Our son's first experience in daycare was at this location and we could not have asked for anything…read morebetter. The leadership team and all of the teachers make for an amazing experience for the kids as well as the adults. The longevity of the teachers speaks volumes to the way the organization is run and I would recommend to anyone who asks!

As a COVID kid, my son was very shy when he started at Primerose of North Scottsdale 10 months ago…read more Fast forward to today, he is a very confident and energetic kid who loves to engage in social activities and play with other kids. He absolutely loves both her teachers Ms. Brown and Mrs. Stauffer. They are amazing. The management and staff were very supportive at the beginning when our family had a tough time transitioning. We feel lucky to be part of this amazing school.

We love this school so much! Class sizes are small, opportunity to be on campus and in the…read moreclassroom is always available to parents, there are so many activities/festivals to get the kiddos excited about learning, the campus is beautiful, the science center is amazing. Truly, so many wonderful things about this place! The school is always locked, the opportunity to donate to various causes is always there, and it is very patriotic! My only negative, many people here park in the No Parking, fire lanes. No one at the school does anything about it. No duty aides outside moving cares, notes, or anything to stop the behavior. I asked once and was told "it's always been like that, people don't listen". As a fire wife, this frustrates me to end! I want to know my daughter is safe in her class and has FULL access to emergency personnel if needed. Other than that, we really love being apart of this school!

I am a former student of Benchmark and I would recommend it to anyone. My teachers were amazing…read morethey cared a lot about me and made sure that I understood any assignment. Most of my teachers loved making learning in the classroom very fun and interesting. The "specials" teachers were amazing and helped me figure out the kind of stuff I love to do. I realize that the school has had a few changes in teachers and principals but I still consider it to be a GREAT school. I made many good memories and have very good friends that I grew up at the school. I always look forward to going back and visiting my teachers. So again I would recommend this school to anyone!

Our oldest daughter started at Guidepost Montessori- Paradise Valley at around 15 months old (she…read moreis now almost five). She initially started in the toddler room and has graduated to Children's House. Our younger daughter (aged 20 months) is in the toddler room. We were one of the founding members of this campus and have overall had a wonderful experience. Our daughters have blossomed in this school, gaining independence, confidence, and a genuine love of learning. The classrooms are beautifully organized and nurturing, and the community feels like an extension of our family. We feel a sense of partnership with our guides and value their developmentally appropriate input (assistance with potty training especially!!) Highly recommend to any parent looking for a supportive and enriching environment!

We have spent the last three years at Guidepost and it has been an amazing experience for both of…read moreour sons. The community here is so welcoming and the 'vibes' are always positive. James (Head of School) does a fantastic job making sure the kids have a space where they can truly thrive. We love that the school prioritizes outdoor play, which is so important at this age. My boys have learned an immense amount--they are already reading and doing math! We are so grateful to the caring, authentic teachers who have guided them. Highly recommend to any parent!

We are Super grateful for being able to be part of CLS. My oldest son was in a well known…read moreaccelerated program in PV school district and to say it lightly that was a hot mess. I went to the tour at CLS and was so amazed that I asked my Mom " are we being Punked?" From the piano music coming out of the chapel to the specialized attention and care my boys receive I couldn't be more thrilled. My oldest son is a bit ahead of his grade in some areas but his teacher went out of her way to create a secondary curriculum for him in these areas so that he stays challenged and excited. The level of character building and accountability that exists at this school is unparalleled. It takes a village:)

I decided to post my opinion about CLS because I noticed an unkind review. My children started at…read moreCLS this year and they are in middle school. The education is top notch, they do prepare your children for high school. Ms. Weber is the middle school teacher for social studies and she is amazing. My children are learning the Articles of the Constitution right now. She brings history to life. During the first week of school at CLS they did a lot of team building activities and it brought the students together, from that moment on my children had friends. The kids are great and I have not seen or heard of any bullies. The sports program may not have a lot of practices, but I think it so kids are able to do other activities outside of school, which most do. I think the two coaches my children have had in after school sports have been great role models. Thank you CLS staff & coaches for being so kind and patient with my kids. It is wonderful to see all the teachers model true Christ like behavior.

We feel incredibly lucky to have found this school. It's AMI-approved Montessori with a beautiful…read morecampus, and you can truly feel the care and intention that has gone into building this community for over 28 years. We currently have one child in Primary and one in Elementary, and both are thriving beyond what we ever expected. Our extended family has even commented on how much our kids have grown -- not just academically, but in their confidence, curiosity, and love of learning. What stands out most is how personal the experience feels. The teachers are genuinely caring, and we love that there are bilingual educators and an environment that supports the whole child. It's so refreshing to see our kids learning in a way that goes far beyond "sitting at a desk and memorizing." The school offers an abundance of enrichment and extracurricular opportunities, and it's clear they're focused on supporting each child as an individual. We are truly grateful to have our children grow up in such a safe, nurturing, and inspiring environment... even if part of us wants to keep it our little secret!

Last August 25th, after reflecting on the challenges my son faced at DMA in September and October…read moreof last year, I felt ready and shared a down-to-earth personal review.   Instead of receiving public feedback, I received a certified letter from a law firm, demanding for my review to be removed immediately, otherwise "we will sue you to obtain an order requiring you to remove it, and to recover significant monetary damages against you, including, but not limited to, punitive damages, and the attorneys' fees and costs Dynamite Montessori incurs in the case under A.R.S. 12-341.01 and A.R.S. 12-341". They reminded me of a contract clause that restricts what families may share publicly about the school without prior written consent. This clause is part of the agreement that parents must sign when enrolling their children. So, in the interest of focusing on providing for my son instead of defending myself against what I feel are insubstantial accusations, I am removing my previous review. We were part of the DMA family for almost three years. 100% involved and devoted to all the school activities. Our son attended from June 21, 2022, until November 1, 2024. In my personal opinion, DMA can be a good choice for any "non-Montessori" child to gain some exposure to a Montessori environment in their early years. The place looks pristine, with the right materials, strong infrastructure, and opportunities for children to learn--especially if they happen to be among the more "gifted" ones and can learn by themselves. I have been a Montessori mom since our son was born, and we initially thought this was the perfect place for him. Last year, however, in his third year of primary, my son developed a behavior we felt unrecognizable to us and was told "not to be kindergarten ready" and "maybe not a good fit for a classroom at all". My family, especially my son (5 years old at the time), went through a nightmare that took almost a year to recover from. Fortunately, today he attends a large Montessori school where he has adapted beautifully and is thriving as the amazing child he has always been. In his new school he is considered a bright kid and so far, there is not a single incident regarding his behavior. Looking back, we feel that his experience at DMA was heavily affected by a classroom dynamic that was challenging for his naturally calm demeanor. Today, we are sharing our feelings, in case it helps other families who may be uncertain--whether you already have a child enrolled or are considering enrollment.

I came to pick up my daughter for a Drs appointment and was told I was not allowed to pick her up…read moreafter 2:45. It was 2:47! Not only that, is it even legal to hold a child over a parents wishes? I should be able to pick up my child at any time without being treated like crap. Also the front desk receptionist was extremely rude and argumentative. Are they going to reimburse me for the cancellation fee I am now incurring at her drs office? I'm appalled!

Way too much homework for elementary. Principal is unresponsive through email if she does not agree…read morewith you. Mr. Cunningham is a bright spot. He responded to me, and was willing to talk about our disagreements. My son enjoyed him for math. NEW KIDS BEWARE!!! My daughter was bullied in school until she finally got to Cocopah (however you spell it). I was told by the office I could walk my kids to class on the first day because he didn't know where to go. The teachers didn't like that, and were really rude saying "You're not supposed to be in here". Calm down, it's the first day of school. I'm a 4th grade teacher. My family has been involved in many school. This one has been the worst for a new kid.

Ms Karina and Ms Evelyn in the infant rooms are incredible! Nicole and Erika foster such a positive…read moreenergy and it is so clear to me how much love the school has for the children. My 8 month old has been in the school for two months and I can already see the social butterfly coming out in him. He is so excited to see his teachers every day that I know he is in good hands. I can't wait to watch him grow in this environment!

**For the Temple Kol Ami ECC**…read more After the last two years that our daughter attended the ECC, witnessing the new leadership of Nicole Stokes, we've left and moved on to another school,. We are not the only family. We experienced a toxic environment and culture of concealment where the ECC systematically ignored or subrogated known physical safety, emotional and security issues. To be clear, I have nothing but accolades for Rabbi Schneider, his executive assistant, Erika, as well as Cantor Shaashua. For example: -Was dismissive of the behavior of two boys towards my daughter, including biting, hitting, and pulling her hair.....(I found this out *not* from the school, but from my 4 year old daughter). Nicole finally responded (via email) in part, "I'm wondering if we could change the narrative for her and instead of (your daughter) "reporting" a peer name or negative behaviors, each of you could ask her one game she played or book she read, or what special art project she worked on?"; -Another parent and I witnessed a boy walk up to three other children (2 of them girls) and shove them hard. The two staff supervising did nothing. I brought this up with Nicole, she responded with, "we address these issues in due time. And parents aren't supposed to be back in the playground around the children."; -Dismissed concern for the presence of a known toxic plant, that the Phoenix Botanical Garden stated that "small children and pets should not have access to this plant"; -Has done nothing for a year after being advised that the front gate sticks open during warmer temperatures (sometimes left unattended); -Repeatedly kept sick children in school (including heavy discolored nasal discharge); -My daughter expressed that she was happy when her teacher was absent one day, that she had a good day at school, "Because Miss XXX screams at us". Amplification: In response to my concern that a boy had been engaging in behavior that made my daughter increasingly upset, Nicole first responded with, "we don't have bullies in our school". I asked, "bullies?" She said, "yes, you said bullies". I replied, "no, I said that it sounds as if a boy has been bothering her" (my daughter had become increasingly anxious about coming to school, finally bursting our crying, calling out one boy's name). To which she said, "Well, Ian, children need to learn to navigate the social structure." -Nancy Drapin, Executive Director, on responding that she is aware that a toxic plant, Euphorbia tirucalli (pencil cactus), is in the front courtyard where many of the ECC children play after class gets out, "I ask you to please watch your child carefully when you allow her to play in the front ....It is definitely your responsibility to supervise. .....There are a number of parks nearby or, I am sure, near your home, that may have playground areas for children." Nancy stated that they have no intention of removing it. Furthermore, regarding Nicole Stokes' leadership: While she mostly presents a pleasant demeanor and maintains a smile, she can be very dismissive. Several times, I observed her not actively listen and seek to understand a situation and immediately become defensive; Multiple times, she failed to follow up and it took me several times engaging her to get a response or resolution on even small administrative matters. I learned to ask her, "when should I expect to hear back?" After speaking with several other parents, this is the pattern of behavior that they experienced. -She would refuse to discuss the behavior of the other child or whether and how they would also discuss the matter with the other parents "because of privacy issues". -Nicole often attends Shabbat services, however she typically spends much of that time face down in her cell phone. -One day when my wife picked up my 4 year old, the 11 year old saw an open box of cookies at the admin desk as you enter the school (everyone walks by this station), the 11 year old asked if she could have a cookie for herself and her sister. Nicole, standing there, flatly stated, "Absolutely not. These are for the staff."

I would not recommend Primrose School at Tatum based on our family's experience…read more Over the course of a year, my son was bitten more than 30 times while in their care, including one incident that became infected and required medical treatment. Many incidents were not communicated promptly, and despite multiple meetings with leadership, the concerns continued without meaningful improvement. I later learned that leadership had reportedly told other families that my son was the cause of many classroom issues and that things would improve once he left. However, several parents shared that the same concerns continued after his departure, suggesting deeper issues were never addressed. Before enrolling, I encourage families to review the school's state licensing and compliance records. While there are caring teachers, I found leadership's communication, accountability, and handling of safety concerns to be disappointing. Ultimately, I withdrew my son because I no longer felt confident that the environment was safe or supportive.

A number of the teachers are caring, dedicated, and well liked by my children. However, the school…read morehas serious problems with its administrative staff and consistency among its many classrooms. Children are often moved to new classrooms with the equivalent of substitute teachers and these classrooms are chaotic and staff is overwhelmed and unable to effectively manage the class. Therefore, your child may like the school very much and never have a problem and then suddenly not want to attend the new class where there is uncontrolled bullying or a teacher who lets the children run amok. The administrative staff deals with this by sending home "incident reports" where your child's involvement and subsequent injuries are detailed, but no mention is made of actions that were taken with other students or how this is to be prevented in the future. Lastly, and most importantly, our experiences with the front desk and office staff have been horrendous. Most often the Director and any other senior staff are not physically present at the school and instead work from home and will only be called if a misunderstanding or disagreement should arise. This happens fairly frequently, as the Assistant Director Alexis Martin is less than astute and mans the front desk more like a bouncer at a nightclub, barring entrance for any child showing signs of an illness or who might have had a payment declined unknowingly after years of attendance and always paying on time. In these instances, the staff does not seek to handle the issue discreetly. Instead, you should expect to be embarrassed and treated with disrespect in front of other parents entering the building. No apology is given when it turns out that the issue has already been resolved via email with the Director Monique Griffith, who is at home and has failed to communicate and update staff on-site. In general, there is little concern for customer service since staff will tell you themselves that the school has a waiting list and you're more than welcome to disenroll your child.