tl;dr: Montessori Matters was recently investigated for child abuse, refused to fire the teacher…read morewho hurt a child, and put on a corrective action plan by the state. We sent our daughter here as a temporary solution for the few months between when her old preschool closed and when kindergarten began. We liked the curriculum and the structure but the quality of the teachers wasn't quite up to our standards. They had immediate availability, seemed safe, were close to home, and we were assured that the teachers were well trained and had decades of experience with all sorts of kids, so we decided to enroll her. While she was there, her behavior started to change at home. She was moodier and didn't want to go to school. She said the teachers were mean. While we tried to figure out what was going on with this new school, our daughter came home and told us that a teacher hurt her. When we requested a conference with the director, Cindy, she didn't deny the accusation that Sally, one of her employees "may have been too rough" with our daughter but claimed that our daughter probably needed the behavior correction, and that the teacher wasn't really strong enough to hurt her too badly. She also claimed that our daughter was a violent child, even though she had never had a single report of hurting another person. We pulled the video surveillance that showed our daughter sitting quietly in the "watching chair" (their form of time out) when a teacher named Sally approaches her from behind, rips a fidget spinner from her hands and throws it across the room. She then wrenches our daughter up and out of the chair by her wrists and drags her out of the room by her arm into the hallway where there are no cameras. The next video clip shows 10-20 minutes later, our daughter curled up in the fetal position crying in Cindy's office. There were also two other teachers who witnessed Sally grab and hurt our daughter and lied to protect her. We asked Cindy what she intended to do to keep our daughter safe. She offered no solution and showed no concern for the well-being of our child. She even called me after the meeting and BEGGED US NOT TO REPORT THE INCIDENT TO THE STATE. As a mandatory reporter, she should know that her and I both had a legal requirement to report what happened to DCFS. In the end, the investigators agreed that Sally physically hurt our child but that it didn't meet the definition of abuse. The school was put on a corrective action plan, and to my knowledge, is still being monitored. Cindy was resistant to put Sally on leave or fire her when the investigation began. Her concern lies squarely with her business. She seems very nice but I do not trust her. Montessori Matters has had a lasting impact on our daughter an not in a good way. We've worked with other daycares and now kindergarten and have seen what it looks like when our child is loved and cared for by teachers. This isn't it.

We attended here as long as possible, had a great Montessori experience. Ms Cindy works so hard to…read moreaccommodate every little need (I had many detailed requests), and all the teachers are nurturing, understanding and supportive. Very good price too. I knew my baby would have a hard time adjusting and they eventually got her to LOVE school. They started potty training her before me, which was so helpful. Can't give enough thanks to all the care and hard work they do here. No complaints about this business at all.

Our son has been attending Noah's Ark in Plainfield since he was 6 months old. Being first time…read moreparents, leaving our son at a daycare was leaving us unsettled. However, Noah's Ark staff are very caring and loving with our son. It is not a chain business and they ensure the environment feels like "home" to the children. They embrace a culture that is conducive to the learning and developmental growth of each individual child. They are extremely attentive to our sons medical needs in regards to feedings, and have worked with us within every step to ensure his developmental growth. We are grateful and blessed to have our son surrounded by such amazing and loving people. Thank you so much for all you have done and continue to do for our son.

I had my lil' one enrolled here since he was 10 months old and he's now almost 3. We love the…read moreschool, the staffs and the directors are amazing and we felt like this is the right environment for us. And I have to say all the staffs know my son regardless of which class he was in. I couldn't think of other places that make us feel like we're part of the family.

Both of my sons have attended the pre-school program and summer camp. They have had caring teachers…read morewho have made sure they eat and are well taken care of. The school has a sense of community and the principal knows the kids by first name. Overall my kids have had a great experience and they love school.

St. Joseph The Carpenter School has a fast paced environment for elementary school children. The…read moreacademic expectations placed upon for example a student in 1st grade is elevated to the expectations of a 2nd grader. So each grade level is actually one grade level up. This creates an environment of stress for the child to reach those expectations. The pick up is chaotic. Very noisy in the cafeteria. It takes the teachers a long time to escort the child to the cafeteria for dismissal. There is no grassy area for the playground and thus children must play in the parking lot which is not safe. The massive amount of homework assigned to the student can be overwhelming so be prepared for that. Their school uniforms can only be purchased at one particular store and they are expensive. Overall, the school needs improvements to help children have fun while learning and not experience pressure to perform at the teacher's high expectations.

Fair warning to parents considering Fantis: do not count on continuity here, no matter what they…read moretell you. The school markets itself as a long-term community with a clear admissions process and priority for current families, but that's not how it plays out. Our child started in the 3's program and was passed over for kindergarten during early and regular admissions -- along with six other kids from the same class who had been there just as long. Spots went to outside families new to the school, some of whom did not meet the criteria the admissions materials describe as required. Make of that what you will. There was no communication during the process, being left in the dark while those seats were quietly filled from outside. The teachers were nice and the early education itself was a fine experience. But if you are choosing this school because you want your child growing up here through eighth grade, understand that is not a promise they actually keep.

This school truly is a hidden gem. I cannot say enough good things about the teachers and staff…read more I am so happy with the education my child has been receiving, the friendships that have been made and the community that we are not apart of. I highly recommend this school and strongly suggest attending one of the open houses to see what this school is all about.

Update: My niece loves her school! She is learning Mandarin and she is doing extremely well in…read moreschool! I am very proud of the education she's been receiving! In the beginning, I moved too quickly in my reviews! My niece is getting better at mathematics and her vocabulary has improved tremendously! I strongly recommend this school to other parents. They have other locations in the NYC area and they provide transportation if you don't live nearby! Keep up the good work, BASIS!

What can I say - my kids wake up every morning wanting to go to school. When they are sick, they…read moreare upset that they can't go to school. They are happy, well educated and motivated kids who understand what it means to try hard, raise the bar and feel cool learning and knowing. And no, my kids are not whiz-bang book nerds. They are normal kids. They play sports, love candy, want to play video games every chance they get yet they read and solve math problems at a level much higher than their age group. The teachers are loving and caring. The school community is supportive. The parent community is hard working, creative and down to earth.

It is an amazing school and provides a great education.read more

In the six plus years my daughter has attended Hannah Senesh…read moreshe has received a superior education as well as the love and support of an amazing school community! The teachers and faculty take interest in each child, and create a warm and nurturing foundation where the students are free to be themselves. So proud to be a Senesh family!

Fantastic school for toddlers all the way to 8th grade. It's a fully accredited school in NJ that…read morecombines the best of US and European (French) teaching methods. Although nominally an "Armenian school", children of other ethnicities go there including some of the teachers' children. Children are taught English, Armenian and French w/ a choice of additional languages in later years. A Parent

From the owner: Hovnanian School is a private school that seeks to preserve and elevate the Armenian community by…read morecreating generations of well-rounded and globally-minded leaders. The school teaches in English and French, with half of the curriculum taught in Armenian. Additionally, leadership, self confidence, and public speaking classes are offered in elementary school and continue into middle school. The target area for Hovnanian School is Bergan County NJ, which has a high population of unvaccinated teachers who must wear masks. However, this does not apply to the students. Tuition at Hovnanian School is affordable, but it is one of the few schools that teach in Armenian 50% of the time.

I was struggling to look for a place to send my toddler (2 years old) because there aren't many…read moretoddler programs in Long Island. Buckley's toddler program is amazing! They are extremely safe regarding COVID at all grade levels and separate everyone into cohorts, so whenever there is exposure, we don't need to shut down the entire school. This entire school year, we have not yet had to stay at home due to COVID, which wasn't the case at the last school we enrolled our son in. As for his learning, his language has really exploded while being enrolled in the school. He has even started playing with other children so well and being interested in their activities, which I attribute to the great socialization at Buckley. My son loves going to school every morning. His teachers, Miss Susan and Miss April, are so wonderful and provide great updates on his progress as well as his classmates. The Buckley community as a whole is very welcoming and inclusive. Would definitely recommend!

From the owner: Buckley Country Day School is an inclusive, diverse environment that nurtures the whole child and…read morelays the foundation for success in high school, college, and beyond. Buckley accepts students as young as two years old in the Pre-Nursery program, and admits students on a rolling basis through grade seven. The school’s mission, Opening The Eyes And Awakening The Mind, is at the heart of its curriculum, which seeks to inspire and prepare students for a lifetime of learning. Buckley sets itself apart from other independent schools by fostering a deep appreciation of learning, and developing students who are committed to making the world a better place through thoughtful inquiry, critical thinking, and community engagement.

I can't tell you a thing about the curriculum (although from the look of the crowd I'm sure it's…read moresome provocative form of free association meets not so free tuition) but last night we went to see a young relative perform in Wardlaw's Spring musical Into The Woods. Rarely, have I witnessed a production so elaborate this side of Broadway. The costumes alone were exquisite and Judging from the logjam of six figure German SUVs lining the parking lot I immediately stopped wondering where such funding could have possibly come from. Considering my own public high school production of M*A*S*H featured Army Surplus Store remnants for costumes and props I shudder to think what Wardlaw's prom may look like... Maybe Justin Timberlake and Beyonce performing live on a levitating platform of pure platinum. Like the bumper sticker says... My other car is a Ferrari. Times they sure have changed. A great show.

My son has been enrolled in W+H since early childhood. These past 5 years have just flown by…read morewatching him thrive and grow. He's challenged, he's nurtured and he's given the tools to succeed. I've watched him accomplish projects with such determination and grit and I've seen him cheer his classmates with the same joy and sense of pride in them. The teachers are simply amazing...I've had the joy of connecting and maintaining strong relationships. They foster so much global awareness and inclusivity. My son has learned about so many different cultures and foods. When I am on campus...I feel like I am home. I am forever grateful to everyone at WH for my son's journey...it really takes a village...I'm fortunate to add to mine each year.