Creative Learning Academy in Harvard is an exceptional educational program for children. The…read moreteachers are compassionate, attentive, and highly supportive. My daughter looks forward to attending school everyday! There is such a wonderful, loving, and caring atmosphere there. We love CLA Harvard!!

I've had my son here since he was almost 3 months old. He's been there for a while & loves it. He…read morehas been learning this whole time too. The center is clean, neat, with virtually no turnover. It's certified & everyone is highly trained (I looked at about 5 in the area & this was the best). I wasn't settling with child care for my son - they have everything I wanted. All of the teachers are great - nice, give me excellent feedback, and always make me feel as though my son is their favorite. I have peace of mind while he's there and I'm at work. I would trust no other place but Jack n Jill!

My son has been attending Jack n Jill in West Quincy since he was 8 months old, he is now almost 5…read more The staff & teachers are truly amazing. They are dedicated, people who truly love and care about your children. Their curriculum is great, as someone who has seen the Massachusetts Core Curriculum Standards for first grade, you can easily see where even the basics for two year olds are setting them up to have a mastery of this information early. We've never had a problem with feeling as though there is an open line of communication. If for some reason they need to call, they try multiple phone lines. They always respond to e-mails as well. Our son recently underwent extremely serious surgery and was out for a few weeks. The staff took time out of their day to call, and ask how he was doing, specifically citing for their own concern, not for school reasons. When he was ready to go back, we sat down and came up a plan with the director & teacher and they were amazing, incorporating his potential physical deficits into the routine (things that would benefit the whole class such as calling out specifically working on their non-dominant hand) and coming up with a plan to have an extra teacher shadow him at recess to ensure his balance was normal but that he wasn't feeling like he was being singled out. Even when he started going back, teachers who hadn't had our son in years were coming up, taking time out of their day and talking to us, offering resources and experiences of their own if we needed them. I noticed one negative response (for another of the Jack & Jill centers), mentions fevers. We've gotten those calls too when he was younger, where the fever is gone by the time we get him to bring him to the dr's, but you have to remember it's for the well-being of all the children, it goes both ways. If they can avoid spreading something contagious from other children to my child, I am appreciative. On the flip side, I received a call from a teacher saying, I needed to call because he "just seemed off" siting a few unusual things from that morning that were out of the ordinary for him, which were actually the first symptoms leading to the above mentioned surgery. For that I will always be thankful.

When we were considering Lesley Ellis for preschool, we asked around on the playground, and just…read moreabout every parent we talked to told us, "It's excellent! The only negative is the cost." That matched our experience perfectly. The tuition is steep - though financial aid is available! - but everything else was fantastic, and we were consistently impressed with the teachers, curriculum, field trips, awareness of kids as individuals, interaction with administration, and more. My mom worked for decades in early childhood education, and (as an interested and involved grandparent) was also very impressed. They welcomed/encouraged heavy parent involvement, from "come into the classroom to talk about something you're knowledgeable/passionate about" to occasional parent-meetups-over-coffee in the morning and more. But I was never, ever made to feel guilty about not being able to participate heavily, which was the norm once we had our second kid. (Who also went to LES for preschool, once old enough.) We can't speak to their K-8 experience, but for preschool/pre-K/TK they were fantastic.

Lesley Ellis is an independent school from pre-school to grade 6, but expanding soon to 8th. Our…read moredaughter is in her third year there and we have been delighted with the program. The teachers are an outstanding group and attuned to the needs of each individual student. The administration is truly exceptional as they create an environment where parents, children and the school come together to form a nurturing and vibrant community.

I cannot more strongly urge you to avoid association with Go Lingo!. As a former teacher, I know…read morefirsthand what a waste of time and money this organization is. Yes, children benefit from learning a second language starting at a very young age, but Miriam Amittay, who runs Go Lingo! operates a disorganized and chaotic after school program, that can best be described as expensive babysitting. Because Ms. Amittay has no curriculum, no guidelines, and no plan for teachers, students, and parents, everyone receives different information and those who suffer most are the children. Parents enroll their children expecting top-notch language classes in an after school setting; in reality huge groups of kids are herded into corridors and teachers do their best to control the energy that kids bring after a full day of school. This, of course, could be changed by more coherent curriculum, better communication with teachers, allowing teachers access to plans outlined with parents, and a number of other simple steps. However, Ms. Amittay steadfastly refuses to improve her business practices and seems only to want to increase enrollment. I realize what I am saying could all come off as a diatribe from a former, disgruntled employee. So I'll say this: I left Go Lingo on good terms with Ms. Amittay, as I found another job. I gave her two weeks notice. I am writing this because it is only fair parents really know what they're signing their kids up for. If you want your kids to learn another language, hire a private tutor or enroll them in another immersion program. It is a shame that Arlington Public Schools decides to associate with such a low quality organization such as Go Lingo.

I totally disagree with the bad reviews. Miriam and Perla provide exactly the kind of program I…read morewas hoping for my children, (we are sending the kids again this coming year). The comment about disorganization is contrary to my experience, we decided to join several months late and Miriam made it easy for us to sign up the kids. It's a time to unwind, nicely structured (kids are always kept busy) with nice activities such as cooking, chopping apples for a crisp, pumpkin carving, and dancing, all while immersed in Spanish. They provide a quiet, kind and warm environment, exactly what is needed during the time of day when parents are still at work, but feeling guilty for not having the kids at home. The classes are led by experienced teachers who have been parents themselves, and exude a sense that they understand children.

My five stars are for this particular Kumon location and its staff. The "Kumon Method" is a…read moredifferent subject entirely, ok guys? The cost is $100 per subject per child. So both math and reading (and that's all there is) would be $200/month for either one or two weekly visits to the center. The center is open Monday, Thursday, and Saturday for classwork, but students have Kumon worksheets everyday. I wish there had been a yelp review of what Kumon was before I started it for my kid. I really had no idea. Kumon is a Japanese method of learning the fundamentals of math and reading. It emphasizes repetition and accuracy and forces students do do the work within time constraints. So this isn't "new math" and it's not individualized instruction. Students come to Kumon and are often placed below grade level and are forced to work through the basics. I think this is a good idea, as it builds confidence, but I can also see how this could be a marketing/sales stroke of genius. If you start a fourth grader off doing second grade work you'll keep them longer, no? The students sit in a large open room, under watchful eye of the instructor/assistants and do worksheets. Very young children doing "Junior Kumon" are in a separate smaller room. Kumon is NOT personalized instruction. Kumon will NOT help your child with their homework. They have a method, they teach their method. I think that's fine for what it is, but it's not super clear initially. It is all about memorization of facts and rote memory which is NOT stressed in school these days. I'm old school...I like that for my kid. THE GOOD: The basics are stressed. A child will receive a foundation in math and reading that will only help them in a public or private school. The organization of the staff in North Andover is mind boggling. They have a system of check in and check out and homework/classwork tracking that is enviable. I really don't know how a worksheet never goes astray, but they don't. The Instructor, S. Donti is fastidious about work being done properly, and demands perfection with a quiet authority. I think she may have written tax code in a past life. But she knows her stuff. No one gets anything past Mrs. Donti and I LOVE that. THE BAD: The waiting room is small. Sometimes it takes over an hour, sometimes class takes 15 minutes. There is no way to know. THE UGLY: I think the tables could use a good wipe-downs in between students; with so many coming and going I think a lot of the germs my kid brought home this year were from Kumon. A little Lysol would go a long way in there. THE VERDICT: a couple of colds aren't enough to keep my kid out of this program. The work is solid, the Instructor knowledgeable, and my kid is building confidence I didn't know possible. I am thrilled with this program and would and do recommend it to friends. It's not the right fit for every student, but it's worth a shot...

The staff is very accommodating for scheduling and my daughter seems happy with their services. The…read morepricing is reasonable and the method works for her.

My son attended Old South Preschool for his first school experience as a preschooler. The school…read morecame highly recommended by a trusted friend and it was immediately apparent that Old South stood out from many of the other preschools we considered. The classrooms are bright, open, and calming with quality materials used for play and lessons. The many "stations" curated and rotated by the teachers ensure children can feel comfortable choosing between their favorite activities or trying new ones. The kids are exposed to many themes and subjects. The focus on education is on building blocks for kindergarten. Kids are exposed to math and reading in a way that cultivated their curiosity. Weather, calendars, arts, nature, you name it! It's amazing how much is picked into the year. Our sons pride in his handwriting and creative creations was clear each day as we were welcomed into the classroom to review his work at pickup time. The school's emphasis on safe exploration of the city was another draw. We wanted our son to become a citizen of the city. A safe street crosser who observes and learns from his surroundings. Hearing from our son about the classes prep for their walks and then their adventures and lessons around the city was great. Finally, the staff and teachers were fantastic. The care and attentiveness they brought to the school daily was always top notch. They were always available to chat about a rough morning departure for school or other issue. Their ability to handle occasional hijinks was also impressive with the children quickly learning proper etiquette and behavior. Director of Old South, Carolyn, was very helpful coaching us young parents through some behavior challenges and through the kindergarten admissions process. All and all we would send another child to Old South and would not hesitate to recommend this school.

My son attended Old South Preschool during the 2020-21 school year. The year before, he attended a…read moredifferent, more local preschool (we live in Somerville), but that school chose to close due to COVID. Given the pandemic, we were scared to send our son to school at all, and it was even more nerve-wracking thinking about sending him somewhere new. Old South Preschool was recommended to us by friends, and being members of the church (the school is non-religious), our son was already familiar with the building. We decided it was worth the longer commute to have him in school somewhere we were all familiar with. We had no idea what an incredible year he would have. The staff took COVID precautions very seriously, and the school was open all year. Even with all of the extra safety measures, our son felt safe, cared for, and looked forward to school each day. The teachers--many who have taught there for over a decade--are masters at what they do (I am also an early childhood educator and was continuously amazed by their ability to relate to and motivate each child). Our son left Old South more confident, independent, and definitely ready for kindergarten. Old South Preschool was such a bright spot in this very bleak year. We are so grateful to Old South and could not recommend it enough.

My time at the friends school was mixed. I got a great education but at what cost. I was made fun…read moreof for being different. One kid called me a "stupid ugly fat cow" from 5th to 8th grade. The teacher I reported it to played it off "Oh he just likes you". This school taught me that my feelings didn't matter, made me feel like I didn't matter. This school taught me that no doesn't actually mean no, and that if you apply enough pressure they'll eventually give in. This school caused so much emotional and psychological damaged, that I've been left to fix on my own, because they didn't care to do their job. If the teacher had just done their job when I reported the other student, I would have self-confidence. my self-esteem and the way i see myself wouldn't be absolutely trashed. this school taught me that others can't be trusted and I can only rely on myself to protect myself. I started using self-harm in the 6th grade as a coping mechanism because no one listened to me, because no one cared.

So i at one point went to CFS and in kindergarten I loved it but in first grade I got a very strict…read moreteacher. She would be very unhappy if one kid was not doing their work or got frustrate. Also it was very stressful and I began to hate school. Other families have also left the community for similar reasons. Also they are quakers and want to create a diverse community which is great and all but they presented something called kids of color and becoming white ally's. They would talk for long amounts of times and usually kids didn't benefit anything good from it. Also bullying is a huge problem that nobody at CFS did something about. They would have 2 hr assemblies that were like torture when I was little. During the assemblies we'd sit on the gym floor and listen to music for 2 hrs. They also would rarely let kids get breaks. While at the assemblies the teachers would not only sit on benches against the wall but would get to take breaks whenever they wanted to get treats from the facility lounge. Do not send your child here they will become stressed.

i got bullied here. i liked the place but the children where horrible. im now in middle school and…read moremoved away from this nonsense. mrs maza and mrs clark where my favorites. abby was my bully btw. i lwft in 3rd grade thankfully. im very disappointed that the school had done nothing even when my mom called everyone i. a meeting to address the situation. abby would kick and punch and yell and no one ever would expel or suspend her.

When my son turned 3 years in 2001 I didn't look to far mount alvernia academy was the only place…read morethat we felt comfortable to send him and to trust them with his education Long story shot we are so glad that we did he graduated 2 years ago and went to a very good high school and my daughter is graduating this year We will miss MAA Thank you for all the good memories