My little one loved Baxter (she is now at Micheltorena Elementary). Ms. Li and the other teachers made her first school experience very special. She misses them dearly. read more

Absolutely love this school! Our son has been attending Baxter for the last year and a half, and we love it so much we have decided to skip TK and keep him there for one more year. He has learned so much and developed life skills while having a lot of fun. We love his teachers, friends and community that has been built through the current and previous parents and children attending the school. Ms. Li the director has been working at the school since the 80's and is a very genuine, knowledgeable, and loving teacher. All of the teachers at the school are incredible, can't recommend this school enough! read more

We absolutely love Baxter! Both of our children attended, and it gave them the most incredible introduction to school. They learned how to play with others, play independently, and develop resilience and self-sufficiency. The teachers focus on the fundamentals of being a kind, capable human--pushing in chairs, helping with tasks, using an inside voice--while also encouraging collaboration and respect. The result is confident kids who know how to contribute thoughtfully in any setting. We love this community so much that our first child even skipped TK just to stay another year. Our second only went to TK so she could be with her brother! Baxter is refreshingly no-frills in the best way: no excessive emails, no apps with constant photos, no formal parent/teacher conferences. Instead, all essential information is shared clearly and promptly, and the teachers know the kids so well that feedback happens naturally--often during drop-off or pick-up. The families here are equally wonderful: genuine, grounded, and deeply invested in their children. It's a community of truly amazing people. And of course, the heart of it all is Ms. Li, the legendary director who has been leading the school for nearly 40 years. Her vision sets the tone, but it's every teacher's care and commitment that make Baxter the extraordinary place it is. We feel extraordinarily lucky to have found this place. It will forever hold a spot in our hearts! read more

Affordable no frills Montessori school that has served the community for 30 years. Teachers are caring and straightforward in their guidance of the students. There kids are very independent and joyful! Some of the past reviewers mentioned a television- which is 100% inaccurate, in my 10 years sending my children there I've never seen a single tv. The school is a classic Montessori school that continues the pedagogy of a child-centered, hands-on learning approach i that emphasizes independence, observation-based teaching, and a specially prepared environment read more

Baxter is a truly cherished place in our family and our lives, and we could not be more grateful for the environment that Ms. Li and all the teachers create for our son and all the students. Baxter delivers a structured, yet warm environment where learning is first, including teaching our children how to be helpful and respectful first and foremost. As a result, there is a down-to-earth community of wonderful families that support each other and create a uniquely low-key atmosphere that is often hard to find in LA. I couldn't recommend Baxter more highly for a terrific eduction, safe and welcome environment, and a community that I know will support my son - and my family - for years to come. read more

Our son has been going here for about a year and we love it. He has thrived in the mixed age range setting and we love the community of families. I also love that they spend so much of their time outside. The experience has been so positive for us and we appreciate how tuition is so affordable. The schedule is also year round with a really reasonable number of school holidays, which seems rare and is helpful for working parents. read more

Baxter is truly a hidden treasure and those who manage to find it, are very lucky. This school will leave a long lasting positive impact on your child. Ms. Li who is the director has been there for years and has devoted herself in to making this school a safe and educational haven for children. All the teachers are amazing, nurturing, educated and experts in child development and the Montessori method. Your child will love this school and graduate with skills that you can't get in other preschools. read more

The best school we could have possibly found for our daughter. She loves it so much and the teachers and staff are incredible

Baxter has been such a life saver for me! they potty trained my two year old in a week and she went in kind of shy and wasn't talking too too much now she's confident and talking up a storm at almost 3, completely potty trained. miss li and all of the teachers put such love and care into what they do. I am so sad to be leaving LA only for the fact that we will miss Baxter so much. read more

The teachers and staff truly care for the children. And the kids are well prepared for kindergarten. Highly recommend.

I have so much love for this school! My kid just graduated and we are a bit sad to leave what has been a home away from home, a place of incredible learning, and a warm community with the other families. The Montessori structure of learning through tasks and specific jobs, with practical, tactile tools available to the kids, provided a perfect framework for my daughter to grow as a person. A robust foundation was laid for reading and writing and math, and socially it was well constructed for her too. She had a lot of fun making friends and learning how to collaborate with other students. I also love that at Baxter they do integrated units, where they will be studying, say, the seasons, and then all the art and writing and math and science exercises relate to the unit in an integrated way. They're getting to be creative and use their hands, while also learning to organize thoughts and subjects and understand how our world is constructed. My unusual history with Baxter Montessori is that my sister and I went here as children in the 80s. We learned so much and by the time we went to elementary school we were basically academically over-prepared. The Montessori style really turned us into independent learners and capable kids, ready for anything, and I've watched this happen now with my own daughter. The school actually hasn't changed all that much since the 80s...but that's a good thing! It's still a wonderful fixture of the neighborhood that helps children become independent thinkers with a love for learning. read more

Baxter Montessori isn't for everyone, but it was a godsend for us. My son started young, during the old guard. It was a rough transition, but the direction and encouragement he received from numerous nurturing teachers helped him make the transition and grow into becoming an outgoing and curious person, who is able to concentrate on a task and complete it. This is not a play based preschool. This is not a preschool that has a lot of fancy playground equipment. Some find that the rules are too much, as the school does not allow costumes or princess dresses or toys, but I found that this leveled everyone out, not focusing on consumer goods and allowed the kids to be kids while fostering imagination without tools, and if you ever pop by during pick up, you will see for yourself. I appreciate the teachers, their recent push to adhere more to the Montessori methodology and the focus on the socio-emotionaI aspect. Seriously, the emotional maturity that I have experienced with my kid this summer is surprising. I appreciate how the teachers put the kids first. I appreciate that older and younger kids are mixed together and I love how diverse Baxter is with numerous languages spoken, but let me also mention the parents. I doubt I could have found a more open and welcoming community, which shares a commitment to conscientious parenting and together made this into a wonderful first educational experience. read more

My daughter has attended Baxter for the past 3 years and during that time, I have come to know all the teachers and the administration very well. In its essence, Baxter is a very sweet neighborhood school that is geared toward the Montessori philosophy of caring for and cultivating independent children. One note to take into account when reading critical reviews is that the school did change ownership in January 2017. The previous owner (and founder) was notoriously old-school and had a pretty hands-off style, in dealing with both parents and children. The new owners have taken a very different approach, and in the two years since they took over, I have seen major progress with the school's communication with parents, nurturing children, and making sure that the school is truly living up to Montessori standards. PROS- -The physical space of the school is charming, sweet, and beautiful, and the children spend at least 2 hours outdoors every day. The buildings are classic cottages from the 1920s, decorated in true Montessori form- with simplicity, and with all the tools and materials being accessible to little people, so that they may choose their own path and learn to be independent beings. - Ms Le, the head teacher for like the past 40 years, tends the garden and feeds the stray neighborhood cats and pigeons. Her care for the plants and animals is a wonderful model of the social responsibility and connection between humans, animals, and earth. - The children move quietly during class time, engaging in either independent or group play, doing the "jobs" that they choose to engage with. It's astonishing how quietly and seamlessly a classroom of 2 to 5-year-olds flows! - The school has a very low turnover rate for teachers. Most of the teachers have been there many years, and seem to work really well together. All of the teachers have their own personalities, and while there are a couple who are a little more old-school and less forthcoming in their communications, the majority of the teachers are very communicative and receptive to feedback and questions. When I have had concerns about my own daughter, I have found that my communications were very well received and that the teachers would work with me very intimately on an ongoing basis until we worked through the issues. - Every day they have a different extracurricular activity from visiting instructors. Mandarin Chinese on Mondays, martial arts on Tuesdays, yoga on Wednesdays, and music class on Thursdays. I love how these extracurricular things are integrated so I don't have to run around after school or on the weekends trying to make sure my kid is getting a well-rounded experience. - The academics are amazing. Have no fear that your child will not be prepared for kindergarten! The stories about kids from Forest schools who arrive at kindergarten and have a hard time adjusting to the structure of daily school life do not apply here. In fact many children arrive in kindergarten being so far advanced that they were promptly pushed to first grade. This happens every year. - OK this is a big one: Baxter is geared towards working parents. From its no-frills application and admissions process, to its very reasonable tuition price, and it's flexible drop off and pick up hours... Over time you truly do begin to appreciate how important these qualities are. - But the community may truly be the very best thing about Baxter. The parents and the families who go to Baxter are genuinely some of the best people I've ever met. They are just down to earth, great people. We have a long-standing tradition at Baxter that the families meet at the Silver Lake Meadow every Friday after school for a potluck picnic, and it is truly a bonding experience for all, and fosters a real sense of community. There is very little drama at Baxter. There is a familiarity there, and it's all love. CONS (More like a previous con) - Under the previous ownership prior to 2017, there was less focus on the social-emotional. But in the past two years, I have seen a great improvement in this area, with more attention given towards nurturing the children's social and emotional development, as well as conflict resolution. No one would ever let a child cry unattended (as one reviewer from years ago mentioned), and daily peace circles and lots of attention to teaching love, kindness, and empathy are definitely now part of the culture at Baxter. Although a work in progress, it IS a priority, and they are actively working on it and very receptive to suggestions. Overall, I think Baxter is a fantastic school, and if I had to choose all over again, I would still choose Baxter. The friendships we have made here have been priceless, and I am 100% sure that my daughter is as prepared for kindergarten as any other child in her class will be. It is a non-pretentious sweet little local neighborhood school and the teachers and the community are truly exceptional. read more

I am not a parent, but I care for a little girl who has attended Baxter for the last 3 years. This is a great Montessori, and I don't know how they do it, but all the kids that come out of there are smart, independent thinkers, with excellent critical thinking skills and pretty good self control. You are probably thinking "she's talking about 4 year olds, right?" . Yes, this school is that great. I love the ladies that run this place. When I have my own children I would happily send them to Baxter Montessori. read more

I read some of the negative reviews for Baxter and feel compelled to write a response. My daughter has been attending here for almost a year and both my husband and I noticed a remarkable improvement in her education. She was learning to read, add and subtract only a couple of months in. (She was previously enrolled in a private school that cost twice as much as Baxter and the class size was twice as large.) Because Baxter is small, the teacher has plenty of time for one on one work time. I have never been discouraged from coming at any time to my daughter's class and I don't think there's anything wrong with the teacher not wanting parents disrupting class time. It's challenging to keep a young childs attention and having their mom or dad walk in distracts all of the kids I'm sure. I don't think they show a lot of TV....I asked my daughter and she said they only watch a movie on Fridays which I am ok with. Maybe it's different for the preschool than kindergarten? (She is in Kinder.) They also offer an optional day care after school ends at only $2 an hour!! Even cheaper if you pay for the month as opposed to each day. As for ill supervised, I disagree. I've seen the teachers step in and put misbehaving kids in time outs. I think they are fairly strict about discipline. I also understand that they cannot completely control the kids and some kids are just going to be naughty and mean sometimes, it's life. I certainly don't think they would allow any bullying to happen. I would definitely recommend Baxter for Kindergarten. My daughter enjoys the school and we are quite happy with it. read more

My son went here briefly in 2015. I was appalled by the way they treated children. If a child was sad they let them scream And cry and did not comfort them at all. I was there when this was happening. was really horrible. That was the philosophy. When my son came home and said that the teacher told the kids they should be ashamed of themselves for wasting paper I thought, that's it, never going back. I never told Shirley we weren't coming back and I knew she'd never call me to see where he was. And she didn't. I think people like it because it's in echo park and their young kids don't know to tell them what it's like there. Even if my child was ok with Baxter I would never want my kid to see how children are treated. We were there in 2015 and it may have changed, but if it's still run by shirley I would guess it hasn't. How it's well liked is a mystery and kinda scary. read more

It's sad to see negative reviews of Baxter Montessori. I had my son attend the school for almost two years 4-5 and I still take him there during summers. He is now 1st grade and going on 2nd grade. I CREDIT Baxter for my son's desire for learning and level of academic excellence at this point. The teachers are great. Baxter is a hidden gem, a real treasure. It's one of the last true genuine MONTESSORI schools around teaching the Montessori method without the cost of your arms and legs. In the beginning, I also felt disappointed and discouraged by the seemingly cold and nonchalant approach I recevied when I first tried to enroll my son at a younger age of 3 or when he was still in diapers. I remember the dialogue. I asked, "do you have a curriculum?" The response: "what curriculum" Those are for adults. Children don't need them. They don't need those constraints. They learn according to their own pace and we provide the tools. Look around." I actually felt shut out. But I also looked at that perspective and somehow agreed that time. And I persisted. A year later I came back, when he was of age (no more diapers) and I think they finally have a space. I get to know the teachers and those who made this Montessori great. During my son's first month, and amidst my apprehension, I spoke to a few parents. They have wonderful experiences. One told me she used to attend the school and now she has her children go there too. Same teachers. There is consistency and experience. You just need to go past the appearance and the seemingly "different" approach from the Baxter ladies. Overall, Baxter is a wonderful learning environment. I am very happy my son attended Baxter. To this day, I tell people about this great little montessori in the heart of Echo Park - Baxter. read more

I don't usually like calling out suspicious bad reviews but I have to say, CF seems like a suspicious reviewer- as in, from another preschool trying to make Baxter look bad. My kid has been attending Baxter for 2 years and I am always welcome, any time of the day, have NEVER been discouraged from dropping by at any time, oh, and I have never seen a TV. I recently inquired about a TV on the premises and was told sometimes they use one for educational videos in the Big Kids Room... but still haven't seen it. In fact, I just dropped my 4.5 year old off at the Big Kids room and was amazed to see two older girls in the class. They are 8 and 10 and until their school starts, they voluntarily hang out with the younger kids to learn something and have fun until their regular school begins-- I was really impressed. The teachers are committed, passionate and calm. Are they politically correct and precious? No. Which I appreciate. They are honest and do not indulge bad behavior at all. I even don't mind that it's not the prettiest, most magical place in the world. It's a school. Kids learn. My kid is 4.5 and reading, counting and even knows a little Chinese. Most of all, she LOVES it there. So do I. read more

Our children have attended Baxter Montessori for the past 3 years. During this time, they've really thrived, both socially and academically, due to the nurturing environment there and the dedication of their teachers. I've been impressed with the scope and breadth of their curriculum as well, - our kids have learned about history, geography, science, math, phonics, art, writing, and current events, and the head teacher, Ms. Li, even taught our children mandarin: counting, common phrases, and some songs! When we looked at several preschools in the neighborhood, Baxter didn't look the newest; however, they use a very tried and true pedagogic system (Montessori), whereas some other schools looked fancy, yet had no cohesive learning philosophy. I'm not an expert, but I know Baxter has been teaching the Montessori method for quite some time, whereas some schools will use the Montessori name but the teachers don't receive the same training that the teachers at this school have undergone. Speaking of dedicated teachers, there is a very low turnover here, and it's pretty clear from most of the teachers I've interacted with, that they see teaching as their calling in life, as a vocation and not as merely a job. You can see how much they love doing what they do, and as a result, our kids have been really lucky to be in a very loving and nurturing environment over these past few years and for that I will be eternally grateful. One of the teachers, Ms. Liza, has even come to our house to check on our children when she knew they were quite sick, and that's just one of very many instances I can name where she's gone above and beyond for our kids, who love her very much. If you want your child in a school where they'll be truly cared for, and where they'll also be prepared for kindergarten, Baxter would be the place to send them. Ms. Li, Ms. Marleni, and Ms. Tomiyah have also been really, really wonderful - kind loving, and nurturing to our kids as well, which we've appreciated so much over the years. In addition, the Baxter families have a picnic at the Silver Lake meadow each Friday evening after school, (we were SO grateful for this additional socialization with a pod during the pandemic!), and as a result, we're now part of a really wonderful and supportive community, where all our kids get on quite well and it's been so special to watch those friendships unfold and blossom as well. Additionally, I'm pleased that our children are prepared academically and socially for kinder due to attending Baxter; they know all their letters and letter sounds, counting and basic math, writing, drawing, and they've both even started reading at a beginner level. While it seems to be more on trend for pure play-based preschools lately, this school has the best of both worlds; there is definitely playtime but also dedicated time for learning the foundational life skills that kids need to thrive both academically and socially in today's modern world. This balance worked really well for our children. read more

We loved everything about Baxter. The location, the teachers, the other parents. Our son went there for 2 years and We still stop by and say hi occasionally because we miss Ms Li and all the other teachers. As someone mentioned in another review, the best thing about this school is the virtual lack of any turnover among teachers, which is invaluable for kids at that age. The other aspect that we really valued was the focus on fostering children's independence and autonomy. Translation: they are the opposite of precious. And that is so, so good for the kids. read more

My son attended Baxter since he was 2.5 years old. He is now almost 4.5 years old and still there. What I can say about this school is that it is consistant, straight to the point and caring about kids. They have their system and they stick to it. It might seam harsh in the beginning because they let kid cry it out until adjusted but after that it is a smooth ride. My son loves all of his teachers. I constantly ask him if there is something wrong there but he always gets offended that I would even ask such a thing. He has friends and they care and protect each other. He is not even 4.5 years old and he can already read. Not fluently but word by word. I like this school because they treat kids with respect and almost as grown ups. There are rules but I like that. Might be strong at time but than it allows parents to be the one to make it more flexible at home. There are so many ethnicities at this school including my son. Parents regardless of the culture are friendly and help each other. We all get together on Fridays after school at Silverlake Meadow. Anyway, I like this old fashioned updated approach where it is less focused on marketing and more on your kid. read more

Baxter Montessori was an extraordinary gift to my child. There is a science and methodology behind the philosophy that the teachers at this school deeply understand and implement. As a result, my daughter received so much love, nurturing and a true education. She entered Kindergarten younger than most of her classmates, yet at a highly accelerated level for both reading and math. She has natural ability and an inclination for learning, but the staff at Baxter saw who she is and nurtured her abilities to the fullest allowing her to fully bloom. I am so impressed with the Director Li and her joyous spirit, wide knowledge base and true love for children and families. The teachers are also amazing because they are filled with love and also a strong knowledge base of how best to approach nurturing a child's learning process. There is a deep peace and happiness in the children at this school. There could have been no greater gift for my child than what Baxter provided. I am eternally gratefully. read more

I have heard good things about Montessori schools in general, and about the price of this one in particular. The location is convenient and in a neighborhood full of friendly, nice people. Parents I've known who have sent their kids here are bright, kind, interesting people with bright, capable children. That said, I would investigate Baxter Montessori carefully before sending your child there. A friend of mine sends her kid there and here is what she has experienced: The teachers discourage parents from coming in and out of the classroom during the school day (I have also heard this from multiple other parents who have sent their kids there over the years). This could certainly be for pedagogical reasons (although according to CA state law, all preschools must allow parents to enter at any time without any notice required). But it could also be because they are showing a lot of TV - my friend came in mid-morning to get her kid for a medical appointment and observed that at circle time they show the kids Montessori videos instead of leading activities in person. Also, after she requested that her child not take a nap at school, she learned that non-nappers watch an hour or two of videos while the nappers sleep. Also, although the preschool is state-mandated to provide snacks, she discovered that the actual snacks served do not at all match the nice, delicious-sounding menu of snacks that is posted for parents. And her kid brings home worksheets that she suspects have been filled out by grown-ups, since the kid can't replicate the same quality of work at home. None of these acts are criminal, or even amount to negligence. But to me it raises a red flag that the staff don't want parents to observe what they are doing, and if they're deceiving them (even by omission) about the small stuff, what would that kind of organizational culture permit or encourage if something really bad or wrong went down? According to my friend, parents who raise concerns or complain are gently but firmly encouraged to leave the program. She feels that maybe this school was great before but that the teachers are tired and burned out these days. read more

i went to Baxter Montessori through first grade, and I suppose I can really only speak to the teachers and environment in the 80's... but it doesn't seem to have changed much, and it was pretty perfect then. Extremely diverse & creative staff... animals & plants everywhere... and of course the Montessori method, which seems to be the best of what's around for teaching young children. I still remember the sandpaper letters, cylinders, etc., which is impressive considering the time elapsed! If you're a parent considering Montessori I can definitely vouch for its success-- I was reading and writing much earlier than the norm and actively loved math (sadly this did not last once I was subjected to normal schools, but at least it was a good start). If I ever have children they will definitely be Montessori educated. read more

We love Baxter Montessori! We started the school the minute our daughter was accepted. The director is loving, caring, smart and sweet. Her teachers are patient, calm, nurturing and kind. Our daughter came home the second week and knew all of her colors in Spanish! She napped well there telling us that the teachers help her get to sleep. When we come to pick her up she keeps playing with her friends and doesn't want to leave. We highly recommend this school. Get on the waiting list early! read more

We live in Silver Lake and went through the usual rigamarole trying to find a preschool when our daughter was young. We looked at lots of schools. We ended up splitting out time, the first year, between Baxter and a very well-regarded coop in Silver Lake. That provided an interesting comparison of styles and atmosphere. Not everyone will like Baxter, but the families who end up there tend to be relatively mellow, not overly precious -- and that's reflected in the school they choose. No, Baxter doesn't have a huge menu of enrichment classes. Not everything is brand new. And sometimes the teachers take a while to warm up to new parents. But there is almost no churn in the staff, which is both rare and wonderful for kids. The house and grounds are in fine shape given the little feet that run all over them. And the kids LEARN -- not just ABCs and colors and numbers, but how to get along with other kids. We like the somewhat no-nonsense approach. The teachers are kind, but don't coddle. They will set boundaries and say no. We're now sending out son to Baxter, where he came home counting in the first week. Thanks, Shirley and Carmen and Ms. Lee!! read more

I heard this is a good place, but this is not a review about the school. I wish to correct a mistake as to the location. This school is NOT located in Elysian Park, but the Elysian Heights area of ECHO PARK!!!! Sheesh!!!! read more

Both of my kids go here and love it. Couldn't be happier. Such a good balance between art learning freedom and discipline. Highly recommend.