Couldn't be happier with our experience at Harmon Oaks so far. I feel so lucky that our son is able to go here. My son started here at 18 months and I feel like his development has skyrocketed ever since. The administration team is outstanding and the teachers are so caring and do a great job of meeting each individual child's needs. I love how they give us update on our child's development and the milestones he is reaching. They offer so many fun activities on top of their regular curriculum and even "Parent's night out" events where they offer care for kids so parents can socialize or go out. Each month the kids focus on a different topic like space, trees, California, where food comes from and more. They provide resources for parents to keep educating their child at home on the month's topics like local events and books. They also provide photo and video updates about what the kids are up to in class. Highly highly recommend checking out Harmon Oaks if you are looking for a preschool for your little! Spots are very limited so make sure you get to an open house when they have them! read more

I just went through photos of my 4 YO (bloomer) from this month's activities at Harmon oaks and I can't stop smiling. From the thoughtful and detailed Valentine's Day activities, to the show-and-tell from my son about his aeronautic-engineer grandfather during space-exploration month, to videos of his bloomers cohort running through cones with Coach pancake. My heart is full going through these memories. I could say a million more good things from the great meal plans, to the caring teachers. The thoughtfulness of the curriculum to enrich the learners exploration, and always through play is astounding. I can't recommend HO enough. initial communications to get into HO were slow and frustrating, which might have been due to demand at the end of the pandemic. But once accepted into the school, quicker communication happens through the school's app directly with the teacher. read more

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We waited a while for this review as my when I left the school when I was 4 and I is now 11. First of all I have to thank the teachers and principals. Mrs. Maria is not only a principal but a teacher who encourages and cares about her students and she remembers every detail of every kid. She also picks the best staff and teachers to teach here. She chooses people who are caring and knowledgeable on what kids should be learning. The activities that they have are the best and there is different themes every month. This school made many good memories even 7 years later. You can trust your children coming here and learning a lot and it is more like a big learning family than a school while still learning a lot. Most of the concept we learn are very advanced and the teachers teach in a way that is easy to understand. When learning they make it fun with hands on activities and making learning actually fun. When I finished I knew how to read fluently, write, and do math, they even taught manners! I even learned a little bit of Spanish! They are not teaching very sternly so it's enjoyable to learn instead of just giving work sheets and expecting them to do it. When I was going to kindergarten I was more than prepared for everything and scored high. The evaluation is also very good because it's like they knew me. As you can tell I aged a lot from just being a little 4 year old and now I'm in 5th grade. From everything I learned I'm still using some strategies from preschool. This school helped even now because I am still acing my tests. In my opinion if you start with a good school your future will be bright and happy. Thank you for everything this school has provided for me. read more

Let me just say this place is a UNICORN and if you can get your child into this school you absolutely must. My son went to Harmon Oaks for 2 years. It was his first schooling experience starting at 2.5yo - he had previously been at home with an au pair. I am a research junkie and when I found this school I knew. The teachers are doing this because it's their life's passion and they love the kids and the work. It's very obvious they love it. They teach to inspire curiosity and they put so much time, thought, and effort into the curriculum. The kids are truly learning about the world here. We had to move from LA for my husband's job and if I could bottle one thing up and take it with us it would have been this school. My son is doing great at his new school, but there will never be another school like Harmon Oaks. I know that. I wish my youngest had the opportunity. Here are some other things I loved: * the true diversity of staff and students/families * the constant change of setup to inspire the kids based on what they are teaching * the help with potty training! * the process they use to resolve conflict or when the kids are upset * great hours Seriously all the love to this school. I'll be cross posting on Google. Also, it's worth the process for the waitlist. I promise. read more

Just as other posters are saying, I would have kept our daughter there through High School if I could! This school is amazing! Our daughter is a very energetic child and we were scared they would kick her out after two weeks! That never happened. Mariya, Crystal, Lourdes, Hillary, and Mariana (along with the many wonderful aides through the years) all truly looked after her, and helped her grow.. She was to turn 5 just before the deadline for Kindergarten and we didn't feel she was ready. We spoke with therapists and school principals about her but still weren't sure. We sat down with Mariya who knew her the best and was the most appropriate to discuss with us. She looked at the calendar and said to us, "You know that if she was born 27 days later, we wouldn't be having this conversation." That was a light bulb for us, that our daughter needed another year! Mariya knew that that extra time was needed and our daughter would rock Kinder! And finally, there are 2 other Harmon Oaks kids in my daughter's class at Kinder, and the teacher says it is quite clear that the three of them were taught an advanced program at the pre-school, as they are all working above grade level. You will not regret sending your child to Harmon Oaks! read more

I am a former employee at Harmon Oaks and I am so grateful to Ms.Mariya and the rest of the teachers for always being so kind and compassionate. While working at Harmon Oaks I was going to school as well as taking my daughter to therapy, everyone was understanding and allowed me the time I needed to attend to school and my daughter. I truly learned a lot through working at Harmon Oaks. At times it was challenging but everyone works as a team and help each other out. It's a great place to gain amazing experience as well as memories. I enjoyed my time there and only left because I was moving. I recommend Harmon Oaks as a place for your child and as a place of employment. read more

Where do I begin? First off, you will never find teachers so nurturing and compassionate as the teachers here. Our son graduated in June, and we were heart broken that our time with Harmon Oaks had come to an end. We wish he could have stayed there forever. We moved just after he graduated, otherwise our daughter would have started in the fall. Our son started kindergarten in August 2017 and he is beyond advanced in his class. What we're struggling with now, is that he's not being challenged. I guess that's better then being behind. Harmon oaks was the best thing happened to us! If you are looking for a preschool in this area, this school is a must!! read more

Our son started here at 18 months old and continued until he was 5. He grew and matured by leaps and bounds thanks to the love, patience and support he received by the amazing Harmon Oaks' staff. We can't thank Mariya and Harry enough for opening up their own preschool and opening up their hearts to caring for other people's children. I always felt safe and secure knowing my baby was in their care. Our son learned so much while at Harmon Oaks that he is an advanced reader in English and Spanish now that he has completed his first year at a dual language kindergarten. He is also proficient in math and science thanks to the curriculum at Harmon Oaks. The staff nurtured his curiosity early on and always answered his 1000s of questions. They have a summer program as well so they are open year-round from 7am-6pm. They have an annual summer get together for all children and parents at a local park. Harmon Oaks was our second home for 3.5 years. We miss everyone dearly. Bottom line: if you live or work in the area and need childcare, don't look any further. Harmon Oaks is the best place for your child. We recommend it 110%. read more

I truly wish Harmon Oaks went through High School! My daughter has been here for 2 years and graduated in June. We said goodbye as she will now begin Kindergarten. Thankfully my son is still there for 2 more years so we will continue to be a Harmon Oaks family. I would recommend Harmon Oaks to anyone looking for a nursery and preschool. This school is the best thing that has happened to our family. The facility itself is clean, inviting and has a wonderful outdoor space. Each month the school focuses on a different theme and my kids come home singing new songs and excited about what they have learned that week. The learning program the school implements is incredible. My daughter was writing and reading at 4/4.5 years old. Everything they do at school invites and excites the kids to learn. As a parent who was so nervous and anxious having my babies start school, my worries were immediately put to rest. The school environment is so nurturing and caring. When I drop off my kids, I know I am leaving them with the most amazing group of teachers who truly care for the kiddos. All the teachers know all the students so the kids always have someone to turn to if they need anything. I truly feel how much the teachers are invested and passionate for what they do. My kids have grown emotionally, are more confident, have learned life skills that will be carried over as they continue their education and Harmon Oaks has shaped them to be successful once they graduate and move on to Kindergarten and beyond. This school is the biggest blessing and we are so grateful to be a part of it. Thank you! read more

Harmon Oaks was the third daycare in 6 months that my little one had been to. Trying to find a place that my daughter would be spending most of her waking moments at was no easy task, but thanks to Harmon Oaks became possible. Ms. Mariya and Mr. Harry own the school and it was definitely love at first site. Ms. Mariya has this gentleness about her and she sets the standard at the school. I can't even begin to describe the peace that I have dropping my daughter off everyday. My little one can be extremely challenging and they handle her with unconditional love, calmness and techniques that I would have never thought of myself. They stress empathy which I think has become lost in our society. We first started in Ms. Lourdes's class. Being a single parent, I am often doubting myself and getting easily frustrated. Ms. Lourdes worked with me to make sure that Sophia had an easy transition into the school and Sophia is now running out of the car to go to school. Ms. Lourdes reminds me of a modern day Mary Poppins. She is strict yet so much fun and really invests herself into the children. Sophie rarely came home without being covered in paint, play dough, sparkles, flour, and a ton of other sensory related things. Evidence that Sophie was having the time of her life. We absolutely LOVE Ms. Lourdes. Sophie is no longer in her class but she still checks on us and helps me strategize when we are going through a rough patch. Sophie is now with Ms. Mariana and Ms. Reyna and LOVES her new class. Once again, I was so pleasantly surprised with the creativity and the time and love invested into their class. They are AMAZING. I still can't believe the activities they do in that class. We are currently in heritage month. We are Italian so when Sophie's day came to make her presentation they had the whole class make pesto sauce! It was adorable. Sophie couldn't stop talking about it. Ms. Mariana and Ms. Reyna are the perfect team. I got to know them on a personal level at one of the family picnics and absolutely fell in love with both of them. Did I mention that EVERY MONTH HAS A DIFFERENT THEME?? The whole school gets redone once a month with the ongoing theme. One month they literally painted and built a barn in the classroom. The kids had animals to play with and learned about all the duties on the farm. It absolutely melts my heart everyday to see all of their crafts and projects on the walls and hanging from the ceiling. The creativity is mind blowing. During the summer program they blow up pools and let the kids splash around and have different water play stations setup which Sophie just LOVES. HEALTHY SNACKS AND LUNCHES!! I don't have to worry about Sophie eating a bunch of bad foods because they simply just don't serve it. EXTREMELY CLEAN! You can literally eat off of the floor. They have the cutest little sinks and toilets for when the kids start to potty train and they make the transition to using the potty so easy and take the fear out of it. Sophie was potty trained in no time. Sending Sophie to this school was the BEST choice that I have ever made. They have a long waiting list so make sure to get in ASAP. This school is the best of the best and I am so grateful for every single teacher and all of the love and effort that goes into making everyday an adventure. read more

Harmon Oaks is in a league of it's own!!! We have been blessed to have all 3 of our children attend this wonderful school. I can't say enough great things about the environment, the teachers, the curriculum and the overall experience. My husband and I are both very involved and overprotective parents and I never thought we would have the peace of mind of dropping off our kids and feeling like this was their second home. It truly is an amazing school. There is no other school like it. The things my children learned about and how advanced they still are compared to other kids in their age group is all thanks to Harmon Oaks. read more

I did a virtual open house back in May and submitted the $70 application fee because I was impressed with the learning environment, teachers, location, etc. BUT I am incredibly disappointed in Ms. Mariya. She sent me an email on June 2nd letting me know there was a seat open in NoHo and/or second in line for a seat in LB. I sent her an email the same day inuring about next steps, sent another email a couple days later, called the next, last email I sent was on June 8th and a final call on June 9th. My husband called and emailed and called as well and got zero response. Considering we live walking distance from the LB location, I drive by everyday and see cars in their driveway, it's infuriating to be told there was a seat available to taking my $70 application fee to be completely ignored. Very unprofessional. At a minimum, Ms. Mariya needs to refund me my application fee. Incredibly disappointed. read more

I am absolutely thrilled to have found Harmon Oaks as the nursery school for my toddler. I was a bit nervous at first since the school is relatively new, so there was not a lot of information online about it. But as soon as I visited, I knew that this was the place for my son. Founders Mariya and Harry are dedicated and loving educators, and nursery school teacher Lourdes is gentle, kind, and helpful with the children. The school itself is beautiful, with wonderful stations set up throughout like a reading nook where children can sit and listen to a story or look at books, an art station, various toy stations, a mini kitchen, etc. Toys are washed very regularly and the school is always tidy and inviting. The grounds outside are well-maintained. There are a couple of language immersion pods during the week, and every day there is a new word that the children learn and explore. The curriculum combines theme and emergent lessons, so while there is lots of free time for children to explore and find what interests them, there are also themes for each week that include art projects, outdoor exploring time, reading, etc. It has been Mariya and Harry's dream to start a top-notch nursery school and preschool for years, and it shows in everything that they do. My son absolutely loves his time at school, and I feel completely comfortable leaving him at Harmon Oaks because I know it is a great and nurturing environment. I have an older child as well, so have seen many nursery schools, daycares and preschools over the years. And my advice is: if you are lucky enough to get a spot at Harmon Oaks, take it. It is truly a special place. read more

If I could give Harmon Oaks more than 5 stars, I definitely would! This place is fabulous!!! My husband and I were referred to this place by a neighbor of ours and I am so happy we went to check it out. At first I was a little scared of it being on Balboa in between Vanowen and Sherman Way - I always think of cars loosing control and something happening. Let me reassure you Harmon Oaks is set back on a very large (13,000 sq. ft) lot and there is a parking lot up the driveway. Upon entering the school, my husband and I were blown away! I instantly knew this is where our son (almost 4) would go to school. I have never been so impressed with the teachers, the school and the cleanliness. Mariya, the founder and teacher is amazing! The way she talks and interacts with the children is quite a thing to see. All the teachers are amazing. Another thing I really love about Harmon Oaks is that the kitchen is not used. As a parent, I feel much better knowing that an oven is not being used (gas leaks, burns), you never know what can happen. Lunch is brought in (or pack a lunch) but they do provide a hearty morning snack as well as an afternoon snack. They have a garden outside which the kids help with everyday. The grounds are huge which makes it very comfortable for the kids - Very large grass areas, large sandboxes, covered patio and a playground. Harmon Oaks is just a school, its not someones home. It was built for this purpose only! Love that! After finishing the tour, I immediately asked how to sign him up and he started the next day. He has now been at this school for about 3 weeks and we are so happy! In fact, last week we decided to enroll our daughter (21 months). Our plan was to wait until she was 2 to enroll her but that quickly changed. She is doing great and they really helped with the transition process! Today was her 5th day and absolutely no tears as a dropped her off. I have had a nanny for my kids since my son was 4 months old and let me tell you, I have never felt so comfortable leaving my kids. I knew our nanny was great and loved our children but this was different. Again, I cannot speak high enough about Harmon Oaks. Every child is so happy and well taken care of. -To all the teachers and staff, Thank you so much for everything you do! My kids adore you and ask to go back to school! I am able to go to work with a clear mind knowing my kids are in great hands. read more

Love, love, love this place! My kid is super happy there and comes home having learned something new every day. Ms Mariya and Mr Harry have created something beautiful and I'm so thankful. The school is lovely, clean and inspires learning. My kid's teachers are so caring and loving, they treat my little like one of their own. Top notch all around! read more

This place is the absolute BEST! The teachers are extremely knowledgeable, I always turn to them for advice. They plan new themes for each month and decorate the entire school to match! Kids learn through interactive play every day. My child has learned so much in just 6 months, I am in awe. I would recommend this school to everyone! Thank you Ms Mariya and Mr Harry for opening this amazing school wonderland! read more

Our daughter has attended Harmon Oaks since August of 2018 and we feel extraordinarily grateful that we found such an amazing school so close to our home. She is currently in the youngest class with Ms. Lourdes and we are regularly overwhelmed by the high level of care and love which emanates from the classroom. While being supported emotionally, our daughter is also constantly learning. We feel supported by Ms. Lourdes and all of the school staff and are looking forward to the next few years here! read more

Harmon Oaks is an amazing nursery and preschool! They have an amazing and very talented team of teachers that care and work hard at giving all students a quality preschool education. They truly love teaching and create an environment for children that promotes curiosity and love for learning. I previously worked at this school as an Assistant Teacher, and I would highly recommend any teachers or aspiring teachers to join their team. The school directors and leaders are incredibly knowledgeable and promote growth among all teachers. read more

If my child could stay here until he was ready for college I would be a happy Momma! My son not only learned how to be a kind and loving friend, his intelligence and creativity exploded. The time and care this school and all their staff put into the children is like nothing I have ever seen. My son is past all of his peers in his learning level now in Kindergarten but more importantly he is a respectful and happy boy in the classroom. I wish every child could have the foundation that Harmon Oaks provides. Not only did they make my child feel loved and accepted each day, they supported me through difficult personal times as well in a caring and discreet manner. This school was beyond a blessing in our lives and we are so grateful for them. read more

I cannot say enough good things about Harmon Oaks. All the teachers here are extremely loving, caring and patient. The facilities are very clean and the academics are excellent. My daughter loved going here and would come home every day with new knowledge. Ms. Mariya perfected the curriculum, where every month the children would learn about something new. It's a great school. I strongly recommend it. read more

Harmon Oaks Nursery School is an amazing school for both toddlers and preschoolers. In a scale of 1-10 this school is a 20! I visited and toured 13 different preschools before I found this school, and so far, there is no school that comes even close to Harmon Oaks! My daughter started going here since she was 2 years old and she graduated this June at the age of 5 knowing already how to read and write. Her Kindergarten teacher said she is 1st grade ready (not even Kindergarten ready...but 1st grade!) This is all due to the high-quality educators and strong enriching diverse curriculum they have at this school. I could not wait to enroll my youngest daughter at the age of 18 months in this school, and she has made huge progress in her social development and speech in a matter of few short months of attending this school. There is a great balance between academics and fun! Both my kids LOVED going to school and did not want to leave when it was time to go home. I cannot speak enough about how knowledgeable, intelligent, professional, attentive, loving and caring ALL the teachers are at this school! Ms. Mariya, Ms. Lourdes and Ms. Mariana are in a league of their own! They are so amazing and responsive to the different needs of their students. All the teachers know the students very well, and they are nurtured both emotionally and academically. The teachers love what they do, and they love the children and it shows...every day! This is a perfect school for both working parents too! The hours (7am-6pm) and almost year around schedule makes it a perfect school for working mommies! They offer the kids two healthy nutritious snacks, hot lunch, wonderful big playgrounds, clean school and environment, Soccer shots classes, Spanish language, family gatherings...the list of amazing features and programs they offer just goes on and on. This is a JEWEL of a school! I just wish it went all the way to high school so the kids don't get to leave until it is time to go to College! I feel blessed I found this school and we LOVE it! read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about Harmon Oaks! Happy kids, great learning programs, and wonderful teachers who really care. The facilities are clean and the environment is wonderful. read more

I posted my first review of Harmon Oaks a few years ago when my oldest was attending. Flash forward to 2019 and I now have two children who have graduated from this amazing nursery school. My younger one graduated in June and is now in kindergarten. Harmon Oaks has prepared her above and beyond for kindergarten. Literacy and reading was embedded in fun daily activities as she progressed through the school's curriculum through the years. She was reading and writing sentences by age 4, as well as doing basic algebraic math functions (adding, subtracting, etc.). The best part is these things were learned through invitation to play stations that integrated learning in both literacy and math. The school has wonderful monthly themes that embed learning (both literacy and math) within the monthly theme. It was truly an enriching and creative learning environment. I follow them on Instagram and they regularly post how these stations operate. It's a beautiful thing! Currently, she is churning through the kindergarten curriculum because of the tremendous education she received at Harmon Oaks. I heard they are expanding to a second location in the North Hollywood area near Studio City. I would not hesitate a second to get on that wait list. read more

We have experienced 5 daycares so far (we move a lot!) and Harmon Oaks is by far the best. Clean, caring teachers, enriching curriculum - everything we could ever ask for in a daycare! read more

I wish they would start a private school all the way through senior high so we would never have to say goodbye. This place is a gem and Ms. Mariya is one in a million. She, and all the teachers there, are excellent educators and love what they do. They are all patient, CARING, and professional. I absolutely love Harmon Oaks. read more

I cannot find another school like this! Both of my boys went here and they love their teachers so much! All of them are so caring and so passionate in what they do. The facilities are so clean. I wish I can just move this school closer to our new house so they can stay longer. We miss them all everyday! I would definitely recommend them!! read more

Everyone is fantastic at Harmon Oaks. Our son went here for the first year they were open until we moved away from Los Angeles and our whole family misses this place. Mariya and Harry have the work ethic and professionalism that makes it a pleasant experience for parents to bring their children here and our son loved every day he was there. Even the first! The atmosphere is very comfortable for children and parents alike, and teaches children manners and to respect everyone. Their ability to captivate their children's attention truly promotes learning and they teach children so many great developmental skills. There wasn't a day that we picked up our son that he didn't impress us with something new he learned or made, and would get so excited about! We've been to a lot of cities in the US and daycares and none have come close in comparison. Our whole family miss all of the teachers and friends at Harmon Oaks! Wish you'd all move to San Diego! read more