I can't believe I am only now writing this review. Both my daughters attended LA First for two and a half years (my youngest started at 5 months and my oldest at 2.5 years.) I feel so much appreciation for the level of dedication, understanding, care, and patience the staff displayed through out our time here. I can't recommend this place enough. They offer a very affordable Montessori curriculum. There is a room dedicated to Montessori materials where they practice their rug work daily. The school also offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities from piano, taekwondo, ballet, hip-hop choreography--all at very reasonable prices! AND tuition includes hot lunches. We moved out of LA county because things were just getting so crazy there and that unfortunately meant we had to switch daycares/schools. The teachers and kids have had such a lasting impact on my children that they still recall them fondly ever so often to this day. The kids are very well looked after here. There is a bit of a language barrier, but I have never felt like any of my concerns were unheard or not considered. Also, it is worth noting that the school is part of a church and, although we are not particularly religious ourselves, we did like the moral foundation that it set in our children. LA First is truly a wonderful school that puts the children first and let's children BE children. If we could, we would still have them there. We miss you all so much! read more

arrived to drop off the enrollment forms.. not even ONE MINUTE in their office and the director diagnosed my 3 year old with Autism and ADHD.. said "the teacher can't just run after him" after, suggested I try for the month and see how it goes... i asked for the registration fee to be refunded and walked out. this whole "diagnosis" was due to him going behind the directors desk, ONCE. please be cautious brining your kids here. read more

We have had a wonderful experience at this daycare. The teachers are amazing--Teacher Anayaa, Beatrice, Sharon, and Teacher Bona are all very kind, patient, and caring. They truly love what they do and treat the children with so much attention and respect. My kids feel safe, happy, and comfortable every day, and I've seen great growth in them. I'm very thankful for the care and support they provide. I highly recommend this daycare to any parent. read more

Through COVID, we had our baby at home, but as things started opening back up again, it was apparent that we needed to find a daycare for our year and half year old. Daycares we were on the waiting list for prior to COVID still had us on their list, but were quoting us 10+ months of waiting. It was overwhelming to keep looking for daycares especially during the pandemic. We visited many daycares, with many home daycares and smaller daycare centers being somewhat too small and cramped for our rambunctious baby, who loved running around and climbing on things. When we found LA First, we loved that it was diverse, big enough to have indoor and outdoor play areas, and had a montessori curriculum. It was important for us to have a school that would be engaging and stimulating for our child, who had endless curiosity and energy. Maybe because of timing or a little bit of language barrier, there was a little miscommunication regarding our child's first day, and it was a little disorganized. The first week was a little rough, but the teachers kept in contact with me about her during the day, and helped to find ways to put our child at ease in an unfamiliar environment. We quickly we got into the swing of things and by the second week she was looking forward to going to school and loving playing with other kids. Now, she gets excited to get ready for school in the morning and will ask about her teacher or classmates at home during the weekends. When I pick her up, she's always playing with other kids and looks happy. Often times a teacher is holding or playing with her personally. Sometimes her clothes are dirty and her face is a little crusty, but that's something that is to be expected. They provide breakfast lunch and dinner, which was amazing because it reduced the amount of preparation we needed in the mornings to pack her everything. We still feed her a pre-daycare breakfast and a post-daycare dinner, but it's good to know she isn't going hungry during the day. They provide a meal plan calendar, so you can see what they're eating. They also provide a montessori curriculum learning plan for each month, that shows you what they learn each work. In addition to that, they have a schedule in the handbook leaflet they give you that shows you their daily schedule so you're more aware of what's happening at daycare. The teachers are personable and there seems to be really good rapport between the teachers and students themselves. I've never seen any bad behavior between kids, and any time there was anything that needed to be corrected, the teachers would step in pretty quickly but gently (as in one time my child was trying to close a door but another child was trying to come through it, so a teacher stopped her from closing it on the other child). I've never seen or heard a teacher yell at or scold a student, only gently explaining things. I am thankful for Melanie, who is my window into the school during the day. She sends me pictures of my child who always looks happy and playing with other kids, or peacefully sleeping, which is surprising because we have such a hard time getting her to nap at home. Before the pandemic, it looks like they had more interactive activities that parents could attend, such as holiday parties, etc. However, they still hold festivities for the children only - they just had a halloween parade for the kids. Birthdays and holidays are celebrated with party favors given out to the kids. It makes me feel happy to know that the kids have exciting things to look forward to during the week. They also have classes that your child can take, like ballet, musical instruments. taekwondo, etc. Looking forward to the day my child is old enough to participate in those classes. Anyone that has questions can feel free to contact me about the school. read more

See all

I love this school! Is small enough to be cozy but has everything they need. Is a Montessori school, which I can't believe I found one that is actually affordable. They have extra classes that my son loves it. Soccer, taekwondo , piano, and ballet . They have outdoor playground and the Montessori class is a lot fun. read more

See all

This is a great day care my daughter started here at 14 months old and she is quickly advancing in skills , speaking , writing etc . They have great teachers especially: Ms Rebecca, Ms Melody , Ms Sharon and Ms Michelle their all so kind , passionate and professional. I'm very satisfied with this school and highly recommend to all parents - this is the best day care / school in LA County . - CESAR read more

LA First Montessori School - Me and my daughter at her class - Preschools Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My kids liked it here for the 1year and half! Staff is really nice. They care very much about Students and it shows! I'm very satisfied with LA first Montessori school! read more

Do not send your child here. At first, they seemed very welcoming even with the was a severe language barrier, especially the Director herself and even some of the teachers. Our child attended this school with the goal of education, structure, care, and of course hygiene. Over the first few months, she was doing fine, enjoying school, making friends, developing. However during my few early picks or simply walking in her class quietly noticed the 'teachers' on her phone or yelling/whining at the kids. When addressed with the director, A) she didn't understand B) her main translator was the teacher I had concerns about C) concerns were dismissed with b.s. answers Kids can definitely create a high stress environment, but it became more evident over time that the teachers were extremely overwhelmed, with an increase in constant turn over. There is only one teacher left that actually cares for the student, unfortunately she can only do so much without the Director hovering and ensuring she doesn't speak too often. Hygiene is definitely a concern as well, if you are currently a parent with a child there, please look closer at the thick dust on the toys in the classroom. Grime and build up. Don't expect any policy or proper procedure at this school either. It hides under the name of Montessori and boast planned curriculum, but is unorganized chaos. You may save a hundred dollars or so sending your child here (compared to other 'schools'/'daycares' but just know you are risking the well being of your child. It's not worth it. read more

We love LA First Montessori School! My daughter has been coming here since she was 18 months. She is now 4 and we love the dedication and care they provide there. The teachers and the Director are great and loving towards the kids. My daughter loves going to school every day and we always felt very safe there. I would definitely recommend them! read more

I love this school, it's small and it has more of a personal experience. I love that classes are small and the teachers can give more one on one time to the children. My daughter really loves going to school every morning and she loves the teachers, she used to cry every day at another daycare, but not here, thank you for helping her and making her feel safe, I also love that she can go at her own pace. They have special activities that they offer, my daughter is learning the piano, ballet and hip hop dance, she is a very active girl and the school has provided more than enough activities for her to stay active, great place and amazing staff!!! read more

We have been in this program since January of 2017 but already in love with it! The Montessori method naturally bring about the inquisitive nature of the child and allows them to think of new ways to do things. They open up the child to learn for the themselves. It teaches them how to discover, but doesn't give a step-by-step direction. Montessori sees the child not just as a miniature person, but as a able-bodied and capable person!!!!!! read more

LA First Montessori School - Preschools Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My daughter has been attending LA First Montessori School since October of last year. We did a lot of research and visited a dozen schools. We are so glad we chose this school! The teachers here are extremely caring and attentive. Shout outs to Melanie and Michelle! Esther, the Director is so warm and sweet as well. My daughter gets so excited when we arrive to the school. More importantly, she has progressed well socially and academically. The most important things to us is our daughter's well being and growth, this school has exceeded all of our expectations so far. We highly recommend this school! read more

My Daugther has been attending this day care for almost 6 months - and she absolutely loves it. This daycare has a family vibe to it . She started when she was around 16 months old and it was easy for her to adjust to her new surroundings . I have nothing but good things to share about both the school and the teacher educator's , they treat my daughter so well she loves them , and she loves going to school . They feed them , change them and take very good care of the kids - never has Niyah came home in a bad state , she's always happy , clean and energized. They do really cool things for the kids like parties , celebrations and events for them . The style of teaching and activities for the kids is very beneficial, I've noticed my daughter Niyah learning new skills , new words and new things every single week and becoming more independent. This is the best daycare / school hands down in koreatown area , and I wouldn't take my daughter anywhere else - I highly recommend to anyone looking for a day care . read more

LA First Montessori School - Niyah Learning how to draw - Preschools Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I sent my children here for over a year and this place has been a perfect Montessori school for my children so far. LA Montessori school has a diverse, caring, loving, and welcoming environment and it is a hidden gem in my opinion. They not only have a well-kept and maintained space with Montessori toys and a strong understanding of proper safety protocol, they also have extra activities that children can participate in such as Tae Kwon Do and Ballet. It delivers a 1st class experience for our kids. Thank you LA First Montessori School! read more

Best in k-town daycare for my little girl. She loves to go to LA First Montessori everyday. That tells this school is doing something right.

Many mothers message me asking about this program. I had to remove my kid from the school after few month s because all the teachers were leaving. My daughter didn't like the new teacher and she kept asking for teacher Anna. There were too many unspoken disagreement among the staffs. I would expect the new teacher to read all the kids profiles before starting to teach, but that was not the case. The new teacher didn't even know how old were her students. I am not sure if the turn- around of the teacher was only that instant or it is something that happens often in this center. read more

As much as I didn't want to write this, I think it's important. Unfortunately, our experience of this school isn't the same as the reviews on here that were written over a year ago. I was excited about the place at first. Montessori, the facility looked great in person and on-line...but it was a totally different experience once we started there. They switched the teacher on us, so when we got there, there was a new woman we had never met & who couldn't speak English too well. They seemed surprised to see us on our first day, as if they had forgotten my son was starting that day. No cubby was ready for him, and there were required supplies & information that weren't communicated to us beforehand. But the teacher was nice, so we decided to give it a try. They got offended when I asked for a copy of my "parents rights" page (even though it said in black & white that they were legally responsible for providing that information to parents). Then about 3 days in, my son started acting traumatized. Now, I know that most kids go through an adjustment period and often cry, but this was behavior my son had never displayed before--crying all day, especially upon pick-up (in utter relief), screaming and crying at bedtime, and dreading the mornings. I went to observe for a couple hours one morning & saw too many kids hitting each other, jumping on each other, pushing, and the teacher not once telling them to keep hands to themselves. I even saw little boys inappropriately touching little girls' bottoms. I was especially surprised to see that behavior go unnoticed/Not corrected. Teaching boys to respect girls should start at a young age. No wonder my kid was traumatized--he's not used to unwanted touching & hitting. Plus, the teacher left the room a few times which I thought was weird because she left me alone with the kids & didn't tell me if/when she'd be back or where she was going. It could have been the language barrier, but either way, I didn't like it. Plus, the director speaks even less English than the teacher, so it got really frustrating communicating my concerns/needs to them...and communication has to be key for us when it comes to our son. I mean, what would happen in case of an emergency if no one there can communicate with us without a translator? We talked to other parents outside, too. And most were unhappy about the turn over of teachers & lack of communication. A few were planning to pull their kids out this year too. To be fair, some seemed content. None seemed thrilled though. We ended up pulling him out after only a week or two. Almost immediately at his new place, we've noticed a complete 180. He's happier, sleeps through the night again, and even doesn't want to go home when we pick him up. We were really rooting LA First, but ultimately feel traumatized ourselves by the whole experience. read more

at 3 years old, My daughter joined this school as the first pre-schooler. I cant say enough good things about it, great teachers and director. she comes home everyday Happy and exhausted...she learned so much without being forced to, for her its was like a fun way to absorb new knowledge. I loved seeing her dailies on social media, birthdays are always a special time. They too so good care of her and she made so many memories and friends...Now she is a kindergartner in another school and she always missed her teachers and friends. thank you LA MONSTESSORI read more

I was very hesitant to write this review but I think it's important. The school looks very different online than it does in person and that's very deceiving because it makes it seem better than it actually is. This school claims to be a "Montessori" school but they don't have the appropriate materials and toys that an actual Montessori school has. The teacher to student ratio is not appropriate for the age groups they have. I went in for a tour of the school for enrollment and I saw a teacher during lunch time giving the students their food using gloves but while doing it she would grab some from the plate & take a bite and with those same gloves touch the food again and give it to the kids. This was very unpleasant to see especially because the poor kids are too young to know what the teacher is doing. I feel bad for the parents of those kids who unfortunately are not aware of how unsanitary this teacher is. Overall, this school does not live up to its name "Montessori" please avoid bringing your kids here!!! read more

My son attended Metro child development center for 1 1/2 years. He used to cry almost everyday at drop off and I used to feel so helpless. I decided to give LA First Montessori a try and it was a great decision. He started going there January 2017 and has never cried, gotten sick, or hit by another child as used to happened often at the other school. He knows all his letters (upper & lower case), colors, numbers, shapes, adding, and learning to read. He is ready for Kindergarten. read more

What can I say? This school is great, my son has been coming here since he was 4 yrs... the teachers and the director have a lot patience teaching the kids,they put a lot of effort and dedication to all the students... besides all that they are very nurturing people.. the school its clean and safe...am happy that my son learned a lot since he started here... plus the food that is served to the kids it's fresh made daily... kids love it...i will definitely l recommend this school .. ITS A WONDERFUL SCHOOL!! The montessori method had help my son to be more independent ,responsible... I love this school I couldn't be more happier than having a good school and AWESOME TEACHERS... read more

Finding the right place for your child is a difficult thing to do. You leave your child with a stranger for up to 10 hours a day and you trust that the person watching them will care and nurture them as if it was their own child. When I visited LA First Montessori School I was very impressed. The staffs were friendly and the school was very well maintained. When it came time meet the teacher, I was glad I chose this place. Any concerns and reservations were gone. She made us feel comfortable and was passionate about caring for your child. She truly understood what we expected and exceeded those expectations. read more