Family Star is different than other Montessori schools in the Denver Metro area because we feel strongly about maintaining economic diversity in every classroom and at each site and in the program as a whole.

We believe that the issues of economic status impact the learning opportunities that children are given and so we create a community within our walls that reflects an ideal community outside our walls:

a community where children of parents on public assistance are invited to play dates and birthday parties and can create lasting friendships with children of CEOs, lawyers, and teachers.

In the course of growing and learning together, both the parents and children learn to interact and build relationships with others who are different from themselves based on commonalities…these common elements are the love of one’s child, stress of parenting, the challenges of making it to school and work on time, the feeling of being overwhelmed and of being ecstatic about our baby’s milestones.

At Family Star, each classroom maintains a balance of families who receive tuition support or subsidies and those who pay the full tuition. Many of our teachers also have their own children enrolled in the program and this lends another important dynamic to our culture. Our teachers are also parents.

What our parents say...

"As a family fortunate to have choices in the care of our children, diversity -- economic, racial and otherwise -- is the #1 reason we have been at Family Star since 1991. We want our boys to live, learn, and make friends with children that reflect the world they will live in and contribute to as adults. And even more importantly, we want to press as citizens of this country for communities where the superior quality of nurturing and care Family Star sets as its minimum standard is available to all children, regardless of means. In a country where economic stratification and interpersonal disconnectedness seems only to increase, Family Star has become one of the tools we have as a family to bridge the gaps.

Thank you, Family Star."

Karen Robertson & Mark Elliott
Parent & stepparent of Brennan (15), and parents of Paul (4)