My child attended the full day preschool program taught by Ms Susan and Ms Isabelle. She loved it…read moreand I thought it was very well run and educational. The environment is safe and kind. We were sad to move too far to keep attending but would recommend it without reservation.

I love their after school program. The environment is safe. The staffs are very child focus and…read morenice. The director of the learning center truly cares about the Children in all areas (emotional, academic, social). She worked on the students to solve conflicts, showed them how to love and care. I am very happy my child is in this school.

Imagination Lab is a truly unique school that doesn't get enough recognition for its innovative…read moreapproach to learning. Unlike traditional schools that often rely on outdated teaching methods, ILS was designed from the ground up to help kids truly thrive both at school and in the modern world. The school focuses heavily on project-based and student-directed learning. This approach not only makes learning more engaging and fun but also cultivates creativity and independent problem-solving skills that are essential for success in today's world. Instead of adhering to a rigid, predetermined curriculum, ILS takes a refreshingly flexible approach. They try to meet kids where they are, both individually and as a group, ensuring that each student remains engaged and appropriately challenged. One of the most innovative aspects of ILS is their mixed-age classes. This setup offers greater flexibility and creates a unique learning environment where younger students can learn from older ones, and older students develop leadership skills by helping their younger peers. The school's philosophy emphasizes positive experiences and reinforcement, understanding that nothing hinders learning more than making kids hate school. There's also a strong focus on social and emotional development, ensuring students treat each other with kindness and respect. As a result, kids genuinely love attending ILS - even those who struggled in more traditional educational settings. The school organizes many fun social events (including some open to visitors), and every semester culminates in a learning exhibition where students showcase their project work and participate in performances. These events are wonderful celebrations of the children's brilliance and creativity, perfectly highlighting everything they've learned. With only about 40 students total, children get much more individual attention, and the staff truly listens to families and tries to accommodate our needs. If you partner with them, they will partner with you, including in challenging situations. While ILS's approach arguably benefits almost any child, it's particularly valuable for students who are somewhat "outside the norm," such as gifted children or those with other learning differences. Although not specifically specialized in giftedness or any type of neurodivergence, the school's philosophy, openness, and flexibility make it naturally more accommodating and suitable for these students compared to conventional schools. Last but not least, the parent community at ILS is incredibly welcoming and close-knit. We all know each other and have become friends, adding another layer of support to the school experience. The tuition isn't cheap, but it's comparable to other private schools in the area. Financial assistance is available for qualifying families, and the tuition includes aftercare until 6 PM - a fantastic feature that my son loves so much he never wants to leave! Bottom line: If you're looking for an educational environment that nurtures creativity, independent thinking, and a love of learning while providing individualized attention, Imagination Lab is a great choice. P.S.: There are some negative reviews that seem concerning. I don't know what may have happened in the past, but that has not been our experience, nor do we know of any families who had such a bad experience.

We are very happy with ILS and think it's an outstanding environment for our child. Socially, the…read moreschool offers a lot of opportunity for kids to interact, play and explore together. The mixed aged groups provide opportunities for the younger kids to learn from the older ones and for the older ones to coach and mentor the younger ones. We have regularly seen our kid go to the older children for support or comfort which warms my heart every single time. Academically the school is very flexible and adjusts content to our childs strengths and weaknesses. For example, our child is studying next grade math and spends more time practicing writing and drawing which are a bit of a challenge. The school also nurtured a great community for families and it's fun connecting with the other parents and siblings.

We couldn't be more thrilled with our decision to move our daughter to this exceptional Montessori…read morepreschool. From the moment we stepped through the doors, we knew we had found something special. The school's approach to communication with children is truly remarkable. The teachers consistently demonstrate a level of respect and patience that is both refreshing and inspiring. It's clear that they view each child as deserving of kindness and understanding, and as unique individuals. One of the standout features of the school is its meticulously organized environment. The classrooms are thoughtfully arranged to promote independence, curiosity, and learning. It's a joy to see how this structured setting allows children to flourish and develop essential life skills. Also, the teachers here have been nothing short of amazing, and have been so kind to all of us. Perhaps the most telling sign of the school's success is the happiness of the children. The children are always smiling and engaged. Our daughter's enthusiasm for school has skyrocketed since joining a year and a half ago, and she quickly gained a confidence and independence that we did not see at the precious school. We were so impressed that we enrolled our younger child as well, and the results have been equally fantastic. Our little one now eagerly anticipates school each day.. seriously, she can't wait to go to school, no tears!

Both my daughters attended this preschool for 3 years. It is located in the beautiful Greenmeadow…read moreneighborhood in Palo Alto and is a great, nurturing environment with wonderful teachers. Both my girls absolutely thrived here and learned so much - they were both reading towards the end of their third year here, knew their numbers and counting and were even naming all the various countries in the map of South America! There is also a lot of focus on building social skills, grace and courtesy, and valuable life lessons like conflict resolution on the playground. Their 3 yrs here really prepared them for elementary school and helped them start kindergarten feeling very prepared and confident. The parent community has been wonderful as well with both our children and us having made many friends over the years. If you are looking for a Montessori preschool for your child I highly recommend this one.

Our child has been attending this preschool, and we've had a really positive experience--especially…read morebecause of the teachers. They are truly the heart of the program. Every teacher we've interacted with has been warm, patient, and genuinely caring toward the kids. It's clear they know each child individually and put a lot of thought into supporting their development and emotional well-being. What stands out most is how attentive and nurturing the teachers are. They create a classroom environment where children feel safe, encouraged, and excited to learn. We often see them getting down to the kids' level to talk with them, guide them through challenges, and celebrate their small victories. That kind of care makes a big difference. Communication has also been great. The teachers are approachable and willing to share updates or discuss anything related to our child's day, which we really appreciate as parents. Overall, we feel grateful that our child is surrounded by such dedicated educators. Their kindness, patience, and commitment to the children really show, and it makes this preschool a wonderful place for little ones to grow and learn.

The staff is very enthusiastic and helpful. We are new to the school but so far so good…read more Schedules and communications are not well organized but with a lot of questions you can get your answers. They have a pick up service that is very convenient at an extra fee. The classes are held in the Community center class rooms which are a little beat up but work.

Ventana School is a truly wonderful school and I'd give it my highest recommendation. It starts…read morewith the leadership, who are a passionate group with a founder's mentality and a strong philosophy on how to inspire lifelong learners. And, this ethos and commitment extends down the line, through the teachers, administrative staff and the students themselves. I am blown away at how well each of the teachers understands the Ventana goals and curiosity-based (Reggio) method of teaching, and how they can explain how classroom structure, lessons and activities relate to it. And at how the kids understand it, and apply it. This is not just a stale mission statement taped to a wall somewhere. It's a real intellectual commitment and culture, and it shows. We've been at Ventana preschool for a couple of years, and a few other great things stand out. First, everyone cares. The environment is nurturing, and beyond that, deeply invested in the long-term success of your child. Second, the parents community is wonderful. We've met great new friends through the program, and been delighted by the way people show up to activities and care for each other with the parent groups. And we've found folks to be pretty down to earth for a Bay Area private school (and we've seen a couple other programs, so this is at least a somewhat qualified comparison). Lastly, we've seen the kind of kids that graduate out of the program. The Ventana philosophy really seems to deliver. The leadership recently noted that in an incoming Stanford class, there are 3 Ventana alums. 3 students out of a single-class graduating size is impressive. More impressive is how well-rounded the 5th graders are. They are articulate, grounded, capable of holding complex abstract extemporaneous conversations with adults. We look forward to the rest of the journey for our little one!

I highly recommend Ventana School to anybody in Bay Area, especially to those who seek a warm and…read morekind community and whole child education where students grow up feeling happy every single day. My four children all enjoy Ventana in their own unique ways and my husband and I are both thankful for having this school in our life. Both in preschool and elementary school, my kids grew up so much at Ventana. I can tell that every teacher loves teaching and they are very enthusiastic in helping children to find learning a true happiness. One of the key words at Ventana is "curiosity" and my kids are always very curious :) Also, they all feel cared and loved by the whole school community, and it's making them nourish very strong self-confidence. At play dates, parks, outside of school activities or even at supermarket, many people have asked where my kids go to school because they play collaboratively, show kindness and have good leadership. I always feel that I myself get great support by school. Small conversations with Ventana teachers at pickup and drop off are always positive and encouraging, and school began providing different kinds of instructive parenting classes after Pandemic and that's very helpful too. Preschool: Lots of hands-on activities The teachers prepare a variety kinds of hands-on activities every day. They are incredible and I can't do the same at home. Through those sensory activities, kids explore their own wonder and learn so naturally. Elementary: Depth of learning Ventana provides a great teacher-student ratio in each classroom. So, each student can get full attention from teachers, and I'm always amazed to see how well the teachers know about my children. The teachers catch when the students need support, and they don't miss the cues when the students are ready to have challenges. That creates ideal educational environment where every single child will acquire firm reading/writing/speaking/communication skills and mathematical ability. In my sense, it's more important how deep they understand rather than how advance they learn, and in this way Ventana alumni are so ready for middle school.

First of all the German is bad, second a Chinese teacher in 4th grade was too strict but taught 1st…read moregrade math, because the Chinese teacher taught math in Chinese. Last The food service is really bad.

Never pressed submit so my review is dated but still accurate. - I just have to give a shout out to…read morethe staff at my children's school during such an insane time in the world. I feel incredibly fortunate that we are part of this community during such trying times. Many people have been so negative and I believe that is primarily due to the fact that this is obviously a terrible time for so many people. INTL is doing everything in their power to provide the best education possible during a world wide pandemic. We have to keep this in mind. My children's teachers have been exceptional considering the challenges of the world right now. We are lucky they even get to go to school. They are excited everyday, I feel like they are safe onsite and that the school is doing everything to the best of their ability. Teachers have found unique ways to share what happens at school with parents online. Pandemic aside- my children are only exposed to Chinese at school and come home singing to themselves in the mirror in Chinese. The program is IB which focuses on creativity and questions. They learn through discovery. The school is as international as you can get in the Silicon Valley which was really important to me having grown up internationally myself. Thank you INTL for working so hard to make such an unreal time in our lives as good as humanly possible.

We rarely write reviews, but this school truly deserves one…read more Before coming here, our son attended another English preschool and had a very difficult experience. He was unhappy, didn't enjoy going to school, and eventually told us he didn't want to go to any school anymore--especially not an English-speaking school. A friend recommended this preschool, so we decided to give it a try. After just one trial day, he came home and told me: "Mom, I want to go back to that school. I really like it there." That was the first time in a long time we had heard him say something positive about school. Because of how much he liked it, we decided to transfer him here. I was initially a little concerned because it is a bilingual Chinese-English preschool. We had previously tried another bilingual program where English exposure was quite limited, and I worried his English development might slow down. Fortunately, that was not the case at all. The English teachers speak excellent English, and the children receive plenty of English exposure throughout the day. Over time, we saw his English improve significantly while he also continued developing his Chinese. These days, he will sometimes speak English to us at home without being prompted. What impressed us even more was how the teachers handled his separation anxiety. When he first started, drop-offs were difficult. There were many mornings when we had to hold him, comfort him, and help him through the transition. The teachers were incredibly patient and caring. They took the time to understand him, help him make friends, and gradually build his confidence. Little by little, things changed. One day, after he had been at the school for a while, he told me: "Mom, I want to be the first one at school." As a parent, that moment meant everything. Today, he happily goes to school, has close friends, enjoys learning, and talks positively about his teachers and classmates. There are also many practical things we appreciate as parents: - The school app provides daily photos and videos, which gives us peace of mind and helps us stay connected to his day. - Tuition is reasonable compared with many other preschools in the area, and lunch and two snacks are included. - They offer summer camp, backup care, and after-school options, which are incredibly helpful for working parents. - The school closes less often than many other programs, making childcare planning much easier. When the school was scheduled to close for Juneteenth, they listened to parent feedback and arranged affordable backup care for families who needed it. - The outdoor playground is large, and there is also a spacious indoor activity area for rainy or very hot days. - The school often goes above and beyond in thoughtful ways. For example, they purchased a Monterey Bay Aquarium membership that families can use for free, encouraging parents to take their children out to explore and learn during school breaks. They also provide things like printed graduation photos and keepsakes at no extra cost. These may seem like small details, but together they show how much thought the school puts into supporting not only the children, but also their families. Looking back, enrolling our son here was one of the best decisions we made during his preschool years. Most importantly, this school helped transform a child who didn't want to go to school into a child who genuinely loves going to school. For that, we will always be grateful.

We couldn't be happier with our decision of sending our first to to the wonderland school. She…read morecould barely talk when started attending, and we worried a lot if she would adjust well since she hadn't really been with people outside our immediate family. The teachers have been very nice in making the transition smooth, to the extent that my daughter often wouldn't want to leave when we pick her up at the end of the schools. The teachers do a good job keeping the parents informed and posted about our dear children. There are fun events every now and then, and my daughter has picked up counting, singing and even poetry in the short span of a few months since she joined. She also made friends and it's always amazing how kids grow and start having social interactions. Big thanks to teachers at wonderland again, and I would recommend this school to any parent.

Having sent both of our kids to Lingli over the past few years, it's hard for me to imagine a…read morebetter place for early childhood Mandarin immersion education. Our younger son went through the daycare program, and our daughter was in the preschool program before moving on. From the start, the teachers stood out: warm, attentive, and genuinely invested in each child. The smaller size of the school creates a close-knit environment where both kids and parents feel known and cared for. There's a real sense of thoughtfulness in how the school is run -- from the little things, like offering fresh cut fruit each morning, to heating up each child's lunch individually. To me, this speaks volumes about the care and intentionality that goes into every part of the day. We felt comfortable almost immediately leaving our kids in Lingli's care. That trust only deepened as we watched them come home with joyful stories and some truly impressive arts and crafts -- many of which still live proudly on our walls. Even now, our daughter looks forward to her brother's pickup time (when she can make it) so she can visit her old teachers and say hi. That says a lot. There were other options for us -- including ones closer to home -- but we chose Lingli for the quality and the energy, and would do so again in a heartbeat. For any parent looking for a Mandarin immersion program in the early years, could not recommend Lingli highly enough.

Would give it 6 stars if I could. We have now sent all 3 of…read moreour children there, and drive from Menlo Park every day - that's how much this school means to us. Susan is an excellent administrator, so caring and runs the school professionally and immaculately. Our son will go every day hug her goodbye at her office, even though she isn't his teacher! They took superb care of my children, from the singing to imaginative play, projects, butterflies, live iguana, performances, also the outside area is perfect and well kept. We have amazing teachers (same teacher, all 3 kids) and are so grateful for them. We are so lucky we had this bilingual education (and that we got in!) to get my kids ready for Kindergarten and beyond.