I like ECDC. It resembles a small school with classrooms, and a couple of different playgrounds for…read moredifferent aged kids. The staff is getting pretty effective with social media and sends a calendar of activities each week, and photos of classroom activities. The facility feels secure with a locked door and solid fencing. Having had my son in two other places as he has grown up, ECDC is my favorite so far.

Emeryville Child Development has been a wonderful place for my child. We attended ECDC for a year…read morebefore we moved from the area. We really like it and are sad to leave. The center director (Diana) is warm and friendly, and takes time to get to know all the families. The staff are always friendly, and relay stories of the day when you pick up your child. They really get to know and care for your child. ECDC is such a great resource for the community, and definitely the best child care in the area that I could find. This was her first childcare experience, and I had visited so many different childcare facilities before I chose this one. I based my decision on her personality (she is playful and likes a festive environment with many other children), as well as: - Safety of the facility: is it easy for some stranger off the street to get in? - Center director and staff - Kitchen cleanliness, and food provision - "Potty" facilities - Condition and spaciousness of the classrooms and playgrounds - Age group division: Younger children need classrooms divided into a smaller age brackets The entire facility is like a fort, you need a special key for entry and you have to pass through the reception/office area before you can even find children. There are also cameras everywhere. The classrooms are clean and spacious, and each one has very clean, height-appropriate restrooms for the children. We started off in Toddler 1, which has two big rooms and a newly-updated outside play area that has a sunshade over most of it. This is perfect for sunny/hot Emeryville. The play area is safe, padded, and well equipped, no ancient rusty equipment. There are occasional field trips and activities outside the center. We really love that food is provided at the center (by Chefables), and it seems to be good food. This decreases the chance that my LO will want to take someone else's lunch. :) This center seems to have enough children to separate them into narrower age brackets (2-2.5 years for one room, 2.5-3 years for another), while other centers combined 2 and 3 year olds. I visited a center that combined 2 and 3 year olds, and the older kids were ganging up on the younger ones. After seeing that, I always brought my LO to visit new schools to see if she got along with the children. Also, my LO loves to visit the baby room, and whenever we go in there the staff are always holding and cuddling the babies. Compare this to other centers I visited, where babies in the infant rooms were left alone on dirty floors. My LO has learned so many new words, and she tells me she has lots of fun all day. She sings funny songs that I definitely didn't teach her. The staff have been so helpful through the potty training process. She developed better table manners (no longer throws food on the ground) and learned to nap on her own. Most importantly, she has made many new friends and has had the experience of developing strong, positive relationships with adults outside her family. I know that ECDC has provided my daughter with a strong foundation that will help her successfully transition to another school.

Two years ago, my wife and I were looking for a preschool in Oakland for our then two year old…read more After touring many schools and care options, we are glad we eventually settled on The Lake School, because it provided the best care and education for our son at any price point. We believe this stems from their uncompromising commitment to what is best for their students at every age and developmental milestone. The teachers are knowledgeable and compassionate, and we trust them to guide our son's development with care personalized to his needs and personality. The Lake School also maintains a very small student to teacher ratio to ensure the attentiveness necessary for this level of care. Now, almost two years later, our son is happy and thriving. He has a love for books and learning that is nurtured at school. He's formed close bonds with classmates. He's learned how much more fun imaginative play can be with friends. Perhaps most importantly, he looks forward to school, and is excited to share about his activities and what he learned when he comes home.

I have had my children at The Lake School for 3 years and cannot say enough good things about the…read moreschool but I will try and synthesize it here for you... 1) The Teachers: The teachers at The Lake School are simply AMAZING. I have been fortunate enough to have a child in every single class and I can say with confidence that each teacher is warm, sensitive, patient and takes the time to learn about each child as a unique individual. The teachers are more than just teachers, they are my main source of parenting support and have always worked with us to make sure that we are creating supportive, enriching environments for our children inside and outside of school. The current director of the school is a past teacher so she brings all of her wonderful, toddler-whisperer magic to her leadership role which resonated across the community. 2) Play-Based: I am so thankful that we ended up choosing a play-based school. Children only get to be children once and The Lake School embraces this phase and lets it flourish. Like at any school, our children are learning letters, numbers, writing and reading but all within their own interests and play, as opposed to a set curriculum that doesn't take the student's interests into account. When my son's class was really interested in dinosaurs, the teachers reorganized the curriculum to be dinosaur themed to keep the kids attention while teaching them skills. It is amazing to see how every teacher and every class becomes a completely unique learning environment driven entirely by the students. 3) Flexible Hours: The Lake School is truly unique with how flexible the program is. From 2 days a week for 3 hours to 5 days a week for 7 hours, each family can choose exactly the schedule that works for them. And if life changes at some point during the year, you can easily make changes to your child's schedule without any roadblocks. You will not regret sending your children to this wonderful community. It is a family, lead by an amazing director, who really know your children and teachers who let the kid's unique interests drive their education.

My son attended Treehouse for 2 years and my daughter attended some of their summer school…read moreofferings. I cannot say enough good things about this school. 1. The campus is beautiful. Classrooms are clean and beautifully decorated. It is set in the trees so it feels like a real retreat. The playground is beautiful and fully equipped with all kinds of toys. 2. The teachers are beyond! Each one is so loving and kind and fully invested in loving and supporting the kids. They got to know my entire family - grandparents visiting, siblings, etc. and took a vested interest in our entire family. They are kind, engaging, joyful, energetic, and professional. Most of the teachers have been there for several decades and I know that is largely due to the incredible warmth that Principal Jan and Kayla set as the administration of the school. There is truly no place I have ever visited with the same warmth and kindness. 3. The curriculum is impressive! I am shocked about how well my son is prepared for TK. They are doing kindergarten level work in preschool. But of course it is mostly fun and playing and art. I am amazed by all the creative projects he comes home with and the patience and attention to detail it must require from the staff. I truly cannot say enough good things about this wonderful loving environment and cannot encourage families enough to send their kids here.

When we first moved into the nearby neighborhood, we started hearing about Treehouse because a few…read morefamily members went through the program 35+ years ago! We then heard of other neighboring families who sent their children to Treehouse more recently. At the time we were looking for preschools for my son, it was a no brainer to add Treehouse to our list of schools to look into. The director Jan gave us a personal tour, telling us about the different classes, their values and how they support the children through the days and the years. One thing that stood out to us during the tour was how calm and happy the children were in their classrooms! The environment seemed to be a good fit for our son - and 3 years of attending Treehouse we have had no regrets. The care, attention, learning social dynamics, and cognitive development have been fantastic. We'll be transitioning out of the preschool phase and will miss Treehouse greatly!

Wonderful Preschool! We've been at Growing Light for the…read morelast few years and love the school, teachers, and other families. Ms. Awa (the school director) leads a fantastic staff of dedicated teachers and we always feel that our kids are cared for, safe, and getting a great education. So happy that we are part of the GLM community.

It took me a few months to write this review. Mainly because it's hard to publicly comment on a…read moreplace where kind, loving people have cared for your children. No one wants their words to be seen as coming from a place of bitterness. But after nearly three years at GLMS, I think it's important to share an honest account of our experience so other parents can make informed choices. The good: Our daughter learned a lot during their time at GLMS. She developed strong foundational skills in letters, number sense, music, and social topics. She loved kinderdance! Many of the teachers were warm, nurturing, and truly loving some with a grandmotherly kindness that made us feel our kids were genuinely cared for. These teachers are the heart and soul of the school and a reason why we stayed as long as we did. The challenges: The school is poorly managed and lacks transparency. Communication is reactive rather than proactive, and parents are kept at arm's length from the people who spend the most time with their children. Teachers frequently leave, often without clear explanation. It's telling that parent access to classrooms was restricted well after COVID had ended and only changed after intervention from California Childcare Licensing. Leadership, particularly the owner and directors, tightly control communication between teachers and parents. It's not uncommon for them to intercept or filter conversations, making it difficult to have an open, productive dialogue about your child's development with their teacher. Many teachers appear fearful of management, which makes it hard to trust that your child's best interests always come first. GLMS is extremely overpriced for what it offers. Tuition is among the highest in the area (+34k / year), and there's also a mandatory $900 per-year "supply fee." With roughly 78 students, that's nearly $70,000 collected annually--yet the snacks, art materials, classrooms, playground, parking experiences don't reflect that investment. It's hard to justify those costs when the school's operations and transparency remain so lacking. GLMS struggles to balance what it's legally required to do with what's simply right for families and children. It's a school with kind teachers but poor leadership, inconsistent quality, and a lack of accountability. Parents--please do your due diligence. Review the public state licensing records, ask hard questions, and advocate for more transparency. The children and teachers deserve better.

Upon moving back to Oakland we were panicking because we had missed all of the preschool…read moreapplication deadlines. After being placed on a ton of waitlists we came across CWO. From the first interaction we were impressed with Jessica's professionalism and care for the school body. Healthy meals, tons of water, rigorous curriculum and lots of play! The cost in 2020-2022 was comparable to the other options in the area. Jessica has also been a continuous resource to us post graduation. Childcare recommendations and information about OUSD, BUSD and private schooling. My only criticism is I wish the student body better reflected the community.

Our two kids have both had great experiences at CWO. I've been impressed with how well the teachers…read moreget to know and appreciate our kids, and then come up with and individualized plan to help them learn and grow. They have some amazing teachers there, and the kids do such fun projects. It's a lovely community for little ones to grow up in.

Great school!! Warm, patient and loving teachers and amazing Director…read more In addition the prices and hours are a very very reasonable!

We've had two of our kids join Smiles now, and we couldn't be more grateful for the experience. My…read morekids were both naturally shy, timid kids when they first enrolled, and I saw their confidence and curiosity blossom while at Smiles. The program administrator, Ms. Iona, has been running Smiles for 42yrs now, and many of the teachers have been there for well over 10yrs. Their tenure shows; it is an incredibly well run program and the curriculum for kids is impressive. The kids learn (and retain) the ability to count in multiple languages (Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, Russian, French), learn about solar systems, community workers, fun art, geography, etc. We've had our kids in multiple Montessori schools previously, and Smiles far exceeds them in development and a well-rounded experience. We had moved through the tunnel to Orinda during the school year, and we made the effort to commute so our son could stay enrolled at Smiles because it was that much better than any other Preschool program available locally. During the pandemic they were consistently open, mostly because they enforced strict masking and hand-washing. As a working parent during this time, I was so grateful for their dedication to preventative health standards which allowed them to stay open. I would recommend Smiles to any parent. Thank you Ms Iona and Smiles teachers for having such a positive impact on our kids, the local community, and setting our children up for success in grade school by giving them such an amazing foundation for learning.

June 7, 2026 Parent of a new Walden grad here. Walden's…read morepriority is to foster a love for learning and to support children in a nurturing environment through arts, academics, and community. Walden is simultaneously a safe place for children to try new things and a competent and professional environment where students receive individual attention to progress objectively. As a professional in healthcare, I had my initial concerns about not having grades, but I've since been converted, seeing how positively the kids interact with their teachers and each other. 1. Coursework: a. Reading/Writing: The literature they choose is level appropriate in difficulty and has content that spans the globe, sparking discussion about issues the kids may not be exposed to in their East Bay lives. b. Math: My child is advanced in math and likes solving puzzles, and he was shown good habits for organization. Many American kids struggle with math, so in my opinion the pace of the class is a little slower than my child could have gone. But I think they need to teach to the class's pace, and they do a great job of showing math's applications in the world to make it both fun and practical for the kids who are more math-averse. c. Science: There is didactic and experimental material in life and earth sciences. Every year, the whole school does science projects, where students pose a research question, design a study, collect data, and then present a poster to the whole community on science night. d. Social Sciences/History/Current Events: Students learn about both US and world events and reflect on the shared points of humanity. During drop-offs or pick-ups, I might have had news radio on in the car, and my son would inquire about or contribute to conversations about Palestine, for example. There was a period of a month or two where there was a ceasefire, and my son was so initially overjoyed, followed by sadness when the ceasefire was broken. It is through true caring about the people involved that he wanted to know more about the complex history of the region and do what part we can to promote tolerance. e. Spanish: The kids read books aloud, sing songs, and explore cultural themes in Spanish-speaking culture. Their dia de los muertos celebration of ancestors is a powerful event. f. Visual arts: The art room has weaving, drawing, painting, sculpture, beadwork, digital and analog art. Student work is all over the school. g. Drama/Movement: Students learn to be confident in front of others and express themselves through their bodies. h. Music: Each student's vocal range is documented, and they work on pitch, rhythm, instrumental music (recorder, mallets). They have opportunities for performance for the community. The Upper Group puts on a Broadway style musical theater production each spring - a truly spectacular event, with live accompaniment from a pit ensemble. 2. Community: One central theme of the school is how volunteers from the community can make beautiful and incredible events. Highlights include a winter gala, a spring fair with games, prizes, food, music, and a darling cake-walk, where children pick out a cake to take home. Parents meet each other and the kids through the community events. Sleeves are rolled up to keep the campus clean and events bright. 3. Field Trips: They go to plays, dance performances, on 3-day camping trips, museums. We shed many tears of joy throughout our Walden experience and give it the highest recommendation for yours.

We absolutely love Walden!!! I have 2 kids that attended Walden from kindergarten to 5th grade, one…read moregraduated in 2023 and the other just graduated in 2026. Walden is a truly amazing place and my family is so lucky to be a part of it. The community is tight knit and always supports each other. The students are prepared to succeed in middle school and beyond by integrating arts and academics, while also being taught how to advocate for themselves and stand up for each other. The teachers are kind and understanding and know how to support your child in their individual learning style. The kids feel loved and seen as who they are . When a new kid joins they get immediately accepted into the community, which is something so special about Walden. I was a teacher for 7 years and coached teachers at numerous schools, and I can confidently say Walden is the best one. My kids are obsessed with Walden and are so grateful that they had the chance to go to school at Walden for many years. I highly recommend Walden for any student.

I can't say enough about this wonderful gem of a preschool. Just before my daughters third birthday…read morewe decided we better get this social butterfly into school! We came across Arbor, toured the Oakland campus, and instantly knew this is where we had to send our kids. Arbor is a safe, warm, creative, accepting environment, where the kids are free to explore, play, and learn. We are so happy here and can't say enough positive things about it!