We definitely wish we signed our son up here sooner. Our son has learned so much and the small…read moreclass size allows our son the extra help when needed. They provide a loving environment and I drop off my son daily knowing he will be cared for and will learn. Everyone knows our son my name and he always loves to tell us about his day. They have farm animals (a pig and a tortoise) but the pig is not for play but the tortoise the kids get to feed. If you're on the fence, please give Country Village a chance. Thank you Ms. Jennifer, Ms. Yuta, and Ms, Mary I will be sad once our son leaves for Kindergarten

I am so glad that we found Country Village! When we enrolled Onyx he was speaking very little. It…read morewas also very hard to get him to follow directions. He has been in Ms. Sucell's class for five months now and it's like he's a completely different child. He has grown his vocabulary so much, he is following directions much easier and he loves saying his ABCs, numbers and reading books. Their staff is amazing Miss Jutta and Miss Baja were so patient with him because he used to cry when it was time to go into school. They calmed my mind and assured me that this was a normal part of the transition and sure enough he quickly began walking into school without tears. Ms Jennifer is always sending me pictures and I love that! I also love that they take temperatures at the door every morning and I have no idea how they get Onyx to wear his mask but every day he comes out with it on! They are child whisperers :) I couldn't have chosen a better school to help develop our Onyx!

I really wanted to love this school, but our overall experience was very disappointing…read more In my opinion, the school maintains a narrow model of 'ideal' student behavior. From what I observed, they are quick to flag children who do not fit this specific mold, often suggesting professional assessments as the primary solution for behavioral differences. I also had concerns regarding supervision. I would receive incident reports that lacked any true insight into what actually happened--situations that likely could have been prevented with better oversight and supervision. For a full year, my child was miserable and would cry every morning, dreading school. After changing his school, the transformation was immediate. Seeing my child thrive in a new environment made me realize the issue was the school. Another major concern was how feedback was communicated. On multiple occasions, teachers raised negative comments about my child directly in front of him, which is entirely inappropriate and not how concerns should be addressed. These conversations should be handled privately with parents--not in a way that can embarrass or impact a child's confidence. What was even more troubling was hearing my son's peers repeat the same language to describe him--terms I had previously heard used by his teachers. That was very telling. It strongly suggests that the language modeled by staff was being picked up and repeated by other children. Therefore, I would have to agree with the shaming and scolding reviews left by others. On a practical note for parents: avoid sending your children in any nice clothing or shoes. In our experience, new items were constantly ruined by the dirt on the playground. Overall I would not recommend this school and I recommend not to be fooled by the pretty magical environment.

My twins have been at Willowbrook since preschool and will be entering 6th grade next fall. They've…read morethrived in every way here....academically, emotionally, physically, etc. The social emotional learning they've been introduced to has been phenomenal. The minute I set foot on this campus for a tour I fell in love. The campus embodies the natural Laguna Beach spirit, surrounded by animals, beautiful trees, a creek, quaint buildings, birds, and happy kids! We've grown close to several families throughout the years thanks to all the activities held on campus. The class sizes are small which was the main reason for choosing private over public. The meals are healthy and delicious. The staff is so wonderful. The commute is 15-20 minutes from Irvine.

What a wonderful and perfect school! It's a homeschool based inside a private home that's been…read moreturned into a real school! Along with having a real teacher, teacher's aid and all a child could ever need, this is a great place for your child to learn and grow. My child has enjoyed coming here immensely, along with making new friends and learning about working with other kids, she loves being with her teacher, Mrs. Kelsey. There are so many fun projects, outings and parent involvement, too. Along with learning and play, the school's owner hand makes original and organic food for the children to enjoy at lunch. I highly recommend this school and I am looking forward to having my child continue on their school journey.

My kids had the best experience at country village! As a school teacher, I was very particular…read moreabout what I wanted for my kids' first school experience, and Country Village checked every box for our family. The staff is incredibly caring, patient, and nurturing, and Marisa, the director, is wonderful as well. I especially appreciated the small class sizes, which were very important to me, along with the amazing playground where the kids could play and explore. Another huge highlight was the classroom pets -- my children absolutely loved them! Both my son and daughter truly thrived at Country Village, and I'm so grateful for the positive, loving environment they experienced there.

We love Country Village! All 3 of our kids have attended the school, the teachers are amazing & the…read moreDirector, Marisa is so caring, organized and runs a great program! We highly recommend Country Village RSM!

LPPP in Mission Viejo was recommended to us by a friend who had her 3 children attend and are now…read morealumni. We did a walk-through of the school and didn't need to look anywhere else. Our son started with the Parent & Me classes. It was a great way to ease kids and parents into the world of play-based preschool. The Parent & Me classes are led by Teacher Jackie (all the teachers are amazing, btw) and she not only prepares your child for preschool by focusing on the child's well-being and social emotional skills but the parents as well on managing expectations around this age and how to help reinforce the lessons learned at LPPP by implementing them into your home. I can honestly say that attending these classes made me more comfortable when it came time to start the 3-year-old classes and initiate drop offs. Our son now attends the 3-year-old class and is really thriving. We watched our only child learn how to engage with other children and follow direction better. He's now formed friendships with his classmates. He loves learning about different cultures, exploring the sciences, and listening to stories but his favorite is still playtime. Parents also continue to be educated at monthly meetings in order to support their children inside and outside the classroom. LPPP is special in that it gives the parents opportunities to engage and contribute to the school. It has been such a blessing being there to watch my son learn and grow at LPPP. We've already signed him up for next year!

When I say this school is an OC hidden gem, it's an understatement! My daughter had the privilege…read moreof attending Lppp for the last two years and I'm beyond grateful. I have never met a group of teachers that  cared so much about each individual child's needs. Our first year there, my daughter was struggling with transitions especially during pick up time. Teacher Jackie went out of her way to come up with a plan to help my daughter. She would also walk with us to our car to help minimize any additional behaviors. I don't know many schools where the director of the school will walk you to your car to help with your child's transitions. Any emotional or behavioral concerns the teachers will come up with a game plan and implement it to help your child grow. The support they offer is unmatched. Also, every month is educationally play themed and so much fun for the kids. My daughter was excited everyday for school. She loved lppp so much. Everyday I dropped her off, I knew she was in good hands. They also had monthly parent night where all the parents would get together and teacher Jackie would go over topics to help us parents implement support strategies for our kids. When I say this school cares, I mean it. It was truly a magical two years that I am forever grateful for.

Leaving Hillside Montessori after our recent relocation was one of the hardest parts of moving…read more This school isn't just a place where children learn--it's a community grounded in mindfulness, respect, and genuine joy for helping young minds grow. The educators at Hillside have a rare gift. They don't simply teach; they observe, listen, and guide with such intention that children feel both supported and empowered. Their mindful approach shows up in everything they do--from the calm, inviting classroom environments to the way they encourage curiosity and independence. Our child flourished there, gaining not only academic skills but confidence, empathy, and a real love of learning. We've enrolled in a new program since moving, and while we're grateful to have found a good fit, it's made us appreciate Hillside even more. The thoughtful, nurturing culture they create is something truly special. Hillside feels like a family, and leaving that family was a tough choice for us. If you're looking for a place where your child will be nurtured as a whole person--mind, heart, and spirit--Hillside Montessori is extraordinary. We recommend it wholeheartedly.

This school is a hidden gem! My son started in the toddler room and moved up at 3. The school is…read moresmall so every teacher knows your child. All the teachers are caring and sweet. I have an older child who attended a traditional preschool and the Montessori method is far superior in kinder preparation.

Trabuco Presbyterian Preschool holds such a special place in our hearts. Our girls attended for…read morethree wonderful years, and we could not be more grateful for the love, care, and support our family received during that time. From the very beginning, the teachers and staff were incredibly caring, patient, loving, and genuinely invested in our girls. They consistently went above and beyond for our family, especially when it came to accommodating our scheduling needs. We always felt that they truly cared about not only our children, but about us as a family as well. The classrooms are beautiful, welcoming, and thoughtfully set up with wonderful spaces for the children to learn, play, explore, and grow. Most importantly, our girls always felt safe, loved, and happy there. It is very difficult to say goodbye after three years because Trabuco Presbyterian Preschool became such an important part of our girls' childhood. We will forever be thankful for the teachers, staff, memories, and the wonderful foundation they gave our daughters. We wholeheartedly recommend it.

TPC Preschool is exactly what we had hoped for when we signed our son up at the beginning of his 2…read more 1/2 years there.  It's small, friendly, safe, filled with kindness and love, and we know firsthand that the teachers have tons of experience because they taught at our older son's preschool before it closed down. Being so new, it's squeaky clean, and you can tell that the Director clearly put a lot of thought into the layout, furniture, playground, and technology. Our son was READING books to us the summer after he finished at TPC, knows how to add and subtract, and writes quite well.  He has such an advantage going into elementary school!  Plus, he is filled with confidence and silliness.  TPC is absolutely perfect in every way, and now that we've moved on, we deeply miss it.

My daughter has blossomed in the last two weeks since she's started attending preschool here!…read more We chose this school purely based on how my daughter's face lit up during the tours. We toured a few schools and she did not like any of them until we visited this school. Ms. Pei and Ms. Betty from the bilingual classroom were both so warm and welcoming, and made my daughter so excited about starting school from the first time we toured their class! Before starting school, she was so shy and timid and would often avoid playgrounds with too many people. She would hide when people say hi to her, and run away from kids who tried to play with her. Ever since she started school here, she suddenly became a social butterfly! And she would wake up every morning excited to go to school and play with her friends! We seriously are so happy and thankful for all the teachers here for caring for our daughter and helping her overcome her social anxiety!

We started sending our precious baby, M, here when she was 9 months old. She is now 14 months old…read more We chose LNMC because without exception, the staff are so warm, welcoming and thoroughly trained in authentic Montessori education. (Any school can use the Montessori name, so just because a school says they are "Montessori" does not mean they implement it correctly or to a quality standard.) if you want the true Montessori experience, you will definitely want to tour this school. Baby M lights up every morning when she sees her teachers, and even though she misses us when we leave, I always have *complete* confidence and peace of mind leaving her there because I know she is loved, and her physical, cognitive and emotional needs are more than met. Teachers are flexible and understanding and communicative about the many particular and constantly changing needs (feeding schedule, switching from bottle to cup, encouraging solids and naps, etc) of Baby M. In the infant room, they support and follow whatever daily schedule your child follows at home. M did have trouble napping in a classroom at first (because she just wants to keep playing with everyone) but she is napping well now. The school feels like a community. Even the teachers of the older kids know Baby M and always say hello to her (we typically have to stop a couple times on the way to her classroom in the morning because she is a very social baby and wants to give the other teachers morning hugs). The school also hosts various celebrations, such as "Muffins with Mom" for Mothers Day and "Donuts with Dad" for Fathers Day. For Muffins with Mom, I got to hang out one morning after drop off to eat muffins and fruit with M and the other mothers. It was lovely. They even set up a back drop for Mother's Day for us to take a picture together and regularly send kids home with product art on holidays. I am not the biggest fan of product art (vs process art) as a learning tool, but I admit I LOVE these keepsakes and will keep them forever. We also had the opportunity to volunteer at the Scholastic book fair and to purchase books for M's classroom. Ms. Athana and Ms. Danielle (administration) keep the school very secure, the children safe, help support teachers on the daily and in their professional growth, and are always approachable. They are so kind and patient with our "new parents sending our baby to preschool for the first time" and other ongoing questions/concerns. (We had raised concerns about M not napping, which they completely understood and helped us resolve.) Other notes: the classrooms are very clean, well-organized, full of cognitively stimulating materials (but not cluttered) and have beautiful natural light. There is a kindergarten classroom if you want the option for your child to go the Montessori kindergarten too. The front door can only be opened with your own personal code (love the security), and check in and check out are done using the Procare app (easy, convenient). You will get daily updates via the app about when your child is eating, sleeping, and when they've had diaper changes. Teachers will also occasionally send photos of what your child does during the day. It is a nice connection to have to them throughout my workday. Clearly, we (and Baby M!) love this school. I highly recommend a tour if any of these positives resonate with you. If you do so soon, Baby M will likely greet you at the door of the infant room .