Our daughter recently started at BIM. I am originally from Japan so I was looking for a full…read morejapanese immersion school and I have so far been impressed. BIM does an excellent job at incorporating traditional Montessori teaching methods with japanese language and culture. The children not only learn the language, they also get to experience the culture including holidays and other traditions. The educational team is excellent, a group of teachers who pride themselves on being warm and loving while encouraging the children to grow at their own pace. We have another baby on the waiting list, make sure to sign up early as it can take a while for your space to open up.

I had the great honor of working at BIM as an office admin and co-teacher for 3 years. Even though…read moreI had tons of teaching experience and ECE units under my belt when I started, BIM was the first and only Montessori program I worked at. I learned so much about the Montessori method from my fellow co-teachers and was always inspired by their hard work and dedication to their craft. Japanese is my second language that will no doubt deteriorate if I stop using it, so being able to use it daily in various situations at my place of work was also a huge benefit for me. The BIM community as a whole is extremely tight-knit and supportive. I had never felt so loved and appreciated by the families I worked for before BIM, and it was heartening to witness new bonds and friendships being formed among everyone firsthand. Of course, I really miss the kids most of all and the funny things they would say and do, but feel very lucky and privileged to have 3 years' worth of fond memories with them. BIM, iroiro arigato! Mata ne!

My husband and I are educators, and when we went looking for a preschool, we were hoping to find a…read moreplace with staff who truly cared about nurturing the growth of little people. We found just that at Happy Day, and feel very lucky to have been part of the school community for three years now. We have two energetic little boys, and both have grown and thrived in the care of Fahi, Nadia, Anahita, and the other teachers. The teachers know each child very well (benefits of a small school) - their likes, dislikes, allergies, and routines. I also really appreciate the emphasis on teaching the kids independence, love of learning, and care for their environment and friends. Our kids learned great habits like cleaning up their space, sharing with others, and focusing on activities they choose themselves. When our older son began TK, it was clear that Happy Day had prepared him very well, both educationally and socially, for that experience. We also had to get a little broom so he could sweep up at home, something he definitely learned from the teachers and not from us! And finally, I just want to appreciate the warmth and compassion the teachers always show, which sets the tone for the whole community. We've enjoyed getting to know the other Happy Day families at school events, and it's so fun to see the kids running around like a bunch of ducklings at birthday parties. Happy Day has been a great first school experience for our kids, and we'd recommend it highly to anyone looking for a cozy preschool run by caring and experienced educators.

It's like a beautiful cake that tastes terrible -- lovely on the outside, but disappointing on the…read moreinside. Stressful environment.

We are so happy to be part of the MOM community! Our child did her "TK" year at MOM and has been…read morethriving. My only regret is that we did not enroll her at MOM sooner. For those considering an alternative TK option, I highly recommend MOM. The curriculum at MOM has prepared our child in the following ways: 1) Academically: Math, Reading/Writing/Language Arts, Global Studies are taught in fun and approachable ways 2) Creative Focus: Art and Music are integral parts of the experience. The school puts on a few musical performances during the year, we attended our first one and it is such a special memory we will always have! 3) SEL: The students are MOM are taught the importance of being part of a community. The teachers are kind, patient and experienced - they truly bring out the best in the kids. Honestly, I can't even express how much growth we have seen in our little one! 4) Love of School and Learning: To cap it all off, my child's love of school was officially established at My Own Montessori. She loves going to school and is so proud and excited to tell us about her day and her most recent learnings. My child's experience at My Own Montessori has been incredible and I am so thankful she has been able to be part of the magic at MOM!

We feel very lucky that our child has ended up at MOM. It's such a warm and welcoming school, with…read morewonderful caring teachers. The school has been around for a long time, and has developed a bunch of lovely long-running traditions and parents and families are included in these traditions. It's a very calm environment and the kids have a lot of autonomy going inside and outside. My child has built a lot of confidence in social emotional development in addition to all the other learning (coming home telling me all about the moon, or continents, or Yayoi Kusama), it's beautiful watching the older kids support the younger ones as they move up through the school. Note that the hours are shorter than most preschools, and schools is closed in the summer with a summer school for the month of July, but if you can make the hours work it's a very special school and community.

Our two kids began at Rising Sun at the beginning of 2022 in the older student classroom and we are…read moreso happy they found their preschool home here. Young children need a lot of care and attention with big changes, especially during the pandemic and we have especially appreciated the attention that the two teachers who work with the older students Miss Carolina (also the school head) and Miss Reina have invested in helping our kids transition back to a structured classroom. There is also a wonderful feeling of community among the students. I recently asked Miss Carolina how she managed to enroll children who got along so well. Demonstrating that commitment to working with each child individually, she explained that all students have the potential to succeed and that the teachers have a responsibility to cultivate skills and encourage children to get there. The community feeling extends to the school's parents as well and we hope to stay connected to some of our new friends for years to come.

Not for every child…read more We had a very poor experience. Our 2 year old attended for a few months in the Spring/Summer of 2019. Pros and Cons below. Pros: Clean, Good Activities/Materials, Felt Safe. Cons: -Very poor communication. We had to message them numerous times to confirm enrollment. A few months into attendance we found out we had never been added to the parent communication list-serve with health, safety and activity information. Payment checks were cashed weeks after given. -Not a good fit for high-energy children. We had numerous parent-teacher meetings over very minor issues such as "walking around during lunch vs. eating at table" and not napping. They were unwilling to accommodate a non-napper and we were asked to leave or go down to mornings only. This happened to another child while we were there too. If your child is at ALL spirited, I don't recommend Rising Sun.

I learned about Pacific Coast Montessori from friends years ago. My daughters, now ages 11 and 8…read morehave had so many enriching experiences throughout their schooling and care at Pacific Coast Montessori. Director Ann Toy and Teacher Pat were instrumental in transitioning my girls to kindergarten. Ann and Pat's nurturing manner of teaching helped to foster independence and confidence in the many kids who were/are lucky to know and learn from them. Pacific Coast Montessori's calm, bright, clean and tidy space is complemented by a cheerful play structure, teaching garden and shaded lunch area in the backyard. My girls fondly recall many memories and friendships at "Ann Toy's School."

We looked and looked and looked, and finally landed here. The decision was right. Director, Ann…read moreToy's warm, loving, with commitment is what this preschool is all about. I had a minor concern about the yard being small. But turned out just fine, as I met many nice Moms and quickly formed after school play dates in nearby parks. In the end, it's not the yard size that makes the school great, it's who teaches and cares for your children.

I applied for Child care here 2 years ago , I have watched families that are new join time after…read moretime again yet I have not gotten a call back since I applied 2 years ago . why is the question ? I believe they pick and choose who they want to come from family that pay to family that need assistance are not really welcome. I called today to ask were my name was on the list only to be told to hold for the the director getting on the phone stated she was listening and that she had no space and I should contact bananas to ima take your number down , to I'll call you back when all I wanted to know was were my son was on the list after two years . It's outrageous how Berkeley private schools treat there residents . I really regret moving here and I can't wait to move . Thanks

We were lucky enough to get a spot for our child here and the staff and parent community are top…read moretier. I continue to be impressed by the care our family received from this institution. Kid #2 starts next year and we are so excited to have another child go through this school.

We sent our son there and he loves going to school now!…read more Great faculty and well thought out classroom set up.

This is an amazing school! I have been a teacher here for over a year and absolutely love it. It is…read morea very welcoming and inviting space where the upper management treats teachers with the utmost respect.

Absolutely amazing school. Staff is very engaging, supportive and great with the students. My son…read morehas advanced so much in their program and we look forward to another year!

Absolutely Exceptional - More Than Just a School…read more Year after year, this Montessori school continues to amaze our family. It is rare to find a place that balances rigorous academic excellence with such a genuine focus on character development and respect. We have watched our youngest (now 4) blossom here over the last two years. The growth in his education level is nothing short of outstanding--he is learning concepts I wouldn't have expected at his age, yet he is doing it with joy and curiosity. But beyond the academics, what impresses me most is the school's commitment to constantly bringing in new activities and enhancing the learning environment. They never settle; they are always finding ways to be better. A few amazing days of the year for you and the family: All the Holidays - The school ensures we celebrate holidays from across all cultures and life. Fathers' Night: An amazing way to connect their children with their fathers. One of the best moments I look forward to every year. I Mother Tea Time: Another amazing experience for the children to spend some quality academic and fun time with their moms. This standard of excellence isn't limited to just one teacher; it is consistent across the board. Every staff member, at every level, cares deeply about these children. If you are looking for a place that will truly invest in your child's future, this is it. We couldn't be happier.

TBS provides a nurturing environment with comprehensive educational support that will not only…read moreshape your child's academic growth but also instill a sense of confidence and curiosity that will benefit them throughout their life. TBS takes an empathetic approach, and kids have gone to top bay area high schools with success because of the solid educational foundation. Parent of TBS alum

This school works to actively take down negative reviews. They kicked my 4 year out w 3 months to…read morego. The staff is highly proud of themselves, they are understaffed for active little boys. The school allows the children to play in the sandbox for majority of the day. My kids came home with wet sandy feet every day. Major construction projects on the edge of the school with particulate overflow. The principal is very ill mannered and not fit to oversee little boys. Step 2 is better in the Berkeley Hills.

If you're looking for a school that will truly help your child thrive, grow, and soar beyond…read moreexpectations, Mountain Blvd Montessori is a hidden gem that every parent should know about! We cannot say enough wonderful things about Mountain Blvd Montessori. From the moment our son started in the toddler class and continued through preschool and the Pre-K/Kindergarten program, we have felt incredibly supported, welcomed, and confident that he was in the best hands possible. The entire staff is truly exceptional. Every teacher and administrator has shown genuine care, patience, and love for our child throughout every stage of his development. It is clear that this school is more than just a place for learning. It is a nurturing community that helps children grow academically, socially, and emotionally. The results have exceeded all of our expectations. Our son has not only received an amazing education, but he has also gained confidence, independence, and a true love for learning. Most importantly, he has been surrounded by teachers who genuinely cared for him and helped him thrive. Watching him grow over the years has been incredible. As parents, we had different thoughts about the next step for him. My wife initially wanted to enroll him in Transitional Kindergarten (TK), while I felt that he wouldn't gain much beyond a few extra hours of social interaction and fun. Looking back now, Montessori was absolutely the right choice for our family. Thanks to the incredible Pre-K/Kindergarten program, he is beyond prepared for elementary school and will be entering 1st grade this fall with a strong academic foundation, confidence, and excitement for what comes next. One of the most impressive parts of the program has been the language education. Our son was speaking Spanish and Mandarin remarkably well for his age. He can count, sing songs, and communicate with confidence in both languages. It has been amazing to watch how naturally he absorbed and retained what he learned through the school's language program. What stands out most, though, is the love and attention he received every single day. We always knew he was safe, cared for, challenged, and encouraged to become the best version of himself. As parents, there is no greater peace of mind than knowing your child is genuinely loved by the people helping shape their future. Overall, we feel incredibly blessed to have found Mountain Blvd Montessori. The well-rounded curriculum, dedicated teachers, outstanding language program, and focus on developing the whole child have made a lasting impact on our son's life. We wholeheartedly recommend this school to any parent who wants their child to receive an exceptional education while growing into a confident, kind, and capable young learner. Thank you, Mountain Blvd Montessori, for giving our son such an amazing foundation. As he heads off to 1st grade this fall, we know he is more than ready, and we couldn't be more grateful.

My son attended Mountain Boulevard Montessori for two years and three months before advancing to…read moreTransitional Kindergarten (TK). During his time there, we had experience with their toddler, preschool, and pre-K programs, and overall, our experience was wonderful. We never had any concerns about our child's safety, and communication with the school was consistently excellent. Every email or phone call was responded to promptly, and we always felt informed and supported. The curriculum is quite structured and leans a little more academic than some preschools, but in our case, that proved to be a real benefit. It provided an excellent runway into TK, where our son seems very well prepared compared with many of his peers, both socially and academically. There were several staff members who really stood out to us. Mr. Andreas has a wonderful disposition for working with children--he strikes a great balance between setting high expectations while remaining warm, patient, and humorous. Mr. Dennis is an exceptional administrator and was always communicative, open, and thorough. I never felt that a question or concern went unanswered. Ms. Wendy was my son's favorite teacher and was part of his experience for most of his time at the school. She was his classroom teacher for about a year and later his Spanish teacher after he moved into the pre-K class. She is very nurturing and has a particularly good way of channeling the energy of highly active children like my son while still keeping them engaged and focused. In terms of value, tuition seemed right around market rate. Compared with similar schools we considered, Mountain Boulevard Montessori was somewhere in the middle price-wise, but what stood out to us were the smaller class sizes, strong teacher-to-student ratio, and the overall quality of the facility. The school is highly organized, impeccably clean, and consistently well maintained. It was also extremely helpful that the school calendar generally mirrored Oakland Unified's holidays and vacations. That made childcare logistics much easier and avoided many of the scheduling conflicts that can arise when preschool and elementary school calendars are out of sync. If I had to offer any constructive feedback, I think families would benefit from as much advance communication as possible around staffing changes. At this age, changes in teachers can feel significant to children, and having a little runway can help families prepare them. At the same time, I completely understand that employment and privacy considerations may limit what a school is able to share. I also observed a few interactions involving one long-standing teacher where the communication style felt somewhat less patient and nurturing than what we had experienced with the rest of the staff. I have no doubt about her academic abilities or experience, and my son had very limited direct interaction with her until right before his departure, so I can't speak to any lasting impact, however, it was something I noticed that seemed inconsistent with all other interactions with staff at the school. This was very much an exception to an otherwise consistently positive experience over more than two years at Mountain Boulevard Montessori. We were very happy with the care, education, communication, and preparation our son received, and I would feel very comfortable recommending the school to friends or family without hesitation.