Garden Oaks - Program Statistics

Garden Oaks is a diverse neighborhood directly north of the Heights.  The area enjoys strong property values, plenty of new construction, several retail facilities and community churches. Garden Oaks students come from within the neighborhood and the immediate surrounding areas. During the 2005-2006 school year, 78% of the school’s population qualified for the free and reduced lunch program and 43% are Limited English Proficiency (LEP).  In the Montessori program 52% of the students qualified for the free and reduces lunch program and 17% qualify as LEP.

Academics

The program is now in its 14th year and has become an established program at the school. Its success is evidenced by the long waiting lists, involved parents and flourishing students.   Currently, there are approximately 125 children enrolled in the program.

The FOM Montessori Programs are evaluated every 2 years by The Houston Montessori Center, (an independent, outside agency).  These evaluations ensure that our programs are following the Montessori Essential Elements.  It also allows us to compare our student achievements with the school’s general population, and the district as a whole.  Per the pending arrival of the 2006-2007 evaluation summary, please refer to the following overview of GOES program’s statistics.

2004-2005 EVALUATION SUMMARY FOR THE
GARDEN OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MONTESSORI PROGRAM
Marie Pousson, M.Ed.,AMS Consultant

Student Outcomes

Students in the Montessori Program at Garden Oaks Elementary have consistently scored at or above grade level standards on state and district mandated exams (see following graphs).

In addition to the testing and accountability system in place in today’s public school systems, other measures of student success exist. The following abilities of children in Montessori programs, as observed by the consultants as well as the majority of parents surveyed, are evidence of the success of the program at Garden Oaks.

• Children are able to independently choose own work, seek help or locate resources to do the work, often without the teacher, and restore the work so another child will find it ready.
• Children are competent and capable of self-correcting work, observing and reflecting on the work of others, and perceive themselves to be successful at managing their work with purpose.
• Children accept “ground rules” of the group in dealings with others. Children can socially function in a responsible manner within the authority of a group situation.
• Children gain and apply the academic skills essential to learning and knowing.

The success of the Garden Oaks Montessori program exists because these outcomes, over time, continue to be witnessed by parents, school administration, and students themselves.