I cannot say enough positive things about this wonderful school, which our family has been apart of for four years. My boys, 4 and 6, are thriving, with reading, math and reasoning abilities far beyond those of kids their ages. CMS students are typically one to two grade levels above their peers, according to former parents and teachers of other institutions. Cardinal clearly follows the differentiated instruction that is the hallmark of Montessori schooling, adapting tasks to the abilities of individual students while encouraging them to challenge themselves. The facilities are worn but they are clean and well-maintained.

The atmosphere is one of compassion and caring in which students are encouraged to help and look after each other, a feeling that is reflected by its community of families. Last year as I battled a serious illness, Cardinal provided a secure and loving place for my boys, so that they continued to thrive despite the emotional upheaval in their lives. My family will never be able to thank all the teachers, staff, families and students for their unwavering concern and support. Most importantly to our family, Cardinal promotes the same values we emphasize at home: integrity, caring, love of learning, curiosity, discipline, and a sense of fun. Given the wonderful experiences of so many, so it is no wonder that other parents feel so strongly about praising this the amazing school.

We had to withdraw our child from CMS due to the filthy conditions of the school. The bathrooms were often out of sanitation supplies (soap, towels, etc), and the toilets were left full of urine (whether they were broken or just full?). The mulch in the playground was not deep enough to provide impact protection and furthermore was filthy, especially with no soap! My son's education lagged behind where he started in all areas except math. The community feeling that the school boasts about only applies to established members, as newcomers no one spoke to us and we were there half a year. My son was bitten, pushed, bullied and picked on (all under the "watchful" eye of playground supervisors who noticed nothing). He was sent home sunburnt and in different clothing than I sent him in (despite having sunblock at the school). The wonderful reputation this school has is suspect, as the minute I posted a negative review on a popular site, dozens of (solicited?) reviews appeared to drown mine out, and soon, mine was removed (assumedly at the request of the CMS administration). This type of manufactured reputation is not a true representation of the school, but instead a representation of the school as they would want you to see it. It may be a wonderful school for some people, but for us it was a disaster. My boy was miserable and hated school every day. I'm relieved to have escaped.