Now: spots starting at $800/month
Accepting Applications for School Year 2025-2026
Ages 5-10 (grades 1-5)
*kindergarten students will be considered on a case by case basis*
We are located in beautiful Historic Germantown with easy commuting access to points in Philadelphia as well as neighboring counties.
Why Poinciana?
Our African centered values are at the core of who and what we are.
We strive to incorporate these values everyday to encourage students' social growth and self-concept to help them become the fullest version of themselves.
Communalism
Order
Reciprocity
Creativity
Balance
Justice, Truth,
Liberation of Humanity
Gardening
Our school gardens every Friday at Wyk Historical House and Gardens. Families look forward to fresh vegetables every week!
Enrichment
We are about nourshing hearts and spirits as well as minds. To this end we currently offering classes in African drumming and Capoeira (Afro-Brazilian martial arts) at Poinciana.
Why Montessori?
Public school for all children was started about 100 years ago. The purpose of school at this time was to give all students that same information at the same time to be efficient like a conveyour belt. Students were placed in rows with the teacher in front of the class to present information that children would then learn and regurgitate.
Schools today still have the same characteristics even though we have learned more about how children learn and the skills needed for jobs today.
This was great during the industrial revolution when many jobs in manufacturing were new and plentiful.
This video goes more in-depth into how traditional schooling systems are not serving all children
video by Prince Ea on Youtube
We now know that students need proficiency in learning skills such as:
critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication.
They also need proficiency in life skills such as:
flexibility, leadership, initiative, productivity, and social skills.
image taken from https://www.icevonline.com/
Montessori has been shown to have characteristics that lead to more achievement for all students in a variety areas.
1. Academic Achievement
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Improved Math and Literacy Skills: Research (e.g., Lillard & Else-Quest, 2006) has shown that Montessori students often perform as well as or better than peers in traditional settings, particularly in math and language by age 12.
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Stronger Executive Function: Montessori students tend to show better self-regulation, attention, and cognitive flexibility (Diamond & Lee, 2011).
2. Social and Emotional Development
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Greater Social Skills: Montessori students often exhibit higher levels of cooperation, empathy, and prosocial behavior.
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Reduced Behavioral Problems: The emphasis on self-direction and peaceful conflict resolution contributes to fewer behavioral issues.
3. Intrinsic Motivation and Engagement
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Love of Learning: The self-paced, interest-driven approach fosters intrinsic motivation and curiosity.
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Autonomy and Responsibility: Students learn to take initiative and manage their own learning, which correlates with higher engagement.
4. Creativity and Problem-Solving
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Hands-on, Exploratory Learning: Montessori environments encourage experimentation, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving.
5. Long-Term Outcomes
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Some longitudinal studies suggest that Montessori alumni report higher levels of life satisfaction, sense of community, and academic achievement in later years (Dohrmann et al., 2007).
