White Mountain Montessori School

"Your child just does not fit in"! This is what I was told from the lady in charge after a 2 hour "trial" period for my 2 year old boy. I was already to have him enrolled, she gave me an application and a schedule and we planned on starting him that week and then possibly my daughter in 3 months when she turned 1. I was treated with respect and kindness up until I inquired about the State of NH Childcare Scholarship that I was applying for. I was told that they have taken it in the past but she emphasized that they had horrible time with it and it involved a lot of paperwork. Once I got my acceptance letter I called the school and emailed a number of times over two days without a response. I finally got an email that said they would call me that evening. I thought to myself, if my son was enrolled here and I needed to reach someone for an emergency or what have you, I would want someone to answer or at least call back within the hour. I was told that evening that I needed to bring my son in for a two hour trial period, I was also told not to be there during his visit so that they can get to know the real him. I also thought this was bizarre but went ahead with the visit, that evening I told my husband that I had a bad feeling about this and that I thought she would say they couldn't accept him. I dropped him off the following morning and she was very cold to me. When I left I noticed the child gate lock was not latched, you could just pull it open, and they are located on a busy road! I locked it and went on my way. I returned after the two hours and knocked, nobody answered. I entered and there was a little girl playing on the floor in the door way. I waited a few minutes and nobody came to the doorway. I thought to myself, someone could just walk in, or a child can walk out and nobody would know! I was finally greeted and told I would get a call back that evening with a decision. I went into the room to pick up my son and he was so sad like he had been crying all day and was so ready to get out of there. He didn't say a peep the whole ride home. I told my husband that I had a feeling she would say he was not accepted and even if he was, at this point seeing the care they provided us, I would decline. I received the call later that evening and was told that "he just did not fit in with the class" (there were only 3 children that day including him). I knew in my heart that this decision was premeditated and made solely from the fact that he had a scholarship so I wanted to test my theory and see what she would say if I asked for my daughter to use his scholarship instead. She was speechless and said that they just didn't have any room for any new children. I would not ever recommend this school for anyone. I feel badly for the people enrolled there knowing how judgmental they are. Oh by the way, did I mention how sick he got for over week after his short visit there? I found a great non-profit day care for my son closer to home. He has a ton of friends, not only in his class but in the other classes as well and the teachers just adore him. They send him home projects, daily reports and keep the family involved with field trips and parties. Good luck on your search for quality, safe and loving child care, it is out there and in the places you would least expect it.