John Parent of 2 former HMS kids

Review of Harbor Montessori

HMS is a good school. The teachers are fantastic, ...

HMS is a good school. The teachers are fantastic, but there is a leadership and administration problem that take away from the overall experience.

The school is always looking for money (because enrollment is down but no one will address that) so they tend to nickel and dime the parents to death.

You need to have a set number of volunteer, committee, and parent evolvement hours, that if you don't meet you're charged per hour. Ample time however to meet these obligations is not given if you have two kids in private school and you work to pay for it.

Financial aid and scholarships are granted, but they don't means test. While there, my wife and I heard rumors of several kids who were on scholarship because mom/dad lost their job. But then they were re-hired somewhere and never told the school. So you're watching kids go to school for free or a reduced price, their parents are working full time again, and I'm getting hounded for money.

You're required to buy gift cards "scrips" from the school and they get kicked back with a small percentage of the sale. Thing is, this is a total pain and not always convenient - for example I don't shop at Safeway and I don't get gas at Chevron. But don't buy the cards and you pay a penalty for what the school "could have gotten".

There is an annual fund that after 6 total years of attendance (between 2 kids) I have no idea what it actually funds. Donate to the fund and you'll never receive a thank you, or an explanation of where your money went. Don't give to it and they'll tack your kids picture to the "parents didn't give" side of the wall and then encourage your children to ask you why Mommy and Daddy didn't give.

Then there is the annual auction which is a total joke. It's held at Canterwood CC and runs about $100 per couple - but none of that money goes to the school. Rather it covers my seat and a lousy dinner. Many problems stem from here and those in charge refuse to change or accept the reality that they could do a better job but won't accept help to find out how.

Finally, tuition. In 2013 they began raising it and will continue to over the next 5 years until they are making money again. At this point, they'll be priced right out of the market charging top dollar but not providing top services - like technology in the classroom, microscopes, more foreign language hours, etc.

DON'T pay for extra childcare on school holidays - just take the day off and spend it with your kids. These happen about once a month and the childcare provided are a few "certified" adults watching your kids. Or, they stand around and drink coffee while your kids run around like wildlings all day. We did a few of these and after no naps, no lunch, and my son got a flat top hair cut from another student, we found our money better spent elsewhere.

Both of my kids attended HMS because of one reason - they're the only act in town that provides 5 day a week care for toddler to kindergarden children that doesn't include cartoons. My kids attended thru pre-k where they had great instruction and were doing better than their peers. However, once they were in kindergarden we changed schools to the top rated private school in the greater Tacoma area - and paid less.

In summary - they're the only act in town for little kids. They know it and they run the school like it. The education is adequate, but the constant poor financial management will drive you up the walls. By the time your kiddo is in kindergarden, you, like 85% of the rest of parents there will pull your kids and go elsewhere.