Guidepost Montessori at North Scottsdale

This place has done wonders for my son! He has learned so much! From the bad experiences we have had in the past at other schools, this place is a breath of fresh air! I recommend this place to anyone you will watch you kid blossom as well!!

My wife and I have 9 children between us, if you count Yours, Mine, and Ours, so we are somewhat familiar with children and schools. Our youngest son has attended Guidepost Montessori at North Scottsdale for over half of his life now! They recently added an infant program, but our son started school when he was 2 1/2 years old and recently turned 6 years old. He loves learning! I am confident that he studies more every day (just because he wants to) than public school children tend to study in a week, or more! Partly, this is just how our son’s brain works, but regardless, the structure for what he does is provided through a professional method known as Montessori, and it works for him. He will occasionally begin the day on a weekend stating what his “goal” is for the day! Things like that make me pay attention to what and HOW he is learning at school. Just now, I was inspired to write this because it is 9:00 PM, and our 6-year-old son is transcribing a lesson on his iPad that is explaining the basics of Calculus. He is interested in math and asked me what is harder than division but is not Algebra. I thought for a minute to understand his question, and then I told him about Calculus. He asked for an example and then asked me (as he often does) to “look it up” on his iPad. We found a beginner’s calculus lesson on YouTube that looked interesting, and he asked for some paper. He then paused the video he was watching to start writing down the 3 main components of calculus! He said he wanted to write it down to help him learn it and that he would read it again when he was older! Then I crept out of the room, and he later fell asleep, transcribing calculus at the age of six! Amazing! That is just one example of how our son is a little learning machine, and he LOVES it! He also loves his teachers, which is VERY important! My wife and I are thrilled with how our son is doing at Guidepost Montessori! Carolyn Burns is the director of the North Scottsdale campus and does an amazing job with the people she hires and the activities that are part of the school experience. We love going to all of the on-campus activities, like stargazing with telescopes at night, the Fall Festival and other festivals on weekends, various programs during the school day, and many more! It is a friendly, neighborhood campus with lots of land, space, playgrounds, and grass, nestled in a residential area enclosed with a secure wall—very cozy! There is even a fruit and vegetable garden way in the back that the children get to observe and help tend! We highly recommend this school! I’m certain that this academic and social foundation will serve our son well in many aspects of his life for all of his days! We are blessed to have found this gem!

We recently visited the North Scottsdale location, and while the school itself appeared nice and secure, the experience left us with mixed feelings. We were initially excited about the tour, which was conducted with one other family (1 person). At the end of the tour, we were all seated together and, somewhat unexpectedly, asked if we were up-to-date on vaccinations. This felt like a rather personal question to pose in a group setting and left us feeling a bit uncomfortable. The other family, who did meet this requirement, was then offered an application, while we were not. Afterward, in a private conversation, we were informed that the school has a policy limiting non or partially vaccinated students to 5% of the student body to preserve "herd immunity." The representative explained that they may already be at that limit, though there is no real way for us to verify. The conversation left us with the impression that this was a way to restrict certain applicants, though the message was delivered politely. Additionally, we were asked about our budget, which felt a bit out of place and contributed to an overall feeling that the experience wasn’t handled as gracefully as we had hoped. We’re glad we discovered this early, allowing us to make an informed decision without further time or investment. We respect the school’s policies and preferences, but ultimately, this was not the right fit for us.

My son attended Guidepost Montessori at North Scottsdale for two years, kindergarten and the year before, before we moved from Arizona back to California. I loved so much about the Montessori method: the long "work" periods in which the kids can go deep in a creative endeavor, the ability for kids to work at their own level and collaborate with and learn from each other, and the self regulation they develop along the way. But I didn't know how much my son was benefiting from it until he started 1st grade at our local public school and now our biggest problem is that he's so far ahead of the curriculum that we have to figure out how to keep him challenged. I also really love the way Guidepost does Montessori. Their drop off and pick up schedule is so flexible and the fact that they offer a bunch of after school enrichment activities right on campus made it so easy to integrate it with the rest of our hectic family life. I am biased but I think this Guidepost is extra special. Carolyn Burns is the director and has done a tremendous job of building a great educational program. Her own children attend Guidepost and she puts endless love and hard work into creating a wonderful school and community. It's amazing that my son was only there for two years and yet I know that his experience there will be with him for the rest of his life.

We absolutely love Guidepost Montessori! Our kids adore their teachers and thrive in the child-led, positive environment, which fosters independence. They’ve learned so much in less than a year, and are always excited to go to school. The family-friendly events, like game nights and themed parties, make us feel part of a welcoming community. The school is also very attentive to allergies, and the mixed-age classrooms have been a great benefit. Our kids gained advanced learning when younger, and now they’re developing empathy by helping others. Frequent updates show their progress, and the focus on practical life skills has made them more independent at home. I’m amazed that my not-even-two-year-old is already potty trained and no longer uses a pacifier! With extracurriculars like tennis, dance, and Spanish, the enrichment opportunities are fantastic. Overall, we’re extremely satisfied and highly recommend Guidepost to anyone seeking a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment for children of all ages.

Guidepost Montessori has been an absolute game changer for our family. Our first grader is already reading at a third-grade level, and our younger child is beyond advanced in math, all thanks to the school’s unique, independent methodology. The way they tailor learning to each child’s needs has truly unlocked our kids’ potential in ways we couldn’t have imagined. Guidepost’s approach fosters a love of learning and encourages critical thinking, allowing our children to excel at their own pace. We couldn’t be happier with the progress they’ve made and highly recommend Guidepost Montessori to anyone looking for an exceptional educational experience!

Amazing school, it's fantastic for my daughter because she learns best with hands on activities and real life applications. They learn school subjects and life skills!

Our twin daughters, age 3.5yrs old, have gone to this school for over a year and we couldn't be happier! They have thrived. Their toddler teacher Ms. Kayla and their now Children’s House teacher Ms. Heidi are incredible. They go above and beyond and will sit down with you to discuss any questions / struggles you are having at home to help. They really care about each student and their success. Our girls love school, their teachers, assistant guides, and classmates. Also the girls have excelled with the Montessori curriculum. Highly recommend Guidepost Montessori at North Scottsdale.

Guidepost Montessori is the gem of North Scottsdale. For parents looking for an alternative to the traditional classroom setting, Guidepost fulfills that desire. I currently contract at Guidepost Montessori incorporating behavioral intervention for children on the Autism Spectrum. The staff at Guidepost are welcoming to my presence on campus and work with me in fulfilling the needs of my clients. The classroom Guides (teachers) are passionate and highly trained in the Montessori way of teaching and strive to meet the needs of each of their students. Guidepost Montessori provides a nurturing and creative classroom setting allowing each child to thrive in a non-traditional way of classroom instruction. Personally, I love being a part of the Guidepost family!

Guidepost Montessori North Scottsdale is a beautiful and welcoming Campus. The staff and the administrators go above and beyond making sure that the school is a fun and safe place for the children and the entire family.They host many events throughout the year to keep everyone connected. Both of my children attend, and to be completely honest considering everything that's going on in the world I was a bit skeptical about my children being in complete strangers care starting off but as time went by everything became evident. The quality of education, and compassion that was offered was really all the reassurance that I needed to overcome such an extreme barrier. My children are thriving and they love their communities. 10/10 valuable service indeed!