1. Bowman School

    1. Bowman School

    0

    Palo Alto, CA

    Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Bowman School

    4.7 (13 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Bowman School Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Bowman School

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Luke S.
    1238
    1852
    510

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    10 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Mik W.
    56
    27
    8

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Bowman School

    Review Highlights - Bowman School

    The Bowman community as a whole is a wonderfully humble and dedicated group of parents, teachers and children.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Montessori Schools 6,456 times last month within 20 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Palo Alto Montessori School

    Palo Alto Montessori School

    4.9
    (58 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    42 years in business
    Certified professionals

    My son attended PAMS from age 2 to 3.5, and we had a truly wonderful experience there…read more He came home every week excited to show us all kinds of handmade projects like paper cows and snakes, drawings, shapes, and even letters he practiced writing. It was very special to watch his creativity and confidence grow over time. PAMS also organizes many fun events throughout the year, especially during the summer. Some of my son's favorites were the cooking classes, gymnastics, dance activities, and visits from fire trucks and police cars. The campus itself is warm, cheerful, and filled with things young kid naturally like, e.g sand boxes What stood out most to us was the kindness and care from the staff and teachers. They are incredibly warm and attentive with the children. Whenever we traveled for more than a couple of weeks, by the second week my son would start saying he missed his school, friends, and teachers. While PAMS is not the type of school that sends daily photo updates, they do keep thoughtful photo albums from school events and activities. Some of those photos are very meaningful to us, especially from when my son first joined the school. I still remember seeing a picture of his teacher holding his hand during a police car visit while he was adjusting to a much larger class than his previous daycare. Moments like that gave us a lot of reassurance as parents. We ultimately left only because we applied to the early learning center of an elementary school we were interested in, and to our surprise, our son was accepted. During that transition, Dinesh was also incredibly supportive and kindly helped by writing evaluation letters for us, which we truly appreciated. Otherwise, we likely would have stayed at PAMS through the kindergarten years. We are very grateful for the care, warmth, and joyful early childhood memories they gave our son.

    My son started at PAMS when he was 3.5, and we elected to keep him there until he started…read morekindergarten. PAMS is not the school for you if you want daily photo updates, lots of field trips, fancy holiday events or rote learning. Instead, it has an unpretentious emphasis on seeing each child for who they are and helping them grow. I believe this is largely due to the Director, Dinesh, who is one of those magical beings capable of getting small humans to listen to him without ever raising his voice. I can attest to the fact that the feedback he gives during parent teacher conferences is unique to each child, and that he genuinely has a good grasp of their personalities and needs. He also believes firmly in letting little kids be little kids, meaning lots of play and not too much anxiety or hovering. The children are encouraged but not forced to explore academically, meaning that some kids will be doing multiplication, spelling words and counting into the thousands, but only if they seem inclined and interested. There IS an emphasis on social interaction, which was perfect for my pandemic child. He really grew in his social confidence over his 2+ years at PAMS, and I must say, as a parent, I adore the families we met here. My second is still too young for PAMS but will be heading there once he is qualified! I know that just like his brother, he will be in good hands.

    Photos
    Palo Alto Montessori School
    Palo Alto Montessori School
    Palo Alto Montessori School at 575 Arastradero
    Palo Alto Montessori School at 575 Arastradero
    Palo Alto Montessori School

    See all

    Palo Alto Montessori School
    Sunshine Preschool Montessori Program

    Sunshine Preschool Montessori Program

    4.8
    (24 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    First of all, I want to start with my daughter's words from last week, when she sat in the car…read moreafter school and said: "Mom, I love Mrs Shawn!" I guess it's the most important words from my child I needed to hear to insure how amazing Sunshine preschool is. 5 months ago when we started going to Sunshine preschool my daughter has been never without me longer than 2 hours. So the thought of her going to school for the whole day was pretty stressful for me and for her. But Mrs Shawn made this adjustment so easy and comfortable for our family, she just covered my daughter with so much love and care, and make her feel like at home. That's the next thing I love about Sunshine preschool: family spirit. Mrs Shawn and Christy created the atmosphere of coziness and joy and you feel a part of their family. Every kid is safe and loved, with a lot of attention and care ( but at the same time my daughter started being so independent). Now she dresses by herself, washes hands after being outside (without reminders), goes potty and flushes by herself, she does a lot of stuff without my help after Mrs Shawn taught her to do it herself. In addition, they do a lot of Montessori activities, singing and dancing ( favorite part of my child), learning how to keep pencil, studying ABC, practicing life skills, painting, reading and spending a lot of time outside. And I feel so blessed to call Sunshine preschool our second family. Also we speak Ukrainian at home and I was so worried how my daughter will adjust to English but Mrs Shawn made an incredibly hard work with my daughter and she speaks English now even at home when she plays by herself. I would like to mention that Mrs Shawn provides a good quality food and it makes my life so easy and my child loves it(especially some Greek food). Believe me you will be the happiest family if your child is in Sunshine preschool.

    Shawn and Chrystie are more like miracle workers. Our son has been at Sunshine preschool for almost…read morea year and a half. He started just after turning 2 and came from a fairly sheltered home life - we had a nanny that gave him 1:1 attention. Shawn and Chrystie created such a loving environment that he adjusted in no time. When we'd drop him off in the morning, Shawn would take Remy in her arms and hold him while he sat with her in her rocking chair to comfort him and ensure he felt loved and secure. When he started out, he was not potty trained and, as first time parents, we had no idea where to start. Shawn and Chrystie walked us through the process which we started over the weekend and helped us potty train our son for over the course of the next week. It was because of their methodology, training (of us and our son), consistency and support that our son got potty trained. A few months later, I gave birth to our second child. Months of adjustment ensued during which Shawn and Chrystie continually provided us with the guidance we desperately needed to help our son through this life-changing transition and emotional support during some of our toughest times. I love that they provide morning snacks, lunch and afternoon snacks. All the food is prepared fresh and all of it is healthy. It takes off the huge burden of preparing meals. Most preschools do not offer this huge advantage. Our little boy's development has grown by leaps and bounds since he started at Sunshine. But just as important, he had learned the difference between right and wrong, understands compassion and kindness. Shawn and Chrystie have become like family for us. We toured many preschools before making this choice, and there is no better choice for a child's introduction into education than Sunshine in the Palo Alto area.

    Photos
    Sunshine Preschool Montessori Program
    Sunshine Preschool Montessori Program
    Sunshine Preschool Montessori Program

    See all

    Guidepost Montessori at Palo Alto

    Guidepost Montessori at Palo Alto

    5.0
    (6 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    My daughter attended Guidepost from 20 months- 28 months, when we decided to move out of state. I…read morewas a previous educator and looked very hard for a place like Guidepost. Leaving Guidepost was one of the hardest decision we had to make in considering this move. Everyone there was the greatest support in transitioning from 1 to 2. Guide Nicole and Makena have such a connection. She is one of the most gentle and professional "guides" I have ever met. It amazes me, and I am at times a little insulted, that Makena was so eager to go to school. At the very heart of their approach was a deep deep respect for the children as individuals. They inspire us to challenge our children and to allow them to grow greater than we ever imagined.

    My son started at Guidepost just after he turned two and it's been the most wonderful first school…read moreexperience. The school leadership and teachers are incredible educators but more importantly amazing people. They've created a really special community and embraced my son and his needs as he begins his education and learns how to socialize with others. I recommend Guidepost to other parents who are looking for a top notch Montessori education and loving environment for their children.

    Photos
    Practical life activities are a core foundation of our Montessori classrooms.
    Practical life activities are a core foundation of our Montessori classrooms.
    A student in our Children's House, a mixed age classroom for students ages 3-6, begin a flower arranging activity.
    A student in our Children's House, a mixed age classroom for students ages 3-6, begin a flower arranging activity.
    One of our toddler students taking a practical life activity off the shelf.

    See all

    One of our toddler students taking a practical life activity off the shelf.
    Good Neighbor Montessori

    Good Neighbor Montessori

    4.2
    (35 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    This school is such a gem! It took me forever to find a school where my son would adapt and happily…read morego to school every morning. And I am so glad I found Good Neighborhood! We tried all the famous, fancy schools in the area, none was a good fit for us. Expect to find a lovely and respectful environment, with teachers who will pay attention to the smallest details to make sure your kids are happy and respected. My daughter just started school for the first time in her life and she is loving it already. When you visit the school, don't expect a sales person to sell you (and sometimes lie to you) about how amazing this school is. They are teachers, great ones at that. Not sales people. They just reopened after the covid lockdown, and the teachers are wearing double protection, they have a very limited number of kids in the school. This is exactly what we wanted, specially now during covid.

    The first thing I noticed since my boy started school here is he's always happy when I drop him and…read morepick him up. He's eager to go to school every day. Ms. Nadya and Ms. Sadaf take a very good care of the kids. They are like grand mother/aunt to the kids. The classroom and yard are roomy and have a lot of things for kids to learn and discover. I like the small size class that GNM offers because every kid are equally paid attention and care. That's so hard to find in PA where pre schools are packed and teachers are exhausted. I hightly recommend GNM for any parents, especially the ones with little toddlers.

    Photos
    Our classroom ~ Farm table and beautiful artwork on the walls.
    Our classroom ~ Farm table and beautiful artwork on the walls.
    Our classroom ~ Practical Life, Sensorial and Feelings area.
    Our classroom ~ Practical Life, Sensorial and Feelings area.
    Our classroom ~ Practical Life/Snack area.

    See all

    Our classroom ~ Practical Life/Snack area.
    Discovery Children's House

    Discovery Children's House

    5.0
    (9 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    I have toured 20+ preschools and this is definitely the best one. We decided to send my son there…read moreimmediately after touring. My son has stayed there for almost 3 years. Several highlights: 1. The cleanest school. I heard that it's common in preschools that one kid gets sick (e.g., flu), the whole class gets it. This has never happened in Discovery (amazing, right?). During this very special school year 2020-2021, there was no COVID case found in this school. 2. The teachers use Positive Discipline to educate kids. They even gave a lecture to parents about it! This is the only preschool that I know which truly does this... (Many teachers in other preschools do not even know Positive Discipline.) 3. This is a true Montessori school, but my son is doing great academically in terms of math, phonics etc. He is super happy every day there. Drawbacks of this school: The teachers focus too much on caring the kids that they may not reply to emails or phone calls quickly. If you are interested, please just walk to their door and talk to them. And this becomes dramatically different after your kid is enrolled: whenever you have any questions regarding to your kid's development, just give them a phone call and they usually respond within 1 day, giving you awesome suggestions (often following Positive Discipline). They just care too much about kids' education, rather than advertising... If you have any questions about this school, please do not hesitate to message me and I am more than happy to help.

    Discovery is an excellent school. My both kids attended here (one is still there) and my daughter…read morewas reading Harry Potter in Kindergarten thanks to Bonnie and the other teachers at Discovery. It is Montessori style and has a very diverse student and teacher population, which we loved. While my kids are doing very well academically due to the school, it wasn't a very "academic" environment. They teach things in a fun way using Montessori and have plenty of enrichment activities - art, music, Mandarin, etc. We have recommended 5+ families to the school that have all loved it. We even know two families who left and then came back within a year after realizing this is the best preschool in the Bay Area!

    Casa dei Bambini School

    Casa dei Bambini School

    4.2
    (22 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    I'm writing this to warn other families about our experience at Casa dei Bambini. While some of the…read moreteachers are great (already left), the leadership and business ethics are beyond disappointing. 1. Lack of Transparency on School Sale The school is permanently closing/selling the site, but management kept us in the dark until it was almost too late. Because they didn't disclose this sooner, many families missed the window to find other high-quality school placements. It feels like they just wanted to keep our tuition locked in as long as possible while they negotiated a deal behind the scenes. 2. Dishonest Billing Practices This was the deal-breaker for us. After our kid transitioned to the Primary class, they continued to charge us the much higher Pre-primary rate. When we called them out, they flat-out refused to adjust it, citing a "policy" that isn't even in our signed contract. It's clear they only did this because we had already prepaid in full. Other families who didn't prepay had their rates adjusted--this kind of discriminatory billing is unprofessional and greedy. 3. Hygiene Concerns The facility isn't as clean as it should be. We've known several kids, including ours, who came home with unexplained red rashes. It raises some serious red flags about their daily sanitization and hygiene standards. 4. Hypocritical Leadership The director, Sandra, puts on a very "sweet" and "nurturing" facade in emails, but it's all about the money. She runs the school like a dictatorship and shuts down any parent concerns with threats of "libel" or debt collection. It's heartbreaking to see a school leader prioritize "proforma financials" and profit margins over the well-being and fair treatment of children and their families. Look elsewhere. Your child deserves a school led by people with actual integrity, not just a polished sales pitch. -------------------------------------------- I am updating this review to address the director's response, which attempts to use "legal frameworks" and "family circumstances" to deflect from unfair business practices. * The "Tuition Credit" Deception: The school claims they offered "future tuition credit" to resolve our dispute. This is a hollow gesture. Why would a family accept "credit" for a school that is being sold or closed? We requested a refund for the price difference after our child transitioned to the Primary class, but the school continued to charge us the significantly higher Pre-primary rate. * No Contractual Basis: The director cites "clearly written contracts", yet failed to point out any clause that justifies overcharging a family for a lower-cost class level simply because they prepaid in full. This "policy" was unilaterally imposed and not part of our signed agreement. * Lack of Transparency: While the director mentions "procedures" for communicating the school's sale, it is ethically wrong to actively collect non-refundable annual pre-payments from families while withholding the fact that the school location is being sold. * Hygiene Concerns: Attributing recurring red rashes solely to "playing in grass" is dismissive when multiple children are affected. Parents deserve sanitization accountability, not excuses. True integrity is shown through fair financial treatment and transparency, not through polished emails or "future credits" for a closing business. I stand by my warning to other families: look elsewhere for a school that honors its agreements and its families.

    The Casa dei Bambini program follows AMI Montessori standards which is hard to find in the…read morePeninsula. Our daughter joined the Palo Alto campus after a year at another high fidelity Montessori program. We found the guides and staff at CdB as wonderful in cultivating strong curiousity and learning skills with a firm and loving hand. I don't know what we would have done without it. In fact, I've recommended it to all of my friends who have a 1 year old. You won't have to worry at all about their school situation until they are 5 or 6 once they enter this program. We have started our daughter in elementary school, and it is also clear that the work is not the same level or as challenging for her in traditional elementary environments. We miss CdB and look forward to our daughter taking advantage of the summer school options to stay connected to the community.

    Photos
    Uniform for Girls.
    Uniform for Girls.
    Hard at work.
    Hard at work.
    Students prepare and serve each other snack as part of a lesson.

    See all

    Students prepare and serve each other snack as part of a lesson.
    Odyssey Montessori

    Odyssey Montessori

    4.3
    (12 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    Odyssey Montessori in Palo Alto has been a wonderful preschool for our family. Our three children,…read more5-year-old twins (now graduated) and a 3-year-old, thrived and loved their time here. Director Marthe's excellent administration of the school contributed greatly to our positive experience. Our kids loved their teachers. Ms. April, Ms. Sophia, and Ms. Bianca helped our twins develop confidence and mastery in foundational concepts such as colors, shapes, letters, manners, counting, addition/subtraction, and basic Chinese characters. Ms. Nuo and Ms. Lupe helped our younger child grow in his motor skills, language skills, and ability to play with others. All three children are fluent in both Chinese and English with support from Odyssey's diverse bilingual atmosphere. The teachers alternated to prepare school lunch, including accommodating our kid's allergies. The thoughtfully implemented Montessori approach fostered independence and curiosity, while ensuring our kids felt happy and secure. Classrooms are well-prepared with engaging, age appropriate activities. For a preschool with energetic caring educators who inspire learning, we highly recommend Odyssey Montessori Palo Alto.

    Odyssey has been a great place for our child. The teachers are kind and caring. They share lots of…read moreupdates and photos, and chatting with them at pickup is such a treat. The activities are fun and help our child learn. It feels calm, safe, and welcoming. We're really happy we found it!

    Photos
    Odyssey Montessori School 100 Addison Ave., Palo Alto, CA
    Odyssey Montessori School 100 Addison Ave., Palo Alto, CA
    Odyssey Montessori
    Odyssey Montessori

    See all

    Friends Nursery School

    Friends Nursery School

    5.0
    (32 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    We have our 4 year old allergic son here. He has several food allergies, so we are very cautious…read moreabout leaving him with others. This is our first experience with care and we are very pleased with it. It has been two months and my son is enjoying his time here, and the teachers are communicative of events related to food. They have done special training regarding Epi pen and food allergies to ensure everyone is trained.

    How can I even begin expressing my gratitude for this school? We were lucky enough to find it for…read moremy older son (pre-pandemic) and now my younger son is set to graduate from here too! It is a gem and has been in the community for generations. It's a play-based school centered around social and emotional development. Having been a part of this community for 5 years, I've seen such growth in all the kids that come through here and prepared for Kinder. I've noticed that the kids graduate here with their creativity in tact, with an insatiable appetite to learn new concepts and ideas. The teachers are nurturing and kind, but most importantly focus on conflict resolution rooted in communication and open dialogue. The kids go into the 3s and 4s every day with new projects and discover new ways to collaborate and creatively play. Lastly, it is a Co-Op which doesn't suit everyone, but I often found that as parents we set examples. And being in a Co-Op gives an opportunity to show service and volunteering to our children. I will be forever indebted.

    Photos
    Friends Nursery School
    Friends Nursery School
    Friends Nursery School

    See all

    Emerson Montessori School

    Emerson Montessori School

    4.1
    (13 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    Available by appointment
    Established in 1993

    I am shocked this school hasn't been reviewed yet. It's been around for over 20 years and they…read morereally are such a gem. Located off Oregon exp- it's in the same building as the preschool heads up but completely separate. It is true Montessori with differentiated learning, one 6th grader taking trig, and incredibly kind teachers. Yes it is small- has three sections. 1/2 grade, 3/4/5 grade and middle school which is new. That being said the teacher ratio is more like 1:5. Their science was impressive too. They were working on strawberry dna- for 1st graders. Classes are about 7-10 kids and it's year round or 10month option. So much more reasonable than other schools. About $2000-2100 a month including after care. Plus they teach Spanish, Mandarin and art and music. No choices- all subjects! Their website does not do the school justice. The teachers- especially raji- really love the kids and know what they are doing. Great place where kids don't bully and all the kids work with each other.

    My child and her friend attended the WriteNow! summer writing camp focused on "creative" writing…read more The teacher Chuck Bernstein, who is also president of the Early Learning Institute at the school, was harsh and punitive to both kids as well as to other students in the class if they didn't do exactly what they were told, down to including very specific story elements in their stories. Even if they did do the assigned writing, but finished early and then worked on something else, they got in trouble - Chuck crumpled one of their poems and nearly threw it away because he thought they were off-task, rather than asking. Every day he had students present at the end of class, always running overtime into pickup time, and then angrily shushed both students and parents who made ANY noise (even just entering at the door, whispers, or rustling papers). An easy fix would be to do these presentations earlier so they didn't run over-time, especially for parents picking up multiple kids at different camps or otherwise on a tight schedule - but he did not react well to this feedback. On the first day of the program, the person at the front also was angry that we were dropping off at the time we did, even though we had paid for the before-care. On the second day they had a sheet of who had before-care and after-care, but did not on the first day. But to get angry at us for dropping off, rather than asking about before-care, is also baffling. The program's flyer boasted that kids would love writing after this. My child went in loving writing and came out disliking it much more than previously, and her friend started out hating writing and ended the same. Since Chuck also teaches at the school, I can only imagine that this harsh approach is one he takes with full-time students during the year, too. We will certainly never return.

    Photos
    Chinese Class
    Chinese Class
    Emerson Montessori School
    Field trip

    See all

    Field trip

    Bowman School - montessori - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...