This is my daughter's second year at Arcadia, and I couldn't be more in love with this school. Not…read moreonly has my daughter learned amazing social skills that will last her lifetime, she talks to me about planets, artists, ocean life, constellations over lunch now. She absolutely loves going here and is pretty disappointed on vacation days. I can't recommend them enough to anyone looking for a preschool.

From the owner: Our vision is to promote a safe, peaceful, and environmentally friendly atmosphere. We teach the…read moreimportance of thoughtful communication and respect. We provide outdoor play area allowing children to play and learn vital skills outside. With a low student to teacher ratio, we ensure every child gets care and nurturing he or she needs to thrive. We also build a sense of community by involving the children in annual fund-raising projects for global or local causes.

This is a one-of-a-kind, nature-based school that my 3 y.o. son absolutely loves! He comes home so…read moreexcited to tell us about all the things they learned that day. The director and teachers are so kind and nurturing! We chose this school because of their emphasis on hands-on learning and the fact that they spend time outdoors everyday, regardless of weather, exploring and playing. We are so lucky to have found this school!

Chose this school because the kids go outside every day...and have been so happy with the school…read morefamily and the teachers. My son has grown both emotionally and academically leaps and bounds there. They follow a true nature-based curriculum called "Growing up Wild" and it was just what we were looking for.

One of the best schools my son has been to. Ms. Nadine is a kid whisperer and is outstanding with…read moreall kinds of children and managing a very active class. Ms Nadine and the whole experience of this co-op was so wonderful and will have lasting lessons and happy memories for my son (and me). Highly recommend!!

We absolutely love Gig Harbor Co-Op Preschool! Our kiddo has flourished here, and we couldn't be…read morehappier with the experience. The teacher is amazing--nurturing, patient, and truly invested in each child's growth. It's clear she loves what she does, and it shows in the way she creates such a fun, safe, and engaging learning environment. The cooperative aspect is wonderful too--it allows parents to be involved and really feel like part of the school community. We've built great relationships with other families, and our child has made so many new friends. If you're looking for a preschool where your child will feel supported, encouraged, and excited to learn, this is the place! Highly recommend Gig Harbor Co-Op Preschool!

Anne the director/ owner is a skilled educator with over 20 years of experience in childcare and…read morecertifications in the Montessori method. I have toured Rising Star Montessori is clean, well organized home preschool with tons of hands-on materials. There is a beautiful fenced play area in the backyard too. Take a tour and see for yourself!

From the owner: Rising Star Montessori is a small preschool in a beautiful home located in University Place…read moreWashington. Come check us out!

As a new family at St. Nicholas this past year, we have been extremely happy and impressed with the…read moreeducation and the welcoming atmosphere our two boys, and even us as parents, have received by all (classmates, teachers and families). As a military family, our children have experienced both public and private schools both in Washington and around the country. We can honestly say St. Nicholas has exceeded our expectations. From the stellar education, small class room size to supportive staffs, we are confident our children will gain the foundation they will need to be successful in their future education. In addition, the sense of community and values they instill will also assist them to be confident and compassionate people.

Being in the military, my boys have been to 4 schools in the last 6 years due to the school system…read moreset up or due to our own decision to move them out of one school to another. There also seem to be several other reviews here, however, only 1 seems to be visible. I hope whoever reads this finds it useful in your decision on whether or not to send your kids to this school. My wife and I come from a Catholic family and both have grown up attending Catholic schools from elementary to high school so we both understand and value what a Catholic Education provides. This is also the primary reason why we moved from Dupont to Gig Harbor-we stumbled into this town while exploring the area one weekend. We first found the church appealing but my wife started researching the school and one day decided to drive up here and visit the school with our boys (I was away on business at the time). After she told me about her experience, I went for myself. My initial thoughts was that it was a small campus but while small, I found the staff and teachers very friendly and the kids were very polite-something I hadn't seen since the last Catholic school the boys attended back in Hawaii. At that point we decided to send the boys there-we just needed to move to GH. After having the boys here for the first year at this school, I am both deeply grateful and highly impressed with the teachers and the staff. Here's why: After 2 yrs in Dupont, my eldest son moved schools 2x-due to the set up of the school district but in both of those cases, he was a B average, though he was an A average in Hawaii. The teachers here truly opened up his aperture to learn and he has taken a 180' turn and made straight A's. My youngest was an average student who had a need for tutoring during his 3rd grade year in Dupont; after his first year at St Nic's, he ended his year with a B+ average and actually remembers and is enthusiastic about learning. The teachers and staff are truly dedicated to their students and are very responsive to the parents. The principal has an open door policy to everyone and does a fantastic job in keeping the parents informed (due to COVID, she's done several Zoom calls). The parents are so warm and inviting. They have a initial new parents' picnic, about the weekend prior to the first day of school. There is also a Facebook group for all the parents that helps all of us stay current on what's going on in the school. They have a lot of events and fundraisers some of which will require parent's involvement, but, that is normal for Catholic schools as they want the parents involved in as many activities as possible. Although I could say more about Saint Nicholas, I encourage you to visit the school, meet the teachers, and judge for yourself. The small class size allows for more teacher/student interaction as well as provides opportunities for more 1-1 instruction if needed. You will not regret the level of education they provide to the students; you will cherish the relationships you will build with the parents, and hopefully, see the value and impact this school will have not only your kids but on you as well.

Love love love GHA. The best place in the Harbor for early education. Our children have been going…read morehere for the past three summers and our youngest has been going to Pre-K and preschool for three years. She is thriving and has had the best start to her education. Seriously the best people. Worth the cost!

My daughter is in first grade, and has attended GHA for two years now. One of the crucial factors…read moreto me was that the school is nestled in the trees, and she hears the birds, sees critters, and smells fresh pines and firs when she plays and learns outside. I didn't want her in the concrete jungle that schools have become. Even more spectacular is the teaching staff at GHA, and the supporting administration. The teachers give everything they have to their classes every day. The kids are so excited to go to school they can't wait for the doors to unlock in the morning. My daughter is excelling in this supportive environment. The staff knows every child that attends and every parent who comes to campus. We are committed to investing in our daughter's future at this school. We know it will equip her to excel in any environment as she develops her passion for learning and seeking information for herself. She is already comfortable and adept at presenting herself in front of groups. She is thoughtful and creative in her writing. Her fellow students are supportive, and her adventures in learning astound us every day. Visit the campus, you will be glad you did. Speak to the teachers, they will give you their time. Everyone on that campus cares about the school. It is a school with a soul.

My daughter attended in 2011-2012 and this is still her favorite care experience of all time, which…read moreis saying quite a lot considering she's loved them all! The staff really engaged with her on a whole different level and she learned so easily there. Love love love!

From the owner: At Arcadia we promote a strong peace & environmental curriculum and appreciate the importance of…read morenon-violent communication in our classroom as well as the world. We realize the importance of the children learning & living outdoors. We have created a large garden that the children till, weed, plant, water, harvest and eat from.

Both our daughter and son have attended the Montessori Farmhouse. They teach independence and hands…read moreon learning. Overall we are impressed with the results. One drawback is the price, currently around $1200 per month, but you get what you pay for.

We were over the moon to have our son go to this school. He had had a rough go of his last school…read moreand we thought this place would be perfect for him. Over the summer, we had a series of test done on him that resulted in an autism diagnosis. When we did the follow up session with the therapist, the first thinking we asked was what was the best thing for him as far as schooling as he is supposed to start kindergarten in the fall. The therapist said that while there was nothing wrong with a Montessori school, public schools would offer far more resources. That's all we needed to hear. Public schools it is. So my wife reaches out to farmhouse school to let them know that our son can not attend in the fall due to his diagnosis. They said that was fine, but that the first month deposit was non-refundable. $900!! Seriously?! We have a son who will require speech therapy, as well as other counseling and they're keeping our money? Ok. So then it turns out that friends of ours have a daughter that will also be attending this school next year, so my wife asks if our tuition can be applied to their child. Nope. A contract is a contract. This isn't a major corporation. This is a mom and pop business providing a service for mom's and pops, and their kids. Yes they have a contract. They know they don't have to honor it. They know they could have done the right thing. They chose not to. I guess I should be appreciative of the fact that they showed what they truly stand for before we went there. I can think of few things more devoid of moral decency than the way they chose to handle this. Our son has autism! Seriously?! What's wrong with you?