International Montessori Academy - Eastgate

This situation in what I am about to post took place Sept of 2021. I wasn't going to post about it but i was encouraged by many moms in my community to get the word out given how many kids experience food allergies. Prior to the first day, I filled out numerous forms regarding my sons food allergies - which is normal for other schools/day cares we have attended. On the first day of school I made sure his Epipen and Benadryl were provided and only after an hour of him being there I get a call that my son was given dairy (which he is highly allergic to and outlined in the paperwork provided). I could hear him through the phone gasping for air and coughing persistently. A nightmare for any parent. I rush over there and my son was wheezing, gasping for air, covered in hives all over his body and was flush. He was scared and terrified during his first day at this new school. When I asked the principal how this could have happened, she admittedly told me the allergy protocols were not in place despite confirming I had completed all the paperwork required. I was stunned that they would be open the first day, provide food to children without any knowledge of allergies - unheard of. Needless to say I did not return the next day or for the remainder of the school year as i did not have confidence this school was equipped to take care of children w/food allergies. I have also since told many of my friends to stay away and thankfully they have taken my advice.
Oct 5th, 2022

We have had a great experience with this school for both of my 2 kids. I had them in Chinese Immersion. Its all Mandarin, except there is also a Pre -K portion in English for that age group. Good hot lunches and snacks also provided. Communication is good as well!
Aug 7th, 2022

Agreed with previous review. We paid two months tuition but due to covid, we didnt send our kid to this school. They refused to give the money back. Very greedy! When vaccines became available to everyone, we were told that they wouldnt mandate teachers to get vaccines. I checked other schools, there are many of them that mandate their teachers to be vaccinated. So here you can see what school you should send your kid to. Definitely not this one. Last time we visited we noticed teachers were all new. Turnover rate seems to be high. Anyway we didnt want to spend time to fight for the money. We sent our kiddo to a different school.
May 29th, 2021

Agree with the earlier review to keep your money far away from this place. The owner took advantage of all the families when COVID hit. She kept all of our tuition, yet shut down the childcare facility. She required we pay March, April, May, June and provided NO CHILDCARE. She didn't follow through on her portion of the contract, yet still kept our money. Even when she did reopen the school in May, she mandated that parents sign a new contract with shortened hours of operation (that didn't work for my family with 2 working parents). Even then she still kept all the money we had paid under the initial contract. The owner tells a big story about IMA being "one big family" but when it comes down to it she's all about money. Even to the point where she's willing to take advantage of the families that trusted in her.
Oct 10th, 2020

I would give 0 star if I could. This is a fake Montessori school. It has no Montessori certification. Unlike other Montessori schools, kids play with toys in the afternoon instead of doing work. The classroom is full of Montessori material, but that's only for decoration. The kids have never touched some of the materials because teachers don't even know how to use them.Also, most teachers don't have certification either. The way they treat student is completely wrong. They dont comfort kids when they feel said. I feel like they don't actually care about their students and their feelings.The school is closed this year in March due to coronavirus. Parents send tons of emails asking for tuition refund and we receive no response. Not even to just acknowledge that they have received our email. The director refund 25% of tuition fee for April while the school is closed for the month. Some parents want to hold off their April payment until school reopens. They received a notice from school saying that if you don't pay for April, we will consider this as an act of withdrawing your child from school. The 2 month deposit would be gone. Their decision is very business driven to benefit their needs. They are still making money from us during this time period and use it to support school development(they are building a new campus) and teacher training program. Would a school without certification spend money on teacher's development? I doubt it.
Apr 5th, 2020