Updating, since we're still here at IPCP 7 years later! We have now had all four of our children go…read morethrough IPCP (with the youngest graduating this spring) and everything written below still holds. This school has been such an amazing place for our kids and an incredible community for our entire family. The play-based learning and conscious discipline approach has given our kids a great start, and we have loved the opportunity to be involved every step of the way. We've made life-long friends and strong connections to the local community that we'll carry with us even after we leave the school!

Love this school. I'm a nerd so I created a spreadsheet of 25 Atlanta intown preschools, went on…read moretours at 6 or 7 of them, and submitted applications to 3. Got my kid into all 3, and chose IPCP. Why did we choose it? The co-op approach. It's not for everyone -- you might just want a transactional relationship with your preschool, you do you -- but I was looking for a place where I could feel more involved. The coolest way to get involved is as a Parent Helper -- 1 day per month you get to (have to) work as a teacher's helper in the classroom. That's a lot of fun, you get to see what your kid is doing all day, and you learn a few new songs. Also love the outdoor focus - unless it's pouring, kids spend almost half their day outside, which I think makes my son happier and less cranky. The biggest downside is that they have limited space. So may Lady Luck be on your side.

Montessori School at Emory (MSAE) on N Decatur Road is fantastic and we are so lucky to have found…read morethis place. We've been so impressed by our child's growth and learning and how he has established independence at such a young age. I know reviews were important to me when searching for a school and being new to the area, and I want to help anyone else looking - this school is the real deal. We're very lucky!

Amazing school with knowledgeable caring staff. My children have received an excellent education,…read morethe middle school environment is awesome and the lower schools are top notch. I recommend MSAE wholeheartedly.

Both of my boys attended HTPP from 16 months through Pre-K, and we truly couldn't have asked for a…read morebetter early childhood experience. From the very beginning, we were welcomed into a warm, nurturing environment where our children were not only cared for, but deeply understood, supported, and celebrated as individuals. HTPP fosters a beautiful sense of community--not just among the children, but among families and teachers as well. It's a place where everyone knows your child's name, where communication is open and thoughtful, and where genuine relationships are built. One of the things we appreciated most was the emphasis on whole-child development. Our boys learned so much--not just academically, but emotionally and socially as well. The teachers are incredibly skilled at meeting children where they are, encouraging curiosity, and helping them grow into confident, kind, and capable little humans. We also absolutely loved the music and gardening programs. The joy and creativity our boys experienced in their music classes carried over into our home--there were so many days we were serenaded with songs they'd learned at school. And the gardening program is so special. Watching them develop a connection to nature, getting their hands in the soil, and learning about plants and the seasons was joyful. On top of that, the school's commitment to outdoor play is something we deeply value. Every day includes a minimum of one hour of outdoor time plus weekly garden exploration. This connection to the natural world is rare and so meaningful--it really makes HTPP special. We are endlessly grateful for our time at HTPP. It's more than a school--it's a magical beginning to a child's learning journey.

Wow, this school has been such a blessing for our family! Our two children have attended for the…read morelast three years, and we couldn't be happier. The Children's Garden is everything we dreamed of for our children--an environment where they can wake up each day and spend time outdoors, surrounded by a wonderful community that truly cherishes exploration, wonder, self-awareness, and age-appropriate learning. This place is definitely Grant Park's best kept secret! The philosophy here is a holistic and healing approach to children-based learning with an emphasis on art, nature, & community, which we value immensely. The preschool promotes a healthy lifestyle by providing fresh and organic foods for snacks, and the children even get to prepare these snacks themselves! Additionally, the staff is incredibly accommodating when it comes to food allergies, ensuring that all children feel safe and included. I want to thank Sally and her wonderful staff (Cira, Jessica, Erin, Freda) for providing genuine care and attention to each child. It's clear that you are invested in every child's well-being and development, which creates a nurturing environment where children can thrive. It's worked for our family. The magical atmosphere of the preschool is enhanced by the delightful festivals and birthday celebrations, which bring joy and wonder not just to the kids but into our household. We are so grateful to have found such a loving and enriching community for our children. Couldn't recommend more - once you've experienced and seen The Children's Garden ( Waldorf inspired) you can't unsee it. The other perk is the other parents are amazing! Have met some lifelong friends here - can't beat that! xo

The Children's Garden Preschool is an icing on the cake perk for the sweet families that live in…read moreGrant Park. It's not just a school, it's a true community. Those families who make a longer drive for their child(ren) to attend this school can attest to the school's genuine respect for the whole well-being of the child. I have three children who have been fortunate to spend their early "schooling" here. I put that word in parenthesis because the values and virtues that are taught and lived out in these classrooms are experienced quite differently than what one might experience at other schools. This gentle, quiet, rhythmic, grounded approach is what attracted my husband and I in the first place and is more than appropriate for children in their early years of life! We are honored to now have our third child at The Children's Garden. And over the years, we have been diligent to attend the extra parent workshops and teacher meetings provided by the school. Each and every time we do, we are introduced to new and helpful insight as to how to guide our children through life's obstacles. Currently, our oldest son, having graduated from The Children's Garden, is attending an academically rigorous local private school. He is doing very well, in fact, the work there is a breeze for him. I can thank The Children's Garden for their diligence in training my son's focus while he was there, leading to his ability to better attend to his work now. The staff at the Children's Garden is properly prepared and educated in how to teach the values of safety, respect, gentleness, kindness, individuality and autonomy in a way that directly translates to little ones. The facility is magical to the children. And the simple food pleasures worked on every day enliven their senses and appreciation of real food.

This daycare does not have good or attentive teachers at all. There energy is dry & not…read moreinformative. I would not send my child to this school.My son loves school & didn't want to go in the building after his first week. Lillys little lamb is a great school.

At Barrington Academy where my 4 yr old daughter attends their Pre-K classes is a wonderful…read moreprogram. I love when every morning I drop my daugther off there is always someone there with a friendly smile opening my car door to get my daughter out. Also class is open to parents that would like to observe their child's progress. Barrington Academy is a very warm and friendly learning environment that keeps parents well informed on their child's progression.

GPCP is different than any other school in town, and I am so proud to be part of this community…read more The reggio emilia approach to child-centered learning and play makes it so fun. Our two sons, who are 1.5 and 3.5 years old, love it, and we are in our 3rd year here. Our teachers are uh-mazing (I get jealous how much my kids sometimes run to their teachers instead of me. Belinda (the atelierista) gets our kids exploring museum worthy art projects (who knew toddlers could do all this?!) and she helps them appreciate and interact with nature. You'll never get the flexibility you get like you do at GPCP. It's more affordable than any other comparable option (my husband does an excel spreadsheet for all things financial). Where else can you pay what we do for as little or as much child care as you need? Only sending your kid for M/W/F but need a random Tuesday for aftercare? Yours!  Every single one of my friends at other "preschools"  (daycares) who have left GPCP have made me really appreciate GPCP. These families usually left because they have the kind of jobs where they just couldn't participate to the level we are required here (neither parent can leave work to do parent helper days for example). Their schools have a lot of great things that I sometimes envy, such as less parent requirements. We do a lot of "parent helper days" and committee meetings. It's safe, nurturing. Like most cooperative non profit schools, they can be a tad more disorganized, and they take off for many holidays and staff development days (either my husband or I have to take work off, or arrange additional childcare, which is a lot of hassle). But believe me, there's a major tradeoff.... What my friends at these other schools all complain about is that they don't really feel like they have any sense of community. They don't know the other parents, kids, or families. They describe a much more transactional, "corporate" feel. And... they all miss GPCP and wish they had the kinds of jobs that were more flexible (or more family support) so they could return. These parents know that they are paying for a child care service, and that they lost the sense of community that came with GPCP. They complain that they don't know the other families and have more of a "hi" and "bye" interaction with most other families (and teachers). Sure, parents there don't have to work nearly as hard as we have to, but psychologically most of us all tend to care more about whatever we've put some sweat equity into. We have hosted many of our GPCP teachers and parents to our (very untidy) house with their kids for playdates, dinner, school camping trips and even some major holidays; we've even vacationed with several families. We really know our fellow GPCP families. Unfortunately, GPCP just isn't built for every child or family, especially for those who are just wanting (or needing) full time, nothing-else-required-of-parents type of child care. Most of us GPCP families are privileged enough to have the option to do something like this school. All of us have at least one family member with the kind of flexibility necessary to participate in this kind of model (we have a lot of entrepreneurs, business owners, freelancers part-timers, or at least some family support (grandparents) to actually have the time and bandwidth to participate as much as we do.  We have created a place that feels more like a home than a "daycare". We GPCP families are also typically cut from a different cloth, and we truly value our "cooperative", very parent-participatory model of early childhood education. We not only get the privilege of watching our children and their friends at school together, we are actively involved and shaping their school environment. I wouldn't have it any other way.

This school is amazing and there is nothing else quite like it in the city. The parents that…read morecomplain about it forget that the school is a cooperative experience - and is only as good as they make it. You can walk right into the Executive Directors office or come to a public Board meeting. My son has been at the school since he started walking and he just turned 5. All his best friends are his classmates. He knows all his friends parents because they hang out with him on their Parent Helper day. This is a comfortable and super fun environment with the most lovable educators you've ever seen. The educators believe in child-led so their curriculum is based on what the class is into. However, it is a lot of work on the side. There is some committee work and parent helper days (you work at the school about once a month) but it's more of an opportunity to be more involved in your child's education and development. I highly recommend this school to any parent who loves a granola, community-oriented vibe for their children. It's not only very affordable for childcare but a healthy lunch is also provided with tuition!

My son and daughter have been attending the Smoke Rise location for almost 3 years and we…read moreabsolutely love it. They learn though play and go outside every day, even when it is raining. They get to dig around in the garden. They are always treated with respect at all times and are encouraged to question and explore. The Smoke Rise campus is TSS' newest campus so it has doubled or tripled in size since we joined. As a result there has been some staff turnover, but the staff still changes much less than any school we previously attended. Their Reggio Emilia approach has my children feeling capable and confident. Why can't all schools be like this one!?

My son loves TSS Smoke Rise. Although, it seems as though some staff are not there long, everyone…read morewho has interacted with our son, is a loving individual. Highly recommend checking them out - so much adventure and learning happening!

We loved the school at first. Once my daughter got just a little bit further into Elementary, we…read morewere weighed down with an insane amount of work and expectations. They also care more about how they do on standardized testing than other benefits they may be receiving from getting a private Christian education. I wish this was not the case, because we were happy there originally.

My daughter is starting her second year at Chapel Hill Christian School. We really enjoyed the…read morefirst year. The academics are rigorous, yet age appropriate. Her teachers were caring and always accessible. It is an awesome value in terms of tuition costs. Her teachers are experienced educators and students take several enrichment classes. My daughter loved going to school and can't wait to start the new year. I highly recommend CHCS!