Primanti Montessori School Whittier

My son attended Primanti Montessori School in Whittier for 8 years. I was an active parent volunteer for 5 years. I got to understand and know the administration, teachers and a good feel for the operations.
My son loved all his teachers. The majority of his teachers have been teaching the Montessori System of education at this location for an average of 10 years. I found them to be competent, caring, and able to connect with the students. My son’s education at this school has allowed him to develop both his artistic and analytical brain — a good balance between the left and right side of the brain. He looked forward to going to school with enthusiasm. At dinner time, he talked about how fun learning is at school on a consistent basis.
I found the facilities ad equipment to be in good sound operating state. From the restrooms to the classroom equipment, to the administrative offices, I found the environment to be safe, sound, and healthy for my son. He grew academically and personally year in and year out.
I got to know may of the Principals during the 8 years. This is an area where ownership may want to empathize with the parents and look outside the box — on average every 2 years the principal changed. At the end the principal we started with 8 years ago even came back and got to see our Son graduate.
My son currently excels at Troy Tech and attributes his academic success due to the foundation he got at Primanti Montessori School in Whittier.

We LOVE Primanti Montessori in Whittier! :) My son has been attending for a little over a year now and he has flourished academically, socially and emotionally. Best of all he’s developed a love for learning. He adores his teachers and classmates. The office staff has always been very resourceful and kind. His teachers are just fantastic and very caring. He’s made wonderful friends and built a strong bond with his teachers. The families we have met, that attend Primanti, are very focused on their children’s well being and proactive in raising happy, kind human beings. Yes, we have received information about the citations, but all issues have always been resolved in a timely manner. The school is awesome! Can’t wait to sign up my second child as soon as she turns 2.5.

I wanted to give it a at least 4 months before I posted my review of Primanti because I did not want to be biased. First, the previous postings of the citations are all true and its horrible. My son attended this school from the time he was a year and 2 months until he was 2 ½. Once he went into what they call the primary class, I saw a severe decline in his happiness. He would cry every single day I dropped him off. There is a morning teacher there that would break spirit daily by being rude to him. My husband and I mentioned this to the director and nothing was done. Eventually it got to the point where he would cry all day and we would get calls daily and according to his new primary teacher and new director Ms. Popp, they hinted that he may have a «problem» and told us to seek medical attention. Because they are experts with kids, we had him evaluated by a speech pathologist, clinical child’s Dr., and a director who works with kids with autism. ALL three Drs reported that there was absolutely nothing wrong with him, the teacher and Dr advised us to remove him from the school. We provided written evaluations to the director and before we could find an alternate daycare, they told us he was no longer wanted there (yes, they expelled a 2 ½ year old) and to top it off, the director said it was the decision of the owner, someone we never met! He never hit, never bit, never was aggressive either! Fast forward to today and he has been at a new daycare since we left and he is doing so wonderful! He cried on the first day he attended which was 4 months ago and has not cried once since that first day. He got potty trained, is soooo happy to go and doesn’t want to leave when I pick him up! The worst part of all of this was having to explain to a 2 ½ year old that he would no longer see his old friends and it was tough on us as well thinking we somehow failed. In the end though it was a blessing he moved on to a better daycare, one that allows kids to be kids. Be careful of this school and some of the teachers, you may think you are giving quality care and the best education but you will be doing so at the expense of their happiness.

I wish I had positive things to say about this school but I don’t. We pulled our child from this school after a year. They had quite a few citations from the county in a span of 6 months for a variety of issues. There were also three changes in directors in 6 months. Does not make a parent feel confident. Too unorganized for our taste. The staff/​student ratio is way too high. Although they say they work with a child’s development, they don’t do well with kids who need a bit more help. Very frustrating for how much you pay. Read other reviews before sending your child here.

Warning! Review the CA Department of Social Services Site before enrolling your child in this school. When reviewing ensure to select the Child Care Center serves ages 2 – 5 to obtain all of the information. Since 2011 this school has had 13 site visits from the CDSS and they have been cited 27 times, 14 of them Type A citations which are considered immediate risk to children. I have first hand experience that this school is very disorganized and the welfare of the children is not their first priority.

Great school I have two children who attend there my oldest has been attending Primanti since she was 3.5 years and she is now 7 and doing extremely well. The school is like a loving family and the educators truly love the students. Also, the school is very organized during the year so, I am not sure what the other reviewer meant about being disorganized. Staffing is different during summer and there are some changes going on but, what schools do not have change. Change is for the better.
Its unfortunate that the school didn’t work out for the previous reviewer not all toddlers are ready for school. Both my kids started at 3.5 and 4. They were just not ready for school before then.
This school has been a godsend for my family. Best of all my children love going to school.
No way is this school a one star. I would give it a million stars if I could.

I have to agree with Mercy. Very disorganized, and student to teacher ratio causes a real lack of care and attention. The teachers are great for the most part. The problem is with management.

Be careful with this school. The schools is disorganized and want kids that will stay still and not do anything.
Montessori program is a a good program but this particular school is disorganized and max out the teacher to student ratio.
Even though I enrolled my child 2 weeks ahead of time, the school was not expecting and prepared for us and expected me to leave my child with them.
There are a couple of excellent teachers and they themselves agreed that a toddler should not be put on time out for extensive periods of time-​out which other teachers did frequently and did not agree with some of the methods of the other teachers.
My kids are active kids and the school wanted my kids on drugs. Made me see doctors and counselors. The doctors and counselors all agreed that the school was not the right school for my kids and urged me to get my kids out as soon as possible.