Little Sunshine Playhouse-University City provides a warm, engaging, and well-run environment for…read morechildren. The staff is welcoming, diverse, professional, and genuinely nurturing. The school balances structure with fun, offering creative themes and activities that keep children excited to learn. From the beginning, the environment has felt intentional, secure, and thoughtfully designed for kids. Our family enrolled our daughter in August 2025. Before that, she stayed home full-time until age two and was very much a "stage 5 Velcro baby." The transition was emotional at first, especially at drop-off, but the growth we've seen since then has been incredibly encouraging. She now confidently gives hugs goodbye, happily says "bye-bye," and walks into her classroom with ease. She genuinely enjoys school and is happy during pick-up, which gives us peace of mind. There have been a few instances where we needed to remind staff to clean our child's face, hands, or nose after meals or messy play, as well as change her into clean clothes when needed. Parents are asked to provide at least two sets of weather-appropriate spare clothes for this purpose, and on occasion, changes were not made as promptly as we would have preferred. There have also been times when personal items were misplaced. That said, staff consistently communicated with us, made genuine efforts to locate items, and worked to improve. We understand that managing multiple toddlers and their belongings is a common challenge in any preschool setting. What matters to us is that concerns are taken seriously and addressed, which has been our overall experience here. Leadership has been a major strength. Ms. Katelyn, the Director, played a large role in our decision to choose LSP. As parents who were understandably nervous, she spent significant time with us before enrollment, both on the phone and in person, explaining the school's philosophy, operations, safety measures, and procedures. She remains approachable, responsive, and consistently kind. Ms. Lucy, the Assistant Director, is equally welcoming, knowledgeable, and easy to communicate with. Staff shout-outs: Ms. Amanda, a head teacher, is exceptionally friendly, caring, and highly creative. Her warmth and creativity are evident throughout the school. Mr. Daniel is upbeat, professional, and consistently friendly during evening pick-ups. Ms. Alina, another head teacher, is more reserved and has a straightforward, businesslike communication style. Her creativity is visible in school projects and displays. Ms. Niya, our child's current lead teacher, met with us prior to enrollment, gave us a full tour of the school and playground, and offered reassurance during the transition. She is warm, attentive, and a strong educator. Ms. Victoria, Ms. Sabrina, Ms. Jaela, Ms. Wafae, Ms. Nabila, and Ms. Cassie have all been kind, professional, and attentive in their roles. Communication is excellent. Phones are always answered, and messages through the app are returned promptly, usually within the hour. When concerns are raised, leadership responds quickly and respectfully. The school is clean, beautifully decorated, and secure. Drop-off and pick-up are smooth, classroom ratios are followed, and security measures (controlled entry, cameras, and app communication) are strong. Meals and snacks are included, hours are 6:30 AM-6 PM, and nap time is well-structured and age-appropriate. One important note for families is cost. It's expensive. Little Sunshine Playhouse is on the higher end and is priced as a premium program. Overall, our family is very happy with Little Sunshine Playhouse-University City and would confidently recommend it to families seeking a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment for their child.

I would not recommend this school/daycare…read more The amount of turnover is ridiculous. You never know who will be watching your child from day to day. Leadership will move your children around to accommodate state requirements for staffing, so children are moved up before they are ready so new students can be added to the program. Your child is not a child, they are a dollar sign.

My two sons are in their second year at Ethical Society Nursery School and we could not be happier…read morewith our experience. The play-based learning structure combined with talented, nurturing teachers has resulted in so many positive developmental strides in my children. They have made great friends and it's become our home away from home. With affordable tuition and an amazing community, this is seriously the best preschool in the Ladue / Clayton / U City area!

So thankful for this cozy, caring, wonderful school. Our daughter is so happy to go to school every…read moremorning. We've made wonderful friendships with parents and kids and staff alike. Thank you ESNS for being reasonably priced, flexible, and welcoming. We're so thankful for our second home

My son is currently in the Junior classroom with Ms. Chadisy and Ms. Irma and they are absolutely…read moreamazing! My son was recently diagnosed with autism and they have been a huge blessing with keeping him right on track! They push him to try new things outside of his comfort zone and make him feel supported while doing so! My daughter had recently moved into Tweenies with Ms. Amy and Ms. Amber and they have made the transition so smooth! She was most recently in the Infant classroom with Ms. Tara and Ms. Ashley and they were absolutely amazing! They helped support her development in so many ways!

My daughter started here at 3 months old and we LOVE IT! She absolutely loves her teachers Ms…read more Ashley and Ms. Tara! They also have made me extremely comfortable leaving her there especially as a new mom. I am so thankful for the both of them. We highly recommend!

We originally checked out Samuel preschool because it came highly recommended by a neighbor, the…read morelocation was great and the hours were what we wanted. What we've found is a wonderful program where our son has developed into a curious and imaginative boy. I attribute some of this to the fact that the children are exposed to different subjects and topics, the artwork that comes home is truly his own (not done by the teacher) and they are given responsibility appropriate for their age. I am glad we found Samuel for our son and are excited that we have just enrolled our younger son in their young 2's program this January. There are many programs available, but if you want one of the best, check out Samuel Pre-K!

My daughter has attended Samuel for two years and it's been a wonderful experience. We are looking…read moreforward to sending her younger sister there next year as well. As both a parent and certified Early Childhood teacher, I can confidently say that this preschool and it's staff have the young students best interests at the forefront of all they do. Children at Samuel are cared for and feel safe and secure as they learn to love school! -

No child should have to go through the stress and anxiety MICDS presents. Numerous times I've been…read moretold from other MICDS parents that college, and not just community colleges but well known universities, are easier then MICDS. Although I value a hard curriculum that prepares the students for the real world, I want my child to be able to make lasting memories in high school and actually enjoy their youth while they still have it, not be suffocating under an unreasonable workload even for an adult, and a school that doesn't care at all about their students, only how they look to the people who bring in the money. Not to mention they are so intrigued by showing off to the outside world that they forget about the suffering they are putting their students under. Those state of the art new methods of teaching? They shouldn't be in schools. But MICDS would rather be able to say that they have unique methods of teaching then actually realize that these teaching styles are not and never will help their students succeed in the long run. Not to mention, if I'm spending this much money on a tuition for a high school, then there should not have been (and true story) crickets in the ceiling of the basement (where there are art classrooms!) while the part of the school that the parents see was being completely and unnecessarily redone. Now, if it was one cricket for a couple days I could understand. Things happen. But it was multiple crickets over a course of months and months, almost the entire school year, even after multiple teachers had reported the infestation multiple times. The racist and homophobic morals around this school is an absolute disaster. I truly feel like this school is stuck in the 1950s and will never come out. Although the school itself does not present itself with this morals, thankfully, you can see it everywhere. Students of color or students of the LGBTQ+ community do not feel safe, especially those of the LGBTQ+ community. I have seen it first hand numerous times, mainly through the students but also through the teachers. I can understand having a dress code, to an extent. Nut when students are not able to be confident and express themselves through what they wear, as long as it's appropriate, how is the future generation supposed to be themselves? The only thing MICDS is teaching these students is to be followers, instead of making their own path in the world. The professional dress days? Horribly sexist. 1) no students should be forced to dress up in an already horrible environment full of depression simply for the school to show off to whoever might be speaking that day. 2) Why on Earth on girls not allowed to wear the same thing boys wear? Boys are allowed to show their shoulders, but girl's cant? Even on normal days there isn't a speaker? Maybe instead of confining girls we need to be teaching our sons not to look at girls as objects. If girls can not be distracted by boy's shoulders, then boys can not be distracted by girl's shoulders. Continuing on how trashy the campus is, when my daughter had a knee injury and was on crutches she had to hobble up the stairs multiple times because of elevators being broken. Elevators break, I get that, but if it's not being fixed and they know students depend on it, there is simply no excuse. The elevator down to the basement where the art classrooms are is so old and crappy that it shakes when you go down. Not to mention it's in the wide open with no top, making it a mortifying experience for anybody that has to ride it. So mortifying, in fact, that every student I have talked to chooses to go down the stairs one by one, on whatever medical device they might have, instead of having to use that pathetic elevator. I'm embarrassed by where my money is going, knowing it's supposed to be bettering the school and its not. I read another comment that said the teachers are invested and nurturing. That is as far away from the truth as possible. Yes, there are some teachers who are amazing. But most of them, easily more then half, have no problem expressing how much they don't want to be there. They express it to the students, to the parents, to each other, and in their behavior on a constant basis. I don't blame them, I would absolutely hate to work at MICDS as well. But that is no environment I want my student in, especially when the school already has such a small amount of support for the students in an already impossible atmosphere. The parent teacher conferences are so cheesy that they use the same questions over and over again each year and the conference is run by the student answering those questions. There's no personalization to see how your student is actually doing, much less resources to help your student in areas they might be struggling, which I guarantee you they will be. No student ever should be so punished that they have to go to MICDS, ever. It most definitely needs to change immensely immediately or be shut down.

Think before you send your child. For me growing up in St. Louis this was the dream school. So when…read moreit was time for my child to go to school it's the only one I really considered. The first few years were ok but by third grade things started changing. The curriculum moves fast and they don't slow down for anyone. It's high level intense. If your child has trouble they're first answer is to get a tutor and the ones they recommend are expensive. By high school most kids have at least one tutor if not two. That's in addition to the extra after school help you pay for. That's on top of a tuition over $20k per year. Speaking of money - if you don't have it be prepared to be left out socially. The parents all know each other They either went there together or all participate in the same high dollar country clubs, charity clubs etc. if you can't afford those know that they are forming bonds with each other along with their kids that you'll never achieve and you will feel left out. They're all nice but there's definitely a "you don't fit here " feeling if you don't run in the same circles socially. While we didn't experience bullying to a concerning degree I saw other children who were and you bet the kids with certain last names were given preferential treatment. So do i recommend the school? Sort of. Maybe. If you fit in, your child will get the very best education available in St. Louis. But the flip side of the coin is that if there are any issues be prepared to sink or swim on your own.

My family and I highly recommend the Christian Academy to everyone! This is a loving school with…read moreBIG family values. Transferring our son here mid preschool season was the BEST decision we ever made. His character as a friend to classmates improved, including his math skills and the basics of site words for reading. He can read now and he is only in Kindergarten.

From the owner: Specializing in: - Preschools & Kindergarten…read more- Day Care Centers & Nurseries - Private Schools (K-12) - Child Care - Schools

My son attended Westport from infancy through the 3-year-old class. The setup is concerning:…read morebabies, toddlers, then suddenly 3-year-olds placed with 4-5-year-olds in a larger room. That alone shows how little thought goes into the children's development here. This daycare receives funding, yet when I was one of the top two contributors of a fundraiser, the money went to an employee's personal house fire relief instead of the children. You would think a go fund me account would be started instead of using money from a fundraiser. Where's the integrity? Without cameras, parents have no way of knowing what really happens during diapering or bathroom routines, and children can't always explain it. That lack of transparency is unacceptable. Daycare is supposed to support working parents, not make us question our child's safety. Trust is everything in childcare, and this place failed at the most basic level. On top of that, tuition rates were sketchy. I asked multiple times about a rate adjustment after my son was potty trained with moving to the 3 year old bigger class, and got vague answers until his last day--when suddenly the rate dropped by $40. This center has been in business for years, but that doesn't mean it's safe or trustworthy. Longevity without integrity means nothing. I am grateful my child no longer attends Westport. Parents, be vigilant and push for cameras in every classroom, because without them, we'll never truly know what's going on. ------- ------- Updated Review after Business Response: Thank you for your response. I want to clarify a few points for parents who may be considering this daycare. Classroom setup: While ratios may technically follow state guidelines, my concern was with the developmental mix of children. My son's experience showed that compliance and what is best for children's growth are not always the same thing. Fundraiser funds: The center did communicate that fundraiser proceeds would be directed to teachers affected by a house fire. While I sympathize with their loss, I personally felt that using funds raised under the impression of benefiting the children and center was not the most appropriate approach. A separate GoFundMe or designated collection would have offered parents a clearer choice. Safety and transparency: The response did not address my concern about the lack of cameras. In childcare, parents value reassurance and transparency, especially during moments when children cannot fully express themselves. Tuition adjustments: My questions about tuition changes after potty training went unanswered until my son's final day, when suddenly the rate dropped. Clear communication about costs is a basic expectation for parents budgeting for care. Finally, I want to add that I was asked multiple times to leave a review while my son was enrolled, but I chose not to at that time. Reading the tone of the center's reply to my concerns has only confirmed that decision. Rather than addressing my feedback constructively, the response came across as defensive and dismissive. This type of communication does not build trust with parents, it further erodes it. I understand this center has been in business for decades, but longevity alone does not equal trust. My review reflects my personal experience, and I encourage prospective parents to ask detailed questions and tour thoroughly before making a decision.

We've had two daughters attend Westport School. My younger daughter started at 3 months and is now…read morein pre K, so we've been with them through all the ages, from diapers to toddlers to graduating pre-K. My daughter had a very easy time transitioning to kindergarten after finishing preschool here. I recommend Westport School highly and without hesitation. It is a small family owned establishment, which really lets the staff know the kids and form close relationships. Communication with management and teachers has always been easy. My daughters have both been very happy here and my older one loves to stop in and give her favorite teachers hugs even now!