We've had our daughter in the school for 3 years and just enrolled our second daughter as well. We feel so lucky that Ms. Gabriel has taught both of our girls. She was instrumental in potty training and knows how to support each child's unique personality. Ms. Quintero has been great at helping our daughter develop all the skills she needs in preparation for kindergarten. We've seen huge improvements in her communication, social, math, and writing skills since being in her class. The classes have a larger age range than typical daycares, but we've found that to be a positive, the younger kids learn a lot from the older ones, and the older ones learn to look out for the little ones. It's also one of the cleanest daycares we've experienced; our kids have gotten sick far less often here than at prior daycares and we rarely see the teachers on an iPad or phone (so don't expect a ton of photos or videos), they're genuinely engaged with the kids rather than distracted by a device. We also appreciated the extra curriculars that they provide at the school within school hours. Overall, we've really appreciated our experience at Limai so far. read more

After researching different early childhood education philosophies, our family chose LiMai Montessori Academy, and it has been one of the best decisions we've made. From preschool through kindergarten, our daughter has flourished--not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. The child-centered, self-directed Montessori approach fostered her confidence, independence, and love of learning. What truly sets LiMai apart is its exceptional teachers and staff. Every teacher, assistant teacher, and staff member has been warm, patient, genuinely caring, and deeply invested in each child's growth. The campus is also consistently clean, organized, and welcoming. As our daughter graduates from kindergarten, our family is incredibly grateful for the support, encouragement, and care we've received over the years. LiMai has given our daughter a wonderful foundation, and we will truly miss this amazing school. We highly recommend it to any family looking for a nurturing and enriching Montessori education. read more

I highly recommend this school to any family looking for a truly professional and authentic Montessori education. There are honestly so many wonderful things about this school that it's hard to know where to begin! My older son started here when he was just 2 years old, and now, as he is almost 7, we are getting ready to say goodbye after nearly five wonderful years. He has spent five out of his first seven years of life at this school, so this place has truly become such a big part of his childhood and the beginning of his learning journey. Before choosing this school, we toured around 10 different schools. What really stood out to us was how genuinely this school understands and practices the Montessori philosophy. Many schools call themselves Montessori schools and have Montessori materials in their classrooms, but I believe Montessori education is about much more than simply having the materials. The teachers here truly understand how to use them and, more importantly, the philosophy and purpose behind them. After nearly five years here, these are some of the things I appreciate most ：） * [Mixed-age classrooms and individualized learning] I really appreciate the mixed-age classroom environment, where children can learn from one another, grow at their own pace, and develop independence. The teachers understand that every child is different and provide individual guidance based on each child's needs, abilities, and stage of development. Within the structure and guidance provided by the teachers, children also have the freedom to choose the skills and activities they want to work on. They are encouraged to explore, make choices, and take an active role in their own learning rather than simply sitting and passively receiving information. I really love seeing children develop independence, confidence, and a genuine interest in learning through this approach. * [Patient, caring, and experienced teachers] The teachers take the time to understand each child and guide them with patience and care. * [A great balance between personal growth and academics] Children learn not only academics, but also how to express themselves, communicate their needs, interact with others, work through problems, and build confidence. * [A school my son truly loves] He loved this school so much that when it came time for him to move on, we decided to listen to what he wanted. Since the school also offers a First Grade program with amazing Ms. Quintero, we chose to let him stay and complete First Grade here. Looking back, I'm so glad we made that decision. I am especially thankful for Ms. Sally. (WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH! MS. SALLY) She is one of the most patient, caring, and understanding teachers I have ever met. She understands not only the children, but also the parents, and has a wonderful way of being gentle but firm when guiding them. My son was very young when he first came to her class and was still learning how to express his thoughts and feelings. Ms. Sally patiently helped him learn how to communicate, understand his emotions, and work through different situations. The years he spent with her gave me so much trust and confidence in this school. As my son grew older and moved into the Kindergarten and First Grade programs with Ms. Quintero (We APPRECIATE you so much!! ), I saw so much growth in him academically as well. More academic learning was challenging for him at first, but Ms. Quintero patiently guided and encouraged him. Little by little, he became more comfortable facing challenges and started to believe in himself more. I've been amazed by how much he has learned and grown, even his cursive handwriting is so beautiful now! As a parent, seeing him build that confidence is even more valuable than simply how much knowledge he has gained. Now that he is getting ready to leave after nearly five years, I definitely feel emotional and sad to say goodbye. When I look back at the little two-year-old who was still learning how to express himself and compare that to the almost seven-year-old he is today, I can see how much he has grown. To our family, this was never just a preschool or a place we dropped him off every morning. This school has been a big part of his childhood and gave him such a strong start for the next stage of his life. Thank you, Ms. Sally, Ms. Quintero, Ms, Spring and all of the teachers and staff who have taught, cared for, and supported my son over the years. Thank you for all the patience, understanding, guidance, and love you have given him. We will always remember this school and be grateful for the five years our son spent here. Thank you for being such an important part of his childhood and for giving him such a wonderful start to his learning journey. THANK YOU FOR HELPING HIM GROW AND BELIEVE IN HIMSELF! read more

Our family has been with Limai for the past three years, and as our daughter gets ready to graduate and start kindergarten, we just want to say how grateful we are for everyone here. Ms. Sally in the Bumblebee class (ages 2-4) played such a big role in helping with potty training, building good habits, and sparking our daughter's love of learning. She made the transition to the Dragonfly class (TK/K/1st Grade) so much easier. This past year has been amazing to watch. Our daughter learned cursive, addition and subtraction, fell in love with reading, and even started writing her own little storybooks! We couldn't be happier with how much she's grown, both academically and socially. A huge thank you to Mrs. Quintero for her passion and dedication, and to Ms. Ana, who our daughter absolutely adores. One thing we also appreciated is that, while Limai doesn't have a formal Mandarin program, several multilingual teachers and staff have been happy to speak Mandarin with our daughter, which has meant a lot to our family. Thank you to the entire staff for helping shape such an important chapter of our child's life.! read more

As a parent of a 3-year-old who attended the half-day program, I cannot say enough wonderful things about this school. The teachers and staff have been absolutely instrumental in helping my child grow into an independent, confident, caring, and joyful individual. What truly sets this school apart is their dedication to authentic Montessori practices. The teachers are incredibly observant and committed to each child's unique journey; they provide individualized care and growth tailored to what the child needs, rather than taking a generic, one-size-fits-all approach. Beyond the classroom, the professionalism of the staff is unmatched. I deeply appreciate their communication style. Even when handling an escalation, they channel information with the right intent, focusing on collaboration rather than just reporting a problem. Their insights have genuinely helped guide and prepare both us as parents and our child for real-world challenges. We are so grateful for this community! read more

We are incredibly grateful to this Montessori school and all of the wonderful teachers. Every teacher here is loving, caring, and deeply dedicated to the children. Their patience, kindness, and responsibility have made such a meaningful difference in our child's growth. Our child has learned so much during this time--not only academically, but also in confidence, independence, and social skills. We could clearly see progress every day, and we truly appreciate the effort and care from all the teachers. What touched us most is how much our child loves school. Every morning, our child looked forward to going to school with excitement, and even at home would talk about and miss the teachers and classmates. That says everything about how warm and special this school is. As parents, we felt completely at ease knowing our child was in such a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment. We sincerely thank the school and all the teachers for the love, guidance, and beautiful memories. We will always cherish this wonderful experience. read more

My daughters have been collectively attending LiMai since January 2023, and I can't speak more highly of the school. Both my girls have flourished academically, socially, and linguistically during their time, and I'm very grateful for the dedicated faculty and staff (shoutout Mrs. Quintero, Ms. Sally, Ms. Gabriel, Ms. Kaman, and Ms. Heidi) for their love, care, and attention to all of the children attending the school. My eldest was initially scheduled to start kindergarten at our local elementary school last year, but we had all become so attached to LiMai that we decided to keep her there one more year. As she prepares for her inevitable transition to 1st grade this year, I'm excited for her to have new experiences, but know that she will miss her time here. LiMai provides a true Montessori experience, and this has become very apparent over the last year. My eldest can essentially read entire children's books on her own, writes in cursive, and has started tackling not only basic arithmetic, but fractions as well. I'm happy my youngest has another year here before she transitions to public school, and I eagerly recommend LiMai to any friend looking for preschools. read more

My family has been with LiMai for the past 4 years, first with my older kid and then with my younger one joining two years later. The school not only has academic lessons like ABCs/123s, shapes, continents & US states, the planets, and spelling/writing; they also help foster children's social & emotional development and teach practical life skills, which honestly should be taught at all schools, no matter the age/grade level! Through this, my kids have learned to be independent at a young age - they could dress themselves, as well as help fold laundry and set/clear the table since they were 2yo. Pros: - Ms. Gabriel is a phenomenal teacher! She's patient, kind and truly caring of all her students. My kids adore her! - Every staff member knows the name of each child in all classrooms. - Playground is in the backyard and completely fenced in, keeping children away from cars and safe from outside eyes. - Extracurricular activities such as Dance, Keyboard, Soccer, and Jiu-Jitsu (offered for an additional fee) are available on campus on select days after school, which eliminates the need for parents to drive elsewhere for those same lessons. - Classrooms are multi-age instead of separated by 2yo classroom, 3yo classeoom, etc. This allows the older students to help out/guide the younger ones, while also allowing the younger ones to look up to/learn from their older peers. - Multiple security cameras (both inside and outside, covering all areas of the school), which parents are free to view and observe their children. - Unlike other preschools, teachers cannot use their phones throughout the work day to take photos and provide parents with up-to-the-minute updates on their child. This allows them to pay full attention to the kids and focus on actually teaching them. Don't worry, many photos are still captured and shared weekly via the Class Dojo app! And verbal updates are often given during drop-off/pick-up. - Free lunch is available for each child. Cons: - Communication of general information to parents, while good, could improve with advanced notice and more transparency (i.e. mass texts/emails re: tuition increases, changes in staff, written instead of verbal reminders for parent contributions, etc.) - Lunch options are very limited (Chinese food Mondays-Thursdays, and pizza on Fridays). TL;DR: Although lunch options, communication and transparency could improve, our time there has been a positive experience overall. My kids loved having Ms. Gabriel as their teacher and we recommend requesting to be in her class when enrolling. read more

The LiMai program and its caring staff have helped my child grow into a more independent and confident child. My child made new friends, developed stronger social skills, and enjoys playing and interacting with peers. The creative arts and crafts activities are always a highlight. read more

After nearly two years here at LMA, my daughter will be leaving to move on to second grade. And boy are we sad about it. If they had been able to add second grade, we would have stayed longer. My previous comments about the school still stand true, but after almost two years I've seen even more accomplishments. I'm so proud of the growth and progress I've seen from her, in the pride she takes in her work and how much she enjoys being a leader. Her teacher, Mrs. Quintero, fostered those traits in her. I see how cherished my child and her classmates are here. My daughter is reading on her own, does math without even realizing it, and has gained many more life skills and good habits. Thank you to all the teachers (guides) and staff here for making the last two years a joy. Be prepared for us to visit! read more

My son attended LiMai for a little over a year. During that time, the only feedback we consistently received from his teacher, Ms. Gabriel, was that he was popular with classmates and very bright--consistent with our observations at home. However, one morning I was called in an hour after dropping my son off and informed that my 4-year-old was being suspended for two days due to rough play (scratching and pinching) that had occurred over the previous week--not that day. This came as a surprise, as they only mentioned anything to me 1 hour earlier at drop-off & they seemed content that we would talk to him about his behavior after school. They had him 100% of the time between informing me & then suspending him, and he behaved during that time. Additionally, one of the front office directors, Ms. Quintero, put on a show of scolding him publicly on his way out--right in front of the other child's mother, without introducing her. While I don't doubt he was testing boundaries through rough play, we were caught off guard by the lack of communication and sudden escalation. A simple conversation beforehand would have aligned more closely with common-sense approaches and even LiMai's own disciplinary policy, which outlines progressive steps before suspension. It appeared they bypassed their own protocol and instead took a more reactive, punitive approach. (LiMai's disciplinary policy at the time was 1st offense: speak with parent, 2nd offense: leave home for the day, 3rd offense: 1 day suspension, 4th offense: termination). What's more troubling is that this incident revealed larger concerns. It became clear that supervision may not have been consistent in real-time, and we were left questioning how long inappropriate behavior had gone unchecked. During the suspension, we made the decision to transfer our son to another local Montessori. There, we discovered he was slightly behind peers in key areas like writing and math skills--despite being told he was doing well at LiMai. We later learned from LiMai's staff that the disciplinary decision was not universally supported and was pushed forward primarily by the owner to appease the other parent. In short, our experience with LiMai included a lack of proactive communication, inconsistent discipline, and shortcomings in academic instruction. I do appreciate the courteous front office secretary and the sincere apologies we received from some of the staff. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to make up for their deeper issues. Of the three Montessoris we've had experience with in Diamond Bar, LiMai was the worst. read more

We have been with Village Montessori Academy, now known as LiMai Montessori Academy, for nine years. Our elder daughter started school at 2.5 years old, and within six months, we noticed a remarkable improvement in her concentration--she could play independently for over an hour. She also became highly independent and dedicated to her work. Seeing the benefits of the Montessori methodology, we enrolled our younger daughter at age five after the COVID-19 pandemic. She, too, developed independence and critical thinking skills. Both girls love their instructors and feel genuinely cared for at school. We highly recommend this school, as the Montessori approach allows children to explore their interests without limitations, encouraging them to dive as deep as they wish into their learning. read more

My child has been enrolled for roughly three months, and I have nothing but positive things to say from my experiences. The staff is super friendly and helpful. Also, they are very knowledgeable and could answer any question I had before and after enrollment. To keep parents in the loop, they send a monthly newsletter about the focus of each classroom and if there is anything special that is upcoming. There are additional supplementary classes that you can enroll your child in as well if you wish. Our four-year-old is currently in the Jiu-Jitsu class and loves the engagement within! While these classes are nice for your child, they're unnecessary as the classrooms always have an upcoming event to engage them in. My child's teacher works well with him and has helped him develop healthy habits. She encourages him to push himself to engage in more complex activities while making him more sociable with his peers. I would highly recommend this school if you want to enroll your child in a preschool that will allow your child to thrive! read more

I should have written a review for LiMai Montessori Academy years ago. I recently became compelled to write this after reading a couple negative reviews because they are clearly misguided. Specially this recent one that was written. I believe reviews, especially for a place that cares for our children, should be honest and unbiased. When I read these negative reviews about the staff I couldn't believe my eyes , I thought to myself this is not a clear picture that's being painted for parents looking for child care. Which makes me upset because these are wonderful staff and it is nothing like being described in these recent reviews. So here is my experience. Both of my children have attended this school It had taken me forever to potty train my child. Every daycare and school I took her to would not let her go in underwear until she was fully potty trained, until I found this amazing school. When I took my child to this school, they encouraged my child through the whole process of potty training she was potty trained in 2 weeks at that time she was in bumble bee class Mrs. Sally potty trained one of them and I was very happy of the results Mrs. Sally did an amazing job. I had no issues everything went smoothly . She is such a an amazing teacher and I can tell that they really take care of children by heart and always go above and beyond. My kids always had a big smile on their faces when they talked about this school and teachers, which explains everything. My child loved bumble bee class. I am so grateful for the staff there. They have now moved on to public school and how they miss this school so much . I am familiar with all the teachers because they were in their class at some point. Words cannot do enough justice for how I feel about the staff and director Ms.Quintero . They have done so much for my children by helping them reach their true potential both academically and socially. I have recommended this school to all of my friends whose children also attended LiMai Montessori academy . They say teaching is a work of heart. I have always felt that from the staff here. I couldn't have ask for more. If you are looking for a school that will focus on what is best for your child, LiMai Montessori Academy is the one. We miss this school and their environment. Thank you to all the teachers for taking such incredible care of not only my children but all children alike. read more

I don't recommend this horrible place. They did not do a good job cleaning my daughter after she potty, there was several occasion where my daughter came home with traces of poop in her diaper, the staff there didn't wipe away all the poops, who knows how long my daughter had to endure traces of poops in her diaper thru out the full day. I told the director that their staff needs to do a better job cleaning my daughter because it can lead to a potential infection. Two weeks later they kick my daughter out of their academy after only being enrolled there for a total of just three because they said my daughter was too much for them to handle. These people don't care about your kids they just want easy money. read more

LiMai Montessori Academy - LiMai Montessori kicked her out of their academy because they said she was too much for them to handle. - Preschools Near Me - Diamond Bar, California

I will take back what I said before. The previous review is for Village Montessori， Ms Shirley, and Ms Quinterio. They are great, the new owner - Spring is not. If you have talked to this new owner, you will know what I mean. During our conversation with her, she will always interrupt you and never let you finish your words. I have talked to her couple times, both my husband and myself. And I am glad we pulled my daughter out of school when we realize how stressful and unpleasant to deal with the new owner. read more

Our two daughters, 4 and 2, have been attending LiMai (formerly Village Montessori Academy) now for over six months and it's been a wonderful experience all around. The staff are excellent, professional, kind and incredibly thoughtful with the children. Our girls are really thriving here! We actually tried another Montessori in the area and they didn't enjoy it. Here, they love their teachers and are learning so much. You can tell the staff really care about the children and they're so easy to communicate with. I would highly recommend this school! read more

My child is 25 months old and has been crying for the first few weeks. The teachers have been patiently caring for her and accompanying her, and now she has fully adapted. Miss Quintero and Miss Joey are very dedicated. read more

If I could dial back the clock, I'd choose to send all three of my sons to LiMai Montessori Academy. As it stands, sending my youngest, currently five years old, will have to suffice. I'm wholly satisfied with LiMai Montessori. That's partly due to the Montessori curriculum, which emphasizes self-reliance, individual pacing, and the creation of learning situations; it's a much better fit for my son than a top-down, one-size-fits-all approach that relies on rote learning. But I'm also satisfied because of the extra care and effort the teachers and staff have shown my son. Before entering LiMai, he was terrified of other children and struggled to manage his emotions. After just two weeks at LiMai, he'd learned to trust other children and moderate his emotions. He became quite the gentleman (or as much of a gentleman as little boys can be). This transformation wasn't just a matter of simple exposure; his teachers spent extra time with him daily, building trust and guiding him. I can't recommend this school enough, especially for its personalized approach and the remarkable impact it has had on our family. read more

DON'T GO!!! My son was kicked out after 9 days. They said my son is too active, climb the table, run around, and cannot sit quietly. The teacher said my son needs a person to pay 100% attention to him. Also, one old woman, the school's teacher, Ms. Quintero, she told me my son has behavior issues. I was also told that I should send my son to see the doctor and even should get assistance from a specialist. I had my son evaluated and the doctor said my son is a normal 2 years old boy. Their owner, Ms. Shirly told me that they have more than 20 kids in one class but just 2 teachers. She asked me to send my son to a smaller class. I accepted her suggestion and dropped my son off. I asked the school to provide me a writing report regarding my son's behavior issue that Ms. Quintero considered. I sent them 3 emails and got nothing. I called Ms. Shirly and was told they never say something about my son's behavior issues. The school and the teachers don't have any patient and love for the kids. They even don't have the courage to admit what they said. I cannot imagine how they teach their students!!! read more

Our family has been part of this school for about 3 years. The academic curriculum is amazing compared to other school we have attended in the past. I never seize to be amazed with the daily the development of our children's intellect, the positive encouragement they received from teachers, aids, and all staff members, to express not only their personality, ideas, and discover new interests, but also grown their confidence and knowledge. I want to also praise the positive behavior and discipline being taught. Thank you for making our children feel special, valued, and safe. read more

This is the best pre-school and kindergartens around the Diamond Bar/Walnut area for the last 30yrs. Our family had 5 kids who all started from VMA and graduated from Ms. Quintero's Dragonfly class. The eldest graduated from Diamond Bar HS and UC Berkeley. The 2nd one got accepted into a nursing program. We truly believe a resourceful early education definitely helped. Although Ms. Quintero was strict on rules and regulations, all the kids obeyed and followed her instructions by heart. It's amazing how much influence a great teacher can enlighten the new young minds in such a positive manner. All the kids love her. Ms. Quintero is also one of the remaining few who still teaches cursive writing, which I found to be lacking in today's computer world. It's a great virtue to learn from early ages to write beautifully. My 6 yr old is graduating from Dragonfly this summer getting ready for 1st grade. She had improved so much! A big thanks to Ms. Quintero, Ms. Shirley and Ms. Sabrina for preparing my kids for 1st grade, which they easily excel in the classrooms. A good head start is indeed very important. read more

We absolutely love this Montessori. Our son has been coming here since he was two and now he's about to go into first grade. The teachers and staff are wonderful. They're so nice and know how to care for the kids. I would highly recommend the school/daycare read more

I highly recommend Village Montessori. From the top down, it's obvious that they have the best interests of the children at heart. My son and daughter began attending Village Montessori soon after they turned three. They would've started sooner if not for the fact that there was a waiting list for them to enroll. And, our kids continued there through Kindergarten although our home public school district is very reputable and well rated. And, we've been quite happy with that decision. Why? This school adheres to fairly traditional Montessori teaching methods where the child is an active participant in their learning. You can tell they consciously try to maximize the child's potential in all aspects: academically, socially, and psychologically. They give the kids Individualized attention, and make great effort to meet the kids where they are and the childs' particular modes of learning. They encourage self-exploration, individuality, independence and self-sufficiency. But, they also stress importance of group work and community. Each classroom is well stocked with traditional Montessori materials, and the kids are academically challenged. But that may be the easy part. Beyond the academics, the school models, not just teaches, expected behavior (courtesy, responsibility, manners, respectful temperament). You can tell this work is a labor of love for the staff from top to bottom: Owner, Director, Directresses and Aides. They are tuned in to the children and tailor their approaches to each child's learning style. All of this is communicated to the parents, as well, so that we can be active participants in our kids' learning and growing. Every month, they prepare a newsletter to let us know what each class covered the previous month and what to expect for the coming month. Staff is very open and available to meet with parents to address concerns. The staff has been humming along with this routine for many years. Yet, they still look to make tweaks to improve. And, the owner supports continued training and education for the staff. They also offer after-school activities including art, gymnastics, Chinese class, piano .... My kids will soon be in 2nd, and we still refer to Ms. Quintero and what they learned in their Dragonfly (Kindergarten) class, as well as with their pre-school class (Mrs Sabah/Paz, and Mrs Masood/Ms Sandra). So thankful. ;-) read more

We love this school. My son is now 7 and is in elementary school, my daughter is 3 and attending Village Montessori right now. We moved here from Texas about 5 years ago and found this school on-line. Not knowing anything, we sent our son here and am so glad that we did. We spoke with a lot of other parents, and found out that they've tried out many other schools before finding this gem. Location: The location is very convenient, right off of 60 and 57 highways. The school is in a shopping center, and looks sort of out of place from the outside (we were a little dubious in the beginning) but inside the school is totally different. The school is well equipped and Mrs. Fong uses all real Montessori educational material, not some cheap knock-off. The playground in the back is great. They placed new ground so it's spongy, and shade for the kids. From this, you can really see that they care about the children. Education: The teachers are wonderful. All the classes have one teacher and one assistant. We believe our son is well taught and sometimes he'll talk about stuff that would surprise us (in a good way). The school purchased additional education material for him. We feel that the education was really individually tailored. Our daughter has been attending for about a year now, and she really likes the school as well. She is quite a bit younger, so we're not sure of how much she has learned in school. Price: This school is actually less expensive than most of the other schools in the surrounding areas. We moved recently and all the schools near us are much more expensive. So my wife is willing to make the trip (twice a day) for my daughter to attend this school. Not only because it is less expensive, but more importantly we feel that the education and experience is much better. Overall, we love this school and recommend it to anyone without reservation. read more

Village Montessori Academy is really working hard to make the school safe, clean, and well organized. My two daughters absolutely love this school and the teachers. The teachers are absolutely awesome, I can tell that they really take care of children by heart and always go above and beyond. My kids always have big smiles on their faces when they talked about this school and teachers, which explains everything. Sadly, we relocated to another place and had to leave because of the distance. We will miss it a lot. BTW, the tuition is very reasonable too. read more

Teachers at VMA are very patient. They love their students. My son is 3yo and he loves to go to school everyday. The school is very clean and have strict Covid precautions. read more

This is a great place for little ones to learn and grow. My son attended here for about four years. Didn't encounter any problems, and all the kids seemed very disciplined. I am quite happy with my son's overall behavior. A lot of emphasis on discipline and work ethics, which worked out well for my son. My son loves Ms. Quintero, as well as all other teachers that had helped him throughout the years. read more

Finished Kindergarten here in 2003. Just finished my undergrad. I understand my review might not be so relevant now, but I'm pleasantly surprised to hear Ms. Quintero and Ms. Shirley are still here after so long (; 15 years passing probably affects my review when I say they were really good at what they did, but at this point, their experience is pretty undeniable. read more

My daughter has been attending Montessori Academy for 3 months now and I have to say I am extremely satisfied with the admissions department, teachers, teacher aides, curricular activities offered, extra curricular activities offered at an additional fee( piano, dance,Chinese,etc), and the cleanliness of the building. Christina is the girl that I usually speak to at the front of the office and she is a sweet heart! Yes, they do ask for a $500 deposit to hold a spot for your child but ALL preschools that I've visited, require a deposit to hold a spot. I believe $200 of that deposit was credited to first month's tuition bill. My daughter thoroughly enjoys going to school and playing with all the children and speaks about her teacher, Ms. Lee, constantly. I've watched my daughter engage with the teachers, the other children, and when she is working on an activity individually; and must say that she is in a positive learning environment that I am comfortable taking her to Monday-Friday. If anything happens to my daughter through out the day I receive an incident report and speak with the teacher or teacher aide about said incident same day. I feel that my daughter's verbal skills and social skills have blossomed since attending Village Montessori Academy of Diamond Bar. The only thing I would say about the staff is that their professionalism may be mistaken for being a bit rude. If you come poking your head into the classroom, the teacher or teacher aide will ask that you wait outside. At first this infuriated me but it is rude to disrupt the learning environment and all of the children WILL stop what they are doing and stare at you. So all in all I highly recommend this location and applaud their staff that I have come into contact with on a daily basis. read more

I had my daughter enrolled at this school for 2 years and my son for 8 months before we unfortunately moved to another city. Seeing what other preschools have to offer makes me miss this school the most. The teachers here are very professional, the children are always learning and well behaved, and Ms Christina at the front desk kept my kids schedules more organized than I ever could. Another great thing about this school is that they offer a different extracurricular class every day of the week that you can enroll your child in for an additional fee. At the other schools I have visited, you're lucky if they even offer one extracurricular class. This school is awesome in providing the children an educational and culturally rich experience. This school is by far the best in the area!! read more

I enrolled my son at Village a week after he turned two and took him out only to start kindergarten the summer before he turned 5, although they do have a kindergarten program, I wanted him to have the public school experience, I mean we do live in Diamond Bar and have great public school. Any How we felt like family at village, Mrs. Shirley the owner is the sweetest lady, and Mrs, Quintero the direct stole my sons heart. The education is second to none, the is a very academic based school and worth every penny. I am a preschool photographer and have been in every school in the area, besides researching them all for my son's care, Village was the only school, I felt like he would receive the love and education I was looking for, we were definitely NOT looked at as just another monthly payment, as some of the schools had made me feel. My son had many teachers, but the teacher that I feel he learned best from. was Mrs. Paz, she is kind and patient, exactly was a high energy little boy needs. My son is hungry to learn but is one of those boys that would rather be outside running around on the play ground, which by the way is very nice, in the summer they turn on misters so the kids don't get too hot. All in all I am very happy he spend his preschool years with Village, they are truly the best in the area. read more

My son began attending Village Montessori Academy when he turned 2 and has been attending since. We made the decision to transfer him from his prior preschool because we were looking for an extended day program that would meet his academic, social, emotional, and linguistic needs, and the staff at VMA ensured his development in all of these aspects. As a working parent and educator, it is important that our son attend a preschool that considers itself, in practice, not only a day care but rather one that prioritizes academics and prepares young children for the increasingly rigorous expectations of elementary school. In our experience, other preschools tend to emphasize free play over learning of essential skills. VMA understands the importance of providing a balanced curriculum that is both engaging, challenging, and socially and intellectually stimulating. With the amount of teaching and learning going on in the classroom each day, we are free to spend our after work hours enjoying our son through talk and play rather than filling in gaps in teaching as we used to feel compelled to do when he attended other programs. Thanks to the tireless efforts of his VMA teachers, our 5 year old is now writing complete sentences in cursive, has a strong command of number sense, demonstrates respect for others, and interacts positively with his peers. But what we appreciate most about the staff is their attention to any and all changes my child exhibits in behavior, attitude, and motivation and their prompt communication with us through periodic parent-teacher team conferences to discuss his growth and areas for improvement. The parent-school team approach has communicated the message to our son that teachers care about him, school is important, he can be curious, and that he is capable of driving his own learning equipped with the knowledge that he has all the support in the world behind him. My only suggestions to VMA would be to offer more frequent teacher-guided art lessons/projects not only for special occasions and to provide a regular parent-school communication note so that parents are aware of what activity was introduced to their child that day/week, comments on their behavior, or their personal accomplishments that week. That would help parents better support their kids at home through reinforcement and rewards. We have recommended to our friends and colleagues that they look into VMA as a consideration for their own children, a recommendation we make with great confidence that their students will experience the same growth, personal care, and safety as has our son. We are sad that it will soon be time for him to move on but are extremely grateful we made the right choice to have him spend 3 wonderful years at Village Montessori. read more

My daugher loves this school as do I. I visited many schools before deciding to enroll here and 3 years later I am still very happy with my decision. This school teaches kindess, compassion, respect for others and other important values that are as equally important as academic. The teaching method here foster each child uniqueness and strengths. The teachers are super caring, my daugher just loves her teachers Miss Lee, Miss Sally and Miss Sabrina. You can tell that these teachers truly care. Also communication is always clear and professional. Miss Christina and Miss Shirley are just the best and we love them! read more

I used to love the school because the teachers are very nice. My toddler has been going here for almost a year, in the Butterfly class. When we started, the student teacher ratio was 12:1 with 2 teachers and an assistant in the class. Now, there's only 1 teacher and 1 assistant. That's 25 students for 1 teacher! The assistant does not teach, but only watches the kids. It's like a glorified daycare that costs a lot. Ms. Gabriel, the teacher, is the sweetest and kindest woman and so patient with the kids. But the kids are not learning anything because there's not enough attention paid to them. You can't expect one teacher to handle all 25 kids. And this is not public school. It's been this way for almost 5 months and it does not look like there's any plan to hire more teachers. I am taking my kid out by the summer and don't recommend the school unless something changes. read more

I feel grateful and compelled to write about this wonderful Montessori school in Diamond Bar which my second child attended till the summer of 2011. My child started off being quite fussy and difficult when he was around two and half years old. The excellent Montessori teaching method and the many Montessori materials which the school owns kept him interested and learning. Often times, my wife and I had hard time getting him to leave in the evening. This itself speaks volumes about the school. The owner , Ms Shirley and the Director, Mrs Quintero are truly wonderful and caring people . It will be hard to find another Montessori school as well equiped and run in the area. I cannot find enough words to express our appreciation other than to write this review to say thank you to Village Montessori Academy. Thank You! read more

My child was enrolled in Mrs. Sylvia's lady bug class and it was a nightmare. She went to school for 3 months and we had to pull her out mid month. This teacher was very rude and tried teaching me how to raise my child. When you ask her a question about your child's performance, she thinks that the parent is making a big deal. She has nothing to teach but how to have attitude. Please do not put your child in her class. All other staff is respectful except for her. read more

I visited many preschools in the Diamond Bar Area, before choosing this one. Both my girls started on their 2nd birthday. I was drawn to this school when I visited because of the way the CHILDREN behaved. They all were sweet, adorable, well behaved children. The larger room I visited had more than twenty children (between ages 2-4) and each child was working independently on their own activity quietly. How could this be possible? I was completely amazed. The teachers were also very kind and sweet to the kids. The kindergarten class (5 year old) were doing very advanced math such a fractions, geometry (diameter, radius, etc); creative writing in cursive! The school is also extremely clean, and warm like a home. They practice by the true Montessori philosophy, and the main teacher is Montessori educated. They have 3 classrooms which kids are age 2-4 are in one room, and a fourth kindergarten class where kids 5 years or older work. They do not have toys but instead have Montessori activities in which each child works on independently at their own pace. Each of the activities have a purpose that are a foundation for daily life, math, reading, etc. The younger children learn from the older children (strive to be like them), and the older kids help the younger kids. Helping one another teaches them "grace" and "courtesy"; I thought this was such a funny idea for little ones (especially since mine were still throwing tantrums before they started, but now my children are kinds, caring, graceful and courteous!! My girls say please, thank you, and are extremely sweet. They encourage independence in the kids and give them responsibilities (no helicopter type parenting). My daughters are proud to be helpful and are very confident. I give them total credit for making my girls amazingly behaved children!! My oldest daughter started in Butterfly Class and she had Miss Gabriel, Miss Sandra, and Miss Sabrina who she adores!! She learned Spanish from Miss Sandra and knows more Spanish than I do from my High School Spanish class! For Kindergarten I considered having her go to public school as Walnut School District is Extremely Distinguished, but the teachers and owner were so thoughtful to ask me to sit down with them to discuss this further; I was informed of how everything learned up to age 4 Montessori is materialized in the kindergarten year. I remember how advanced the kindergarten class was when I initially visited, and after exploring further I decided to keep my daughter there for kindergarten in the Dragonfly Class with Ms. Quintero, Miss Claudia and Miss Jessica. I am so happy I did! She is learning so much and it's only been 6 months since she's been in kindergarten and she is doing all the amazing things I witnessed when I initially visited the school! She has completed what's equivalent to 1st grade homework and continuing to progress! I feel like it's such a great foundation that she is going to have such an easy time in elementary school, and have the confidence to be successful! My younger daughter is also currently attending the Bumble Bee Classroom with Miss Lee and Miss Sally. I have heard really good things from the other teachers about this classroom, so I specifically requested for it (as the don't encourage siblings to be in the same room). She has now been there for exactly 2 years and doing exceptionally well! She knows all her ABC, phonics, colors, number to 100. It's really hard to tell what they are learning, but I know I will see it materialize in kindergarten so I am looking forward to see her blossom! I highly recommend this school, and so happy that I chose to send my children there! Take a tour, watch the kids and you'll be impressed too! read more

I sent both my kids here since 2 yrs old after visiting 8-10 other schools in Chino Hills, Diamond Bar, Walnut, Brea. This is by far the best in terms of the implementation of the Montessori philosophy and principles. There's no "daycare" after 3:30 like some others. The kids are so orderly and calm. They are constantly stimulated. I love Ms. Lee and Ms. Sally in Bumblebee class. They are so sweet and great with the kids. Other other staff are wonderful as well. They definite put the kids first. read more

Both my kids have been attending VMA since they were 2 years old and my husband and I are so glad we chose the right school. My daughter is now 5 and is in Ms. Quintero's Dragonfly class. She has flourished into an intelligent little girl who is well mannered, speaks properly, reads, write cursive, understands simple math, and loves music, all thanks to Ms. De Silva (LadyBug class) and now Ms. Quintero. My son is now 3 years old and has been in the Butterfly Class with Ms. Gabriel. Since he has started at VMA last year, he has progressed tremendously. He loves reading books/story time, building blocks and being able to choose his own lessons and learn something different every day. We're happy that both of our kids are enriched with the Montessori philosophy and principles of life. All the teachers and staff are wonderful, attentive and sensitive to the kids needs and they really do care about each and every one of them. Ms. Shirley, the Owner is super nice and sweet and easy to talk to and would always inform us of upcoming events etc. We know that some days, things can get hectic when there are so many kids to attend to but we know they do their best and its understandable. We have no doubt our kids are in good hands after they are dropped off each morning. Thank you VMA for preparing our kids for the next step, you guys are awesome! read more