Our family's experience at Glen Oaks Preschool has been nothing short of wonderful. Our daughter started at just two years and eight months old and recently graduated to begin kindergarten. When we were choosing a preschool, we had the unique advantage of living very close to the campus, which gave us a clear view of the daily activities at Glen Oaks, Nature and Nurture, and Millbrae Montessori. While all three are decent schools, Glen Oaks stood out immediately. As new parents, it gave us the greatest sense of assurance and comfort. From the very first day, we knew we had made the right choice. The teachers never talked down to the children, and we were touched to see how the older students naturally looked after our daughter. We learned this is a core part of the school's culture, and we often heard similar feedback from other parents about this nurturing environment. This experience was especially healing for me. I attended a boarding preschool in China as a child and still have nightmares about crying myself to death every week when my mother dropped me off. Seeing my daughter so well-cared for and respected by the teachers at Glen Oaks helped cure those old wounds. Our daughter loved every day there. She was always excited to go in the morning and often didn't want to leave at pickup time, frequently staying to play with her friends on the playground for an extra hour until we had to rush her home at dusk. Most importantly, Glen Oaks prepared her perfectly for kindergarten. She transitioned smoothly and confidently, even though she is the youngest in her class. She was emotionally stable and socially responsible, thanks to her foundation at preschool. We recently attended a birthday party with all her Glen Oaks friends, and it was clear every child is thriving. We cannot recommend Glen Oaks Montesorri highly enough. read more

The best decision I made for my daughter when she was 2.5 years old! Today she is 5 and I fall short of words to thank Glen Oaks Montessori. From the management to the teachers, they all are so passionate about what they do. The monthly newsletters, cultural activities, mystery readers, music class, Spanish class, gardening, field trips, you have it all. There is so much to learn for the little inquisitive minds. We loved every aspect of it. Thank you Glen Oaks Montessori and we hope you continue to produce confident students ready to face the world! read more

Glen Oaks Montessori School - Preschools Near Me - Millbrae, California

In 2022, my son was going to a traditional play-based preschool that wasn't quite the right fit for him. He is an intelligent, loving child who marches to the beat of his own drum. When his current preschool told us at the end of the school year that he wasn't ready to move up to the next room because there would be a lot of seated table work they felt he wasn't ready for, I put a ton of research into alternative teaching methods. Montessori sounded like the best fit because it encourages exploring a child's curiosity, empowers them to make choices for themselves, and builds their confidence to learn by doing. Many preschools tout themselves as Montessori-based or Montessori-inspired, but Glen Oaks Montessori was listed on the American Montessori Society website as a locally accredited Montessori program. I reached out to them in July of that year for enrollment in September, and we were so lucky that they had space for our son. From the moment I spoke with one of the co-directors, Ms. Phia, I had a good feeling. When we toured the school, I felt this was precisely the environment our son needed. And after he did a trial run one afternoon, we were sold. Two years later, we could not be more proud of our son's growth and progress, and we have SO much to thank Glen Oaks and its staff and teachers for. Their communication is top-notch. Their administration and educators are some of the most patient, kind, and loving people in childcare that I've interacted with. There are monthly newsletters that keep you informed of all the new curricula they offer and events with the school, parent-teacher conferences twice a year, and opportunities for parents to participate in the children's learning. Through what they've shared with us, we learned so much about how our son behaves and learns outside of our home. The staff has always gone above and beyond to meet our concerns and needs. Last year, we were worried about him not knowing the alphabet very well because he gravitated towards numbers, but through encouragement from Glen Oaks teachers and his own hard work, he's finishing the year already knowing how to read. This year, when we were making the decision on which school to start our son in Kindergarten, Ms. Megan spent the time to sit down with us and go into each option in depth. Her insight helped us feel confident that the next school we chose was an environment in which our son would do well. Tomorrow, our son will graduate from Glen Oaks. It will be a bittersweet occasion, for as excited we are for him to grow and move on to Kindergarten, we will also be saying goodbye to a school that embraced him exactly as he was and provided him with a loving, supportive environment that allowed him to flourish. If you are considering Glen Oaks, I cannot say enough about what a great decision it will be. Every penny of your tuition will be worth it, as your child(ren) will be in the best hands, in the best environment. We love Glen Oaks Montessori! read more

We started our son here when he was 2.5 years old, and we are so glad we did. Megan, Lynette, and all of the teachers are wonderful and take such great care of the children. They are attentive, experienced, and run a well-oiled program. Our son has grown so much in just one year and we are grateful to have found a school so invested in his development. I love that Glen Oaks sends home monthly newsletters and makes it easy on parents to stay connected. Every month, we are informed of what the children are learning, the unique activities happening that month (i.e. holiday celebrations, cultural activities, field trips), and any schedule reminders. I also love that our son has been exposed to so many diverse lessons during the year - salsa dancing, diwali lessons/celebration, Spanish class, Lunar New Year, and more. Twice a year, we have a parent-teacher conference where we learn in great detail how our son is doing and it is so comforting and helpful as a parent. All in all, Glen Oaks is an amazing preschool and you can rest easy knowing your child is in great hands! read more

My daughter has now been attending Glen Oaks for 8 months and continues to enjoy it. She has a great relationship with her teachers and is making friends. I see her social and learning skills improving. Highly recommend. NOTE: I've reviewed the negative reviews from a few years ago and honestly have not experienced any of their complaints. The teachers are consistent and know my daughter well (She only attends 3 mornings a week). The activities in the classroom are age appropriate and in excellent condition. The playground could probably use some improvements but the teachers / staff make the best of it and the kids don't seem to mind it. Perhaps the negative complaints from a few years ago was under different management but I have no reservations about 100% endorsing the school's administration today. read more

We have been delighted with Glen Oaks Montessori. Our daughter has thrived there. She is only a few months into Pre-K, but she already has the skills that my son was learning in kindergarten. She knows all her letters and their sounds. She has already started to read, sounding out c-v-c (consonant-vowel-consonant) words and learning "helper" (sight) words such as "and", "the", "like". She knows her numbers, at least up to 30, and can count quite well. Every day we get several art projects she completes. There is no dress-up (which our daughter loves), but we actually appreciate that this is an academic pre-K program, not just a "play" program (which our son was in and did not prepare him well for kindergarten). She has fun doing many of the other activities. The aftercare program is also strong. They do many art and other projects, and they learn about different regions of the world. Our daughter fell in love with the stories of ancient Egypt. They also have a gardening program (extra cost) that my daughter loves. Every week our daughter brings home a lovely pot she planted herself with herbs or vegetables. She is better at gardening than me! The teachers are very professional and warm. We did miss the teacher that left last year, but the new teacher (an experienced one from the sister school) is excellent. She introduced herself to us, and mostly importantly she really seemed to have bonded with our daughter and the other students. The teacher ratios are good. There are 4 teachers and 36 kids (many part-time). We looked at many programs in the area, from San Bruno down to Belmont, before choosing Glen Oaks. I have no hesitation recommending Glen Oaks. Feel free to contact me through a private message (I think Yelp supports that) if you want to know more. We know how important the pre-school decision can be. Rich read more

So thankful to be part of this school community! Glen Oaks has top-notch teachers and administration. They are Montessori certified so unlike many so-called "Montessori" schools around the Bay, they actually use the wonderful techniques and approach developed by Maria Montessori. What does this mean for us as parents? Our child is focused, can sustain interest in her own work, and has learned practical life skills such that she asks to be part of sweeping the floor, cleaning counters, etc. What I LOVE about the program: The teachers treat students with respect. No "talking down" or yelling at (yes, I've heard yelling at other schools!) their students. They model Montessori "grace and courtesy" from 8:30am - 6:00pm five days a week. Following their lead has actually made me a better parent! Really, I cannot give enough stars to Megan and the Glen Oaks team. The absolute best! read more

If there was an option for 10 stars, Glen Oaks Montessori would have gotten 10 stars from me. Today was my 4 year old son's last day at Glen Oaks and it was so very hard to say goodbye - for many reasons. The facility, curriculum, and especially the teachers/staff/administrators are second to none. We will be forever grateful to the Glen Oaks for providing such a safe, comfortable, nurturing, and stimulating environment for our son and for laying a strong academic and social foundation for whatever it is that our son has ahead of him in life. Our son was just 2 on that first day that we dropped him off at Glen Oaks. In just two years we have seen our son grow, thrive, and make the transition from a toddler to a young boy in such great proportions that we could not have foreseen. Spending some time in the classroom observing our son in the classroom setting and interacting with his teachers and classmates and it was clear that we made the BEST choice for our son by enrolling him in Glen Oaks. Furthermore, outside of learning and growing, our son sincerely has fun and enjoys his time at Glen Oaks. Every day I picked him up from school I would stay out of sight and observe him for a little while - he would always be laughing, smiling, but at the same time have this glow of eagerness to learn all over his face. The ONLY reason we are leaving Glen Oaks is because we moved away from the area. But even with that I continued to bring my son to Glen Oaks one day/week (which is my day off from work) - that's how valuable Glen Oaks is to the continued growth of my son. But in the end, the logistics just became too difficult for us and we had to make the difficult decision to move our son to a school that was closer to home. However, I still put my 2 year old daughter on the Glen Oaks waiting list...just in case. It has been an absolute privilege to have been a part of the Glen Oaks Montessori family. I highly recommend Glen Oaks Montessori to anyone looking for the best pre-school for their child. Thank you for everything Glen Oaks Montessori! read more

Our 4 years old boy's transition from another Montessori to Glen Oaks was effortless, which in all honesty I thought would be a difficult task for the family. In addition, having started a new job, I was less involved with my son's day to day activities in school, but this did not stop my son to have new friends and continue to thrive as a student and as "the new kid on the block". I highly recommend this Montessori not only for the excellent academics that the school teach to the children, but because of the quality of care, attention and affection that the team of teachers provide to all children all packaged into one fee. Thank you Glen Oaks for your guidance, support and care! read more

Glen Oaks Montessori School - Playground. Lots of space for kids to run and play. - Preschools Near Me - Millbrae, California

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Glen Oaks Montessori has been providing both our boys great learning environment. My oldest son went through the program and got a great foundation of reading and math ability. Not only their teachers provided great academic teachings, but also they provided great social environment for kids. Glen Oaks actually prepared him to be confident and successful for his grade school. He can be a reliable independent student but also a great team player. The most important thing is that Glen Oaks provides him a great life time learning habit -- curiosity, diligent work and respect others. We truly appreciated the years my older one spent with Glen Oaks. I still remember that when we first stepped in Glen Oaks, my older one was having his seperation anxiety, one of the teachers will just come to him and hug him to make him feel like home. She was doing that for a couple months till he finally made few new friends. Glen Oaks provides such a nurturing environment for kids. Kids are always calm and peaceful doing their work. You never find classroom in chaotic situation. Teachers always refer us by our first names when we come to drop off or pick up our kid and we feel comfortable discussing our kids' school performance when we feel there is a need. That was the reason why we did not hesitate to send our younger one back to Glen Oaks as we know our kids in Glen Oaks will be in good hand. My younger boy is now back there. He had so much fun in school. We also signed him up for Garden Art class which is also an amazing kid art class you can ever find in the Bay area. He will bring decorated pot with flowers, pebble stones and baked pumpkin cookies after art class. We were so thrilled to learn what he had done for his art class. Moreover, through Glen Oaks, we have made several good parent friends. Glen Oaks provides a close community which we truly love!! read more

Glen Oaks, unlike other Montessori schools (any school can call itself "Montessori," but not all truly are--ask for proof of certification if unsure) is the real-deal. Glen Oaks' teachers are qualified, certified professionals who are as warm and nurturing as they are expert at guiding children intellectually and socially using the Montessori method of structured liberty. Our oldest daughter flourished there and was well-prepared for Kindergarten, and grades 1 and 2, thanks to the foundation created by Glen Oaks, and our youngest daughter is thriving there as well, doing some addition and subtraction, as well as pre-reading (blending letters, phonics) at age 4. Of course I think my daughters bright, but much of their success I attribute to the teachers who supported, and continue to support, their natural curiosity and who encouraged, and continue to encourage, their formative intellects by introducing exciting new challenges. Classrooms are bright, and impeccably maintained, and the materials within stimulating and well-organized. The grounds outside are filled with verdant garden beds and bright pots of flowers all the children help cultivate. A true Montessori school. read more

Short version - My wife and I are completely satisfied with Glen Oaks Montessori and we wholeheartedly recommend them based on our experiences. Here's the more detailed version: My wife and I were looking around for a preschool and safety was our number 1 priority. We interviewed/visited/researched other preschools and came by Glen Oaks Montessori by accident as we were in the area. We took a chance to see if we can get an unscheduled tour and the director of the center was more than happy to show us around. The first thing I noticed was that the children were busy doing their jobs quietly. The classrooms were tidy, organized, and clean. The teachers were very pleasant, very approachable, and caring to the children. After this first surprise visit we all went home and I called the child care licensing (http://ccld.ca.gov/PG411.htm) to inquire about the preschools we've been researching on. Some sites have plenty of infractions and Glen Oaks Montessori was immaculate. Although we had already had our heart set with Glen Oaks Montessori it was further solidified upon hearing that the child care licensing department didn't have complaints logged for Glen Oaks. Just to name a few infractions from OTHER preschools: a) diapers not being changed b) step ladders not put away and could cause an accident c) children left unsupervised/fighting d) children watching too much television (be cautious when you see a t.v. in the classroom) We were always kept abreast of our daughter's developments and we watched our daughter progress well under their care. My daughter never had any hesitation when we dropped her off as she felt well taken cared for. My daughter attended Monday through Friday half days (morning). We are very grateful to them for all they've done to my daughter. If we could do it all over again the choice is crystal clear and we would pick Glen Oaks Montessori again. read more

My review on this school disappeared, I don't know why. I had an extremely positive experience at Glen Oaks, unlike the other parent. My son still talks about the school, although he is not longer there due to a move. It is a traditional Montessori school, which is what I wanted. The grounds are beautiful, and the children can run around a large open field with a baseball diamond and ride bikes on the basketball court. If you want traditional Montessori, this is the place. read more

This is the second year my daughter has been at Glen Oaks....and I have never been happier. After months of researching Montessori programs in the area, I was quite impressed with the school's philosophy and level of integration of Montessori values -- I would go as far to say its the best in the area. Its staff, the class environment and its inspiring/spacious location with the school's very own beautiful garden, was all a strong indication that this is the place for my little girl. And my husband and I have not been disappointed. Her level of confidence, independence and curiosity of the world around her has grown to sophisticated levels since she has been at Glen Oaks. The staff consistently nurtures the children's inquisitive minds as they do art and puzzles, reading and numbers/quantities, practical life exercises (i.e. gardening), etc. I highly recommend Glen Oaks to parents searching for a high quality Montessori environment for their child. read more

Our older daughter attended Glen Oaks for 2.5 years and loved the school. She thrived in the Montessori environment, which allowed her to explore many new concepts and develop both academic and practical skills. She learned to read at an advanced level and built a strong foundation in math. Glen Oaks offers enrichment classes, including Garden Art, which our daughter truly enjoyed - she made some beautiful projects and learned a lot about gardening and nature. Most importantly, our daughter made many good friends at Glen Oaks and grew in her ability to communicate and care for others. She is now doing well in kindergarten, which we think is in large part due to her experience in preschool. We started our younger daughter at Glen Oaks this summer at age 3. She is having a terrific time so far. She enjoys interacting with the teacher and her new friends - and we often hear her happily singing songs learned at school (about days of the week and about the 7 continents). read more

My daughter Ella has been at Glen Oaks since she was 2.5. We have been so impressed with the teachers, classroom environment, and educational instruction. The teachers and director are all amazing in their own individual way. They are there 110% because they want to be and for their love of children and education. They provide nuturing instruction and guidance to each of the children and definitely are sensitive to each different type of personality in the classroom. They are excellent at communicating each child's strength and other things that may need a little extra attention. When I have had any questions about tuition, the school schedule, or specific questions on Ella's progress, both the director and teachers are more than happy to speak with me and answer any questions or concerns I may have. Both my husband and I have watched our tiny miss Ella grow and blossom into a thriving little student at Glen Oaks. Ella has benefited from the ever evolving curriculum and jobs in the classroom and is constantly telling us facts about different countries, the stages of insects, and even learning Spanish. Ella has learned many great social skills and has formed amazing friendships with her peers. I love watching and hearing about the little games she creates with her friends on the playground and enjoy knowing that her imagination is just filled to the brim with creativity. It's never easy to leave your child at a daycare or school and have to go to work in the daily grind, but I can truly say that my mind and heart are at ease since I know Ella goes to a wonderful school with exceptionally caring professionals. I love this school, and Ella does too, and highly recommend it to anyone! read more

I only have all the great things to talk about this school, with our deepest appreciation! We chose Glen Oak as it was close to us, and luckily it was available and no wail list at the time. (I suppose they were slightly more expensive than the other two in the area and that's why they still have availability? but they definitely worth every penny.) Teacher Miss Cici, Miss Val, Miss Phia and Miss Elyse were so sweet and warm, my daughter did not cry a bit when we dropped her off the first day of school! Within a year of all the nurturing from the teachers, she turned from a shy toddler to a happy outgoing little child. I volunteered as mysterious reader every so often, and I observed that the teachers were very friendly to the kids during class, yet they were able to teach them enough discipline to work as a group. We received arts and crafts products almost everyday, the teachers kept the kids busy! The little yard did not seem a lot of fun when it was empty, but they would pull out rocking horse, tricycles, and sand castle toys etc. and it suddenly became so attractive and every kid would have something to play with there. In the summer break, my daughter missed the school so much everyday, even driving by it made her happy, that's how much it meant for her, and for us. read more

I love this place. My daughter has been going here for 1 year. We all love it. Im saddened that we might be moving across the bridge. I don't know if I'll be able to find such a great place like Glen Oaks. My only issue with the school, and I guess the area is a lack of diversity but that isn't the schools fault. The area lacks African Americans but is diverse with every other ethnicity. The tuition is expensive but it's totally worth it. I would recommend this school to any parent. Love it, love, love it. read more

We just love Glen Oaks! Our son has really thrived there. He just loves going to going to school every day. He has advanced a lot academically and has enjoyed the entire time he's been there. His teacher genuinely cares about him, and always has a good understanding of his achievements and his interests. We are always getting updates about his progress, both socially and academically. All the teachers at the school also all have an in depth understanding of the Montessori philosophy, which I didn't find at other Montessori schools that I looked into. I feel like the Montessori philosophy is a little out of favor right now, and this is unjustified. If I could write a 5 star review for the Montessori philosophy, I would. Our son has achieved A LOT for his age and is extremely independent. Glen Oaks does a fantastic job executing this philosophy. read more

My son has been at Glen Oaks Montessori for 2 years and we could not be happier. You can really tell that the teachers and the director really care about the children. The teachers do a very good job respecting the children's individuality and helping them to thrive not only academically but also socially. I strongly recommend this great school!!! read more

Our three girls have attended Glen Oaks (the last one graduating this academic year) starting in 2013. I can say without hesitation that this is a wonderful school run by caring and attentive staff. The Montessori curriculum is executed true to form allowing for children to learn at their own pace, with available supplementary work for more advanced kids. Our older kids were more than prepared to enter kindergarten after their time at this school. We can't say enough positive things about Glen Oaks! read more

My son went to this preschool for two years. The first year was ok. Then teachers (yes, two of them) were fired with no notice to parents or kids. When I questioned the owner she lectured me on how she knew what was "best" for the children. Guess I should have called her at 3 am for three weeks when my child couldn't sleep because he didn't know where teacher x or y went. These teachers were replaced by a teacher who seemed completely lethargic. The teachers are burned out and unhappy and really need to do something else. Outside of that it was intensely boring for my son. Only two kids per little carpet square when they were working on things. I say working because play is restricted to the outdoors. On the academic side my son learned absolutely nothing. At our parent conferences the teachers couldn't even tell me what my son did in the classroom. He chooses age appropriate manipulatives is all I could get out of her. I am sooooo happy to never have to write a check to Glen Oaks Montessori again. Not even sure why I gave two stars. They did have one great teacher but they have since even let her go! Actually I'm going back to one...because I just remembered the time I sat and watched a little girl cry for about 30 minutes while her teacher kept telling her to "stop crying you are annoying everyone". The little girl was so upset that she wet herself. One of the teachers responded by saying, "Oh great, and now she pees" in a loud voice. It was abusive. read more

This is by far the best Montessori school in the SF Peninsula. I cannot even start to describe what a big positive impact the school has had on my son. We enrolled our son Viraj Chakrabarti in summer of 2012 and the last 9 months have been a very very great experience for him, so much that he looks forward to go to school every day and was upset why the school was closed for winter break. Lynette the owner and her daughter Megan are very involved in the day to day running of the school. The entire experience from the admission process to PTA meetings were very enjoyable for us. The school has very very good Montessori trained teachers - Ms. Indra, Ms. Leah, Ms. Tracy they are all very well trained in their roles and are passionate about teaching the montessori way. Our son has learned to become more independent, is developing a love for learning, and has also really improved on his social skills in the past year. The school sends monthly newsletters and parents are encouraged to participate and get involved in the curriculum. My wife was invited to a class session on Asia and she enjoyed telling the children about India, the food, culture, and the people. We also made some really good friends at the school, as we got to meet other parents. I very highly recommend this school and encourage you all to contact Ms. Lynette or Ms. Megan to find out more about the school. Sadly we are relocating to Asia and have to leave the school, Viraj terribly misses his school and sends his good wishes and love to all. read more