My daughter is in her second year at Native School and we cannot say enough good things about it!…read moreUnfortunately there has been some bad publicity because a former employee (trying to steal students away to a competing school she was opening) fed parents misinformation that scared them, including launching a really personal attack against the amazing director, Shannon, who is an incredibly transparent and thoughtful preschool director. She hosts regular meetings for parents to talk to her and will also always be happy to hop on a meeting any afternoon to discuss any questions and concerns. The program itself stood out to me immediately for being a really good supportive model for development. The students are not playing "Lord of the Flies" out in the woods, they are guided and supported by amazing teachers who spend their afternoons writing documentation of the learning in their classrooms and designing emergent curriculum. We could not be happier with the school we chose and our daughter loves school passionately. We have even decided to keep her in Native School another year instead of moving to the free public TK because of how much we love the program and the teachers.

***Warning to parents*** My experience with the teachers…read morewas generally good but you could tell there was a disconnect between them and upper management due to the high turnover rate and disruption in teacher continuity. The frequent and disruptive staff changes significantly effected my 4 year old son who was upset to see teachers come and go. At the end of our semester for 2024-2025 it became worse and substitutes/new faces were very common. We were told by some teachers that quit that safety regs/guidelines were not being followed(especially on rainy/stormy days). All that being said, we decided to pull our child out from the Fall 2025 semester. We had already paid for it but we figured we would be returned our reservation money due to the circumstances. Management refused our first attempt to reimburse us even after my child's spot was filled(Bad business etiquette). So here we are with our reviews and our next steps will be small claims. In the contract it states that they will maintain a consistent and properly staffed program...That was not our experience.

Casa Montessori De Carlsbad felt like the right fit immediately just from our first visit, and now…read moremy daughter is starting her second year there this fall. The director and teachers are very warm and kind and the classrooms are so clean and thoughtfully arranged. As a former preschool teacher, I had a long list of things I was looking for in a preschool, and Casa Montessori fits them all: Clear communication on everything, carefully following all licensing requirements, a locked entrance for safety, cheerful and engaging classroom environments, a big outdoor area with opportunities to garden or build gross motor skills, and a warm, home-like environment. We truly appreciate the flexible scheduling; being able to choose half days and pick which days we wanted our daughter to attend was very important to us and not something that many schools in our area offer. I also appreciate how my daughter's belongings always come home with her and nothing has ever gotten lost, even though she is not great at keeping track of things. It's so nice to never need to buy replacement items for anything because everything comes home from school very organized and tidy. The teachers and director make learning a lot of fun and put so much time and care into making birthdays and other special holidays feel extra meaningful. We are grateful that our daughter is able to attend Casa Montessori de Carlsbad and recommend it to anyone who's looking for a high-quality and flexible Montessori school in north county San Diego.

With my background in developmental psychology, I'm definitely picky about early childhood…read moreeducation, and Casa Montessori has been an absolute perfect fit for my daughter! They do an amazing job with the Montessori approach, setting up activities that really encourage creativity, independence, and choice. I love how balanced it is, too--there's a great mix of classroom time, outdoor play, and art projects. The positive impact at home has been huge. My daughter is constantly coming back with new vocabulary and skills that motivate her to clean up after herself. The vibe there is so warm and sweet. Every afternoon, she loves saying goodbye to her teachers and the school bunny before we head home. They also go all out to make celebrations feel extra special. She absolutely loves being part of this community, and couldn't ask for more as a parent.

We feel incredibly blessed to be part of the Highland family. We follow respectful parenting and…read moreare big believers in child led play based learning so Highland was the perfect fit for our family. And the teachers are what make Highland special. They are the most loving authentic human beings on the planet and they love all the children. Each of them treat each child with love and respect in every interaction. We couldn't be more thankful to their impact on our little loves lives. Our middle child entered shy and a little guarded and left transformed- confident and happy. She is now 6 and is thriving beyond our wildest imaginations at kindergarten. Our youngest is in his second year at Highland and he loves school so much so he doesn't want to be picked up until closing and when he is an adult he wants to teach at Highland. Thank you to all at Highland for loving, nurturing and supporting my kiddos so well! PS Highland staff is also diverse, and likely as a result, student population fairly diverse too, which is also of high value to our family. PPS Love that the kids spend so much time outside!

My children did not attend this preschool, this is based on my experience trying to enroll my…read moredaughter in the school. I have sent emails to four different contacts provided by the school website asking about enrollment over several months, and have not received any replies at all. I understand they could be busy or fully enrolled, but at the very least someone could send a one sentence email saying they are full. Extremely disappointing communication, which is too bad because it looks like a lovely place.

This nature school has been an absolute gift for our family. Our kids came home happy, muddy, and…read morefull of stories every day. The staff is caring, the environment is peaceful and inspiring, and the learning is hands-on and meaningful. It's everything we hoped for and more--highly recommend!

We have been searching for an alternative way of learning for our daughter and contemplated home…read moreschool until we found Wild Wander Forest School. It's exactly what we wanted for our child. My daughter age 5 attended the summer camp and she absolutely loved it and thrived with learning in nature. We can't wait for fall school to begin!

We absolutely love Pilgrim! I was going to send my 3 year old son somewhere else, but decided to…read morecheck out Pilgrim last minute before committing and I'm so glad we did! The entire staff are so calm and sweet, the playground is amazing, they have so many awesome toys, and offer art and activities for the kids everyday. They also make holidays so fun and special for the kids. I wish I would have sent my older son here too. There are so many preschools to choose from in Carlsbad, but this one is really centered around the kids and I am just so pleased with the entire experience. I will miss this sweet school when my son goes to TK next year.

We sent both of our children from the ages of 2 to 4 to Pilgrim and we cannot speak highly enough…read moreof the school. It is such a warm/homey environment, and the teachers are so incredibly loving and caring--Miss Katia, Miss Sarah, and Miss Karina have such special places in our hearts. The school is play-based so the kids have many opportunities to explore various activities at their own pace, to use their imaginations, to play outside for a significant amount of time each day. Though the school is at a church, there is no religious curriculum, which our family preferred. Our children loved the school and were always so happy at the end of the day. We can't recommend Pilgrim enough!

My two kids went to the Goddard since they were infants. Since my oldest child started…read moreKindergarten, and we no longer commute to the area for work, and had to find a new preschool for our younger child. The new preschool is good, more expensive, has programs that others schools doesn't, but, if I could, the Goddard would be my choice. The administration has it together. Communication, billing, notices, etc. We don't have to keep asking for things or have to try to figure things out. It's organized and they don't add additional stress to your everyday life. The teachers are incredible, and I mean incredible. From the infant baby Bulaga to the Zebra classes. The nurture, care, and development... I see it, I felt it with my kids; they do everything right from my perspective. Thank you and continue to take care of the teachers and listen to them. They are what helps and add value to the school. Thank you and we miss you all there. Wish everyone continued success and keep developing the wonderful minds that comes across your way.

Sent my first two children here when it first opened at 2 1/2 years old. They attended until…read morekindergarten Three years later I asked to enroll my last child who is now two, as I would of liked to have all my children attend the same preschool. There was no loyalty to me as a parent who helped them establish their fledgling facility. I understand having no availability at the moment but I would appreciate working with a parent who had been loyal, was there from the beginning and helped increase their enrollment by sending many Carlsbad parents to them. Not as much as even a response. Just heads up, the teachers they hire are kind and great with the kids but the owners have always come across as cold and uncaring. More concerned about the bottom dollar than the children's best interest.

I'm a grandma to three kids who've attended here. I've never seen a better school in my life!…read moreClean, nice teachers, newer modern school. They even have healthy school lunches (unlike public school). My mother was a Special Ed teacher, so I grew up hearing about education. I'm soooo impressed! And grateful my grandkids had such a great head start!

When we relocated to the area, one of our biggest concerns was finding a high-quality preschool. We…read morespent hours reading reviews, touring schools, and agonizing over the decision. Ultimately, we were referred to Carlsbad Country Day School by an acquaintance--and we are so grateful we followed that recommendation. From the moment we toured the school, we were impressed. The staff is incredibly warm and welcoming, the campus is clean and beautiful, and the overall atmosphere is calm, joyful, and thoughtfully run. The curriculum is fantastic--our kids enjoy yoga, sports, reading class, and so much more. The school also provides healthy and delicious meals daily, which has been a huge relief for us as busy parents. Even better? The kids love the food! As for their teachers--Mrs. Gina and Ms. Stephanie are absolutely wonderful. You can tell they truly care about their students and pour so much effort into making each day special. Mrs. Gina creates such a positive and engaging learning environment for our older child, and Ms. Stephanie brings so much warmth, fun, and care to our younger child's classroom. We feel so lucky they have these amazing educators in their lives. Our kids are genuinely excited to go to school each day. One of them won't even say goodbye at drop-off, and at pickup, it's like pulling teeth to get them to leave--honestly, we take that as a great sign! The outdoor space is spacious and full of activities to keep them busy and happy. The school also hosts adorable events throughout the year--like a mother/son dance, a Christmas party, and more--which really make families feel connected. They also offer professional school photos twice a year, and the sibling pictures are to die for--some of the cutest we've ever had taken. We truly feel like we won the lottery finding Carlsbad Country Day School. Our only wish is that they went through elementary school too!

This preschool has made such a meaningful difference in my child's development. It's exciting to…read moresee the photos they share throughout the day that show just how much my child is learning. The school has helped my child speak better, socialize more, paint, and engage in activities that truly support their growth. Every teacher we've had so far has been amazing. They're patient, caring, and create an environment where my child feels completely safe and supported. I'm grateful for the love and effort the staff puts into each day.

I think this school is amazing. The teachers do a great job balancing learning and fun. I've seen…read moreso much growth in my 3 year old since he started here. His behavior has improved significantly. He is happy and excited to go to school every day. The Principal and VP's are very involved and work hard to ensure every child is getting their needs met. I highly recommend this school!!