This daycare has gone downhill and is no longer a good or responsible option for families. Please…read moredo your research before considering La Petite Academy.
Our family was enrolled here for three years, and along with four other families, we all recently left for another daycare. Leaving was a difficult decision, but we all experienced the same issues: chronic short staffing, a "profit first, kids second" mentality, lack of cleanliness, minimal curriculum, high staff turnover, and very poor management over the last two years.
While some teachers were truly excellent, most of them have since left. The teachers who remained were overworked and under-supported, and it was obvious in their daily frustration. Management offered no real help, and both the former and current directors ignored parent concerns.
Serious problems include:
Constant classroom combining: 2-, 3-, and 4-year-olds are frequently combined into one class to cut costs rather than hiring adequate staff. This harms child development, disrupts curriculum, and discourages the kids.
Neglect of required standards: PTA meetings, which are supposed to happen twice a year, never occurred. Curriculum tracking was virtually nonexistent--the most consistent work we saw were weekly hand paintings, with little educational structure beyond that.
Unqualified and ineffective leadership: The new director, Mellisa E., initially seemed warm, but quickly proved inexperienced and unprofessional. Her overly cheerful demeanor came across as patronizing, and she failed to manage staff or address ongoing problems. Under her leadership, two teachers and one assistant director walked out without notice in a single month.
Poor oversight: Regional leadership is absent. Accountability and support from upper management are nonexistent.
Facility issues: The building has increasingly become dirty and poorly maintained.
The numbers speak for themselves: in just three years, we counted 16 teachers, 4 assistant directors, and 3 directors cycling through this facility. That's not counting the latest 3 walkouts mentioned and only counts who we can remember by name. The turnover rate is alarmingly high, leaving children without consistency or stability.
Most concerning of all, La Petite recently received seven citations from the California Department of Social Services during a single visit under the new director. That alone should give families serious pause.
Before you consider enrolling your child here, I strongly recommend you ask these questions:
What is the turnover rate for teachers and directors?
How long has each teacher worked here, and what are their credentials?
How many teachers do you have and which classrooms are they assigned to?
How many kids do you currently have enrolled in each class and how many are returning next school year?
What is your curriculum, and how do you track a child's progress?
How often are PTA meetings held, and where are the records?
How is cleanliness monitored and maintained?
Why were multiple citations recently issued by the state?
Tip: You can sign up for email alerts for visits and citations from California Department of Social Services for any care facility. If your day care or one you are monitoring gets visited or cited, you will know and can ask questions.
If you want the most expensive subpar babysitting service, this may be the place. But if you want a daycare that prioritizes children, growth, and stability, look elsewhere. Five families--including ours--left in the same month, and I wish there had been more honest reviews like this before we enrolled three years ago.
[UPDATE]
Courtney, I question whether you are truly the business owner. In my experience, a genuine owner would not ask a client to call a generic 1-800 number to address a public review. A professional owner prioritizes their reputation, reaches out directly, and takes the time to understand and resolve client concerns.
If you are indeed the owner and your stated priority is the "safety, well-being, and growth of children," I expect you to review my information and contact me directly within 7 days (by 10/9/25). Should you do so, I will consider revising my 2-star rating. If not, it will only validate my concerns, and I will reduce my rating to 1 star.
[UPDATE]
Courtney, you nor anyone at your corporate office took any he opportunity to follow up. I have reduced my rating to 1-star.
I sincerely hope you and brand management reflect on the impact your facility has caused families and most importantly the children.
