Children's Garden Montessori School

Center · Denver · 444 Detroit St

What kind of place is this?

Size 66 children licensed In the middle half for Denver centers, where the middle half licenses 40–113. Measured across 1,156 Denver centers, 2026-08-17.
Approach montessori, reggio-emilia

In the program’s own words

“guided by the Montessori philosophy and influenced by the Reggio philosophy” cgmontessori.com, July 2026
“influenced by the Reggio philosophy” cgmontessori.com, July 2026

How this compares

Colorado Department of Early Childhood cited something at 4 of the 4 visits below. Across Denver centers it cites something at about 55% of visits. Each state decides what gets written up, so this compares Denver with Denver and never with another state.

Will it fit our family?

Ages served 18 months to 6 years old
Days / week 5
Schedule Toddler 2-day, Toddler 3-day, Toddler 5-day, Dual Toddler5/Primary, Primary AM/PM, Extended Primary (XP)
Accepts subsidy Yes

What will it cost us?

Toddler $1,242/mo
Preschool $2,042/mo
Part-time $650–$842/mo
Application fee $75

What Shortlist has verified

State quality rating Colorado Shines Level 4
License status Active

State record — Colorado Department of Early Childhood

Last visit
May 22, 2026
On file
4 visits since February 2024 — all of them cited findings
Fixed?
The latest correction deadline was June 21, 2026. Colorado Department of Early Childhood does not publish whether it was made.
Most serious
Colorado Department of Early Childhood does not publish a severity level for a citation, so there is no most-serious to name.

Colorado’s Department of Early Childhood lists each program’s complaints on its Colorado Shines page, with the department’s verdict on each and a report behind it, going back about three years. Older complaints are released only on request. The department does not rank complaints by severity in either place.

May 2026 Supervisory visit 6 findings

Supervisory visit · May 22, 2026

2.218.E · Correction due May 22, 2026

Identified through Director's statement that four children over the age of 36 months are still enrolled in the toddler room. Reviewed 6 child files and observed no documentation of written statement from health care provider or waiver for the 4 children over 36 months old.

Required correction: Toddler programs are for children ages 12-36 months unless otherwise determined by a written statement from a health care provider confirming that the care for the child in the toddler program is appropriate. Correct by 05/22/2026

2.209.A.7

Reviewed 6 child files and observed no current documentation of emergency medical authorization for 3 children.

2.213.B · Correction due May 22, 2026

Reviewed 13 staff files and observed no current documentation of Standard Precautions training for SM12.

Required correction: Obtain and maintain current documentation of Standard Precautions training. Correct by 05/22/2026

2.213.G · Correction due May 22, 2026

Reviewed 13 staff files and observed no current documentation of Abuse Prevention training for SM12.

Required correction: Obtain and maintain current documentation of Abuse Prevention training. Correct by 05/22/2026

2.219.B.2 · Correction due June 21, 2026

Reviewed 6 child files and observed no current documentation of health statement for 2 children.

Required correction: Obtain and maintain current documentation of health statement for all enrolled children. Correct by 06/21/2026

2.220.D · Correction due May 22, 2026

Reviewed 3 children's emergency medications and health care plans and observed 3 children to have over the counter medications without their first and last names.

Required correction: Over the counter medications must be labeled with childrens first and last names. CORRECTED AT TIME OF INSPECTION - director wrote children's first and last names on over the counter medications. No response required. Correct by 05/22/2026

State records file

Oct 2025 Supervisory visit 2 findings

Supervisory visit · October 15, 2025

2.121.D.5 · Correction due October 15, 2025

Reviewed 12 staff files and observed no current documentation of FBI clearance for SM#3.

Required correction: All individuals requiring a background check must review Navigating the Background Check Investigation Unit's (BIU) Webpage powerpoint. Submit verification that staff member #3 has reviewed the powerpoint within 24 hours. Submit documentation of FBI Clearance Letter for staff member #3 with written response to the Specialist. Correct by 10/15/2025

2.219.B.2

Reviewed 6 child files and observed no current health statement for one child.

State records file

Nov 2024 Supervisory visit 6 findings

Supervisory visit · November 18, 2024

2.120.I · Correction due November 18, 2024

Reviewed 13 staff files and observed expired documentation of Trails clearance for staff members Angelina L., Amy L.

Required correction: All individuals requiring a background check must review Navigating the Background Check Investigation Unit's (BIU) Webpage powerpoint. Submit verification that staff members Angelina L., Amy L, have reviewed the powerpoint within 24 hours. Submit documentation of TRAILS Clearance Letters for staff members Angelina L., Amy L. with written response to the Specialist. Correct by 11/18/2024

2.121.D.5

Reviewed 13 staff files and observed expired documentation of FBI clearance letter for staff members Claire J.

2.121.D.4.a · Correction due November 18, 2024

Staff member Amy L working alone in the studio with a group of children. Reviewed 13 staff files and observed expired documentation of Trails clearance for staff member Amy L.

Required correction: All individuals requiring a background check must review Navigating the Background Check Investigation Unit's (BIU) Webpage powerpoint. Submit verification that staff member Amy L, has reviewed the powerpoint within 24 hours. Submit documentation of TRAILS Clearance Letter for staff member, Amy L. with written response to the Specialist. Correct by 11/18/2024

2.230.B · Correction due November 18, 2024

Wooden panels covering the toddler sand box to be uneven causing low points that are potential tripping hazards, a child size plastic snow shovel with a chipped corner on the preschool playground and a small hand shovel with a chipped handle on the toddler playground exposing sharp plastic edges all accessible to children and posing a potential hazard.

Required correction: Immediately make all hazardous items and areas inaccessible to children. CORRECTED AT TIME OF INSPECTION - director removed large and hand held shovels from the playgrounds. Correct by 11/18/2024

The toddler classroom to have a diaper changing pad that measured approximately 20x26 inches in size.

2.206.A · Correction due November 18, 2024

Reviewed 6 child files and observed 3 children to have no documentation of parent/guardian signature confirming receipt of parent handbook.

Required correction: Obtain and maintain parent/guardian signature for all enrolled children confirming receipt of parent handbook. Correct by 11/18/2024

State records file

Feb 2024 Supervisory visit 2 findings

Supervisory visit · February 1, 2024

2.229.C · Correction due February 1, 2024

A container of Purell disinfectant wipes labeled "keep out of reach of children" was sitting on a low counter by the door in the Preschool room (BJ's Room).

Required correction: Items labeled "keep out of reach of children" must be inaccessible to children. Correct immediately. Corrected at time of visit. Staff moved wipes to an upper cabinet so they were inaccessible to children. No further action requried. Correct by 02/01/2024

2.237.H

Two electrical outlets accessible to children in the activity area of Ward Hobbs preschool room were uncovered.

Required correction: In rooms used by children, all electrical outlets that are accessible to children must have protective covers, or

State records file

Where this record comes from

The Department of Early Childhood keeps about three years of complaints on a program’s public page. Anything older is released only on request, as a single file covering the whole state. Shortlist asked for that file under the Colorado Open Records Act and renews it yearly; it is what this page shows for complaints older than the department’s own window.

The file this page is built from arrived on September 13, 2026 and covers complaints the department publishes today, and complaints back to January 2023 obtained by records request. The next request goes in September 2027.

The department publishes a report for each of these visits. Shortlist has not read those reports yet, so this page shows when the state came and not what it found.

Ask for this program’s record now

The department will also review one program’s complete file on request, which is more than either source above contains. Leave your email and Shortlist will ask for Children's Garden Montessori School’s file specifically, instead of waiting for the next one.

Before you tour

Children's Garden Montessori School hasn’t published

A typical day, sick and biting policies.

Ask which of these findings were serious, and what changed.Colorado Department of Early Childhood publishes a correction deadline, never whether the work was done or how serious it was.

Sources and dates

Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.

What kind of place is this

Not yet reported: established.

Will it fit our family

Not yet reported: hours, holiday closures.

What will it cost us

Pricing per provider website, checked July 2026.

Licensing and contact

State record

Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.

Do you run Children's Garden Montessori School? Shortlist has no tuition, hours or ratios for it, because the state does not publish that. Add what is missing. It is free and takes about ten minutes.