I should have written this review sooner but it has been hard to find the right words to express…read morehow great this school is and how grateful we are for them. Our family has had two kids attend from age 2 and both have loved it. Zara the owner, every one of the teachers, and the parent community are all wonderful. Our kids have learned, grown and been really loved. The school does an amazing job of balancing education, play, and emotional development. I cannot recommend this preschool enough.

We have loved this school. Our son began at age 2 and just graduated. The teachers genuinely care…read moreabout the children and are happy to see them. The director, Zara, is amazing- caring, communicative and prompt to respond with any questions or challenges that arise. The classroom sizes are small, the lunch that is served is healthy and unprocessed. We feel that our son's quirky, unique spirit has been honored and he is thriving, thanks to this school. We are sad to move on!..... but, we also feel he is well prepared for the next steps and this school has made him excited to learn and do new things. Highly recommend.

My daughter went here for a little less than a year and started when she was 22 months. Her…read moreteachers Ms. Maritza and Ms. Lara are the sweetest, kindest teachers. They are both loving and really care about the kids and their responsibility as caretakers for our precious angels. I really appreciate the regular updates on my daughter on the ClassDojo app. My daughter loves her teachers and her classmates so much. Whenever I would drop her off or pick her up, she was happy and excited to go to school. Ms. Sondra (the director) is responsive and communicative. A few notes for other parents: They give snacks but no meals. They offer hot lunch for $6/day; They do not charge extra for diapering; Their summer school is filled with fun activities and water play once a week; They offer a fun and interactive dance class on Thursdays; Their outdoor play areas are filled with toys, bikes, playground equipment, including swings for babies and toddlers; Almost every holiday they make it special occasion for the kids and parents. My daughter is going to a dual language school next month, but we will sincerely miss Pennsylvania Ave. Montessori.

The teachers are great. My daughter loves to be there. She is going there for almost 2.5 years. She…read moreis having food allergy. Teachers took that very seriously and always ask us before they offer any food to our daughter. We are grateful to Pennsylvania Avenue Montessori staffs. Wishing best of luck to them.

Dear Bright Future Montessori Team,…read more As a full-time working mother, I cannot thank the staff at this facility enough. I have been with Bright Future Montessori for five years, starting from the very first day of my firstborn's preschool journey. I now have three children enrolled here--one in the infant room, one in the toddler room, and my oldest graduating this year--and I couldn't be happier. My children are always excited to be dropped off and often want to stay as long as possible. The daily activities and educational programs are wonderful. Most recently, they came home with goodie bags from the egg hunt, and the photos Susie shared of the event truly made my day. I want to specifically thank the owners for creating such a happy childhood environment and providing these precious moments for my family. The kids are already looking forward to the summer program; they love the variety of activities, from pool days to cooking and planting. Thank you to all the teachers for the genuine kindness and care you show to every child.

As a mom who had to go back to work early after having my babies, I was extremely nervous about…read moreputting them into daycare--especially at such a young age. I toured several places before finally choosing Bright Future Montessori, and I'm so grateful that I did. Both of my children started here at just four months old, and looking back, it was one of the best decisions I've made for them. One of the first things that stood out to me was the director, Ms. Suzie. She is always incredibly responsive whenever I have a question or concern, and she is so approachable and easy to talk to. That level of communication gave me so much peace of mind. What has truly kept us here for the past 4 1/2 years, though, is the amazing team of teachers. My oldest has already gone through four different classrooms, and every single teacher has been kind, patient, and genuinely caring. They treat the children as if they were their own, and that means everything to me as a parent. My kids absolutely love going to school. Every day they run in and hug their teachers, and that alone reassures me that they feel safe, happy, and loved. It has made such a difference in easing the guilt that comes with dropping them off. I highly recommend Bright Future Montessori to any parent looking for a nurturing, loving, and supportive environment where their children will truly be cared for.

Foothill Progressive Montessori is a truly exceptional school that we have had the honor of sending…read moreour daughter to for the last two and a half years. Run by Ms. Kanthi and staffed by a truly excellent array of teachers, including Ms. Chrissy, Ms. Kim, and Ms. Fatema, Progressive has been instrumental in the growth and development of our daughter from age 3 to 5. With the guidance of Progressive, our daughter gained admission to our first choice private school, and one of the most competitive schools in the state. Over the years we have come to deeply value the warm, thoughtful environment of the school. Birthdays are truly special occasions frequented by princesses and superheroes, exceptional art is made with the guidance of teachers, and the educational rigor is unmatched. With the dedicated guidance of Ms. Fatema, our now 5 year old daughter can read, write, and do basic arithmetic at the level of a late Kindergartener, winning the admiration of family, friends, and admissions directors alike. Just as important, Progressive has allowed our daughter to find her voice, speak up and give her opinion, and instill her with a level of confidence that wows everyone around her. While perhaps less well known than other preschools that profess to be "feeders" for the competitive Pasadena private school scene (and who charge accordingly), Foothill Progressive is exceptional in that it stands not on a name, but the merits of its teachers and genuine commitment to the success of its students. Our daughter's success is proof that this is what truly matters. Thank you, Progressive Montessori, for everything you have done for our daughter and family. You deserve nothing less than our highest recommendation and we encourage all parents in La Canada, Pasadena, and Altadena to join your wonderful community.

We absolutely LOVE Foothill Progressive Montessori School. Our kids have been at this school since…read more2022, and I was a student 1997-1999. Ms. Kanthi was my teacher and now she owns the same school and teaches my kids! She is absolutely amazing! All of the staff are incredible. Ms. Fatema, Ms. Chrissy, Ms. Kim, Ms. Sumudu, Ms. Raquel, Ms. Angelica, Ms. Hazmik. Literally every single one of them. All of them treat the kids as if they were their own, so much love and patience with the kids. My kids love going to school and they actually get excited about learning. Ms. Fatema's science class has been amazing in instilling a love for learning for our oldest child. We can't wait for our other kids to take Ms. Fatema's science class and Ms. Kim's science class. My oldest is definitely ready for kindergarten solely because of Ms. Fatema. The school has great hours for working parents from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Hot lunch is available for an additional fee. The school goes all out for all of the holidays and graduation. There are lots of opportunities for parent involvement should you want to be involved. The environment is screen-free and true to the Montessori method.

My daughter was very close to her previous preschool teacher at another school, so we initially…read morethought the transition to Flintridge Montessori would be difficult for her. However, Ms. Joyce and Ms. Melo in Room One made her feel comfortable and welcomed from the very beginning, and she adjusted much more quickly than we expected. The entire staff was also incredibly supportive and caring throughout the process. At one point, there was a third-party after-school program that did not meet the expectations of parents, Ms. Rohini, the head of school promptly dealt with the issue. That experience reassured us that everyone at the school genuinely prioritizes the well-being of the children above all else.

We've had such a positive experience at Flintridge Montessori so far. From the beginning, it was…read moreclear that this is a high-quality school with experienced, nurturing, and organized teachers who genuinely care about the children. My daughter adores all the teachers. One thing that really stands out is the communication. The school is very responsive and consistent with emails and updates, which gives parents a lot of peace of mind. They also offer enriching extracurricular activities including violin and piano lessons, Chinese classes, soccer, and dance, which has made the experience even more well-rounded for our daughter. Our daughter has learned and grown so much since attending Flintridge Montessori. At only four years old, she can already read, do math, and even knows her flags. Seeing how excited she is to learn makes us happy as parents. We've had a wonderful experience and plan on enrolling our younger son there as well.

Whiting Woods is an incredible environment for children to learn and grow. We sent both our boys…read morethere for years and they still talk about it. We enjoyed it so much we kept our oldest there through his TK years, and as a result he was advanced for Kindergarten and is still one of the strongest readers in his class. Rebecca, Alex, and the rest of their team are so thoughtful and kind with all the children, they really focus on each child's well being and their education. We cannot recommend Whiting Woods more highly.

Ms Rebecca, Mr Alex, and the whole Whiting Woods staff were the perfect people for both of our…read morekids' first daycare experiences. Everybody was so wonderful and empathetic and understanding and they really helped our children learn and blossom. We felt that our kids were really paid attention to with a kindness and individual focus that fostered the early childhood developmental skills that they needed. Our whole family is very appreciative of our little ones' time there.

This year marks our 8th year at MCMS, and it has truly been a wonderful experience for our family…read more My son graduated from 6th grade, and my daughter is currently in her 5th year here as a 4th grader. Over the years, we've had the privilege of working with some incredible teachers--Ms. Armand (retired), Mr. Bell, Ms. Lewis and Ms. Haddadin in particular have been absolutely amazing and have made a lasting impact on our children. The teachers at this school are warm, caring, and genuinely invested in each student's growth. The curriculum is also excellent. When my son moved on to high school, he was very advanced in math and well-prepared academically, which speaks volumes about the quality of education here. Ms. Lee, the administrator, deserves special recognition. She is kind, compassionate, approachable, and deeply dedicated to the students and families she serves. Her leadership reflects genuine care, strong communication, and a thoughtful, steady presence that helps create a positive and supportive school environment. She goes above and beyond to ensure that every child feels seen, valued, and encouraged to thrive. Another thing we deeply appreciate is the strong and close-knit community. There is a real sense of connection among families, staff, and students. I especially love that there is a parent-led prayer gathering every Monday, where parents come together to pray for the school, teachers, and students. It's a meaningful way to stay involved and spiritually connected. Overall, this school has been an amazing blessing to our family. In the 8 years we've been here, we've had no major issues--only positive experiences. If you are looking for a Christian school for your children, I highly recommend this one.

As a stay at home mom, I was apprehensive about sending my first kiddo to preschool. MCMS has been…read morean incredibly nurturing place. My preschool aged son has been attending MCMS for 1.5 years and the school has been nothing but a dream! Love that they are a faith-based school and adhere to Christian values. The teachers are so incredibly attentive, warm, and genuinely kind. My son is thriving in his class and literally asks me on weekends to go to school. I could not think of a better environment for little ones to flourish and lay the foundation for their educational growth and personal & social development!

We truly can't speak highly enough of International Montessori Academy (IMA)…read more Our older daughter recently graduated after attending from age 2 1/2 to 5 1/2. As first-time parents sending our first child to school after being in a nanny share, we were understandably nervous. Looking back, we couldn't have chosen a better place for those precious early years. IMA gave our daughter a safe, loving, and nurturing environment where she absolutely thrived. She grew into a confident, kind, curious, and kindergarten-ready little girl. She made wonderful friends, developed a love of learning, and genuinely looked forward to going to school every single day. What makes IMA so special is its people. Many of the teachers and staff have been there for years, and it shows. There is a genuine sense that they love what they do and truly care about every child. We adored Ms. Merrill and Ms. Cassie, who had such a meaningful impact on our daughter, but the truth is that every member of the staff made us feel supported and welcomed. Ms. Solitto was a fantastic director, Ms. Ivy greeted our daughter every morning with such warmth, and she absolutely loved Ms. Ivy's music and Mandarin classes. She still sings songs in Mandarin at home! Ms. Susie was another friendly, familiar face who always made drop-off and pick-up feel welcoming. The entire team creates an environment where children feel safe, loved, and excited to learn. Beyond the classroom, IMA builds an incredible community. The parent community is welcoming, kind, and genuinely supportive. We formed friendships with other families and always felt like we were part of something special. The school also goes above and beyond to make childhood magical. Their holiday celebrations, summer fun days, and special events are thoughtfully planned, beautifully decorated, and filled with fun experiences the kids still talk about long afterward. One moment that will always stay with us happened when our daughter was unexpectedly hospitalized for a week and missed a significant amount of school. Without us even asking, IMA prorated our tuition for that month. That simple act of kindness spoke volumes about the compassion and integrity of the school's leadership. Like any school, no place is perfect, and I know some reviews mention communication concerns. That simply wasn't our experience. We always found the staff approachable, caring, and responsive. Whenever we had a question, they were available by phone, email, in person, or through classroom observations. We always felt informed and supported. The greatest compliment we can give IMA is this: we are absolutely thrilled that our younger daughter will be starting there next year. There is so much comfort in knowing she will be cared for by people we trust completely during such an important stage of her development. Thank you, IMA, for giving our daughter such a joyful beginning. We will always be grateful for the love, care, and foundation you gave our family. We recommend IMA wholeheartedly to any family looking for a preschool where children are truly known, nurtured, and celebrated.

Our daughter attended IMA as a 2-year-old for about five months. We left several months ago, and…read morewith some distance, I wanted to share our experience for other families. Our biggest issue was communication. The school moved her between classrooms more than once without discussing it with us first. Our repeated requests to move her back went unanswered, and updates on how she was doing were few and far between. Our daughter was struggling at IMA and it was clear that the school did not have the skills or staff to support her. Their approach was not a good fit for our daughter. If your child may need individualized support or a more communicative partnership with caregivers, I'd encourage you to ask detailed questions before enrolling. We wish we had, and we wish we'd trusted our daughter's unhappiness sooner.