Application Money Grab Scheme From My Experience
I had high hopes for the International Montessori Academy of Auburn, but what I experienced left me disgusted, furious, and deeply disappointed. As a dedicated stay-at-home mother who also works from home, I was excited about the idea of placing my child in a Montessori environment where they could thrive. Unfortunately, what I encountered was a complete nightmare.
During my initial walk-through in May 2024, I noticed the interior looked outdated, and I was informed that some teachers were leaving, one part of the school was shutting down, and they were relocating to another building. These were red flags, but after a conversation with the head of the school, I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt. I was reassured that these changes were under control and that the school's values and teaching methods would remain intact.
In retrospect, I should have been more concerned when the head of the school casually mentioned that she frequently denies applications left and right due to parents' lack of participation. As someone who is deeply involved in my child's education, I took this as a challenge I was more than willing to meet. I promptly completed the application during the summer and submitted it in June along with an $80 money order for the application fee.
Now, it's August, and I’ve received nothing in return. Not a single phone call, email, or letter acknowledging the receipt of my application—let alone any information about whether my child was accepted or not. I called multiple times, emailed, and even physically went to the school in an attempt to get some answers. Each time, I was met with a wall of silence. No one answered the phone, no one responded to my emails, and when I visited in person, I was given the runaround and still left with no answers.
Imagine calling a school to inquire about your child's application, and the phone just rings and rings with no answer. It's beyond frustrating—it's infuriating. This level of unprofessionalism is absolutely unacceptable. It’s one thing to be understaffed or undergoing changes, but to completely ignore a prospective parent who has followed all procedures and paid an application fee is nothing short of disgraceful. It feels like they’ve taken my money and vanished into thin air—this is outright theft and makes the whole application process seem like a quick money-grab scheme.
It's evident that this school is in complete disarray. They can’t even manage basic communication with parents, which raises serious concerns about how they could possibly manage a safe and nurturing environment for children. The lack of organization, professionalism, and basic courtesy is alarming.
DO NOT send your children to the International Montessori Academy of Auburn. They are unprofessional, unreliable, and clearly not equipped to provide the quality education or care that they claim to offer. Save yourself the headache and find a school that actually respects and values both you and your child.
Then to see this GLASSDOOR after I created this review makes total sense!!!!
