I can not say enough about the wonders and magic of Mountain School! Our family attended with two…read morechildren across five years, ages 2-5, and experienced all the different and unique classes and AMAZING teachers. Mountain School helped me raise adventurous, confident risk-takers who are emotionally grounded and comfortable in various social settings. The school's nature-focused, child-led, and play-based philosophy follows the science that PLAY is our children's work and that there is no better place to learn than outside! The tire swing, zip line, canyon classroom, creek play, field trips, sensory activities, and materials are all favorites for our family, but more important is the carefully crafted curriculum that ties all of these pieces together. Each class, teacher, and school year is a little different because the teachers ebb and flow with the children's rhythms. Every piece of Mountain School is done with intention, integrity, and gratitude. Aside from my children's growth and experience, I was also a student in the community with Mountain School. The school philosophy that training parents in child development is education's most important job is the most valuable piece of the entire Mountain School experience. Learning from the fantastic, experienced, and loving teachers is the greatest gift you'll give yourself. I am the parent I am today because of what I learned at Mountain School!

Each teacher is as phenomenal as they are devoted. They truly stand out and we are so grateful for…read moreall they and the school have given our family. My child attended from ages 2-5, each year growing, exploring, and learning through first-hand experience and play. An amazing foundation as she started kindergarten. Founded in 1956, Mountain School is built on a wonderful, unique philosophy that training parents in understanding children is education's most important job. The school is a gift to parents as much as the children. With a Parent Board of Directors, there are many opportunities to get involved with an amazing community.

Angie and Ashorina are great teachers! My kid had a great first year of preschool in their Little…read moreBears class right after covid. They are super creative, down to earth, and love the kids for who they are. I can also highly recommend Lorien who taught the TK class. She always knows exactly what to say when kids need help and has boundless energy and ideas for creating lots of special moments throughout the day. There's lots to learn from all of them!

Both my children had been attending SHECC since they were 2 years old. My son recently graduated…read morefrom the TK program here and I can't sing their praises enough! Ms. Nonny and Ms. Netali are both so nurturing and care deeply about each individual student. My son, who has some learning challenges, thrived in this class! We value social emotional development for the early years and they went above and beyond. My daughter still has another year here and I am excited to see her progress in Nonny and Natalie's class.

I can't recommend Grace Preschool more! My son has thrived there and I can't believe the growth…read moreI've seen in him since starting school here. The staff and teachers are all so warm and nurturing to the kids and parents. It's the perfect play-based environment and my son can't wait to attend school each day. What a gift to a tired mom!

Our family discovered Grace preschool in 2016 and we couldn't be happier. All 3 of my girls have…read moreattended and my youngest will be in pre-K there next year. They are all a bit shy, so it was very important to me to find a school where the teachers were nurturing and kind and would help them come out of their shell a bit. Grace was exactly what we were looking for. The classes are small, the teachers are amazing and the parent community is so nice. During the last year, the classes were smaller than normal and some of the instruction was on Zoom, so I got a little more insight into what goes on in the classroom than I have in previous years. I can't tell you how impressed I am! Every single activity the kids do is prepared with so much thought. The kids are having fun and learning so much in the process. My oldest two girls left pre-K well prepared for Kindergarten. The school is play based, but they ensure the kids learn everything they need to know for a successful start in elementary school. I can't recommend it enough!

All the teachers we've met are caring, patient, and kind to our child. The admins are attentive and…read moreget to know all the kids and parents. I cannot overstate how awesome it is that they have staff who prepare lunches so I don't have to. The campus itself is top-notch with playgrounds, grass, gym for poor weather days, etc. We're so grateful that we were recommended KK early on so our kid has only had positive experiences with "school"!

Both our children went to Kiddie Kampus 2x a week from ages 2 until they were 4 years old and…read moregraduated Kiddie Kampus. Given we drove 30-35 minutes by highway (one way) from Palo Alto, this tells you how much we loved this preschool. Our kids attended 3 half days at Bing Nursery (at Stanford) and 2 full days at Kiddie Kampus (in Los Gatos). The teachers are warm and caring and the children are kind and compassionate. It is play based and they also care about sun protection. The stories and games that are taught are wonderful and the imagination is allowed to grow. If I could give 10 stars I would. In the news these days, there are stories of how toddlers have drowned in San Jose at preschool, or even at summer camp at Harker School. And those stories remind me how lucky we were to send our kids to Kiddie Kampus and Bing Nursery. This is the place where teachers read stories, have playdo for children to develop small motor skills (needed for holding a pencil), have paints for painting, blocks for expanding the imagination and counting... this is where play happens not didactic teaching. When our oldest first started preschool at age 2, we were worried about her separation anxiety. She was a sensitive toddler and had never been away from family. Kiddie Kampus had an extra preschool teacher come in that day so they could devote full attention to our daughter if she had separation anxiety. When our daughter wasn't eating lunch the first week, I got a call asking if they could do something to help her eat more. When there were bad air quality or heat warning days, Kiddie Kampus would send out an email first thing in the morning letting parents know because of the weather advisory, the kids would be mostly indoors playing (in the cool gym not outside). If you're expecting your 2 or 3 year old to come out of preschool reading and writing, then you're looking for a didactic based preschool. Kiddie Kampus is very similar to Bing Nursery School as both are play based. This is how children at this age learn (through play) and Kiddie Kampus is all about play. Our children loved going to Kiddie Kampus, loved their teachers, who are not only professional but kind and warm hearted and loved their friends. It was a priviledge to send our kids to Kiddie Kampus - it played a huge developmental role in helping our children grow intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally.

Our twin daughters have been attending Mariposa for several months, and we could not be more…read morepleased. From the excellent teachers and staff, to the expansive space and multiple playgrounds for the children, this really is a wonderful school. In particular, the teachers and administration are wonderful--we can clearly see that the Montessori program has benefitted our daughters' development...and they are genuinely excited to go to school each morning, which tells you everything! I would not hesitate to recommend Mariposa to any parents looking for schools near Los Gatos. And lastly, the location is fantastic...we're very grateful to have Mariposa in our area!

Our daughter started at Mariposa when she was just 18 months old, and the transition was incredibly…read moresmooth thanks to the care and warmth of the amazing teachers. While I won't name everyone individually, each teacher we've encountered has been caring, patient, and truly exceptional. We began in the toddler class and later moved up to the primary class, and the growth we've seen in our daughter has been remarkable. She's learned so much and gained so much confidence along the way. We're genuinely grateful to have found Mariposa--it's been such a wonderful part of our family's journey. We truly can't recommend it enough.

Stratford: the most expensive way to get less education…read more Stratford operates like a corporation first and a school second. My daughter attended from age three through 4th grade. We chose to withdraw because the 5th-grade campus commute would have been unreasonable. We communicated this intention clearly and repeatedly, in person, to the principal (Preethi Chadha) and her 4th-grade teacher. Despite that, Stratford charged a 10% withdrawal fee on annual tuition, claiming notice was not submitted to the "corporate" office. At no point did anyone proactively flag this requirement, remind us, or make any effort to prevent the fee--after years of tuition and what we believed was a community relationship. The result felt less like a policy and more like a revenue mechanism. Moving to Los Gatos public schools was eye-opening: materially better support, stronger administration, and none of the "tuition-with-fees" experience. To be clear, our criticism is not of the teachers--we had several excellent educators doing their best. The issue is administrative and institutional. If you're considering Stratford, go in with clear eyes: their priorities are corporate first, families second.

Our child absolutely loves Stratford Los Gatos Preschool, especially Room 2. The program offers a…read moreperfect balance of academics, science, arts and crafts, sports, and music, so the kids grow in every aspect. There are always engaging and creative activities, and our little one has made wonderful friends here. We also truly appreciate the warm and friendly parent community. It's easy to communicate and connect with other families. A special thank you to Ms. Sree and Miss Cyndi, who are incredibly caring, responsible, and organized. Every activity is thoughtfully planned and executed with love. We feel so lucky that our child was able to spend an entire preschool year in Room 2. Highly recommend to any family looking for a nurturing and well-rounded preschool experience!

We came here when our kid was ~2.5 and this place is a real sweet gem…read more Teacher Netali and Elaine are so calm and cool our kid loved going there. The following year it was even more relaxed and that environment can calm the kids. The kids go to yoga and music classes certain days of the week and they celebrate so many lovely topics during the week. We'll miss this place.

My family is entering our third year with kids at the APJCC preschool. We attribute so much of our…read moreolder daughter's growth to her years here. The teachers put a great emphasis on helping the kids learn to communicate kindly with each other while also maintaining their personal boundaries. Every day when my daughter walked into her classroom, her teachers made her feel special and wanted there, and she was always happy to go to school. I've been happy with the diversity of the students and teachers at the school as well. While the school does celebrate Shabbat with the kids by making challah each Friday in the classrooms and observes Jewish holidays, there are plenty of families and teachers at the preschool who don't observe these customs at home, and that only adds to the richness of the community.

We love Peppertree! We were so nervous to put our baby in daycare and our friend referred us to the…read morePeppertree Ranch House. As a mother and an educator, she is a highly trusted source. As soon as we toured the facility, we knew it was the right place for our family. Our son started in the infant room, advanced to the toddler room and then twos room. Every room and every teacher has made him and our family feel loved and cared for. Stephanie and Danna do an amazing job with coordinating everything. They go above and beyond to ensure that each child's individual needs are met. They have also provided much needed support with our toddler challenges. I am always so impressed how they are able to help locate missing items. Our son has learned so much since being at Peppertree and enjoys all the different activities. The school also hosts super fun events and activities for families to enjoy together. If you are looking for a great daycare/pre school, look no further!

During the transition period, my husband and I began looking for childcare elsewhere. Also, there…read moreare many horrific red flags outside the scope of this review that solidified our decision to leave. TLDR; awful transition period, abysmal communication, inaccurate accounting, bare minimum care, 60-90 days notice to leave. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRANSITION PERIOD: -We were forced to do a "transition period" that required one of us to babysit our daughter at PepperTree everyday for 2 weeks. This was not communicated to us until we were literally about to drop her off. Danna never apologized for failing to communicate. -Danna kept me waiting outside of her office as she texted away. She was "texting parents", but never gave us her number. -At one point during the t.p., Danna insisted I repeat what she said verbatim to comfort my baby. It was a gross overstepping of boundaries; I was already comforting my daughter in my own way. "60" DAY NOTICE AND LAST MONTH'S PAYMENT --The contract has a "60 day" notice policy for withdrawal, and the 60 days begin on the first day of the following month from when you give notice. Not even quitting a job requires so much notice. Other daycares, including our new one, require only 2 weeks notice. So, the "60" day notice is truly a 60-90 day notice. This was a huge headache, especially if one of these events were to ensue: a sudden change in jobs, a family emergency, a move, wanting to leave, or wanting to enroll in a different place for preschool. -You pay for the last month when you sign up. At other daycares, you pay for the first month. The contract, under the guise of customer service, says you can "use as much or little of that payment towards the last month" as you want. They keep your money for so long. It's very unclear how, if at all, considering their disorganization and lack of accounting skills, records are kept. COMMUNICATION: -When we met Danna for our scheduled appointment, she mistook us for another family -Emails go unanswered -Feedback goes in one ear and out the other -I had to ask Danna several times after the t.p. What our balance was. When she did get back to me, the amount was $500 higher than it should have been. If my husband and I weren't organized with these things, we would have paid them $500 extra (and I don't even want to imagine how getting that money back would have been). -It was never clear when Parent's Night would be and how to sign up. It seemed to only have happened once during our time there (and that was advertised via an email literally the night before). - It is not always clear who you are emailing, even if you email Danna since different people manage her inbox. -Danna never seemed concerned about our daughter's laser skin surgery treatments until we said we were leaving -Once Danna argued with me that our daughter's dry skin was HFM. The pediatrician confirmed it was dry skin, but Danna never apologized or refunded me for her mistake even after getting a letter from our doctor. Our daughter had to miss 2 days because as a result. -Calendar was received all but once halfway through the month for which it applied -Danna was diligent to call us when our daughter was sick and had to be picked up; however, when my daughter was injured, we were only called once. No follow up email, nor voicemail. VACCINATIONS: -Pepper Tree was cited by the state in 2023 for failing to furnish proof of immunizations for 8 out of 8 staff. Danna said everyone was vaccinated, but they just didn't have proof (obviously this is logically possible but very suspicious to me as someone who works in infectious diseases). Do better. -We were never asked to submit updated proof of vaccinations for our baby (and other daycares do this as children age) OTHER: -The office's papers are extremely disorganized, with papers scattered all over. -I saw staff were on their phone on more than once when children were right in front of them -We received several emails about contributing to the teacher's staff appreciation week fund. While we had no problem with this, we found that receiving 3 emails within 9 days asking for $100 for lunch (from each family!), a charcuterie board, and something small like a beach towel was distasteful, obnoxious, and avaricious. It was also strange to get an email saying many people "asked" if they could pay via Zelle, and to do so to Jeff (whom we NEVER met, heard from, and know nothing about...) -Staff to child ratio is higher than required, but only twice was circle time or singing done based off the notes we got daily. We expected a little more attention and enrichment for babies (even 2 stories a day, some music, some games, etc). -Technology is extremely outdated here -We never thought our daughter learned anything (despite Danna giving the impression that sign language was taught consistently), nor did we ever receive feedback on her growth.

My son was here for just over a year transitioning from infant to toddler class. I liked how the…read moreschool updated the family with their apps in informing parents when they changed their diaper, what they ate, what time they took their nap, and had pictures every day of what the kids learned/did. Things I didn't like: Too big of a center to too many kids- My son had a runny nose every day for a year. The moment we took him out and brought him to another daycare he stopped getting sick. Very expensive in comparison to other daycares. They are a franchise so they are very well structured but lacks warmth. Talking to the teachers and staff, they are very professional but lacks sincerity. The moment I told them I'm taking my son out and gave them the 1 month notice I could tell the front staff attitude was different. Teachers are good however, but it seems like they don't get much say in how they want to teach their kids since it is a franchise.

This facility is clean and well-run. My son was safe there. BUT, Bright Horizons in general is…read moreextremely process-oriented and the teachers spend more time on paperwork (and are more concerned with that) than they do with the kids. Also, since the facility is rented from a school, it is somewhat cold when compared to other daycares/pre-schools. So, after 5 months at BH, I moved my son to Creative Beginnings in San Jose. We both LOVE it. The biggest differences: * More seasoned teachers (with no turnover) - BH has lots of turn over * Friendlier, more colorful, homey environment (more rooms/areas to explore - I think this promotes independence/confidence) - at BH they are in one room all day * MUCH nicer outdoor facility with more amenities (more bikes, more variety of play structures, more variety of activities they can do - they can paint and read too) At BH, they have to be led by a rope to the outside, the water fountain and bathrooms are outside the gates, and the activities are limited. * Good age mix - the day is spent mixed with all kids and then breaking out into smaller age ranges in classes (at BH, age ranges are too large, so young 2 year olds are mixed with older 3 year olds to the detriment of both - and there's no opportunity to learn how to be kind to/help little kids or learn from older kids) * More active learning (BH focuses primarily on passive learning, CB has a lot of physical learning activities). This is a huge difference. Also, gym and music classes are included in the fee and ALL kids participate, you don't get pulled out of your class to do it. And, interestingly, there was always somebody crying at BH for some reason or another, and a lot of hitting/biting and acting out going on. I think they are too big, too process-oriented, and too structured, and kids this age benefit more from an environment that transitions them more gently to school. Importantly for me, I also think the facility doesn't foster independence (for example, the kids can't get water or go to the bathroom on their own while playing outside! - crazy) Bright Horizons is good for passive kids with parents who find reassurance through paperwork; Creative Beginnings, on the other hand, focuses on the children and is a more nurturing environment. And last but not least, if academics are a concern, my son is 4 and already knows how to read, thanks to the work at CB. They offer it all.

Our family is delighted to have our daughter enrolled at Learning Pathways! We came in with high…read moreexpectations seeing the 4.9 average on Yelp, yet we continue to be amazed and impressed by this incredible preschool! Incredible instruction, thoughtfully organized, and a real gem of a school! We will be sending our other children here, but I still want to write a review of my experience about 6 months in. A C A D E M I C S We were looking for a place that centralized academics in their activities, but in a fun, age-appropriate, low-pressure way. I am pleased with the way Learning Pathways not only covers advanced topics for preschool age, but always maintains a fun and low-stress attitude for the children. Additionally, we are really pleased with the breadth of topics: our child has learned about gravity, reptiles, famous artists, acclaimed musicians, and various cultures (Black History Month, Diwali, etc). This is all on top of the critical English and math, of course. Moreover, we appreciate the 3 assessments Learning Pathways administers to each child throughout the school year (September, December, and one at the end of the year). The assessment shows us exactly what our child knows, is learning, and can learn. We also see concrete improvement in specific areas between her first and second assessment, too! O T H E R S U B J E C T S While academics are important to us, we also really appreciate the educational enrichment. Our daughter is consistently exposured to art and music, and she also participates in a wide variety of athletics/sports. Everything is so thoughtfully planned, and I appreciate how LP really makes things fun. T H E S T A F F Staff is attentive, caring, and organized. Communication has been exceptional around administrative things. O T H E R This school year (2025-2026), they relaxed their potty training policy while also encouraging independence with potty training. Our daughter made very quick progress in the first month and is now very independent in this area. Thank you! Moreover, there are a few fun performances for the parents around the holidays. So far, those have been for Halloween and Christmas. Thank you, Learning Pathways, for organizing such happy and adorable memories for us! "Goodness Snakes" came to her class this month, and my daughter really enjoyed being up close and even holding (!) some snakes in a safe setting! LP is super good about taking photos of the children. We get photos (and sometimes videos) daily, and they're always a delight. A R E A S T O I M P R O V E We are thrilled with nearly everything about LP, but there are a few areas I think that could be improved: -Please consider healthier snacks. There are some snacks with a high amount of added sugar (e.g. granola bars and dried fruit), and it'd be much more appreciated to only give crackers for meeting the "grains" category of food. -Additionally, please reconsider Swank's Farms for the pumpkin patch field trip. Not only is it about an hour from LP, but it did not rival any of the local pumpkin patches (e.g. in Santa Clara/San Jose area). Moreover, it was a little surprising that there were not any group activities. My husband took a day off for this field trip so we could become more acquainted with other LP families, yet the school did not even take a photo together. We were expecting some sort of organized activity or interaction between the families, but each family was really on their own (just physically in the same space).

I cannot recommend Learning Pathways enough. Our daughter has seen massive growth in her math and…read morelanguage skills since joining. The academic progress is amazing, but the environment is what makes it special. You can tell it's family-run by how much the teachers care. Our daughter comes home beaming every day, always eager to tell us about her adventures the moment we pick her up. She has especially loved the extra-curriculars like yoga, cartooning, and cooking. A special thank you to the incredible team--specifically Mr. Todd, Mr. Wes, Mr. Wyatt, and Ms. Michelle. You have an amazing team and we are so grateful!