High Desert Montessori Charter School in Reno

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	5/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Criterion Referenced Tests (CRT) data from Nevada Department of Education, and using 2025 Smarter Balanced Assessment data from Nevada Department of Education.
Academic Progress	6/10	The Academic Progress Rating is a growth proxy rating based on a model using unmatched cohorts, or school-level data instead of student-level data. The Academic Progress Rating was created using 2024 and 2025 Smarter Balanced Assessment data from Nevada Department of Education, using 2024 and 2025 Criterion Referenced Tests (CRT) data from Nevada Department of Education, and using 2023 demographic data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Posted: June 6, 2025

We have been so happy to have our children at HDMS. They have grown in so many ways, not just academically. We love the developmental approach of Montessori as well as looking at the whole child. We couldnt be happier with the move we have made to this school.

Posted: June 6, 2025

HDMS is a wonderful environment for children to learn and grow. Independence is fostered and children are ready to face the world when they leave.

Posted: June 6, 2025

Posted: June 5, 2025

I went to High Desert Montessori for 9 years, during wich I gained knowledge, abilities, and friendships that will last throughout my life. I was given opportunities to explore in my learning and find my interests. I was glad to call it my home for many years and I am grateful for the impact HDMS made on my life.

Posted: June 5, 2025

Posted: May 28, 2025

HDMS is a great community and school. We have truly enjoyed our experience at this school. They go out of the way to meet the needs of our children!

Posted: May 28, 2025

Posted: May 27, 2025

We are so grateful for this community and the staff. They align so well with our values. We have watched our son flourish here.

Posted: May 27, 2025

Posted: May 9, 2024

I have not publicly rated or reviewed the school because my son did have a nurturing and caring environment while he attended HDMS, but we are now 4 years past his attendance there, and we are still navigating the disparities that HDMS contributed to his education. Being that I was the one that enrolled him, I am continuing to experience extreme guilt for this choice, and I do believe our experience needs to be shared.
First, Montessori lessons and a Montessori approach to learning, I believe, is best utilized in SMALL classroom sizes. Most Montessori schools are completely tuition based, resulting in small classroom sizes that I imagine would be very manageable. HDMS is a charter school, so there are no tuition costs to the families, but this requires the school to receive funding from the county based on enrollment numbers. This resulted in classroom sizes that are comparable to public schools in our district. And based on my personal experience observing my son's classroom one year, having 31+ students in a liquid and free roaming style of class does not work. It was pure chaos. Another approach Montessori offers students is for them to be able to choose the order in which they complete assignments and when they finish work. While this may be a great approach for a very mature and independent learner, it does not work for students that require more structure. My son is one that does need to be told what to work on and when to do it. He was not getting this support and it would appear that some days, he literally did no schoolwork at all. He would even tell me stories of other students that chose to nap instead of completing work and they were allowed to do this.
During his Kindergarten year, he was showing to be on a First Grade reading level. Meaning: I had worked enough with my son that he started school ahead of the curve. By his last year attending HDMS, in Third Grade, he was still testing at a First Grade reading level. Meaning that after 4 years attending HDMS, he had not progressed at all. He is now in Seventh Grade and he is continuing to struggle in all subjects due to the lack of education that was actually provided at HDMS.
If you are looking for an alternative, I applaud your attention to your child's education, but I strongly urge you to decide if your student can learn all subjects, at all levels, all by themselves because attending HDMS means that they will most likely be left on their own to learn if they want to.

Posted: May 9, 2024

Posted: June 12, 2022

HDMS was the answer we were looking for when we discovered traditional public school was not the right fit for our family. Our children were bored in school and frustrated with hours of homework after school. There had to be a better way! Six years later and we have three thriving Montessori children who love going to school each day. They are independent, self-motivated children who love learning! We are forever grateful to have found a Montessori Charter school that serves ALL families, as we could not have afforded a Private School.

Posted: June 12, 2022

Posted: June 10, 2022

HDMS has supported our children beautifully as they transition after a big move. The social and emotional support that HDMS teachers provided was outstanding. The guides really care about the children.

Academically, one of our children does not do well with authoritarian instruction and classroom management. HDMS guides have inspired them and provoked internal motivation to learn. Another child of ours does well academically and he is performing well above grade level, which is beautifully supported in the multi-age class that individualizes education.

So much is offered as part of the curriculum and by bringing in outside experts: music, environmental education, social justice, archery, soccer...

As for areas of growth, we would love to see HDMS include more second/foreign language instruction and serve an even more diverse population.

Overall, we are extremely happy with HDMS - so happy that when presented with an opportunity to relocate again, our children thriving at HDMS was the main factor in deciding for our family to remain in Reno.

Posted: June 10, 2022

HDMS is an amazing environment that both my sons get the pleasure to be in.

Posted: June 10, 2022

This school has made my son and wife feel like family for many years. The staff is committed to teaching children not just to be good test-takers, but to be critical thinkers and prepares them not just for college, but for life. My son can look at a problem and suggest ways to solve it, or just solve it without needing me or my wife to hold his hand. He is comfortable talking with adults in a respectful way and truly cares about people. I think the school does a great job keeping us informed about what's going on and makes us feel welcome all the time. We really love this place.

Posted: June 10, 2022

I attended High Desert Montessori School for 7 years and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Before attending HDMS, I attended a public school for 2 years and it was never the right fit for me. I felt trapped and like I wasn't free to learn or do what I wanted to. HDMS completely changed that for me. I felt free and like I was learning things that were important. The openness of the classroom allows for students to develop a sense of independence. This is because they are not being told what to do every minute of every day, they are allowed to work on topics that interest them while getting a full education at the same time. High Desert Montessori School was not just a school to me, the school and everybody inside became my second home and my second family. Being in the same classroom for 3 years at a time allowed the students the chance to make deeper connections and relationships with each other. Since the school is small, you end up knowing all of the people in your grade which, in my case, made us all feel like a unit. The staff at HDMS are amazing, they are always around to help you and there is never an unfamiliar face. All of the teachers and admin are always willing to help.

I loved going to HDMS, it was an experience that I wouldn't trade for the world because in that time I was able to make friendships that I hope will last a lifetime and I was able to get the enriched education that every child deserves.

Posted: June 10, 2022

My 3 children have thrived the past 4 years at HDMS. The focus on social emotional development has been evident and my children have also shown so much growth in their independence, internal motivation and love of learning, not to mention doing very well academically. All of their teachers have poured so much love into them and seem to really have a passion for following the child. We love this school and are so grateful to be a part of the community.

Posted: June 10, 2022

High Desert Montessori is a hidden gem in our community. I have been associated with the school for many years and have found the teachers highly knowledgeable and caring. The school promotes students taking initiative, problem solving, and an overall love of learning. The real-world projects they take on, especially in the upper elementary and adolescent grades are inspiring. Exiting 8th graders are well prepared academically and emotionally for high school, and most attend local signature academies. The culture and community of the school remains genuine.

Posted: June 10, 2022

Posted: April 6, 2022

Review for middle school only. My son tried out this school based on a recommendation from a former teacher. Unfortunately it did not work out for us. I believe this school might be okay for people who start out at a much younger age, but for my son, as a 7th grader, it was a disaster. My son has a 504, and his plan was not followed by several of the staff. Some staff were openly hostile to him, and one particular teacher often wrote passive aggressive emails to me, or ignored my emails completely, and did not show up for conferences. I previously worked for a school district, so I am fully aware of school drama, but the unprofessional behaviors and attitudes my son and I had to deal with at this school were beyond belief at times.

Posted: October 18, 2021

Our kids have attended this school for several years now. They really enjoyed preschool and we liked how the classrooms are mixed age. Miss Chrissy was very sweet and patient through Kinder. The classrooms appear well stocked and clean with all of the resources needed for a true Montessori program. The world studies project conducted each year is fun and the kids have a great time preparing for the open house complete with Passports for visiting different countries in the various classrooms. The front office ladies (they've changed over the years) know the kids and area always available and helpful. We're happy to see Miss Stacey every morning and so are the kids.

The Bad: Distance learning was not effective at all. To the detriment of our kids, it was disorganized and left much to be desired. The topics for daily lessons jumped all over the place and made it very difficult for a child to leave lessons with any solid understanding of the lesson or what they should work on for the rest of the day. In early elementary, repetition is key and this wasn't a priority. It appeared that the teachers received little to no instruction on how to run a remote classroom; not knowing how to mute kids, etc to keep the lesson moving and everyone engaged. Unfortunately for the kids, they were graded just the same as if they were in school and without the leniency provided to the teachers. We were fortunate enough to find tutors to support our kids while distance learning so that we could continue working. However, both tutors expressed concerns about the organization of the class and curriculum based on other kids they were also supporting with distance learning at other Washoe schools.
As a parent, when the kids are in school, there is very little feedback regularly given to parents about their children's progress. The kids have workbooks they log their work in each day, but these stay in the classroom making it very difficult to know what their child is doing and how well they are doing.
The school has had several principals since we joined and there's a possibility for change, but at this point in the year, it's not clear yet. There are major renovations taking place, which make the campus look very nice and was definitely needed. At this point, I'm not sure if we can keep our kids in school here. We aren't seeing positive improvement and are worried about their education even though in person schooling has resumed.

Posted: October 18, 2021

Posted: June 6, 2021

Don't be lured in by the enticing description of this school. If you want your child to get a quality education, you are better off putting your child into a traditional format or home school. The inequity in many of areas of this school will wreak havoc on your child and your family. The use of playing favorites is disgusting and their is no such thing as a fair or quality education for all kids here. If you are the teacher or administrator's favorite, yes, you will do well, but if you aren't then you are lost, forgotten, and not given the time of day. The front desk receptionist is never inviting or kind. She is rude, judgmental, and never helpful. When issues arise and you express concern to the admin team, they will listen and take notes, but not act or follow up. I have never seen such poor leadership in all my 30 years of raising children. Instructional time is not spent with trained teachers, but with mom's who want to be with their kids or college students who have zero training or experience with classroom management or educational pedagogy. Instructional time is wasted with teachers/assistants looking on their phones during class while the students use their Chromebooks to teach them math and science. There is no consistent focus on character building or social/emotional learning and bullying is rampant. Again, if you are favored here you can get away with anything. They turn a blind eye to blatant bullying and usually blame the one who is reaching out for help. I'm not even sure how this school is still in existence. There is no innovation and the message from the principal is the same milquetoast message every week. It is like being in the twilight zone. Very strange culture that does not foster a learning environment that inspires all students. If you are considering this school, please be wary!

Posted: April 24, 2020

They are constantly worried about expansion rather than trying to provide a quality Montessori education. A lot of corruption and turnover in administration, teaching, and assistants. Teachers say bad things about students who are disabled or English language learners. A lot of racist attitudes bubbling under the surface that are unaddressed. Who goes to this school? Parents who have the connections or education to navigate entrance to charter school. A lot of families who could benefit from this education don't have the transportation to make it there. Plus their free and reduced lunch program is problematic. Instead of trying to serve all those who need food, they focus on making sure the food is organic. If your family speaks Spanish, is low income, or just in rough times temporarily, the lack of ELL, nutritional, and social services is appalling. Honestly, this school would benefit from becoming a district magnet school, like AACT.

Posted: April 24, 2020

Posted: January 31, 2020

I drive about 20 minutes just to take my child to this school. I really appreciate the teaching methods, love the teachers and staff, and the parents and the children too. The parents that bring their kids here CHOSE to put them in this school. They seem hands on and involved in their childrens lives. Overall Id give the school a 10 for all the things that Im looking to get from a school: a safe positive place for my child to learn and grow in the way that works best for him.

Posted: January 31, 2020

He has a balanced amount of homework each week.

Posted: January 31, 2020

I personally have worked with two different teachers for my son. They both are excellent teachers.

Posted: January 31, 2020

No school can force a child to develop these qualities, but the teachers at High Desert Montessori lead by example and actively promote these qualities in their classrooms.

Posted: January 31, 2020

I can only speak for my experience...the teachers have always sincerely listened as I expressed my concerns about my sons personal needs and they have tried to honor those and help him with that knowledge in mind.

Posted: January 31, 2020

Posted: January 29, 2020

So far so good. Our two kids love going to HDMS and are having a wonderful experience overall.

Posted: January 29, 2020

I'm not aware of any bullying at the school or fighting.

Posted: March 2, 2018

I pulled my child out mid-year due to the ongoing, unaddressed classroom issues. Unlike real Montessori education, this hybrid simply does not work. The non-Montessori, high turnover daycare workers are not capable of providing education. They are daycare workers! Before you enroll in this overpriced, well-marketed business, ask how many hours your child will spend with a licenced WCSD teacher, what is thier Montessori education and how many hours a day will be within the poorly run daycare setting.

Posted: March 2, 2018

Posted: April 26, 2015

My child is currently a student at HDMS. I truly like the principal as well as the teachers, however, I do not believe that a montessori school is for every child. My one negative thing to say about HDMS is that they don't always see the individual child. Some children do need more guidance and clarity than others which I do not believe is given at HDMS.

Posted: January 14, 2015

My child spent several years at HDMS and graduated last year. She is now at one of the Washoe County Signature Academies and is absolutely thriving. She is getting all A's with a full load of honors classes. I truly believe that HDMS gave her the perfect foundation for high school and beyond. She has learned to think for herself and I think she is much more self-directed than her peers from traditional elementary and middle schools.

Posted: June 26, 2014

My child attended High Desert Montessori all though primary and elementary and he had a wonderful experience. He left recently because we had to move, so he is going to another Middle School, but he transitioned beautifully, gets great grades, and is considered a leader by his teachers and peers. A recent review stated some serious inaccuracies about the primary program. Children are absolutely allowed to read fiction; in fact, his primary classroom had hundreds of fiction books available daily. He even brought them home nightly to read with us in kindergarten. I do know that there in an emphasis in primary on non-fiction, though, because they want to expose children to real world concepts. Elementary classrooms do allow parents in the classroom (I know because I volunteered in his classroom). They are just more stringent in primary because they want to preserve the work environment to ensure that young children are disturbed or distracted by adults who aren't trained in Montessori. The teachers at this school focus on the whole child. At High Desert, my son learned how to be kind, compassionate, and how to work problems out. You can't put a rating on that.

Posted: April 8, 2014

High Desert Montessori School is a sweet school with a lovely playground and caring teachers. I like that the children are taught self-responsibility and that there is a healthy food policy. The teachers are caring and sincere. The children learn to work independently and collaborately. I think others should know that in primary (including kindergarten), there is no fiction allowed. The children only read nonfiction books until first grade. Superheroes are banned as well. The lack of fiction and the lack of art in primary really bothered me as things like arts and crafts are what makes kindergarten special. Parents are allowed to volunteer at the school, but not in the classroom. The school could improve its communication with parents as to the goals for the children and how they are meeting those goals. The school should also allow for more creative pursuits like art as well as science. Their writing instruction seems a little weak so far although I don't know if that improves in later grades.

Posted: July 31, 2013

I LOVE this school. My daughter attends the infant/toddler program and will be moving into the Primary Program soon. My nieces both attend the Elementary Program. I have spent a ton of time researching this program, observing the classes, talking with the staff, and even attending the events and fundraisers. It is a fabulous combination of Montessori Method and Charter School (meeting all Washoe County Educational Regulations). When you walk into a classroom, the first thing you notice is how quiet it is! Not because the kids are forced to be quiet, but because they are all so focused on what they are doing. The project based learning method, allows kids to get excited about learning. Plus, I have to applaud their SUPER healthy lunch program. Not to mention the garden and chickens they keep. This school is worth its weight in gold.

Posted: December 30, 2012

I love the infant program! They are so nice and the environment is perfect for my son:)

Posted: October 31, 2012

We have been at HDMS for several years and are very happy with the academic process that both of our children have made. Their math and reading scores are well above grade level, yet they are both still challenged. Most of Montessori learning is hands-on and project based. The assignments are multidisciplinary and encourage creativity. For example, one Nevada Day project for the middle school children was to create a historically accurate chili recipe from the mid-1800s. The students had to research food availability in Nevada at the time, cooking methods, spices, etc. It was a fun and very educational project - and I'm sure most of them will remember the information they learned through that project much more than anything they would have learned by writing a report on the same topic. The school is only 10 years old and has experienced growing pains, but we feel that it has definitely 'come into its own' in the last couple of years. The teachers are passionate and truly do care about the needs of each child. We are confident that our children will be socially and academically successful when they move on to high school and college.

Posted: October 18, 2012

Thank you High Desert for challenging my children academically and teaching them social responsibility. Both my oldest and youngest son are able to work at a level that challenges them academically in every core academic class and then some. My youngest son works above grade in math without being treated like an anomaly. My oldest is twice exception, yet at High Desert he is thriving. In a traditional middle school, he would be a statistic, a special education box to check for more funding. At High Desert, he is an individual treated with respect and valued for his strengths, while still being supported in order to overcome his lack of social skills. When I see him interacting with other children, thriving, and being accepted for who he is, I forget he's been labelled on the autism spectrum. The ability of my sons to thrive and grow is only possible because of a highly skilled, caring group of teachers, parents, and students.

Posted: October 15, 2012

High Desert is a wonderful school for kids of many different levels. Since Montessori is student driven they are working at their performance level instead of working on work that may be above or below them. The use of the eye catching materials helps to grab the attention of the students and they become more interested in their own education, all without feeling like it is "work". I love this school and what they offer.

Posted: October 7, 2012

High Desert Montessori is a hidden gem in the Reno area! The teachers are highly trained and knowledgable. The staff is well-informed and can help out with basic questions about the school. Students are happy and the community is involved. I am proud to be a member of this amazing community!

Posted: October 7, 2012

Both our daughters attended HDMS for six years and received individual attention from their teachers. They gained so much more than just academics. Now that they've moved into high school, we're proud at how well-balanced they are and able to stand against peer pressure. The school has grown a great deal and certainly had growing pains but the staff is dedicated to improvement and "following the child." It's important to look at your child's needs and your family's commitment to trying a different philosophy of education before judging success or failure.

Posted: July 25, 2012

We've been watching this school deteriorate over the past five years too. After investing so much into it, we will not be returning this fall. It is unfortunate that I will have to separate them from the friends they have had since primary just so they could receive a proper education. I have had to teach my children at home this summer in order to catch them up to where they will need to be academically in the local public school (not to mention the need to relocate so we would be zoned for a better public school). There have been numerous teacher and administrative turnovers. none for the better with the exclusion of the solitary quality lower-el teacher who will be returning in the fall. They dropped their hot lunch program consisting of organic, homemade food, which was by now their best asset. They have brought people in from local businesses to market directly to my children in their classrooms, sat my children in front of a television in their overpriced, undersupervised, childcare program, and don't even follow or enforce their own internal rules. I never thought I'd be sending my child to a public school, but at this point, in this town, I feel it is the best option.

High Desert Montessori Charter School

Reno, NV 89512

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High Desert Montessori Charter School

Reno, NV 89512

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