We are so grateful to Shir Hashirim. Our daughter has had a very fulfilling preschool experience…read morethat is unlike any other in Los Angeles. She is graduating enriched by the impressive academic curriculum but also the terrific arts program. The school (led by the incomparable educational legend, Elena Cielak) nurtures them to be strong, independent thinkers and worldly global citizens. Children leave this school incredibly well prepared for the next stage of their education, and it's no accident elementary schools across this town all love Shir Hashirim graduates! It is truly the best preschool and a magical place.

First of all, who chooses schools from Yelp reviews? I mean, no disrespect to Yelp, but you may…read morewant to dig a little deeper than this site if you're concerned about the future of your child's education. That said, my wife and I are finishing up our fifth year (second child) with Elena, Nelida and the team at Montessori Shir Hashirim (Berendo campus). To say that we've enjoyed our experience there would be an understatement of unimaginable magnitude. What this school has done to enrich our children is simply beyond compare. Here's what you can expect if you enroll your child at Montessori Shir Hashirim: - Lest you fear Montessori is "all work and no play", you'd be terribly misled. They play. They play plenty. - Your child will learn various tasks and "jobs" meant to hone their fine motor skills and help in their ability to work in groups. This is manifested with the aforementioned "jobs" -- classic wooden Montessori projects -- but also with weekly baking, gardening and other stimulating activities. - Your child will learn about all manner of the arts -- not finger painting and PlayDoh, but the actual construction of thought-provoking crafts and artwork inspired by artists that the children get exposed to throughout the year -- the likes of Picasso, Klimt, Haring, Warhol, Renoir, etc. - Your child will perform in three plays a year. (And lest you think your child wouldn't possibly be able to learn lines or pay attention or sing complex songs, you are dead wrong. In the capable hands of the enrichment teachers, your child will absolutely astound you.) The plays are often based on Rudyard Kipling stories, and at least one play a year is Shakespeare. Yes, Shakespeare. A fun, witty, amusing rendition of a Shakespeare play. It's phenomenal. - Your child will also be exposed to math, reading, language arts (Mandarin, Spanish & French), dance, music, and a host of optional extracurricular activities (my daughter is currently taking ukulele). But as enriching as all this is, your child will most certainly make friends that he or she will likely keep for a long, long time. And you, as parents -- believe me -- you will meet new and interesting and fun parents that you too will want to hold on to for years to come. As much as it saddens me to leave Montessori Shir Hashirim, I will be most saddened to leave this incredible community of families. Know this: As a parent preparing for your child's first educational experience, this is a big deal. A really big deal. And admittedly, Montessori is not for every kid. You go and see if it's right for you and your child, and if you think it is, and if Elena agrees, you will be rewarded with a program that will change your life. As it has most certainly, unequivocally, changed ours. (Oh, and Elena doesn't do any fundraising. So there's that...)

If I could give Bright Montessori a thousand stars, I would. Our youngest (of three kids) started…read moreat Bright at barely age 2 when our full-time nanny unexpectedly had to take medical leave. When I arrived for my visit, the director, Sakina, was hoisting a palate of strawberries from her car that she had bought from the farmers market for the kids' snack. From day one, our family felt welcomed and supported by Sakina and her colleagues and the parents at the school. Our daughter is thriving and we see every day how this loving community has contributed to her growth and development. The school has two beautiful classrooms with large glass windows/doors and a serene courtyard. One parent on Yelp commented about uneven pavement and I'm not sure I understand that. The space is perfectly safe (as well as clean and beautiful) for children to run around--I certainly wouldn't have sent my 2-year-old daughter to the school if I had any concerns. The teachers are extremely engaged and loving and I've watched them on a daily basis help kids to learn how to communicate and resolve conflict. Overall, the school is an absolute gem and I am so glad that we became part of this wonderful community. Our family is forever grateful for the marvelous work by Sakina, Vanessa, Michelle, and Romaline.

If I could give Bright Montessori a thousand stars, I would. Our youngest (of three kids) started…read moreat Bright at barely age 2 when our full-time nanny unexpectedly had to take medical leave. When I arrived for my visit, the director, Sakina, was hoisting a palate of strawberries from her car that she had bought from the farmers market for the kids' snack. From day one, our family felt welcomed and supported by Sakina and her colleagues and the parents at the school. Our daughter is thriving and we see every day how this loving community has contributed to her growth and development. The school has two beautiful classrooms with large glass windows/doors and a serene courtyard. One parent on Yelp commented about uneven pavement and I'm not sure I understand that. The space is perfectly safe (as well as clean and beautiful) for children to run around--I certainly wouldn't have sent my 2-year-old daughter to the school if I had any concerns. The teachers are extremely engaged and loving and I've watched them on a daily basis help kids to learn how to communicate and resolve conflict. Overall, the school is an absolute gem and I am so glad that we became part of this wonderful community. Our family is forever grateful for the amazing work by Sakina, Vanessa, Michelle, and Romaline.

We have had such a lovely experience at IMA. First of all, I didn't realize that schools needed to…read morebe certified Montessori -- this is one of the few schools in SoCal that is actually certified, and it definitely shows. Our children have been to other "montessori" preschools that weren't certified, and they were completely different. At IMA the staff are highly trained, knowledgeable, and responsive. The classroom environment is beautiful and quiet, and filled with activities for the kids. Our son has thrived here. He loves his teacher and friends. The IMA parents community is also wonderful, the staff shares parent's contact information so it's easy for us to have play dates with other families. 100% recommend with no reservations (as a parent whose children have been to a combined 8 daycares!). It's such a relief to drop my son off at school knowing he will be safe and well taken care of in an environment where he can grow and thrive.

Our daughter attended IMA as a 2-year-old for about five months. We left several months ago, and…read morewith some distance, I wanted to share our experience for other families. Our biggest issue was communication. The school moved her between classrooms more than once without discussing it with us first. Our repeated requests to move her back went unanswered, and updates on how she was doing were few and far between. Our daughter was struggling at IMA and it was clear that the school did not have the skills or staff to support her. Their approach was not a good fit for our daughter. If your child may need individualized support or a more communicative partnership with caregivers, I'd encourage you to ask detailed questions before enrolling. We wish we had, and we wish we'd trusted our daughter's unhappiness sooner.

Our family has had such a wonderful experience at Montessori Academy of West Adams over the past…read moretwo years. From the very beginning, we were drawn to their individualized academic approach, which truly allows each child to grow at their own pace while building confidence and a genuine love of learning. It has been incredible to watch our daughter thrive in an environment that recognizes her unique strengths and encourages her curiosity every single day. The teachers are absolutely amazing--warm, attentive, and deeply committed to making every child feel supported and valued. We especially appreciate all the extra thought and creativity that goes into making her early school years so memorable, from engaging activities to special events that bring so much joy to my daughter. Thanks to this wonderful community, our daughter's first experiences with school has been nothing short of extraordinary, and we are so grateful to be part of it.

We cannot say enough about how special MAWA is. Choosing a preschool is such an important decision,…read moreand we feel endlessly grateful that MAWA became the foundation of our daughter's early childhood. The directors, administrative team, and teachers are truly exceptional. They bring so much intention, warmth, and care to everything they do. It is clear that they see and value each child as an individual, and they create an environment where children feel safe, confident, and inspired to explore the world around them. Our daughter has grown into such a thoughtful, curious, creative, and kind little person, and MAWA played an enormous role in that. She learned not just academic fundamentals, but how to be a good friend, how to express herself, how to ask questions, and how to move through the world with confidence and empathy. There is something truly magical about this school. It is a community in the fullest sense of the word, and the impact extends far beyond the classroom. We will always be grateful to MAWA for helping shape who our daughter is becoming. It is an extraordinary place, and any family would be lucky to be part of it.

Southern California Montessori School is truly a hidden gem, and we feel incredibly fortunate to be…read morepart of it. Under the wise and compassionate leadership of Ann Abellera and her exceptional teaching team, the school fosters a deep love of learning that radiates through everything they do. Ann brings a calm, thoughtful presence to the school, and her decades of Montessori experience are evident in the respectful, child-centered environment she and her staff have created. Rather than traditional classrooms, there is one beautiful, open learning space that allows children to move freely and engage deeply with their work. The materials are thoughtfully chosen, and the environment is designed to spark curiosity, independence, and joy in learning. I've noticed the pride my kid takes in his discoveries - it's so rewarding for a parent! Beyond academics, the school nurtures kindness, responsibility, and confidence. It's clear that every child is seen, respected, and encouraged to grow at their own pace. The outdoor space is also a huge plus--a well-maintained and cheerful playground that gives the kids a chance to run around and play. Southern California Montessori is more than a school--it's a community rooted in trust, care, and joyful learning. We can't recommend it highly enough.

What a gem of a school! The teachers are amazing; they are so dedicated and committed to fostering…read moregrowth in your children. They do a fantastic job instilling discipline while simultaneously providing an extremely loving and nurturing environment. The staff really take the time to get to know your child's personality and they use their curriculum to help them to learn to be well-rounded individuals. Almost every child learns to read and do math before kindergarten. After sending my older child here, I couldn't have more trust in sending my younger child here as well. What a wonderful foundation this school creates for young humans! Words can't express my gratitude. It has been an invaluable experience sending my child here.

A wonderful school where our daughter excelled academically and socially. In Ms. Rosa's class she…read morelearned how to read, write, and do arithmetic. She also learned about the solar system, dinosaurs, and the lifecycle of butterflies. Socially she went from being hesitant to speak to other kids, to expressing herself through her coloring, playtime, and daily outfit selection. Communication with the school was great, emails were answered quickly and the teachers were always happy to provide feedback about your child. The school is located in a gated community so we always felt that our daughter was safe. Once our second child is ready, we will without question, send her to Pacifica.

We loved our time at Pacifica so much so that we sent both of our children there. The teachers…read morethere are so kind, so patient, and have done it for quite a while that they know how best to tailor their approach for the children. Our children are both now in elementary school, and we firmly believe that the time of Pacifica has helped set them up for success, not only academically, but arguably, more importantly, socially and developmentally. Mrs Vargo and team there are great !

We were first time parents looking for a preschool and so glad we found LHT. Our daughter went here…read morefor 3 years, and LOVED it. Now she asks to go back and visit the school and Ms Jackie. Any concerns we had with our daughter at home were also noticed by Ms Jackie and her fellow teachers, and they helped us get our daughter through the concerns. I personally was not looking forward to potty training. Ms Jackie took that anxiety away and essentially did the potty training for us while showing so much patience and love with our little one (and us parents too) Our daughter graduated from LHT (yes, there is a graduation ceremony) and was completely ready for TK, knowing how to act in a classroom setting, and being further along in her education than most of her peers. There was also a strong community among the families attending here which helped us as well.

Do your homework and ask around before enrolling. We initially loved it here (started ~18 mos old),…read morebut as our son grew, things shifted quickly. At just 2 yo, our child was "uncooperative" bc he wanted help putting on sneakers, putting on jacket, climbing on & off the big potty. Power struggles around these things at school corresponded with reports of acting out: yelling "go away" at teachers, not eating -- behavior we never saw at home. When we met about this, the director was not willing to look for causes or solutions within the context of the classroom. Her sole response was to instruct us to match the school's very high independence expectations at home, which we did. We had no difficulty teaching our son to consistently put on his own shoes, unassisted, at 2 yrs 3 mos old, when we did so with love and patience. Meanwhile, this apparently persisted as a big issue for the school. After our initial meeting, the only update we ever got was "no change" or "no improvement." In our final weeks here, conflict at school around the director's insistence that our young 2 yo use the adult-size potty instead of the training one corresponded with sudden potty anxiety & uncharacteristic signs of shame. Breakdowns in communication & trust caused us to abruptly leave just a week before our planned last day. Leaving on bad terms was hard on our child and sad for us. We went from being the school's biggest champions to feeling very concerned and mistrustful. There are so many lovely things about the school: thoughtful curriculum, field trips, homemade meals, etc. However, the extreme pressure placed on children to meet age-inappropriate independence standards really backfired for our son who is a super happy, easy, capable kid at home. We feel regretful about placing him in an environment where he was treated like a bad kid for being a normal toddler who wanted help from his caretakers. I'd strongly recommend asking parents who have recently left about their experience before enrolling, as there is a pattern of families leaving earlier than intended from this school.

Both of my children attended BWM, though in different circumstances (because of the timing of the…read morepandemic) and in different classes. Pros: - the academics are excellent, especially when it comes to learning to read. - cannot say enough good things about Ms. Gia! - they enjoyed coming to school and loved their teachers - there is a true commitment to the value of bilingualism Opportunities for growth which I don't think could be learned from a tour or handbook: - traditional binary gender stereotypes are reinforced with explanations or comments like "boys like to play more rough" - there is a missed opportunity to engage with parents as equal partners who can add value. - I wouldn't mind sacrificing the academics a bit for more time spent on social emotional content, such as how to navigate conflict on the playground or being inclusive of all classmates or celebrating growth and transitions Would I choose a different preschool if I had to do it all over again? I don't think so. We would still have chosen this school. It was a solid start to our children's school experiences.

I attended a tour this week and respectfully, this place is disappointing and leaves a lot to be…read moredesired. The biggest, loudest red flag is their snack menu: skinny POPCORN and RAISINS, two of the most commonly known choking hazards. The admin confirmed their snack schedule is up to date, and indicated "nothing has ever happened before" when questioned about the popcorn and raisins. Well, I'm glad none of the kids under your supervision have choked as a result, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. Any decent preschool / day care would not endanger their littles. On top of that, the teachers looked tired and the playrooms underwhelming. I observed a couple of children practicing writing, yet they seemed dim and not as engaged or as happy as other kids I've observed at other schools. No, I would not recommend this place. I would stay far away.