We have had our son (3.5 yo) at Manhattan Academy for the last year and it has been such an amazing experience -- all around SO great. We had him at another place prior to moving to Manhattan Academy and we could NOT be happier. We will be enrolling our daughter pretty soon, as soon as she turns two. We love the campus, the teachers, and much more. Thank you to Manhattan Academy for doing a great job read more

My kids attended Manhattan Academy from the Infant Center through Primary. We have loved everything about MA. The staff is wonderful and invested in giving the kids a really great foundation and fun education. The Director is super involved, knows all the kids by name, and really cares about the kids. My kids have learned so much and enjoyed every classroom they have been in. Infant Center: We initially chose MA based on the infant center. Ms. Wroten has been the director in the infant center for years and she is a wonderful teacher. We loved that the teachers will ask you for your individual schedule for your child. All of the other places we toured had a set schedule that your infant needed to adjust to. You give them the schedule for feedings and naps and they will stick to it. The teachers provide updates throughout the day in real time (and pictures!) and they communicate with you about everything. Even in the infant center, the teachers will incorporate activities that encourage development. And I always appreciated the art projects and over the top projects for Mother's Day and Father's Day. We always trusted the teachers and felt that our kids were safe. Our kids flourished in the infant center. Toddler Community: The Toddler community is really the jewel of the school. A really welcoming and cute space that is separate and really special. We got to know all of the teachers in Toddler (most of whom have been there for years) and loved every single teacher. The teachers potty train the kids at a pretty early age. It made the potty training at home super easy. The teachers are very involved in the kids' development at this age - teaching them so many important foundational skills. We saw tons of growth here. Our kids had Ms. Campos (Cornejo) and Ms. Schott - both really amazing teachers - they genuinely care for all the kids and teach them so much. They hold conferences with the parents about your child's growth, areas of improvement, things to look forward to. Of course there are fun activities as well. On top of the motor, language, and cognitive skills they learned in toddler, they also learned to be kind, confident, polite, and friendly. Primary Community: The growth and development in the primary community is off the charts. Again, the teachers are amazing. Ms. Alcaraz is one of the best teachers I have ever known. She really cares for all of her kids like they are her own. Everyday I was amazed at the things the kids learned in primary. The development of reading and writing skills is really amazing. They also offer tons of activities that enrich the kids' experience - music, outdoor environment, spanish. I wish I had such a well rounded education myself at that age. The kids love the program, love their teachers, love going to school. I can't speak highly enough of our experience here. read more

Both of my sons attended Manhattan Academy Montessori from kindergarten through fourth grade, and we couldn't be happier. The teachers are outstanding--providing differentiated instruction that met my kids where they were while challenging them with stretch assignments. The school is nurturing yet academically rigorous, with excellent extracurriculars in art, technology, P.E., Spanish, music, and regular field trips that broaden learning. My children grew both academically and socially and truly thrived. While each and every teacher is extraordinary and unique, a special shout-out to Mrs. Flickstein, the third-grade teacher--an unforgettable educator and a highlight of our experience. Manhattan Academy earns my highest recommendation. read more

Both of my sons attend Manhattan Academy and we love it! We have an almost 3 year old in the PT (primary transition) room and a baby in the infant center. We've been going to Manhattan Academy for years and we've been really happy. The ladies in the infant center literally cheer for our baby when I bring him in and I can see the genuine excitement on his and on their faces when they see each other. I know that my kids are cared for & loved, safe, and are being well educated when they are at school. They also do so many things to enrich the kids school days- just this week for an example: It's "Down on the farm" week so they'll be learning about farm animals, etc. tomorrow they will have a bounce house, Thursday they will have an animal show, and Friday will be water play. A lot of the negative reviews on here seem to be around the enrollment process. My advice- ask Ms. Key (director of admissions) what the waitlist looks like before paying the fee/ what the chances of your kiddo getting in are. She's very sweet, and honest and I'm sure she'll let you know how things look before applying. She does everything she can to work with parents. Hope thats helpful! read more

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My daughter's kindergarten teacher cares more about prancing around in her short skirts and asking my daughter and her friends what their parents do for a living than she does teaching the kids. She also continually stole my daughter's expensive sunscreen telling my daughter I had oked it. This teacher is tenure so the school just looks other way. Not good read more

Kids did good so far. But younger one not so good. Bad experience with staff and teachers from day one. Horrible pick up and drop off. They are profit based and not a fine public school. Thank God kids are old enough for local public schools. Overall 2/5 score after 4 years of paying thousands per month. Stay away I suggest read more

Unfortunately we had a terrible experience with admissions for their Toddler program. March of 2021, we submitted an application along with a $300 non-refundable deposit fee to get on their waitlist. We were advised the soonest an opening would be was September 2021. I sent a follow-up email in May 2021 to check our status on the waitlist. The response we received was the following : "Thank you for your email and continued interest in our programs. At this time, we do not have any openings. I will let you know when an opening becomes available."  Great, thanks for the "informative" update. Flash forward to DECEMBER OF 2021, I had not received any updates from them. No communication, whatsoever. So I sent another follow-up email  and the response I received was the following: "Hi - We send notifications to our prospective families on the waiting list every few months. I am sorry if you have not received one. I will review the database to make sure your information is correct. [child's name] is number 4 on the toddler (18 months - 3 years) waiting list and number 6 on the preschool transition (2 years-4 years) waiting list. You are welcome to contact me anytime regarding the admissions process and her position on all waiting lists. We do not have an opening at this time." My email chain with Ms. Cameren Key, the Director of Admissions, dates back to our very first communications. How and why we were not receiving such updates from them is unbeknownst to me. I'm incredibly disappointed in the lack of communication for prospective families who have PAID a (quite large) deposit to be on their waitlist. Im very curious what other families have experienced. Side note, we even had a recommendation letter from a family already attending MA. I understand the need to take a deposit to ensure families are serious but this has felt like they just took our money and had no intention of admitting our child. Thankfully, we found an incredible Montessori School in PV for our daughter to attend and she's been thriving there since July of 2021. I hope that no other families experience such a disappointing and frustrating process. read more

We had a terrible experience with the admission office. When we requested a tour, we were very welcomed and encouraged to make payment to have our kids on the waiting list. At the time we were told that they were unable to disclose how many kids were ahead of us in the same program, however it it very likely, that if we enroll in the waitlist now, that our children will be able to get in in the same year. And at the time we were told, in writing, that we will be contacted in March/April for an update. However until now we have not heard back from Ms. Key or the admission office. When I called them again and I was told that there's no availability for 2022, and they don't know if there's any availability for the year after since there are more than 10 other kids on the waitlist. I wish they have told us the same information before we send in our $300 non-refundable check. We would have chose another school because at least our children will be able to go to a pre-school before they turn 5. I feel that they just wanted to take our money and had no intention to admit our kids, or they don't care about how much their business could mean to families who are looking for child care. They are not being transparent nor very well communicated to the prospect students and families, I wonder if that runs through their philosophy. Do not recommend to anybody who already have a baby at home. Unless you are expecting, maybe put your name on the list and they may let you in when the baby is turning 3. read more

We first brought our son to MA when he was 8 months old. We were supposed to start earlier but I was laid off during my maternity leave (also during COVID) and the staff was so supportive and amazingly let us delay our start date. Since starting a few months ago we have been blown away by how caring all of the teachers at MA are. They use the Brightweel app and we love getting updates through the day of our sons bottles, food, naps, diapers, etc. They also send pics and videos. There is a code you need to use to enter the building and a QR code is required to pickup, so it feels very safe. One of my favorite things about MA is seeing how excited the teachers are when they see our son arrive at school. I can tell they genuinely care about him! In the infant center they do so many activities- they paint and do arts and crafts projects, have music class, outdoor play, and much more. Things we'd never think to do at home! In a nutshell, MA is freaking awesome and your baby/kiddos will be very happy and well taken care of. read more

Manhattan Academy - Here are some of the updates we get :) - Elementary Schools Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

We love MA! Both my kids went to Summer Camp there last summer and my son is currently in P4 and after his first week, he said he loves school!! That speaks volumes for us since he really disliked the last school he went to..not that it wasn't a great school, just not the right fit for him (cried every day at drop off for first 6 months). Ms. Campos and Mendez are both great with our son, and all of the Admins that I've dealt with are great too! Well maintained campus, love all of the enrichment course options. Definitely one of the best Montessori options in Mb. read more

We started our son @ Manhattan Academy when he was 4 months old in the Infant Center. We couldn't speak highly enough of Manhattan Academy. I think we've referred all of our friends there too because we talk about it so much and with such a glowing review. The teachers are amazing. The educational content (even at a young age) is amazing. Everyone is professional. The campus is very clean. Everything about Manhattan Academy is incredible! read more

Some others wrote a similar experience so it seems to be a pattern. Upon applying, I was told there are likely spots open, and they advised I get on the waitlist, so I provided the expensive non-refundable application fee and they said they'd have an update at a certain time, that window past with no communication. After a few follow ups, they said there is no room for the foreseeable future and that I'm far down the list. I'm feeling like either this is inaccurate resource planning or a lack of transparency (intentional or not I don't want to assume) but ultimately, they have my money with no opportunity to enroll until the distant future. read more

Horrible school. Supposed to use the Montessori method, but so rigid and uptight. Very tense environment. Our child has been hit by other children and pushed down the jungle gym structure slide in front of our eyes at pickup, without the teachers noticing. This is for a 15-month old toddler with a 3:1 ratio! Yet the teachers continually miss so much of what's happening between the toddlers. Very weak on academics straight through to the 3-year-old class, where parents are not permitted access. The closed-door policy is really cold and kind of shady. Always look for a preschool that has an open-door policy, for all ages... read more

This is a very good day care. It's clean, it seems safe, and some of the teachers are really great. But make no mistake, this is a strictly for-profit business that cares more about its bottom line than its clientele. For example, they will kill you with added fees (for nonsense like "earthquake preparedness" -- really? -- what's that pay for, exactly?) Then they have tons of days they are closed, but you still pay full freight. (Days off = full tuition, while the teachers are not getting paid, I've been told. Lovely.) We were there for two years, and very happy (other than the days off and fees). Then, knowing we would be moving sometime early fall, they told us we had better pay first payment for fall semester anyway, because they had a waiting list. "We need the downpayment or we are giving away your spot." So we paid. Then, we closed on our new house before the fall semester started, and asked for a refund. They said "No, your payment was non-refundable." Even though they had a waiting list so were presumably able to fill the spot. If not for that kind of shady accounting, this place would be five stars. read more

My son attended Manhattan Academy from kindergarten through fifth grade. The curriculum, teachers and students around him contributed to his strong academic foundation throughout the six years. MA continued to validate our choice each year. The emphasis on public speaking, teaching students time management, independent work habits, providing additional academic challenges for students who could go beyond, providing field trips that brought subjects to life, and teaching methods that made learning fun. All this in an environment that felt safe and nurturing. Our first parent teacher conference in middle school confirmed it. We were told that his elementary school prepared him well for middle school and that all the other students should strive to be the student that he is. My son is now a successful seventh grader and we still credit MA for his strong academic foundation that will continue to benefit him. We are truly grateful to Manhattan Academy. read more

I used to go here when I was very young up until I moved out of state, this school is amaizing, the teachers are amaizing especially mrs mcolive (sorry for bad spelling:) and mrs maclraith (sorry for more bad spelling) this school is so beautiful, my friend still goes there and loves it, great job Manhattan academy. Hopeful good things in the future read more

We have had three kids at Manhattan Academy starting in 2008. Two of them began in the Toddler program and 18months and the third began in the infant center at 6months. Today they are in 3rd grade, Upper-Primary(Kindergarten) and Primary(Pre-K) programs and we as a family could not be happier! Our children have developed mentally, emotionally, strategically and physically. They are smart, kind, honest, caring, independent and strong children. I attribute this to their incredible teachers and the curriculum and life lessons they learn from everyday. Not only are they doing well in their academics, the arts, science, athletics all the way through to their field trips and school events are so well put together and thorough, we could not imagine a better school to have our children enrolled at. We strongly recommend Manhattan Academy as a family. The owner (Mr. Levy) and director (Mrs. Robley) are parents with strong character and a passion and love for the school, students and families. Great people, greats kids, great school!!! read more

Dear Parents , I'm here to warn you about this school and the incompetent staff and management that runs it ! I had come to pick my son up during afternoon , my son was in primary ,and found the playground to be in a chaotic state! Dozens of kids running around with the staff not knowing where anyone is ! I have witnessed children being alone inside the building without any adult present or anyone caring ! If you care about your child's well being , please find them a different school !The school director Mrs.Robley is out of town most of the time catering to her own life issues and the center is being managed by no one ! She's as incompetent as her staff and should be fired ! This is not how a center should be run and we decided to unenroll our son away from this awful place ! I had seen BLACK MOLD growing on their bathroom sinks and it made me sick to my stomach!!! This place is a hazard nightmare and violates state codes ! Please shut it down !! I had taken pictures of the mold and I'm sending them to the LA department of public health read more

We attended MA for a little over a year. Throughout the time we were there I observed that the staff allow the children to enter into the building with no one in the building. I shared with staff when it was observed. One instance my daughter was not with the class at pick up and no one knew where she was. She was inside sitting and no one was concerned that she was no were to be found. This is a violation in accordance to licensing. Her teacher was amazing!! She is caring and supportive. However she is not the only interaction my daughter had with during school. The admin Mrs. Robley is not a warm person. She is not receptive to feedback. Some of the Teachers are also not warm. They do not speak they stand around. Limited interaction with children. We will no longer be returning after a situation that could have been handled better and more appropriate for a 3 year old. A school needs to be emotionally supportive and teach children how to cope through their emotions. This school needs training in this area. read more

My son attended the infant center for 3 partial days: January 4, 5, and 6, 2016. I pulled him out because -among other issues and concerns - I (and my Au Pair, who was with me) witnessed an infant to adult ratio of 7:1, a blatant violation of state licensing regulations. The following happened on my son's 3rd day: When I dropped him off: (1) there was another baby alone and unattended in a high chair for the 20 minutes + that I was there. Shortly after I arrived a staff member took a bottle away from the baby, but immediately walked away. This baby was then alone in the high chair without any bottle, food or attention from staff for the rest of the time I was there getting my son settled. (2) I put my son in a high chair next to the other baby and began feeding my son Cheerios. I needed to get to work, so I asked a staff member to take over feeding my son. She dumped many Cheerios on my son's tray, but he was not old enough to pace himself and needed to be given no more than a couple at a time. My son began shoving fistfuls of Cheerios into his mouth, and I expressed concern that he might choke. The staff member moved the Cheerios into the cup holder of his tray and walked away! My son continued grabbing fistfuls from the cup holder, so I removed them, putting them back into the container so he wouldn't choke. (3) I eventually flagged down the infant center director and asked her to take over feeding and pacing my son. While talking to her, I asked her the names of the other staff members. They go by last names, which seems inappropriate for an infant center and makes it very difficult for parents to know who is caring for their baby. I was shocked when the infant center director didn't even know the name of one of the staff members in the older infant area! I felt so uncomfortable leaving my son that I returned to pick him up a few hours later at an "off time" for pickup in the early afternoon. When I walked in, there was one adult caring for 7 infants, including my son. I stayed for about 5 minutes gathering up my son's belongings and the entire time I was there and when I left there was still the one adult caring for the remaining 6 babies. This is a clear violation of state licensing regulations and a breach of Manhattan Academy's promise of a 3:1 ratio in the infant center. My dealings with the administration after I withdrew my son were mind-bogglingly frustrating and revealed that the administrators are powerless and the owner is unreasonable. We were charged $3665 for January and February tuition plus other fees, and despite the recommendation of the school's director for a full refund, the school's owner refused to refund our February tuition payment even though the school failed to provide the level of care promised, violated state licensing regulations, and our son had been withdrawn 3 weeks prior. Unfortunately, Yelp's character limit prevents me from pasting my correspondence with the school's director in full. The correspondence is laughable but sad in revealing the impotence of the director and unreasonableness of the owner. I have no confidence in the director's ability to resolve any of the issues in the infant center or the owner's willingness to hire the additional staff needed because he's clearly only concerned with his bottom line and has been getting away with violating the state's licensing regulations without any repercussions for years. Indeed, the very 1st Yelp reviewer of Manhattan Academy noted back in 2011 that she often witnessed a 6:1 ratio in the infant center. I wish I had put more weight on that review before enrolling my son. Sadly for the babies in the infant center, nothing has changed in the 5 years since that 1st review. I'd also like to note: My children have had numerous other caretakers, daycares and preschools, and all have been wonderful and become like an extension of our family. Manhattan Academy was such a shocking, awful exception. I hope this review will help other parents avoid a similar mistake. read more

I've been with manhattan academy for a year now I think the school is great but I think the lunches are over priced. My daughter has learned so much from this school she is doing really well in kindergarten and is well ahead. read more

We had our daughter at the infant center from the time she was 14 weeks old until she was 18 months old. We loved it. The teachers are very caring and somehow seem to make every child feel like a favorite. We really noticed the efforts they made in teaching (as opposed to only caring for) our daughter when she hit 12 months old. From there each week or so she'd come home with a new "trick" learned at the infant center (where her nose is, recognition of kid songs, etc.). As she neared 18 months they transitioned her to sleeping on a cot and to managed to help her give up her pacifier without a fight. She also started eating at a kid sized table instead of a high chair. Can't say enough good things about our experience there. We just had a baby 2 weeks ago so our daughter is home with me & the new baby now but we plan to send her back to MA for pre-school. read more

Manhattan Academy is the best school. We absolutely loved having both our kids attend from pre-school to 5th grade. Mrs. Robley, the director (principal) of the school, is well respected, admired and super hands on. She is very attentive, personally responding to all parent emails/requests, and really listens. As a parent that is so important. All the teachers are amazing with how they handle the students and what is being taught. They all go above and beyond to make sure no kid is left behind. My son had a little trouble reading at first and his teacher(s) all offered to stay after school to give him the extra attention he needed to succeed. I would highly recommend Manhattan Academy to anyone looking to give their child a great start for an amazing future. read more

We have our 5 year old daughter (who missed the cut off for public school kindergarten) and our 22 month old son who both attend Manhattan Academy. I cannot speak highly enough about this school, the staff and its program. Our daughter started at an in-home day care at 1.5 yr. When we moved, she was enrolled into Redondo Beach CDC (Child Development Center). We were so concerned bc she did not enjoy school and would cry each morning. It was a chore. When we moved to MB, we enrolled her into MA. Wow, what a difference. She was happy, excited to go to school. She felt like a "big kid" as this school fosters independence. The program works at her pace. She LOVES to read to us at home and looks forward to her homework and spelling tests!! Her level of confidence has skyrocketed, not to mention her academic learning. Her teachers are both nurturing yet encourage her to stand on her own two feet. The kids enjoy field trips, fun activities at school (ie. Animal Nature Presentations, Snow Day) as well as enrichment activities (ie. Dance, piano, yoga, swimming). They have science fairs, carnivals, school shows. I can't emphasize enough how much the kids get to do! Now on to our son...he started at MA around 17 months in the infant care. We felt so good leaving our "baby" with the staff there. They were so nurturing and sweet. He was growing as a little man and trying new things. He has since graduated into the toddler program as he is now over 1.5 years. This program is designed to build more independence in the child and get him ready for the next level. I wasn't sure I was ready for this bc, in my eyes, he was still my baby. But, like his sister, he has matured so much. He is in pull ups, is trying to use the toilet without any prompting, eats like a big kid, follows direction. The staff are fantastic at the toddler center and our son now marches into school without a tear. As a parent, I am grateful that there's a school like MA. We am so proud of our children and MA makes our life easy (it's not a battle to get the kids to school)! Plus we love seeing how excited they get when they show off their school work, projects, presentations. MA won't disappoint. read more

We absolutely LOVE Manhattan Academy. We started in the Infant Center for both my kids and have loved it ever since. It is difficult for me to put into words how strongly I feel about MA and how much I appreciate the fact that this type of schooling is available to me and my family. To make it as simple as possible, I will give you my top five most favorite things about MA. 1. Staff is amazing! From the director to the janitor. Each and every single employee at Manhattan Academy is nice, concerned for the school and the children there. They all take pride in the students and their education. Signing up for a tour is easy. The director will guide you through all four of the campus (or less depending on what you are wanting to check out), answer all your questions and tell you about the program there at Manhattan Academy. Other school administrators are amazing as well! Anytime I have a question, I can easily call or email and get a reply quickly. 2. The curriculum at MA is engaging and so fun for the kids. My son is always coming home and talking about the fun stuff they learned about. They have art, music and Spanish in their standard lesson plans. And this is for ALL ages (yes, even as young as the 6 week old's who are in the infant center). In addition to the standard curriculum, MA also has enrichment activities that you can sign the children up for. They do dance, swimming, tennis, Chinese, gymnastics, chess, cooking and many more. 3. The MA community is also a tight one. Life long friendships among students and the parents are made. There is movie nights, camp outs, carnivals, festivals, father daughter dances, mother son bowling, ice skating trips, field trips and many other activities that are held outside of school that foster bonding among the students and parents. 4. Students and Staff are also supported by a great PTA. The PTA is able to host many events for the students of MA throughout the year. They do a snow day. Infants are given sensory bins and learn about the snow. Older students are given the opportunity to play in snow and go on snow sleds. Throughout the school year, the PTA also brings in enrichment learning programs directly to the students. They bring in soft play rentals for the young students, jazz ensembles, mobile aquariums, stranger danger awareness, wildlife on wheels, discovery science reaction labs, space domes, reptiles and small animal education, music rhapsody, to name a few. 5. I think one of my favorite things about Manhattan Academy is also the structure they implement the Montessori philosophy. I have found many Montessori schools are much more relaxed in the philosophy and some are too strict for young children. I love that MA has found a great balance between free play and work time and also allowing the students to thrive and lead their own education on subjects that interest them but at the same time are able to keep up with other subject areas. This has a lot to do also with the teachers and their lesson planing, but also says a lot about the support system the owner and the administration provides for the classes. In writing this review, I must address the negative comments I have read for Manhattan Academy. It saddens me to see people not get what I have out of their experience. And while I know that no school is perfect for everyone, I can't stress the fact that there are no surprises with Manhattan Academy and their enrollment process, fees, or programs. All policies and procedures are given in your enrollment paperwork and contracts are signed so that you as parents know exactly what is expected of you but also what is expected from the school. I hope this review helps give you an insight to this amazing school! read more

Our family has been extremely fortunate to be part of Manhattan Academy for the past six years. Our two kids have flourished in Manhattan Academy's incredibly warm and loving environment and we have been amazed by how much they have grown in their confidence and independence during this time. Manhattan Academy has been a wonderful preschool and Pre-K experience for our children. Our kids have been nurtured, loved, and very well prepared for Kindergarten. The teachers at Manhattan Academy are top-notch - Mrs. Woolard, Ms. McIlraith, Ms. Maldonado, Ms. Perkins - they're all fabulous! Most importantly, the Director, Mrs. Robley, has been an amazing leader of the school. She was recently promoted from Assistant Director and has done a great job continuing the high standards while also making some excellent improvements to the school. We really appreciate that our kids have received a well-rounded education. The Montessori Method has allowed our kids to proceed at their own pace and prepared them so well for Kindergarten that they're at least 1-2 years ahead of the curve. We also appreciate that the school offers Spanish, Science/Outdoor Environment, P.E., keyboarding, music, and art as part of their standard curriculum. Manhattan Academy is a great option for working parents because they have early morning and extended day care options. Our kids really enjoyed the after school enrichment classes like swimming lessons, chess, and sports camp. Somehow, while maintaining a nurturing learning space they encourage an academic rigor that we have not found anywhere else in the South Bay. If you want a great place where your child will be challenged as much as he or she can handle (but never more than that), Manhattan Academy is the best place in the area. We love everyone there and think of them as extended family. read more

We have our 2 children at Manhattan Academy. This is our 3rd year, they started in preschool and kindergarten, and are now in 1st and 2nd grade! I could right a novel about how much we love this school! From administration, to the staff, to the body of students and parents. We have had the best experience and our kids absolutely love their school! Most days it is hard to get them to want to leave and come home! I'm always impressed with the level of education that is taught and how fun the teacher make learning! The classes are small and our kids get a lot of one on one attention. There is a lot of time spent also teaching the kids how to treat one another, education about diversity and celebrating differences! We would highly recommend this school to anyone with children infancy through 5th grade!! read more

I have 3 kids in this school and I love it. My children have been to all of the campuses and we have been really happy there for almost 6 years. They also have a new school administrator, who is really great and open to suggestion. Come and see why we all love the school! read more

I enrolled my daughter in the infant school the 3rd month it was open. We were super excited as this place tic' dall our boxes for a daycare. It was super clean, new, the teachers seemed loving and wonderful, the ratio was 3:1, and they provided diapers and wipes! Unfortunately, things turned sour quickly. They advertised a 3:1 ratio which was never executed to. Often times I would come pick up my child and see 5 or 6 infants to 1 teacher. 1 teacher in particular was horrible. She would glare at me, be evasive when asked questions, ignore me when I walked in, and generally look very unhappy to be working there. I oftened wondered how she was with my child when I was not there. Luckily she has been let go since. I must admit though, there are some lovely teachers there. 1 in particular who my daughter loves. However, there is high turnover with the teachers. During the summer months the infant director left on vacation for 3 months. Teachers were often gone and unknown subs were there to take care of my baby. My daughter consistently came home with diaper rashes. It got to the point, I started providing my own diapers and wipes, and told them to change her 100 times a day to ensure she would not suffer a rash. I feared they were not changing her frequently because they were rationing their supply of diapers. Even so, no doubt would she come home weekly with a diaper rash. I'd tend to her over the weekend, and send her to school Monday's with a beautiful tush and sure enough come Tuesday she would be in fits with a terrible diaper rash. The responsiveness from the school director was appalling. She rarely returned my calls when I had an issue with the infant school. Always promised to but never did. The accountant on staff, surely couldn't be an accountant. Not once did I receive a bill or receipt that was correct. i had to call about corrections that needed to be made constantly. I could go on and on about the infant school at Manhattan Academy. The only good thing about the school was its proximity to my work. I thought the extra money I was paying ,$1500/month, would ensure great care. Wrong!! I would not recommend this daycare to any moms who want their baby in good hands. read more

We enrolled our son at the infant center when he turned 1 (about 10 months ago). I was initially skeptical about it, since we had some bad experiences with care givers. However, this place amazed me! They care for all their children like they were their own. The kiddos get so much love, cuddles and kisses that my son would even wave "bye bye" to me when I left... Their infant center director "Ms. Wroten" is the best! She is so sweet to all the kids that she literally has a fan following among the babies... Not only her, each and everyone of the teachers is amazing. I don't know what some of the reviews are complaining about in terms of subs, etc. They really don't have THAT many subs. I waited to write this review for 10 months to really see if that turned out to be true at any given point in the year, but nope! In all fairness, they do occasionally have a sub, when someone is sick or on a vacation, but don't we all deserve a day off? I can't say enough good things about their director as well! Mrs. Robley is a passionate individual, who is truly proud of what she does. She is always very responsive and has a smile on her face when she sees you. It never ceases to amaze me how she always remembers the kids names and what school they are what's next and everything! I feel like she must carry a little computer in her back pocket, hidden from the world that does face recognition and tells her the background on each kid, the moment she sees the parents. :) I am always impressed by how much attuned she is to the school! And most importantly, my son, who was born very premature, learns a ton of new things at school. Every day he comes home and he has something new up his sleeve. One day it's circle, square, diamonds; the next day it is nose, mouth, eyes... You get the idea! I LOVE this school and truly appreciate the integrity and ethics that I have seen in the staff. read more

Mixed teaching quality. I had two kids enrolled, ages six and seven. Upper teaching staff seemed pretty good but lower was not. Generally, we found it cold and sterile ...not warm or child-centered. Surpringly, the admin staff was pretty poor quality. I had erroneously assumed that this was a well run site with compassionate and committed staff. Instead, I found many to be unprofessional. Our experience was generally disappointing. Really do your research before deciding if this is a place that will be comfortable for your child. It was not a rewarding or comfortable environment for my kids and I am glad they are no longer attending school there. read more

Manhattan Academy is the best kept secret in the area. Great teachers, one on one attention with small classrooms and a really nice community. The school goes up to grade 5 with the preschool and kindergarten being the most popular and full classes. But keep your kids in for elementary and you'll receive the most focused, small classroom teaching available in the area. read more

I enrolled my 3 year old in the summer. We were very impressed when we did the tour. Unfortunately, they lied about everything: the ratio, the daily activity program and the teachers. My 3 year old teacher was horrible and very rude. We had to call social services because my 3 year old will come home and tell us that her teacher hit her or slapped her. Oh my God, the worst experience. Please do not enroll your child there. My daughter still have nightmares about Manhattan Academy. Worst preschool in the shouth bay. read more

What a fantastic school! Switched my kids from Montessori School of Manhattan Beach to this school and I definitely DO NOT regret a thing! Mrs Charles is the BEST read more

The preschool's overcrowded classroom, the backyard's lack of toys, and the teacher's accented monotone during the flash card session should have been enough for us not to sign up for Manhattan Academy, but despite our misgivings, we signed the contract. We paid over $800 in deposit and another $800 in first month tuition. We dropped our toddler off on a Monday at 9 am, crying inconsolably, to join two or three other sobbing toddlers. We picked him at 10 am, and decided that Manhattan Academy was not for us. We told the director that we have changed our minds, and could we get at least one of the $800 checks back, since our son was only in the classroom for one hour? She told us that she would look into it. We called twice over the next few months, but got no response. Finally, we visited the school again, and were told that even though our son had not attended the school, it was against their policy to reimburse anyone. Manhattan Academy is an undeserving school, with very poor customer relations. You can do a lot better. read more

Our child is currently enrolled in the elementary program and has been at Manhattan Academy for over 5 years. The recent enhancements to the elementary campus, as well as administration, will only help strengthen this great school. The teachers are amazing and work together as one unit, not only to provide very strong academics to each and every child, but continually guide them through these important years by providing the appropriate tools, love and support to help strengthen their character and build self-esteem. The many other programs that are offered at Manhattan Academy far exceed what is out there in the public schools. A dynamic physical education class, public speaking, current events, technology, Spanish, art, music, theatre, dancing, and cooking, are just to name a few. We are extremely confident in knowing that our child will leave Manhattan Academy very well equipped academically and personally to tackle middle school and beyond. I highly recommend a visit. read more