Choosing a preschool is one of the biggest decisions you'll make as a parent, and after having two…read morechildren attend Pacific Preschool's San Elijo Hills campus, I can honestly say it has been one of the best decisions we've made. Our oldest started at Pacific during COVID, which was an especially stressful time to be a new parent. I was also pregnant with our second son, so finding a preschool where we felt completely comfortable and supported meant everything. Even during such an uncertain season, the staff created a warm, consistent, and loving environment that gave us so much peace of mind. We always felt that our son was safe, cared for, and genuinely known by his teachers. Fast forward a few years, and now our youngest is enrolled at the same school. It's been so special returning as a family and seeing familiar faces. There's something incredibly comforting about a school where the teachers remember your family and truly invest in your children's growth over the years. One thing I've always appreciated is how closely the teachers partner with parents. They've helped us navigate everything from separation anxiety to developmental milestones with kindness, patience, and great communication. As working parents, having dependable childcare is important, but what we've found at Pacific Preschool is so much more than that. It's a place where our boys have been encouraged, celebrated, and loved. I'd also like to give a special thank you to Jessica, the director. Her leadership has helped create a culture that feels welcoming, organized, and genuinely family-centered. You can tell she cares deeply about both the children and the staff, and it shows in the positive atmosphere throughout the school. Watching our oldest successfully transition into elementary school with confidence, and now seeing our youngest thrive in the same nurturing environment, has only reinforced how grateful we are that we chose Pacific Preschool. If you're looking for a preschool where your child will be cared for by people who truly love what they do, I highly recommend the San Elijo Hills location.

I can't say enough great things about this school! Every teacher has made a special impact on my…read moresons life and he absolutely loves going to school everyday. He is learning a ton while still having a blast. Ms. Sapna has gone above and beyond to help my son and he absolutely adores her. Ms. Dina has been wonderful to work with! She is there every morning if I need to discuss anything and keeps me well informed on everything going on with the school and my sons day. I love that every teacher is a face I know and someone my son feels safe to go to if needed. Such a great school!

The best there is in San Clemente…read more Both of my kids attend school here and our experience has been nothing but amazing. My daughter transferred to this school when she was 3 and stayed thru the TK/Kinder program. She has come such a long way and is even reading and doing math! My son started when he was 6 months and the school really met them where they were at, especially when it comes to sleep schedules and big transitions/development (e.g.- one nap, teething, moving up rooms). Their curriculum is diverse and well rounded, the facilities and equipment are well taken care of and maintained, the events they have are so fun and thoughtful, the staff is kind and my kids seemed to trust and feel comfortable with everyone they encountered there, the admin team is so welcoming, supportive, and communicative...the list goes on! Overall, everyone at this school seems to lead with genuine care for the kids and their development. I highly recommend this school to anyone looking for care in the San Clemente/Dana Point/San Juan Capistrano areas.

This preschool is top notch. So much love and guidance. My…read moregrand child enjoys going everyday and looks forward to seeing her friends and teachers

I cannot emphasize enough the level of satisfaction I have from head to toe with this school…read more Everything here makes you feel like your child is #1. Small class sizes, teachers and staff specifically educated in child development. Every single thing has been thought out and perfected. Every adult there knows the name of each child. The list goes on and on. Would highly recommend to anyone

Pacific Prep Ladera Ranch is a VERY special place and we were so lucky to have discovered this…read morelittle school nestled in the community of Ladera Ranch. Both our girls have attended school here for a year and have been in a couple of difference classrooms all which have had amazing teachers and teachers aids. The Campus is a mix of nostalgic 90s style decor and learning filled with the kids art from wall to wall while also maintaining fresh and new innovative events for the family to get involved, learning in the classroooms, and some take home projects that were fun to work on with the kids. The class sizes are kept small which is great and you can really tell how important that is after a few months of seeing first hand your children learn to read, write, critically think, and be able to articulate their day to you. Unfortunately we are moving from the area to be closer to the family otherwise we would have stayed through kindergarten. If you have the opportunity to attend Pacific Prep you absolutely should, this is an AMAZING place!

As a parent, there's nothing more comforting than knowing your child is safe, happy, and thriving…read moreand that's exactly how we feel about La Christianita. Our daughter has been attending for nearly a year now, and the growth we've seen both socially and developmentally has been nothing short of amazing. She comes home talking about her day with so much excitement, singing songs she's learned, sharing new vocabulary, and even telling us fun facts about nature and the world around her. The teachers are absolute gems: nurturing, attentive, and truly invested in every child. You can feel how much they love what they do. They somehow manage to create the perfect balance of structured learning, creative play, and emotional development. Our daughter feels seen, heard, and encouraged every single day. We especially appreciate the communication from the school. We get regular updates, photos, and newsletters, which make us feel so connected to her day. And the school itself is warm, clean, and thoughtfully designed with little details that show just how much care goes into everything. If you're looking for a preschool where your child will be cherished, challenged, and celebrated, this is it!! La Christianita has become like a second home for our family, and we feel incredibly lucky to be part of this community.

LCP is such a special little gem of a preschool. We've had an incredible experience - the teachers…read moreand staff are beyond amazing: kind, dedicated, loving and fun! Our son looks forward to going to school and we always feel confident knowing he's safe, happy, and well cared for. We'll be so sad when the day comes to move on to kindergarten!

We were at Kensington for over a year and it was wonderful! The administration, teachers, and…read morefamilies make this place special and help shape our young ones. My child has developed long lasting positive habits and a love for learning that I attribute this school to. Montessori was excellent for our child. During one of the parent teacher conferences, one of the most influential pieces of guidance I received as a parent was given to us by Ms. Stacey. Her advice has shaped the growth of our child and was passed along to their following teachers. Safety is #1 at this school. It's a gift when you can drop off your child, and go about your day knowing they're developing, safe, and actually enjoy their experience. We like it so much that we requested to come back for the summer after our child has already graduated from the program!!

Kensington Montessori of Laguna Niguel has been an absolute blessing for our family. Our daughter…read morecurrently attends, and our son was here for 2.5 wonderful years before graduating to TK -- and we could not imagine a better early-childhood experience for both of them. It's rare to find a school that truly lives up to the Montessori philosophy, but Kensington is one of those special places that stands out from the crowd. While many schools simply use the "Montessori" name as a marketing label, this school genuinely embraces the principles: independence, hands-on learning, thoughtful redirection, and individualized attention. Ms. Stacy, Ms. Viviana, and Ms. Yulia are incredibly communicative, warm, and attentive -- the type of educators who not only know your child, but truly understand them. The community here is just as exceptional. The school regularly hosts interactive activities and parent gatherings that bring everyone together. Our kids were always excited to go to school each morning, and even after pickup they loved playing with friends on the playground. The moms have formed amazing friendships as well -- getting together both with and without the kids, which speaks to how strong and welcoming the parent community is. The location is another plus: a beautifully maintained, safe campus perched on a hill near the town center, with an adjoining church that has always been friendly and receptive. Kensington Montessori is one of those rare finds that exceeds expectations in every way. We're incredibly grateful for the loving foundation they've provided for both of our children. Highly, highly recommend.

We've had a wonderful experience at MLS preschool. The teachers are caring and supportive. We have…read moreseen so much growth in his confidence and learning. So grateful for the positive and nurturing environment!! Highly recommend MLS.

The front staff Kristin is mean, unresponsive, and very demanding. You have to be on her time. The…read moreschool's lack of care for with their potty policy is shocking. Our kids are potty trained but they are 3! They should be reminded to go potty. Teachers won't even do that. We won't be returning this Fall. We do like the worship in the morning. But being reminded to go potty is a big deal for this age group and if you can't do something basic, we can't focus on other things. For this, they blame/point to the policy. Then change the policy and actually show up for 3yo.

My daughter has been going to Goddard since we moved down to San Clemente in 2025. We feel so lucky…read moreto have found such a caring and nurturing place for her to learn and socialize with her peers. Since starting at Goddard, we have noticed our daughter's confidence, language, and social skills grow exponentially. As a teacher, I recognize and appreciate the developmentally appropriate lesson plans and materials available to the students. The classrooms are always clean and tidy and there is ample outdoor time for the children as well. Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of Goddard San Clemente are the SMALL class sizes - no more than 12 students per class with up to 2 teachers (depending on the ages of the students). The small class size has allowed my daughter to make personal and trusting relationships with her teachers and peers. Lastly, I want to give a special shoutout to the talented leadership at Goddard - Ms. Anu & Ms. Theresa. Together, these two work collaboratively and tirelessly to ensure that the school is running safely and efficiently. As a parent, they are always responsive to my questions and feedback and take the time to know each and every child on a personal level. I highly recommend that you take a tour of Goddard San Clemente so that you can experience everything I have described and see if it is the right fit for you and your family!

Great staff and owner and teachers for my niece and nephew. Whenever I'm in town, my sister has me…read moredrop the kids off, and I'm always pleased with how excited my sister's kids are to go to this school and how much care and love there is for children in the program. I've seen a huge difference in my niece and nephew's behavior after going to this school because, frankly, they were brats before. (Shhh, don't tell my sister who is an overprotective helicopter mom.) This school has given those kids what they need to become good, happy children and future citizens of the world instead of the monsters they were slated to be. And that's a good thing, and of course makes my life easier when I babysit! Kudos, Goddard School!

As a parent, I am extremely disappointed with our experience at St. Anne. I expected a school that…read morewould provide a supportive and positive environment for students, but instead I found poor communication, inconsistent treatment of students, and a lack of accountability when concerns were brought to the administration. Rather than working with families to resolve issues, it often felt like our concerns were dismissed. The school seems more focused on protecting its reputation than addressing real problems that affect students. Rules are not enforced fairly, and favoritism appears to play a role in how situations are handled. For the tuition families pay, I expected much better leadership, transparency, and care for students' well-being. I would not recommend this school to other parents unless meaningful changes are made. Every child deserves to feel supported, respected, and treated fairly, and unfortunately that was not our experience.

Like many parents, I read the reviews before enrolling my son at St. Anne's, and I'll admit, I was…read morehesitant. Some of the concerns raised gave me pause. But as we near the end of our third year (currently finishing 4th grade), I feel compelled to share our experience because I'm genuinely glad we chose this school. No school is perfect, and yes, we've had our challenges here and there. But overall, St. Anne's does an outstanding job across many levels. My son is not only thriving academically, he's also genuinely happy. The school strikes a wonderful balance between being firm and structured, while maintaining a warm, positive environment where kids are encouraged and challenged to grow. One of the highlights for us has been the next-level extracurricular offerings and the way St. Anne's integrates experiential learning in every grade level. These hands-on experiences really resonate with the kids and make learning more fun and meaningful. Our first year was a bit rocky, while St. Anne's is a private school and doesn't follow public school IEP protocols, the principal at the time (Mrs. Bournazian) went above and beyond to work with his teacher and me to put support systems in place to help him suceed. When she became Head of School, I was a little nervous that our dynamic might shift, but the transition has been seamless and honestly, the school has continued to flourish under her leadership. We still feel incredibly supported by both the administration and teachers. Speaking of teachers, we've been very fortunate. Each year, my son has had passionate, caring educators who are truly invested in their students' growth. I've heard some concerns among parents about staff turnover, but having experienced two other schools (one public and another well-known private school in OC), I can say this is fairly typical. Teachers move on for all kinds of reasons, what matters more is the consistency of care, and we've always felt that here. With the exception of one long term sub that was not ideal, we've had outstanding teachers from 2nd to 4th grade. The music program is beyond impressive, Mr. Yaple works wonderfully with kids of all ages. Same for the arts program, the school puts on a more professional production than some theater houses in LA. This is a school that provides the opportunity for all kinds of kids to thrive. Socially, like many schools, St. Anne's can feel a bit cliquey at times, but we've also met some truly amazing families, and my son has built wonderful friendships. All in all, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend St. Anne's. I'm grateful we ignored the negative reviews and gave it a chance.