. Since my daughter started going to the peace montessori, we can see a huge improvement in her knowledge, nature, creativity and behavior. Within 2-3 days of school our daughter was looking forward to the next day of school even though she was very shy person! She is sad when she has a day off even though we try to spent a good amount of time with her at home. We are very thankful to Ms Susan and Ms Karen for their great effort on development of our daughter. As we are not that creative, we were worried about our daughters but the addition of art camp is like a gift, Louise is a very great teacher. Now our daughter knows a lot more about art and she is a lot more creative. Our second daughter who is 1 year old, will join her sister once she is old enough. I would recommend them to every parent. more

Peace Montessori is simply an amazing school! We've been a part of the school for over 3 years and plan to stay as long as we can. This was our first preschool experience and the teachers were nothing but supportive and reassuring. Their patience is endless and their expertise in the Montessori method is exceptional. Our son has completely blossomed during his time there. Every staff member is kind and readily available to help out and answer questions. Each classroom has excellent quality materials for the children to learn everything from math, geography, science, language and so much more. Our son just loves his school and his teachers! The staff have created a very warm, welcoming environment for all of the students and families. We recommend Peace at every chance we get. My husband and I really cannot say enough good things about Peace Montessori! more

What an amazing place full of nurturing teachers, administration and students. Our two children (ages 6 and 10) finished out their school year at Peace Montessori after moving here from Los Angeles in March. What could've been a tough transition was made heaps easier by the loving attention my children received (from everyone, even the students) from day one. My children absolutely love it here. They come home not only talking about their new friends, but about all of the wonderful things they are learning. The school provides an incredibly safe and academically challenging environment. When the children are not in the classroom, they are learning out in the field on amazing field trips. My children's personalities are so different from one another, and the teachers deftly handle both of them beautifully. Communication is excellent and parent involvement is good. The Montessori philosophy is fantastic, but so many schools get it wrong. I visited more than a few Montessori schools in the area, and I am so happy to have found this gem that stood out above all the rest. Highly recommend! more

LOVE LOVE LOVE Peace! My brother and sister went there and they have continued to excel in higher grades! My 1st son just completed his first year as a two year old and he loves it! He is attending the 3-5 year old class in the fall and has already started talking about it. The two year old class teachers are amazing, patient, interactive, and I cannot wait for my youngest son to attend their class. My two year old's communication skills are infinitely better than when he started which cuts down on the temper tantrums. He sings, dances, uses his imagination, and most importantly has learned how to interact with others, respecting, playing, and treating people well. I believe the school curriculum and teachers are to thank for that. I highly recommend this school to anyone! more

Allow us to share our family's journey at Peace Montessori in Apex, NC ..... a journey worth every moment.\r \r Peace Montessori was a discovery my wife made making phone calls looking for a suitable pre-school for our 2&1/2 year old son. We would like to congratulate ourselves as parents that our selection of Peace Montessori was a carefully thought out process. But it was actually a remarkably happy accident. Almost 9 years later and now graduating from the school's Upper Elementary class, he is heading to Durham Academy's 6th grade middle school class. \r \r Our son's path from initial developmental concerns to eventual academic excellence in all subjects, honed social interaction and peer friendships, and now acceptance into a widely respected middle school of his own choice is not only a testament to his own diligence and hard work, but undoubtedly is also due to the remarkable, caring faculty and staff at Peace Montessori. At Peace, we've had the good fortune to entrust his journey to superb teachers - skilled guides every step of the way (""They're gems"" to quote another parent's recent comment, and she's spot on). Regular communication, honest and clear appraisal of progress and challenges, and caring, thoughtful visions of each student's potential is the daily recipe at this school. \r \r There is no stifling 'teaching to a test' here - there is a wealth of discoveries driven by each child's initiative - often going beyond the classroom with field trips, physical education opportunities, and additional teachers for enhanced studies (spanish, yoga, music, you name it). \r \r We had no idea how fruitful and rewarding our experience would be at this place when we started. We easily got more than our money's worth by paying the monthly tuition for our kid to go to this school. We now have a son who is well prepared for life's next steps and challenges in so many ways. The experience has been worth every penny and every moment .... and then some. \r more

My youngest child has been at Peace Montessori for 6 years. We started there as my oldest child was struggling in public school and both of my children are dyslexic. Next to homeschooling, the International Dyslexic Association highly recommended Montessori as the next best thing. I started researching Montessori and how it is different from public school. I then searched out many Montessori schools in the area. What brought me to Peace is the smaller class size as well as the fact they I feel they are the most true to Montessori than the others. more

Peace Montessori is an exceptional school! We have already put our older son through the 3-5-yr old program at Peace, he was there for 2 & ? years, & he is flourishing in 1st grade now. When he entered Kindergarten last year, he was reading 2 grade levels above his peers, and his understanding of math & science concepts far surpassed his public school classmates. And not only did he start elementary school w/ a leg up in academics because of the fantastic start he got in preschool at Peace, he also displayed superior self-control & a consistent ability to follow directions & be a positive role model for others. Our younger son is currently in his 2nd year at Peace in the 3-5-yr old program, also having an absolutely wonderful experience! He is totally different in personality from our older son, which makes my recommendation of Peace Montessori's preschool environment even more powerful in my opinion. I say this because we enrolled 2 completely different children w/ varying strengths & weaknesses, & these talented teachers used their nurturing instincts, kind hearts, & deep understanding of Montessori education to help guide each child toward developing his own individual intrinsic motivation for learning, & have thus fostered w/in each child a real sense of personal responsibility & a confidence to be self-sufficient that we were absolutely amazed to watch evolve, particularly w/ our younger, more spirited child. It seems to us that the kind of child-centered education our boys have received at Peace has taught them how to be life-long learners, & more importantly, taught them the true joy of learning! Peace is a truly authentic Montessori school, not a typical play-based preschool program, or even a hybrid of the 2. It is multi-age, as a genuine Montessori program ought to be, w/ 3-6-year olds together in 1 class. The younger ones benefit from observing the older children, the older children act as mentors & leaders, & the kids can really develop at their own pace because the classroom has materials appropriate for 3-yr olds all the way up to 7-yr olds. There's a very deliberate selection of Montessori activities in our son's classroom; not the typical Legos-blocks-trucks toys we have at home, & it's clear the kids love to engage w/ them over & over again. By working w/ these materials, our boys have learned certain skills we can't imagine having found a way to explicitly teach them, at home or anywhere else - such as careful observation, hand strength, the ability to distinguish musical tones, the shapes of letters, counting, etc. All the materials build sequentially, enabling the children to progress from one to the next as their abilities evolve; & they're self-correcting, so the kids can work independently of the teachers & learn to problem-solve on their own. This has been a huge plus for our 2nd son specifically! He tends to get super frustrated very easily w/ even the simplest things, but the frequency & intensity of his impatient outbursts has decreased dramatically & incrementally over the last year & ? that he's been at Peace. The angelic patience his teachers have shown him, along w/ the problem-solving skills he's picked up through his exploration during free work time, have undoubtedly given him the tools he needs to function more calmly & confidently throughout his daily life. All in all, putting both our children in Peace Montessori for preschool was the best decision we ever made!! more

After touring several Montessori schools in the Durham and Raleigh areas, my husband and I enrolled our 20 month old daughter in the Toddler Room at Peace Montessori. From the first time we met Ms. D and Ms. A we knew this was the perfect fit for our daughter. Since she had never been in a day care setting or away from us for an extended period of time, I was afraid she would have a hard time transitioning to the environment; however because the teachers were so knowledgeable and caring, she was comfortable within the first week. The teachers were patient and encouraging not only to her, but to us as well. I couldn't believe the growth in her communication skills and the confidence she had in herself. She was excited to go to school everyday and was always proud to show us her works. We even enrolled her in the 4 weeks of camps that Peace offered during the summer. She loved going to these as well. While at Peace she was guided to learn in a peaceful and caring environment. We can't say enough about how happy we were to be able to give our daughter the opportunity to attend a school whose entire staff cares so passionately about the children and their well being. more

We went to an Open House at Peace Montessori before my daughter started 2nd grade, but ultimately decided to put her in the local public school. By the middle of 4th grade that was not working out for her, and I remembered how much we liked the Montessori program, and Peace Montessori in particular. We brought her to the school for a day to try it out ? and we were all immediately ready to switch! She started right after winter break that year (two years ago) and we have been happy with that decision every day since then. I only wish we had moved her sooner. We have been impressed with the quality of the teachers, the overall education she is getting, the numerous field trips (which enhance their learning tremendously!), and the warm, friendly atmosphere at Peace Montessori. more

We decided to send my four year old son to a montessori school last year when he was getting into trouble for not wanting to sit in his chair for extended periods of time in his traditional preschool. I looked at several Montessori Schools in the Apex/Cary/Ral area and was most impressed with the staff at Peace. After the first week of school my son started doing math out loud in the back of the car while we were driving home from the grocery store. My husband and I also notice that he seemed calmer at home and he starting asking all of these really intelegent questions like 'what does melting mean?'. We decided to send our 3yr old to Peace for two days a week this year as well and I was really nervouse because he was struggling with seperation anxiety. Not only does my three year old love going to school but he actually gets upset when I tell him it is not a school day on his days off from school. Also my older son used to hate to go to school when he was at his traditional prechool and now at Peace he keeps asking when he can stay for extended day. I am very impressed with how Peace has made learning such a wonderfully positve experience! more

My husband and I have been thrilled with our daughter's growth at Peace Montessori. After driving a long distance the previious two years to the area's most expensive Montessori school, we are seeing even more impressive results and spending 40% less. With a wonderfully experienced,, caring and stable team of teachers, Peace offers a truly excellent Montessori education, with greater flexibility in schedules, and such nice extras: Spanish, yoga, nature education. Our daughter adores her teachers -- wanted to invite them over for a recent ""playdate"" -- and we love hearing her imitate the patient and tender voices the teachers use when working with the children. We have been thoroughly delighted with our experiences at Peace Montessori. more

We love this school. We have 2 daughters there and they both love it. It is structured yet self-directed and the staff are wonderful. I cannot imagine the kinds of issues described in the earlier review--so much so that I wonder if she was writing about the same school. I cannot recommend this school highly enough. For a private school, it is very diverse and welcoming. They are small, so have rules that may seem inflexible for people used to ""daycare"" settings, but they are there to make the school run effectively and they do just that. more

too had a previous experience with this school where our child was left outside unsupervised. The school is well aware of this and I have many documented emails from the school confirming this. Additionally, we did not find this school to welcome diversity. Very disappointed. Pros: Some teachers are excellent Cons: Few teachers not qualified; unsupervised care more

That should say it all... why would anyone stay at preschool they were unhappy with? It was a wonderful start for 4 of my 5 children.. and the only reason the fifth one didn't go there is because it wasn't open when he was a preschooler. My kids were (and are) always safe and happy there. The well-trained staff are caring individuals, and they can meet the needs of all kinds of students, from the totally typical to highly gifted to kids with mild physical or developmental disabilities. Peace students learn to become organized, courteous, self-regulating and independent . In my experience, kids from Peace also transition well to public and parochial schools. Pros: Caring teachers, self-paced learning!!! Cons: Not for helicopter parents. more

PLEASE READ ALL REVIEWS. Peace has been in business for 7 years and has always had school policies in place to ensure the safety of the children at all times. 9 out of 10 of the staff members are AMS Certified (American Montessori Society). We were named Best Preschool in Apex for 2008 and 2009. NEVER has a child run around unsupervised as stated in a previous review stemming from one family on a hate campaign against the owner that has continued for months under different names. It is a shame that the internet is such that you cannot truly protect yourself or business from hateful, untrue attacks nor can you always have them removed from the site. Please set up an appointment to visit the school for an observation (363-2461). Observing and speaking with our parents and seeing the facility are the best ways to judge for yourself what an amazing program we have at Peace Montessori. Pros: Caring, Montesorri Certified & Experienced Staff more

My grandchildren have attended Peace Montessori for several years and have thrived in that environment. Altho' I am not the parent, I have spent considerable time at the school, attended many programs, delivered and picked up at the end of the day, etc. and know each of the teachers. The children and parents I've seen there are engaged in the programs and are happy in their lives - it's such a shame when someone unhappy in his own life blames others for his own shortcomings rather than be thankful for the positive influences his child can receive in such a lovely atmosphere. Children, teachers and parents work well together at Peace, in a loving and caring approach to learning. The children are challenged every day and learn, by the Montessori methods, to have a collaborative experience in their lessons. They help each other and learn, from what my husband and I have seen, far more than children in any other school setting, because there are no upper limits placed on them. I heartily recommend Peace Montessori and continue to be thrilled that we are part of the ""family"" there. Pros: Challenging and progressive educational setting. Cons: NONE. more

Our son attended Peace for one year. It was a very challenging year filled with great negativity and criticism. We were constantly blamed for petty incidents or ones for which we weren't responsible, and also generally harassed, leaving us with no option but to leave the school. For several months, we attempted to remedy the situation, but our many requests to meet with the School Director/Owner were denied. She refused to meet with us especially when it involved the extreme neglect and safety of an incident involving our toddler son. This involved our 3 year old son who was left outside the school at the parking lot when I arrived at the school to pick him up and he was all by himself. The school, which never admitted that this was a safety issue that they were responsible for, given the fact my child was in their care, instead blamed his parents for not being being with him. This was confirmed by the school sending us a violation email stating that we weren't in compliance with the school guidelines! How could we have been with him since we were driving to pick him up? Who knows what would have happened to him had I not arrived and found him? Between safety issues and combative personnel at the school, our time at Peace was anything but ""Peaceful."" In reflection, the School really focused much more on negativity, criticism, and unhappiness than actually providing our son a proper education in a nurturing environment. An alarming and very miserable experience, one in which we were extremely dissatisfied with and, overall, our son's treatment. As a parent who has experienced this school, I would strongly advise to research all other available options. Cons: Extremely Negative, Unhappy, and Unsafe Environment more