We absolutely love Stratford School in Altadena! My older son is in fifth grade and my younger son…read moreis in first, and both have truly thrived here. The small class sizes mean every child gets individual attention, and the curriculum is very advanced, engaging, and thoughtfully designed to challenge students while keeping learning fun. The teachers and administrators are exceptional, caring, very communicative, and deeply invested in every child's growth. But what really makes Stratford special is the community. The kids are kind, well-behaved, and genuinely happy. The families are wonderful, invested and share the same goal: creating a nurturing, protected environment where children can still be kids. Parents are on the same page about carefully monitoring what our children see and hear, helping them stay innocent and grounded for as long as possible. People often comment on how sweet and polite the Stratford kids are and it's true! This is especially the case for the kids in 5th grade. They are so kind, welcoming and supportive. The school reinforces the same values we prioritize at home: being good citizens, good friends, and good students. Our family's experience with Stratford has been truly life-changing. Before coming here, our older son went through a very difficult 3rd grade year at another school where he experienced bullying. What hurt us most was that the school failed to inform us despite multiple incidents. There was zero communication until something major happened. Our son suffered in silence for much of the year. When we finally discovered what had been happening, we immediately decided to immediately pull him out and make a change. Stratford was already at the top of my list. I had toured the school and met the principal two years earlier when we were exploring different options -- and, by some miracle, there was one spot open in third grade after another student moved over the holidays. Within a week, our son had taken the assessment and started at Stratford. The transformation was incredible. His anger and sadness melted away, and our sweet, happy boy returned. We will be forever grateful for this school. It's more than just an excellent academic environment, it's a refuge, a true community that supports the whole child and we'll never stop being thankful.

An exclusive private school. The school provides high quality education for Pre and Elementary…read morelevel up through middle school. They offer bilingual Mandarin preschool. Impressive. You may set up an appointment with the school head to tour the facility. They have their own parking lot.

We have sent both our children to Firehouse School and have nothing but wonderful things to say…read more Firehouse School balances play and learning really well. Our two kids are very different but have both thrived at Firehouse. The teachers are great - really skilled with children of all types of learning approaches and energy levels, extremely experienced, and very communicative with parents. I highly recommend Firehouse School.

This is a wonderful learning environment. The teachers and staff really are committed to their…read morecraft and the students. They are all kind and smart. The highest caliber we've encountered in the preschool circuit. They also tailor their approach towards the student. My child has been challenged and is doing advanced work for his age because the teachers do not believe in limiting the kids. The facility is cute and well maintained. Also they have a wonderful community of parents who get along and support the school with their presence and supplemental activities. I plan to send my youngest there as well when the time comes which is the best endorsement. If you want a safe, supportive, structured, and familial envío, the firehouse is for you!

We love Woodbury Preschool Village! My daughter started attending at 2 years old, and will join TK…read morein the fall. She enjoys going to school & her language development has been incredible to watch. The teachers and office staff are truly so caring and supportive - you know your child will be in good hands with them. Their curriculum is impressive and their summer program includes a fun activity every Friday that we look forward to. We're honored to be a part of such a wonderful community.

My daughter has been coming here ever since she was about 18 months old. The teachers and staff…read morehave always given her so much love and attention we always felt good about leaving her with them for a good part of her day. The facilities are clean and tidy, there's a great mix of kids and diversity in the families that attend the school, and our daughter absolutely loves it. It's a great spot for anyone looking for preschool.

Like so many parents in the Pasadena area researching private schools, we did alllll the tours. We…read morehadn't heard much about Saint Mark's and always assumed from the name that it would lean heavily religious, which wasn't something we were looking for. We also didn't like that it ended at 6th grade (something we later decided was actually a plus). Toward the end of the touring season we decided to stop in simply because it was close to our work. I am not exaggerating when I say we walked out of that little school under the shady pine trees like "this is The One". Coming from a strictly play-based non-academic preschool, we really wanted to continue letting our kids be kids, learning through play and curiosity. But we also knew we wanted them to be challenged academically. And not to sound boastful but we have nice kids; we wanted them surrounded by other nice kids. I didn't want my kids to lose their sense of just being nice, kind humans. What we found at Saint Mark's was a balance that really worked for us. Academics are strong, learning is hands-on and meaningful, and the kids are still excited. Their teachers clearly care about them. The kids are happy. And nice. Polite and well spoken. During the tour, they looked like they were having a good time being at school, laughing, joking with friends at lunch, singing on the way back from recess. Overall we've been really happy since enrolling. We are now in our third year here. Watching what they do, even in Kinder, has been impressive. They have Writer's Workshop and write diary entries about their Halloween class pumpkin decomposing in a tub for months. In another unit, they raised tomato hornworms we brought in from our garden and watched them transform into hawk moths, documenting the whole process. For Valentine's, I offered to drop off homemade pink play-dough to our worldly first graders (an homage to my pre-k co-op years), assuming they'd say the kids were too old. Instead, they embraced it with rolling pins and cookie cutters. The teachers are so special and genuinely know each kid as an individual, even across grade levels. Small groups in the classroom let kids learn together at the same level, wherever that may be. When my DK-er had a rough start to the school year, his teacher rearranged the daily schedule to help him feel comfortable/safe and wrote me daily emails of his progress. And speaking of progress, I never expected that it would be normal for a progress report from his teacher to include a personalized letter detailing his personality, strengths, leadership, character... It was just so unexpected and thoughtful. I'll admit that when we enrolled, I was focused entirely on academics, student/teacher ratio, kind teachers, diversity, outdoor space, and letting kids be kids. While Saint Mark's checked all those boxes, I didn't realize how special the community would be. They interviewed us as parents and not just our kids, which felt like they care about building a community of families with the same values. (I joke that I would vacation with almost any of these families, and we could definitely get through a zombie apocalypse together) Socially, there are grade-level parent parties in the Fall so you can get to know the other families, sans kids. There are events like the Fall Fest with petting zoos and bounce houses and bake sales and confetti eggs, there are potlucks and picnics, book fair, hikes. There is an annual gala fundraiser where parents can let loose for the night, as well as smaller socials that make it easy to build friendships. There are ways to be ON campus: classroom jobs and PA positions and many ways to give time/talent/donations. You can sign up to stuff red envelopes for Lunar New Year or hand out hot lunch on campus and spy on your kids while they eat. After the fires we did consider relocating. And while it may seem unusual to be temporarily housed on another campus, our kids do get to use the beautiful outdoor spaces, fields, gym and basketball court at EF. What I was initially worried about has become somewhere the kids love to be. We did still have moments of doubt about relocating or not. Ultimately Saint Marks was a big factor in our decision to stay. I know it's wild to think elementary school is what kept us from jumping ship, but we stayed in the Pasadena/Altadena area because of this school. Our kids love it and we love it for our kids. We plan to remain living locally through sixth grade because of the school, and probably longer after hearing where the 6th graders matriculate to. We're really looking forward to the rebuild. We feel incredibly lucky that we found this small, somewhat under-the-radar school almost by accident. It's hard to explain how great the culture is here until you walk through the classrooms and campus and talk to some of the students, parents, and faculty. Like any school it won't be the perfect fit for everyone but for our family our experience has been very very positive.

Dear school seekers, Ultimately we chose Saint Mark's for…read moreour children because it displays balance- we see both modern ideas surrounding whole-child social emotional culture with a more traditional classroom/academic load and structure. Saint Mark's has true authenticity when it comes to role-modeling what community means for our children. The Episcopal elements of school feel universally welcoming to all. As a multi-racial family, we feel very at home with Saint Mark's where DEI is not a department, an option, or a fad but a natural part of the school's identity. When we chose the school we were intentionally seeking academic rigor for our kids; and because the school embraces differentiated learning groups, we know our kids will get what they need in all subjects. The children have lots of movement throughout their day with a wide variety of subjects to explore. The school maintains boundaries with being responsible, respectful, and safe which allows all the students to take risks and lean-in knowing they have a foundation of structure and support behind them. I have noticed our children's imaginations have been flourishing due to their time at school. The teachers are joyful and friendly which invites a warmth. The parent-community is strong (and fun) which is deeper than a good time when we realize we are showing our student-body what it looks like to work-together and create something bigger that everyone can enjoy. The leadership prioritizes modern changes to education while keeping the jump-ropes and math text books in close reach. To open a new campus about six weeks after the Eaton Fire is a true symbol of how strong the community is. Come and tour! All the best, Melissa

Mi hijo está aquí desde que tenía 1 año y 7 meses y ahora en junio cumple 4 años. Pasando por todos…read morelos salones ahora está en el salón de los niños grandes hace 2 semanas exactamente. El ama su escuela va todos los días contento de ver a sus compañeros y a sus profesoras, desde mis Lola, mis Nayeli y Wendy en el toddler room y ahora con mis Juliet y Roxana todas hacen un trabajo excepcional cuidando y enseñando a nuestros hijos, mantenemos la comunicación constante y es un ambiente donde me siento segura de que mi niño esté, me da mucha tristeza los comentarios mal intencionados de las personas sabiendo todo el esfuerzo que la escuela Princeton Montessori hace para que todo funcione ahí... Doy gracias a la escuela de que cuiden, enseñen y quieran a mi niño tanto.

Both of my sons have attended this school/daycare, and I couldn't be happier with the results. My…read moreoldest son graduated from pre-K last year and is now excelling in a French immersion program at kindergarten. My younger son is still in pre-K at Princeton, he loves it and is thriving there under the the instruction of Ms Julietta. I couldn't recommend this location any higher.

I LOVE this school. My daughter has been going here for a year and has blossomed. She is 4 and is…read morelearning to read and write from the head of the school who is a doctor of child development. The teachers are professional, sincere, and dedicated. They feel like family. My daughter has grown socially, emotionally, and intellectually. She gets to play with animals and learns to be kind to them, she gets to play in grass and dirt, she gets to climb trees, and there is no TV/smart devices. Plus, the teachers cook delicious and nutritious meals everyday for the kids. This is NOT the school for parents who want an institutional, shiny new, cookie-cutter school experience for their kid. If you value a nature environment with one on one teaching, this is your school.

My kids, 4 and 2, enjoy and love being here!! If you are looking for a place where your child cam…read moredebelop social skills while they run and play, this is the right place! I love seeing them getting dirts all over their cloths and faces telling me that they are really having fun in the nature. If you are looking for a pre-school that focuses only on studying like a real school, this is not your place.

I feel so incredibly lucky to have had my daughter attend Parents and Children. Today is the last…read moreday of the school year, and while I'm sad that she is graduating, I'm also very grateful for the experience she had. I strongly believe in the schools foundational curriculum of play based learning. My daughter truly enjoys learning because of the fun atmosphere they've created around it. Nothing is forced, curiosity is nurtured, and they are free and independent to explore what they want to. The teachers are all so warm and kind, they really make preschool feel like a second home not to just my daughter but myself included. Picking up my daughter with my youngest has become one of our favorite things to do everyday because we feel so welcomed and the environment is always bustling with activities and laughter. The staff is incredible. They've always taken such great care of my daughter even during her toughest moments, she was never scolded or punished, they've always taken a kind and gentle approach which I really appreciate and helped my daughter work through some tough times. Especially miss Conny, she not only kept me updated with what my daughter was working through, but gave me tips, shared personal experiences, and was just there as a friend when I had those tough mornings. This school is an absolute treasure.

Parents and Children's has gone above and beyond in keeping our daughter's experience and…read moreenvironment as healthy as possible during their return from the Covid-19 pandemic. It is of no surprise that they would make this transition so seamless, the teachers have been so nurturing since day one. It speaks volumes when your little one is very excited to go to school Monday morning and shares all the excitement of a school day. We couldn't be more grateful for our daughter's preschool, it's been a big part of her life and we are looking forward to when our 2nd little one could attend in the fall. We know that one day they will look back and remember Parents & Children's fondly just like their father does, as he was fortunate enough to attend Parents and Children's during his pre-K years. The fact that we are a multi-general Parents and Children's family evidences the educational, healthy, and happy experience they will create for your kids. P.S. they make THE best art projects and sensory activities!

I never write reviews but I wanted to include my experience. The principal is a loving individual…read morewhose personality positively impacts the school environment but she needs to be more organized and skilled as an administrative educator. She lacks the knowledge and skills to manage the learning environment including teachers, student issues, and special student needs. The small class size seems appealing but quickly you realize that many of the teachers are still overwhelmed and unable to meet the educational needs of the students. My opinion was validated by several other parents. I would investigate the school and your needs very, very carefully before sending your child there. Our educational experience was substandard.

This school is terrible. If your child is disabled don't send them here. I was told my son isn't a…read moregood fit and needs to go somewhere else. No inclusion terrible

Our son attended Olive Tree full time from ages 2 to 4 and a half. What a wonderful experience!…read moreOlive Tree was so important for his development, joy, and sense of community. He made his first friends here, learned so many things, and had a blast. We are grateful for their play-based, mixed-age, small size class, and for teachers Miss Brenda, Miss Jackie, and Miss Brianna, and their kindness. He has moved on to TK now but continues to ask when he's going to go back to Olive Tree. We will miss this place and know how important it's been for our little guy. Thank you for everything. Highly recommend for the little ones.

Our daughter's been at Olive Tree full-time for almost three years--since she was 8 mos. As we…read moreprepare to "graduate" her to another program, I wanted to share how amazing our experience has been here. Since day one, the teachers have cared for our little girl as their own. Most importantly, this experience has been consistent. Our daughter knows everyone by name and loves coming over to see them. Other families have become close friends, and once strangers have turned into bffs. In almost three years, we've never had AN issue... that speaks volumes. She learned her ABCs here, she learned to count, and even became quite the artist while @ OT. Although we're sad to see her go and move on to a different setting, we know that in her place, another student will arrive and benefit from this special little community.

We are so incredibly grateful for our daughter's experience at the International Montessori Academy…read more(IMA) in Pasadena. We simply cannot recommend this school enough! Our daughter was in Ms. Kenia and Ms. Citlally's class, and the growth we've witnessed has been remarkable. She has learned so much while at IMA, from essential manners to grasping the basics of how to read. Key Highlights of IMA: Exceptional Teachers and Staff: Ms. Kenia and Ms. Citlally, along with the entire staff, are truly loving, warm, and caring. The environment they cultivate is exactly what we had hoped for. A special thank you to Ms. Susie and Ms. Ivy for their dedication and kindness. Enriching Afterschool Program: We were very impressed with the breadth of their afterschool offerings, which included wonderful exposure to Spanish, Mandarin, and Yoga. Outstanding Communication: One thing we truly appreciate is how great IMA is at communicating with parents. This clear and proactive communication made us feel connected and informed every step of the way. We are truly sad to be leaving IMA. It is a fantastic place for children to learn, grow, and thrive in a warm and nurturing setting. Thank you again to the wonderful teachers and staff!

We have had such a lovely experience at IMA. First of all, I didn't realize that schools needed to…read morebe certified Montessori -- this is one of the few schools in SoCal that is actually certified, and it definitely shows. Our children have been to other "montessori" preschools that weren't certified, and they were completely different. At IMA the staff are highly trained, knowledgeable, and responsive. The classroom environment is beautiful and quiet, and filled with activities for the kids. Our son has thrived here. He loves his teacher and friends. The IMA parents community is also wonderful, the staff shares parent's contact information so it's easy for us to have play dates with other families. 100% recommend with no reservations (as a parent whose children have been to a combined 8 daycares!). It's such a relief to drop my son off at school knowing he will be safe and well taken care of in an environment where he can grow and thrive.