Mariner Montessori – Heights Earns Texas Rising Star 4-Star Certification

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We are proud to share an exciting milestone for our school community. Last week, Mariner Montessori at the Heights officially earned Texas Rising Star (TRS) 4-Star certification — the highest quality rating awarded to early childhood education programs in Texas.

This achievement reflects the dedication, consistency, and heart our team brings to the classroom every single day, and it reinforces our commitment to providing an exceptional Montessori experience for the children and families we serve.

What TRS 4-Star Means for Families

Texas Rising Star is the state’s quality rating and improvement system for early childhood education programs. Earning a 4-Star rating means a school meets the most rigorous standards in areas such as:

  • Teacher-child interactions

  • Classroom environment and learning structure

  • Staff training and professional development

  • Family engagement

  • Health and safety practices

For families searching for a preschool in the Heights area, this designation provides confidence and peace of mind. It confirms that the program has been evaluated against high, research-based standards and is recognized for delivering consistent, high-quality early childhood education.

For us, it represents something even more meaningful — a standard we choose to uphold.

A Commitment We Set in Motion Years Ago

Our first campus, Mariner Montessori at the Galleria, earned TRS 4-Star status in 2022. Since then, we made a clear decision as an organization: this would become the quality benchmark for Mariner Montessori.

The Heights campus achieving 4-Star certification continues that commitment. We believe every Mariner location should reflect the same level of excellence, consistency, and care. Families should feel confident knowing that no matter which campus they choose, the standards remain the same.

This is not a one-time goal. It is a long-term promise we made to ourselves, our staff, and our families — to continuously hold our schools to the highest level of quality possible.

Positioned for Future School Choice Opportunities

As early education continues to evolve in Texas, more programs are being developed to help families access high-quality schools, including emerging school voucher and scholarship initiatives.

One important requirement that consistently appears in these programs is a strong emphasis on quality standards. Schools that participate in recognized systems like Texas Rising Star — especially those with 3- or 4-Star ratings — are often better positioned to participate when new opportunities become available.

By maintaining TRS 4-Star status, Mariner Montessori ensures that we remain aligned with the highest expectations set by the state. This allows our campuses to stay prepared for future school choice programs that may support families seeking high-quality early childhood education.

Our focus remains simple: build a strong, high-quality foundation first so that when new opportunities arise, our families and our school are ready.

A Team Effort Worth Celebrating

This accomplishment belongs to our entire Heights team. From leadership to classroom teachers, every person played a role in creating an environment that meets and exceeds the highest standards.

Earning TRS 4-Star status requires preparation, consistency, and a genuine commitment to doing what is best for children. It reflects the daily work happening in every classroom — the thoughtful lessons, the nurturing interactions, and the care given to each child’s development.

We are incredibly grateful to our team for their dedication and to our families for their continued trust and support.

Looking Ahead

With the Heights campus now joining Galleria as a TRS 4-Star school, we continue to build a strong foundation for the future of Mariner Montessori.

Our goal remains steady:
To provide a high-quality, consistent, and nurturing learning environment across every campus we serve.

This recognition is an important milestone, and we are proud of what it represents. More importantly, it motivates us to keep improving, growing, and staying true to the standards that define who we are.

Thank you for being part of the Mariner Montessori community.