Parkside Community Montessori School

Our daughter is three and a half, and she just finished her first year of preschool (Primary) at Parkside. We couldn't be more pleased to have her attending this special school. From top to bottom, it's an excellent program with marvelous staff and leadership, and a wonderful community. Some of things we love most about Parkside: it's uniquely and authentically Montessori, which was important to us when we were looking at schools. The teachers (called guides) are loving, creative, and thorough in their teaching methods. We were blown away when barely a month in, our daughter came home singing about all the continents of the world! The 12-acre campus is beautiful and well maintained. The kids get lots of outdoor time and often take hikes together as a class. They learn to value and sing about nature, including our new favorite song, "Chlorophyll" written by the founders. Music is a big part of Parkside life, and at least 1-2 events a week are organized around it (parents are invited to participate as well). We've enjoyed all the opportunities for families to get involved at Parkside and we've made some great friends already. Even through the craziness of the pandemic, Parkside staff led the way with through health protocols and regular communication with Austin Public Health to keep the kids safe and allow school to continue. In short, we've found Parkside to be an amazing, friendly, beautiful place that is nurturing our daughter to her full potential. We highly recommend it!

Both our children spent 5+ years at Parkside. Community, responsibility and citizenship were just a few of the wonderful foundations provided for them. Our family especially enjoyed the extra attention to nature and music that is the heart of Parkside. Our children left with hefty academic knowledge and more importantly, a true love of learning!

We are so happy!!

Our son attended Parkside for his primary years (3-6), then he moved up to lower elementary for the last 2 years. Parkside, to our family has been the best second place for our son after home, we enjoy the sense of community and the lovely campus. The Montessori educational philosophy is child centered and has allowed my son to develop at his own pace and to his fullest extend, not only academically but, socially and emotionally. The founders, Joe and Claire are an inspiration and a corner stone of the Montessori community in Austin. I don’t have enough words to describe how wonderful and life changing Parkside has been to our son and family.

We have both of our kids at Parkside. The Primary classroom (age 3-6) is a dream and helped our daughter navigate girl friendships and civilized our son who would have preferred to be feral, while preparing them academically for a rigorous next level. Our daughter is now in the Lower Elementary program (1st-3rd grade) and is challenged in this beautiful way that fosters curiosity and she is reading, writing, and doing math way above grade level per her own volition. It’s a stress-free environment that is a beautiful community for the kids and the parents.

All three of our children went to Parkside. Today, two of them are in college and the youngest is in high school. The foundation that they gained while at Parkside has served them very well as they've grown into adulthood. The teachers at the school, along with the school's founders, Joe and Claire Bruno, are totally dedicated to the Montessori method and to giving children a well-rounded education. I recommend the school without reservation. Further, the school's new campus on Slaughter Lane, is fantastic. The property is huge and the outdoor-learning opportunities are evident.

Our son will begin his first year in upper elementary this Fall (4th grade). He began at Parkside as a first year in lower elementary (first grade, age six) and my husband and I cannot imagine there would have been a better school for our son's early education. In a word, Parkside is Exceptional. The balance between academics and creativity is near perfect. Our son's knowledge of math, science, geography, and history are excellent - he could transfer to any school in the city and be at the top of his class. At Parkside our son loves to learn and has become a voracious reader and seeker of knowledge. At Parkside he is encouraged and nurtured in his passions. I also love how from the get-go our son and his classmates are taught kindness and respect for others and this really shines. The children are taught to resolve conflict with care and communication between them. I also love the vertical mentoring where the older children assist the younger children in the classroom, and the younger kids get to learn from the elders. During the three-year cycle in a multi-age classroom like this the children really thrive in their community. Community being the operative word at Parkside - not just the children but the parents and siblings as well. My husband and I have grown and learned ourselves thanks to Parkside's emphasis on community building and good citizenship! And thanks to Parkside's twice yearly Cultural Challenge our son is a confident speaker and performer in front of large crowds and this confidence carries over into his day to day interactions with others and in everything he does. The best testament to Parkside's success as an elementary school is when we pick our son up in the afternoons and ask him how his day was. Each time his answer is the same: "Awesome!" I wish I had gone to a school like Parkside when I was his age!

There's not enough space here to tell you about all of the wonderful experiences we have had at Parkside. We honestly believe that Parkside's approach to the Montessori method has provided "growth to the whole child" with regard to each one of our children. The 2013/14 school year will be the 12th year at Parkside for our family. Our eldest son began as a 1st year in Lower Elem. and stayed for 6 years. He went on to O. Henry MS and just completed his freshman year at Austin High. He is in the top 10% of his class and played football, basketball and baseball for AHS this year. Our middle son just finished his 9th year at Parkside. He started Primary just before his 3rd birthday and will be at O. Henry MS next year. Our daughter also started in Primary at age 3 and is now entering her 3rd year in Lower Elem. For our family, "the proof has been in the pudding." We have seen how well our eldest son acclimated not only academically but socially into MS and into everything that he does. We continue to see these same capabilities in our other 2 children. I would invite you to schedule an observation of the classes and join us for Simple Gifts every Friday morning. You'll be glad you did.