A wonderful school! We love it! We can't say enough positive things about Bernie's Montessori! It's an amazing school with skilled, nurturing teachers in an extremely convenient Downtown Minneapolis location. Our daughter started at Bernie's when she was only 2 years and 9 months, and now she's 5 1/2. The caring, nurturing, and awesome teachers really get to know children on an individual basis, plus Judy, the fantastic director, Christine, Jessica and Staci have been there for many years, and are all talented, patient and kind. They do an amazing job with the children, encouraging discovery and learning through Montessori time, free play, and with many field trips, weekly music class, and bi annual performances. Dance and drama is available every week, and you can't beat the location and convenience, especially for working families. Plus, it's very reasonably priced. As our daughter is moving on to kindergarten at a different school, we're confident that she's prepared academically and socially. We'll miss the daily conversations with teachers and other parents, the small close knit community, and diverse experiences our daughter was exposed to.You can trust Bernie's Montessori to teach and reinforce kindness and compassion, while encouraging fun, discovery and learning at the child's own pace. Bernie's Montessori is the best! read more

The staff are really great with all the kids and really personable with the parents as well. My child really enjoys the weekly music class and we enjoy that at just over 3 years old our child has learned respect, manners, and a healthy sense of independence. We also really like that this preschool does real field trips, unlike chain "preschools". It is evident from our discourse with the teachers and our child that the teachers care for her and work with her and foster healthy relationships between all the children. We really appreciate how the staff engages parents and the kids and don't limit how much or how quickly a child can learn. The tuition is reasonable and we really like the fact that the children bring lunches from home so they aren't being served food service meals (a fridge is available for storing food). We also really like that there is a separate room for napping, where the kids have their own hanging bag for their nap stuff, rather than having kids lay right next to the toy shelves, like typical day cares. I highly recommend Bernie's Montessori in downtown Minneapolis for any parent looking for a well-rounded, caring preschool. read more

I was a stay at home mom for the first three years of my son's life. So when it came time for me to return to work, I was very anxious about leaving him and it was important to me to find a place that felt like home, filled with people who genuinely cared about the children. After touring Bernie's Montessori and meeting Judy and her dedicated staff, I knew it was the right fit for us. The transition has been unbelievably smooth. My son is welcomed every morning with big smiles and hugs. He LOVES going to "school" and it has been a joy to watch him learn and grow here over the past six months. Within weeks of starting at Bernie's, he was reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and telling me about different countries, the holidays they celebrate and the animals that live there. He has learned to engage with other children and has made many new friends, whom he talks about often. He also enjoys Music with Ike on Thursdays, Show and Tell on Fridays, and the many field trips the school takes throughout the year. I HIGHLY recommend Bernie's Montessori. read more

We temporarily relocated to Minneapolis and were fortunate to have our 3 year old at Bernie's for a year. The transition was seamless, the place though not huge is well structured and welcoming. We saw big improvement in our daughter's communication and motor skills. There's a lot of regular activities like music, show-and-tell, monthly field trips and artworks like cutting and painting. She loved going to Bernie's everyday and received warm smiles and hugs - every morning and even before leaving. My daughter felt so much at-home. Unfortunately we had to pull her out when she was just into alphabets and writing (to leave Minneapolis and go back). She thoroughly enjoyed her time at Bernie's and made some good friends, too, whom she still mentions often. The one standard rate irrespective of when we drop or pick her up was a huge plus as it provided so much flexibility with our schedule. A big THANK YOU to Miss Judy, Miss Christine, Miss Stacy and the staff at Bernie's for all their effort and good wishes. read more

I HIGHLY recommend Bernie's to anyone looking for a school/child care center in the downtown Minneapolis area. It is truly a hidden/unknown gem in downtown. We visited every child care center in downtown looking for the right fit. Bernie's instantly felt right the moment we walked in and my son naturally engaged with the teachers and other children at the school, asking if he could start that day. I knew then and there that this school was the right one for us. This hold trues to this day. My son absolutely loves going to school every day. He has truly excelled both educationally and developmentally since starting at Bernie's. This is due to the dedication that Judy and her staff gives each and every child to ensure that they are developing them in the manner that works best of that child. It is a wonderful small center that really give the since of home and makes everyone feel like they are truly part of the Bernie's family. read more

My son is attending Bernie's Montessori at the downtown Minneapolis location and he loves it. This really is a hidden gem in the downtown area due to the excellent staff and really cool activities. Judy runs a wonderful daycare and her years of experience really show in the happiness and calmness of the children. Christine is also an excellent teacher who provides clear and consistent instruction. The children are comfortable, happy, and encouraged to have an adventurous and interested attitude in the world around them. I feel Bernie's Montessori is a step above a usual daycare - for example, they have special field trips throughout the year that expose the children to all kinds of great places in the Minneapolis area - the Bell Museum, Old Log Theatre, public library, just to name a few. There is a kindness and understanding from Bernie's staff that only comes from real professionals. I would recommend Bernie's to anyone. read more

My daughter attends Bernie's Montessori School in downtown Minneapolis. We are consistently pleased with the communication from the staff and the way they treat our daughter and her classmates and their expectation that the children treat each other, and the staff, respectfully. My daughter really enjoys the field trips the school takes, as well as music class. She is learning (at just over 3 years old) how to write her numbers and loves to show us her projects. We are new to Montessori, but have found this school to be a great representation and are fully surprised at the level of self-reliance our daughter has gained from learning in a Montessori environment. I would recommend this school to any downtown parents - it's a little slice of quaint in bustling downtown that we'd previously hoped for but didn't find until now. read more

Five starts, Great Staff! My daughter has blossomed at Bernie's. We could not be happier with the flexibility of the staff and the way in which the school is operated. My daughter looks forward to going to school and not dreading a day care. The staff is caring and nurturing while allowing our daughter to explore and grow through her learning. I would consider this a hybrid Montessori which is what i prefer, a little bit of each. Manners are taught and expected, children learn a level of independence which will help them throughout life. They take many constructive yet fun field trips, go for walks and even picnics. We only wished we would have found this sooner for our older daughters. read more

In our family, we are big fans of Bernie's! Our two sons have been at Bernie's Montessori since last August and we have loved every single day since then. All the staff are extremely nice and they all care so much about the well being of the kids and their learning. At Bernie's they have the right balance between discipline and fun. Kids are happy and learn. Their system is also very efficient: kids learn a lot (reading, math, geography, history and social skills) while also having a lot of time for play inside and outside, and fun trips out of the school. In two words: Bernie's means happiness and learning. I totally recommend it to anyone. read more

This school is fantastic. They love and educate every student. Beyond just educating the students, they teach about differences, how to problem solve, how to handle emotions and how to talk to other kids when they have disagreements. My daughter completed 3 years of schooling here and she is doing great at her new kindergarten. Bernies prepared her so well for Kindergarten and beyond. My son is still currently enrolled and loves going everyday. Judy and all her staff are always around and always willing to work through any questions or concerns you might have. I can't say enough good things about this school. read more

Miss Judy and the staff are wonderful. I have sent both of my children here over the last seven years and it has been a great environment for them. They do a great job at creating.boundries for kids, while always respecting their personhood. At Bernie's they also empahsize getting the kids out into the world. They do field trips, especially in the summer. I can't say enough positive things about Bernie's. read more

Bernie's is a hidden gem in the city. Warm teachers, great environment for social development, wonderful outdoor space and lots of educational and fun field trips. My daughter has been there since 2.5 years and was Kindergarten ready at 4. Convenient parking/drop off for parents, and the price is right too. read more

Bernie's is an amazing place! Both my kids went there and loved it! They learned so much and made so many friends! We were sad to leave but they were very well prepared to move on to elementary school. Judy really cares about the kids and has taught them so much. Would recommend to any of my friends! read more