Research Skinner Montessori School private Schools in West Linn, Oregon

“If you are looking for a school that encourages learning, provides self confidence for the child, teaches the child who they are and where they are in the world, encourages creativity, this is the place for your child. Good structured environment for learning. And as a parent if you have a clue that a public school gets more than 7000 dollars per student per year to educate a child. And you are paying less than 7000 dollars a year to educate your child in a private school, you wonder how they do it? Yes they have to have an auction to raise money. It's a private school they have to raise money.”

“Both of my sons attend Skinner and love it. My older one has been there since pre-K and I can't imagine a better foundation for him. Gina is a wonderful teacher...both of my sons adore her...and it's been very gratifying to watch both of my boys flourishing.”

“I am what they call a Skinner believer. My two kids have attended for over 4 years. My experience has been extraordinary. The first thing you note about the classrooms is the quiet (independent) learning undertaken by about 20 kids in various grades (the classrooms are multi-grade or multi-age). The second is that the kids are polite to each other and their teachers as well as encouraging of each other. They celebrate each others' successes constantly and in various forms. As one reviewer pointed out, there is little room for disruptive conduct in the classroom. And you will find no other school with the racial makeup of this school. The staff is great and caring.”

“My Daughter has went to Skinner for six years and I can't begin to explain how amazing the experiance has been. Her reading, math & spelling skills are beyond my expectations. I would say that its a very structured enviroment but the over all feeling is one of caring & compassion for all. There is little tolerance for disruptive kids.”

“Our daughter is attending her second year at Skinner Montessori and we couldn't be more happy! I feel that Skinner is a safe and encouraging environment for her and she is flourishing! Not only is she far ahead in academic areas but also in practical life skills and social skills as well. I feel the staff at Skinner not only treat our daughter with respect as a student but as a whole individual person. I am thrilled with the level of interest and concern for personal problem solving techniques that our daughters teacher and teacher's assistant have shown. They have gone above and beyond! I wish that communication was better from the office, BUT, the positives at Skinner FAR out weighs the negative! Skinner has been a great choice for our family. Good luck in your search!”

“We are not new to Montessori schools and were extremely disappointed in Skinner. My daughter watched a great deal of television. The office staff is rude and aloof to parents with poor communication. The school is run in a militant/punative manner - so contrary to Maria Montessori's teachings of respecting the child! Watch out parents and trust your instincts.”

“My child attended Skinner for 5 months. We found the overall experience to be awful. School administrationand teacher have poor one on one communication skills. All school/teacher communications are done through a folder system Parents are requested to check the folder each day for school updates. My child suffered due to information not being put in her folder.”

“My daughter attended Skinner for 2 and a half years. At first we thought it was great but half way through the third year we realized that making money was more important to Ms. Skinner than teaching.”

“Mandatory 'donations' and impossible parking, oh my. This is our last year at Skinner. There are some *great* teachers here, and some not so great.”

“Our child attended Skinner for approximately one year and while some academic progress was acheived, our overall experience was poor at best. The office/administration staff are stiff, non-approachable and at times just flat out rude. I think that at times they forget not only are they dealing in a customer service capacity, but also with small children and their families. After attending a year, we felt the main objective of the office personnel was to run interferece for the owner/principal of the school as several messages were left regarding issues and alas, all were ignored. The breaking point was the proposal of a new policy that parents would be required to attend the annual auction and donate money to the 'For Profit' school so that capital expeditures could be made on playground equipment, building improvements, etc. No thanks.”

“After having my 2 children at Skinner for a year we are disappointed. The school follows its own 'Skinner' version of Montessori which does not follow traditional Montessori. Not all activites are educational (including regular kids movies like Finding Nemo and Muppets during class time) and their is no support for art and musical expression. The office staff actually locks their door to avoid parents and communication between the parents and school is very poor. It is no wonder that fund-raiser turnout is low. The Skinner answer to this was to 'require' a $100 'donation' in addition to tuition. The administration is rigid and unfriendly and I have seen a high teacher turn-over in just one year.”

“Two of our three children have attended (or are attending) Skinner - and our third will start next year. The staff is very warm, friendly and encouraging. The children are respectful, well-mannered, and bright. This school truly embodies the Montesorri philosophy of 'child-centered' education. I have recommended Skinner to many of my friends.”

“My oldest son attended Skinner and we are enrolling our middle son this term. The Primary program is devoted to the Montessori philosophy. Being a small, private school affords teachers and parents to create a community dedicated to choldren. Teachers are approachable and visible, and the school's administration are friendly. Skinner also offers unique experiences for children to learn outside the classroom. I highly recommend the Primary and Lower Elementary Programs.”

“Very strict. Low tolerance for imagination.”

“Academic programs: We have two children at this school - one is in pre-kindergarten and the other is in 2nd grade. Both children are receiving an excellent education. The strengths at this school are reading and mathematics. We certainly appreciate the Montessori teaching methods that allow the children to learn concepts in a tangible way rather than in the more conceptual, abstract fashion we were taught as children. There is an emphasis on treating each other well and on discipline. School uniforms make life very easy for parents. My daughter is working at a much higher level than a local public school challenge program would let her (she was there for a year before we took her back to Skinner). Her class benefits from wonderful field trips to the Ashland Shakespeare festival, marine biology field trips and there are others being planned to study historical sites in Massachusetts, Virginia, and D.C.!”

“This is an amazing school. I started my son in the summer program when he was 4 and within 4 weeks, he was reading! He has now begun his first full year in the primary program and he absolutely loves it there. This school makes learning fun and the kids are surrounded by excellent teachers and assistants. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a quality education!”

“I started to search pre-schools in Vancouver/Camas area when my daughter was 3 and half years old. I spent one hour in a class at each school in my list in the summer of 2002. I was so impressed with the environment and the quality of teachers at Skinner and I enrolled my daughter in the primary program of January 2003 when my daughter turned 4. My daughter's intellectual growth for the past year and 3 months is just amazing. I am so glad that I can find a place with high academic standards, lots of love, fun, and discipline all under one roof. I highly recommend all the parents who are searching for excellent schools make an appointment to observe in the Skinner s class or go to the school's open house and find out for yourself!”

“I enrolled my son when he was 3, and he was reading within a year! The Montessori Method is amazing, and the school has a 1/10 staff-student ratio for the preschool program and 1/12 staff-student ratio for the elementary program. An excellent educational investment!”