My Own Montessori

(39 reviews)

2.1 mi

We have had our infant son attend guidepost for a couple months now. The staff is extraordinarily…read morekind and deeply care about the well-being of the children. I myself am deaf, and the staff was open to using sign language in the classroom to affirm his basic language skills -- that is incredible and no other daycares we toured seemed so happy to embrace our Deaf culture! Our son always gets dropped off with a big smile on his face and truly loves it here. Miss Yvette is a saint and our son loves her deeply :)

It's Teacher Appreciation Week, and a great reminder for me to share a review…read more May 2025: A year later and we are still loving Guidepost. Ms. Emilia, Ms. Carol, Mr. Miles, Ms. Tanya, Ms. Shelby, and so many others have been amazing teachers to our precocious, rambunctious toddler. He loves his class and looks forward to school every day. The guides take such great care to nurture our toddler's curiosities, spending a great deal of time organizing events and exposing him to new words, activities, cultures, and habits every day. They spend some of their evenings and weekends as well to facilitate fun activities like movies & pizza for Parent's Night Out or summer water parties when the weather is warm. We feel so fortunate to have been introduced to this place and know that our kids are happy and healthy here. The teachers use apps to help log activities and photos, so we never miss out and get tons of updates throughout the week. Ms. Emilia sends weekly updates about our toddler's class and their focuses for the week, and Ms. Shelby send weekly updates about school happenings. Ms. Stephanie is always available to chat if we have any questions or concerns to share, and all of the guides seem to celebrate the mini milestones our kids achieve every day. --- Jan 2024: Our little one just started in the Nido infant class and is thriving! We were so worried about the transition, but Mrs. Yvette and all of the teachers are so wonderful and kind. They guided us new parents and helped make the environment so warm and welcoming for our baby. It's only week 3 but our little one is eager to go to school to see his teachers and friends!

My son learning to put his shoes on.

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Bay Sky Montessori

(12 reviews)

1.7 mi

Our daughter has been at Bay Sky for 2 years, and we couldn't be happier with the experience. In…read morethis time she's blossomed into a smart, confident and happy girl, ready for kindergarten. Her Mandarin is spectacular. She has no problem maintaining conversations with native speakers, whether they're close friends/family or chatting up total strangers at the playground. But most of all, we appreciate the warm, caring environment that Grace has provided for all the children. I just wish we had found them earlier so that our older kids could have also attended Bay Sky.

Bay Sky is a gem of a school. Grace does an excellent job supporting the whole child--socially,…read moreemotionally, physically, and cognitively. Mandarin is the primary language used in daily routines, songs, conversations, and play-work, and the children all seem to gain real comfort and confidence with the language even if the household is not Mandarin-speaking. The classroom environment encourages independence and hands-on activities and exudes warm calm. We've seen our child develop solid skills in emotional regulation, social interactions, and self-confidence. Highly recommended for families seeking authentic Mandarin immersion in a thoughtful Montessori setting.

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American International Montessori

(7 reviews)

1.0 mi

The American International Montessori School is a wonderful school. They have a nice and clean…read morefacility for the kids to play in with lots of learning going on from the infant rooms straight up to first grade. The director and teachers have been very warm and welcoming to my family. I do not speak Japanese or Mandarin. They have given me a lot of CDs and books to help me better understand the languages. I also love that they have really made it a point to include diverse celebrations from the Latino culture and many others. I really feel lucky to have found such an amazing school for my son.

We could not have been happier with AIM preschool and elementary school. They have incredibly…read morededicated teachers and staff. Ernie Mahr is a great leader and sets the tone from the top down. He even did a home visit for us to help reinforce the learning our kids were getting on a Thursday night at 7pm (sometimes parents need help too)! We would get emails from teachers late at night keeping us updated on progress and ways to collaborate with them. I have only good things to say about this school and wish we could have stayed longer. Alas, the pandemic changed the direction of our lives and we moved away but if there is anything our entire family misses from the bay area, it is the AIM school and community.

Dragon dance by upper elementary students for Lunar New Year celebration.

Light and heavy - baric tablets.

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Play yard

Mountain Boulevard Montessori School

The school's academic curriculum is awesome. I put my two daughters through Mountain Blvd.,…read moreMontessori and they were more than prepared to thrive in kindergarten. The staff and teachers are also very caring and want to see the children be successful in all aspects. If there is one thing I would love to see evolve is more activities/events geared towards parent and family participation. Overall, the school has done a fantastic job with our two little humans.

My daughter has attended Mountain Boulevard Montessori School for the last 2.5 years (since she was…read more28 months old) and it is easily the best decision we have made. We looked at so many different school options and are beyond happy that we chose this school. The small/intimate feeling compounds to staff that really care about the safety, health, and development of all the kids. Students not only grow academically (reading, math, science, etc.), socially, and get exposed to different cultures and languages. She has learned so much Spanish and Mandarin which is amazing as well. We highly recommend this school to any and all parents!

Our spacious outdoor space

With a large play area, even the most energetic child can play, run, and grow.

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Warm and inviting classrooms in a secure setting offering a full complement of Montessori activities for young minds to explore

Global Montessori International School

4.6

(18 reviews)

2.1 mi

My 3 kids have been with GMIS for the past 6 school years. If I had a 4th, i'd choose them again!…read more We love the Montessori-style of learning! The classroom is full of different trays on shelves - very neatly organized - that the children get to choose as their activity. Everything is play-based, but all contribute to their future learning of math, language, and independence. When my kids were 2 years-old, GMIS helped to potty-train them. They are very flexible and work with you to get this done. The Young Children's House teacher is a god-send!! A huge draw for us was the Mandarin immersion. We do not speak Mandarin at home (I come from a Cantonese and Teo Chew speaking household, my husband is English only), but I wanted my kids to have a Chinese language and have more exposure to the culture. There is a Spanish after-school class if families are interested in that as well. My daughter takes that and loves it! Each class has a Chinese teacher and an English teacher. They learn all their letters, sounds and also learn them in cursive. The older classrooms are combined ages of 3-5 years-old. For enrichment activities, they are grouped by age. What I love most is that I feel absolutely no pressure to enroll my kids in any other enrichment because GMIS has it all! Consider it the "One stop shop" of preschools! The regular school day is 8:30am - 3pm (but you can have your kids there as long as 8am - 6pm) My kids have all learned: dance, music, performing arts, gardening, cooking, animal care, soccer, various art projects, caring for their environment (folding clothes, wiping windows, watering plants, feeding pets, etc...). Only thing they don't have is swim ;P There's a lot of opportunity for family engagement: Chinese new year is biggest performance. A theatre is rented out and the kids perform multiple songs and dances. They recite lines and wear costumes that are shipped in from Taiwan. There is lion dancing and food. Is a huge event that is so special to watch come together! How they get all those kids to do this is still incredible to me!! One of my favorite events is the Grandparents luncheon where the kids make stone soup for Thanksgiving. Each kid contributes an ingredient, prepares it at school, and it all goes into a pot. Grandparents come and the kids sit with them to have lunch. It's such a special way they incorporate the elders into their school lives. You may not even need to do your own trick-or-treating because GMIS throws a Halloween parade with trick-or-treating around the block afterwards! Another thing I absolutely adore is the birthday circle. The birthday kid will sit with the teacher and show the class a photo of each year of the kid's life. The teacher explains what are normal developmental milestones for that year, then the kid holds an earth and walks around the image of the sun on the floor. Then they go on to the next year of life. It's so super special! There are weekly newsletters with reminders, signups, photos, and Montessori education. When the kids graduate, they are well prepared for Kindergarten. There are some GMIS alumni who return for some of the special events too! I had the option of putting my kids into TK but opted to stay at GMIS because of the robust program they have. I wouldn't be able to do half days (many TKs end at 12noon) and wouldn't want to just have babysitting for the remainder of the day if the schools offered extended care. I've always said that GMIS feels like home. It's not a huge school and things don't feel fancy inside. But everything is well-kept, the teachers are understanding and the kids are loved!

Our kiddo has been here a year and loves Holly laoshi! It's amazing to see how much he's grown, and…read morehow much he has to tell us about all the things he does at school He likes being around the older kids at playground time - they've been helpful peer encouragement for potty-training, which was pretty difficult for us beforehand, and the teachers here made it look easy. He really enjoys the dance, music, and soccer as well.

Campus has various gardening areas used year round

Garden Playground Area

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Chinese New Year Parade in Oakland

Berkeley International Montessori

(21 reviews)

2.3 mi

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!

Collaborative Montessori work.

Circle time!

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Knobbed cylinders.

Montessori School of San Leandro

4.7

(127 reviews)

13.0 mi

Certified professionals

Established in 1995

There are not enough words to express how grateful we are for Ms. Amela and Mrs. Sarah (school…read moredirector) Since Lily was 3 years old, you have been so much more than teachers--you have been mentors, cheerleaders, protectors, and a constant source of love and encouragement. Through your patience, guidance, and dedication, you helped shape Lily into the confident, smart, kind, and resilient young girl she is today. You celebrated every milestone, encouraged her through challenges, and always made her feel safe, valued, and loved. As parents, we say goodbye with tears in our eyes but full hearts, knowing she is ready for the big world ahead because of the foundation you helped build. The lessons, confidence, and values you instilled in her will stay with her for years to come. Thank you for loving our girl and helping her become the amazing person she is today. We will forever be grateful for the impact you have had on her life and our family. Tearfully, but knowing she's ready for her next adventure--Lily is signing out. Thank you for everything.

I enrolled my daughter to start at the Montessori school June 2025 right after she turned two. She…read morestarted in Room 4 with Ms. Howida, Ms. Reina and Mr. Martin. She loved all of her room 4 teachers and always talking about school on the way home. After being potty trained a couple of months ago, she is now in Room 1 with Ms. Amela. She loves going to school every day and learning new skills and play with her friends. Despite several issues along the way, I also very appreciate Ms. Sarah, the director of the school. She is very informative and knowledgeable. She always follows up with issues that we raised, follow through and come up with solutions that work for us.

Class thanksgiving 2023 giving thanks and learning about what thanksgiving is about

The best teachers

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Celebrating with the traditional around the world they travel each year they are born. Mrs Amela, Mrs Sarah, Mrs Maria, and Mrs Connie.

Pacific Coast Montessori

(14 reviews)

0.8 mi

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.

Little Elephant Montessori School

4.3

(12 reviews)

0.1 mi

We toured A LOT of schools before settling on Little Elephant. First, we saw plenty of larger…read moreschools and its smaller more intimate size was appealing to us. The space shows very well with two bright well laid out classrooms, nice outdoor space and lots of pets! Most importantly, we found the teaching staff to be warm and generally very experienced with reasonable tenure at the school. Our three children all had a positive experience and have fond memories of their time there. We spent almost a decade there (including through COVID) and appreciated the staff and parent community.

We love LEMs! Our 3 year old has been thriving there since she started the week of her second…read morebirthday. The teachers are fantastic and loving and fun and the environment really fosters happiness, curiosity and learning. The community is wonderful as well and we've become close friends with a few parents and good friends with the rest. We also love the diversity they foster and our bilingual daughter (we speak Spanish in our home) has flourished as she gets to speak Spanish with several of the teachers (who happen to also be native speakers) but has picked up English quickly from the learning and atmosphere here. We plan to send our second child here as we've had such a wonderful experience all around!

Au Beau Sejour French Preschool

(48 reviews)

2.2 mi

Amazing Campus Amazing Staff…read moreAmazing Food Can't say enough about this school. French immersion experience and social emotional learning got our attention right away. My kid is happy to go to school.

My child has attended ABS for almost 3 years now, and we would absolutely do this again if we had…read moreto. When it was time for our child to attend preschool, we wanted a school that provides language immersion and in close proximity to our home. ABS checked all the boxes with an added bonus of HOT lunches! Our child could now converse in French despite having non-French-speaking parents, and this is definitely the cherry on top. The school campus is very cute with veggie patches, chicken coop and a sizable play area. It is well taken care of; you can sense the pride Coralie and her staff has of this place. The teachers are engaged with the students and are responsive to parents' questions. We love the potluck events that brings the school community together. Most importantly, our child loves ABS and his teachers, and frequently tells me that he misses school on weekends!

Our spacious outdoor space

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Mountain Boulevard Montessori School

With a large play area, even the most energetic child can play, run, and grow.

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Warm and inviting classrooms in a secure setting offering a full complement of Montessori activities for young minds to explore

Guidepost Montessori at Emeryville

My son learning to put his shoes on.

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Alma's Children Garden

4.6

(32 reviews)

1.4 mi

My child attended Miss Alma's in 2020. My descriptions may be outdated…read more - What's great: The dreamy backyard, breakfast included, sweet teachers, fun activities. - Not the best: Alma would only take payment by cash. No checks, no Venmo, no nothing. I had to go to the bank every month and withdraw and deliver nearly $2,000 cash, for which I received a handwritten receipt. Huge hassle, not very safe, and did not not feel professional. I hope this is no longer her policy. Overall, this was a good daycare for my child when she was a young toddler. I think Alma sends kids to attend preschool once they turn 3.

Our twins have been attending Alma's Children Garden since they were 2, and watching them grow and…read moredevelop over this past year has been amazing. As a working parent, finding a daycare that provides both a safe environment and genuine care for your children is everything - and Alma's delivers on both. The facilities are clean, secure, and well-maintained. But what really sets this place apart is how the caregivers truly nurture each child. I've watched my twins go from shy toddlers to confident 3-year-olds who wake up excited to go to "school." They've developed social skills, learned to share and communicate better, and come home singing new songs and showing us art projects they're proud of. What gives me peace of mind every day is knowing that when I drop them off, they're not just being watched - they're being cared for by people who genuinely want to see them grow. The staff remembers little things about each child and shares those moments with us at pickup. My daughter now counts to 20, and my son has become so much more expressive, and they are both come home each day smiling. We've had nothing but positive experiences here. The communication is great, the environment feels warm rather than institutional, and most importantly, my children are super happy. They actually get upset on weekends when they realize it's not a school day! If you're looking for quality childcare in Emeryville, I highly recommend Alma's Children Garden.

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Happa Baby School

0 reviews

2.0 mi

Emeryville Child Development Center

4.4

(17 reviews)

1.9 mi

I like ECDC. It resembles a small school with classrooms, and a couple of different playgrounds for…read moredifferent aged kids. The staff is getting pretty effective with social media and sends a calendar of activities each week, and photos of classroom activities. The facility feels secure with a locked door and solid fencing. Having had my son in two other places as he has grown up, ECDC is my favorite so far.

Emeryville Child Development has been a wonderful place for my child. We attended ECDC for a year…read morebefore we moved from the area. We really like it and are sad to leave. The center director (Diana) is warm and friendly, and takes time to get to know all the families. The staff are always friendly, and relay stories of the day when you pick up your child. They really get to know and care for your child. ECDC is such a great resource for the community, and definitely the best child care in the area that I could find. This was her first childcare experience, and I had visited so many different childcare facilities before I chose this one. I based my decision on her personality (she is playful and likes a festive environment with many other children), as well as: - Safety of the facility: is it easy for some stranger off the street to get in? - Center director and staff - Kitchen cleanliness, and food provision - "Potty" facilities - Condition and spaciousness of the classrooms and playgrounds - Age group division: Younger children need classrooms divided into a smaller age brackets The entire facility is like a fort, you need a special key for entry and you have to pass through the reception/office area before you can even find children. There are also cameras everywhere. The classrooms are clean and spacious, and each one has very clean, height-appropriate restrooms for the children. We started off in Toddler 1, which has two big rooms and a newly-updated outside play area that has a sunshade over most of it. This is perfect for sunny/hot Emeryville. The play area is safe, padded, and well equipped, no ancient rusty equipment. There are occasional field trips and activities outside the center. We really love that food is provided at the center (by Chefables), and it seems to be good food. This decreases the chance that my LO will want to take someone else's lunch. :) This center seems to have enough children to separate them into narrower age brackets (2-2.5 years for one room, 2.5-3 years for another), while other centers combined 2 and 3 year olds. I visited a center that combined 2 and 3 year olds, and the older kids were ganging up on the younger ones. After seeing that, I always brought my LO to visit new schools to see if she got along with the children. Also, my LO loves to visit the baby room, and whenever we go in there the staff are always holding and cuddling the babies. Compare this to other centers I visited, where babies in the infant rooms were left alone on dirty floors. My LO has learned so many new words, and she tells me she has lots of fun all day. She sings funny songs that I definitely didn't teach her. The staff have been so helpful through the potty training process. She developed better table manners (no longer throws food on the ground) and learned to nap on her own. Most importantly, she has made many new friends and has had the experience of developing strong, positive relationships with adults outside her family. I know that ECDC has provided my daughter with a strong foundation that will help her successfully transition to another school.

Field Trip at Tilden Park

Oakland Zoo field trip

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Pirate Day

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Jean C.

200

2 years ago

My Own Montessori has been an incredible experience for our family. Our son started attending M.O.M. in 2022, and from the very beginning, we felt embraced by a caring and nurturing community. The staff at M.O.M. are not just educators; they are compassionate, dedicated individuals who genuinely care about each child's development. They have created a warm, welcoming environment that fosters independence and curiosity. The school adheres faithfully to the Montessori method, and this approach has been transformative for our son. We've seen him develop a curiosity about the world, and he is always excited to share the new knowledge he's gained. Each year has a theme that inevitably makes its way into our home life. During the geography year, our son insisted we print out flags from different countries and hang them around the house. During the botany year, he started to germinate seeds and care for the plants at home. Once, he took some butternut squash seeds from the kitchen and successfully grew an entire plant - to my surprise! The summer school theme was the human body, and he came home talking about how the kidneys work. The curriculum is thoughtfully designed, offering a mix of structured activities and free play that keeps children engaged and eager to learn. The indoor-outdoor space at M.O.M. is beautifully maintained, providing an environment where children can explore and play freely. The school also offers organic and vegetarian snack options, which is a wonderful bonus for health-conscious families. Additionally, the community of parents is vibrant and supportive, with plenty of opportunities to connect through school events and volunteer activities. In summary, My Own Montessori is a gem of a preschool, where children are not only educated but also cherished and supported in their growth. We highly recommend M.O.M. to any family looking for a nurturing and enriching early education experience. read more

Andreas T.

1 year ago

Our daughter (aged 3) has spent the past year at My Own Montessori (MOM), and we truly couldn't have asked for a better preschool experience. From the very beginning, she has felt safe, supported, and inspired. It shows in every aspect of her development. As soon as you walk into their classroom, there is a warm and welcoming feeling that I did not get from anywhere else. I knew this was the right place for our daughter. At MOM, learning is child-led, hands-on, and deeply respectful of each child's pace and individuality. Our daughter has thrived and learned everything from the alphabet, numbers, and early reading concepts to practical life skills like cleaning up after herself and caring for her environment. She's become more confident, independent, and socially aware. She raves about her teachers and classmates. The curriculum is incredibly well-rounded, including cultural studies, art, music, and even Spanish. We've seen her curiosity bloom as she's come home excited about new things she's explored. I also love that the program is structured as opposed to play based. We are so grateful to the amazing, caring team at MOM. The teachers have been truly wonderful and make the experience. They are all attentive, intentional, and genuinely passionate about nurturing my child. Our daughter is proud of herself and excited to go to school every day. If you're looking for a preschool experience, with wonderful teachers, that empowers children to grow through kindness, independence, and discovery, I can't recommend My Own Montessori enough. read more

My Own Montessori - preschools - Updated August 2026

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Growing Light Montessori School - Oakland

(21 reviews)

Wonderful Preschool! We've been at Growing Light for the…read morelast few years and love the school, teachers, and other families. Ms. Awa (the school director) leads a fantastic staff of dedicated teachers and we always feel that our kids are cared for, safe, and getting a great education. So happy that we are part of the GLM community.

It took me a few months to write this review. Mainly because it's hard to publicly comment on a…read moreplace where kind, loving people have cared for your children. No one wants their words to be seen as coming from a place of bitterness. But after nearly three years at GLMS, I think it's important to share an honest account of our experience so other parents can make informed choices. The good: Our daughter learned a lot during their time at GLMS. She developed strong foundational skills in letters, number sense, music, and social topics. She loved kinderdance! Many of the teachers were warm, nurturing, and truly loving some with a grandmotherly kindness that made us feel our kids were genuinely cared for. These teachers are the heart and soul of the school and a reason why we stayed as long as we did. The challenges: The school is poorly managed and lacks transparency. Communication is reactive rather than proactive, and parents are kept at arm's length from the people who spend the most time with their children. Teachers frequently leave, often without clear explanation. It's telling that parent access to classrooms was restricted well after COVID had ended and only changed after intervention from California Childcare Licensing. Leadership, particularly the owner and directors, tightly control communication between teachers and parents. It's not uncommon for them to intercept or filter conversations, making it difficult to have an open, productive dialogue about your child's development with their teacher. Many teachers appear fearful of management, which makes it hard to trust that your child's best interests always come first. GLMS is extremely overpriced for what it offers. Tuition is among the highest in the area (+34k / year), and there's also a mandatory $900 per-year "supply fee." With roughly 78 students, that's nearly $70,000 collected annually--yet the snacks, art materials, classrooms, playground, parking experiences don't reflect that investment. It's hard to justify those costs when the school's operations and transparency remain so lacking. GLMS struggles to balance what it's legally required to do with what's simply right for families and children. It's a school with kind teachers but poor leadership, inconsistent quality, and a lack of accountability. Parents--please do your due diligence. Review the public state licensing records, ask hard questions, and advocate for more transparency. The children and teachers deserve better.

Pacific Coast Montessori

(14 reviews)

Rockridge Montessori School

4.2

(15 reviews)

Fantastic school for your little ones! Our son has been attending since he was 1 year old and it…read morehas nothing short of a wonderful experience. When he started, he wasn't yet walking or talking and now he's almost 3 and has been through 2 classrooms (infant/toddler and now preschool). He's doing exceptionally well - is very verbal and independent - and has made great friendships with both his classmates and the teachers in each of the classrooms he's been in. For what it's worth - my sister and I both went to Montessori schools and that experience was so positive for my mother that she trained as a Montessori teacher and now runs a school (unfortunately in a different country). Since the Atlantic Ocean makes it hard for us to send our son there, we had to look for a suitable alternative near by that is true to Montessori and is well run. We've evaluated 10-15 different schools in the Berkeley/Oakland/Lamorinda area as we looked for the right spot for our son. Here are my favourite things about Rockridge Montessori- + Loving staff, extremely low turnover. The head teachers in each classroom that we've been part of have been there for over 10+ years - which speaks to how the school's administration look after and invest in their teachers. This is very different to other schools where turnover is very high. + AMS (American Montessori Society) trained teachers, plenty of Montessori time and activities from learning letters to practical life (cooking!). + Very clear and protective care policies for your child. For example, they disallow teachers babysitting students on the weekend to avoid favouritism. + Involved parent community - lots of social events and birthday parties. We spend a lot of time with our son's friends and their parents. + Well maintained facilities. Parking is easy, the playground is fantastic (and kids get to spend a lot of time outside, which I love). + Tonnes of communication. It's been very easy to get updates on our son (which was very helpful during those anxious first few weeks). The teachers update us on his progress throughout the week and have been a big help when it came to potty training him. + Diverse student body + Parent friendly hours (7:30 to 6pm) and - starting next year - prepared hot lunches for students. + Location is very close to BART, if you commute into San Francisco - about a 10 minute walk (or you can park at BART parking for $3 - post COVID there is usually space until past 9am). In conclusion - we're very happy we made the decision to send our son to RMS and would heartily recommend it to anyone who was considering it.

My younger toddler son went to Rockridge Montessori for about six months in 2021-2022…read more I thought about posting my experience for awhile, hoping other parents can make a decision. As I know it is difficult to find a caring, loving and trusting place for your young one. In the beginning of the process we were taken care really nicely. Paul and the other partner were communicative and encouraging. As soon as my son started we realized the challenges. 1) they have a lot of holidays/time offs. It almost felt like a school with a general timeframe. We ended up taking a lot of time off and asked family support since the school would be closed occasionally for things like; planning, cleaning, holiday, etc. 2) lots of plastics. Toys outside are plastic which is not a Montessori way. Inside, they were using a lot of plastic materials too. 3) I'm sad to say this but unfortunately teachers are not good at communicating. We struggled and we often hear other parents having trouble understanding what teachers were trying to say or they would be shy or not interested in providing updates. 4) A few times there were incidents in the class regarding biting. We were not communicated immediately. We were told when we picked my son up, and that felt really bad. On top of this, the teacher did not share a lot as she said she was not there when it happened. The other parent shared with us that his daughter was also got bitten and they were not communicating with much. Once we reached out to Paul, his response was very disappointing. He did not take any responsibility on the communication part and did not follow up with any action items. 5) my kid was not necessarily introduced to Montessori way of learning; neither myself. I was disappointed with teachers and the school overall after the teacher conference. We spend 15 mins online and neither teachers were able to communicate and tell us what our son is like during the day, how we can help him. It felt like some daycare. I know lots of good people work there too, so I wanted to keep my experience a bit neutral but these were the main points why we left that school. It is in a nice location but the education is not good. Paul was not engaging and helping. His emails were not supportive; more so cutting things. He did not like if we questioned anything. Also we always sensed that "you can leave if you want" kind of attitude along with, "you signed a contract for a year, so good luck" It is hard to find a good place for your kid, especially in the bay. However, I would like to say, this is not a place I'd send any kids I know. Not worth your time, money and energy. Good luck.

Little Elephant Montessori School

4.3

(12 reviews)

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4.2

(17 reviews)

I sent my child here for less than a full school year, from the age of two to close to three years…read moreold. It's a beautiful school with great teachers. All that you want out of a Montessori education is here. He got a lot out of it and usually wanted to stay at the end of the day. He learned many interesting skills and they took good care of him. The only reason we left is that we had to move far away. Why 4 stars? In a word, it's expensive. The tuition is really high. It costs more than college. One kid at the age of 2 going full time was $1791/month. Add to this various fees. Also add to this that they are closed usually several times a month, and you have to find alternate child care or sometimes they have alternate care for $80/day (!) on top of the regular tuition. If you want to pay for a lunch through their program, it costs $6. Granted, it's organic and locally sourced, but seriously, $6 for a 2 year old's lunch that consists of a few steamed vegetables and a tiny slice of pizza? It was a drawback for me.

I really was impressed with this school for the two years my daughter attended. Her teachers worked…read morewith her, especially when her behavior got squirrelly during the worst days of my divorce from her abusive father. I LOVED this school. I raved about it to anyone who would listen. However, what happened at the end of her second year has led me to give them this negative review. My ex was on the hook for school fees per court order so he went in to the headmistress Helen Campbell and the business manager Nancy Haskins and told them I'd forged his signature. They had just offered her a 66% scholarship so she could finish her kindergarten cycle and prevent even more upheaval in her life. Rather than talking to me about it, they broke the contract and categorically removed her financial aid and dropped her enrollment. I could have straightened the whole thing out, even provided them with a copy of the forensic document examiner's report that I got after the fact showing my ex had manipulated them, but they weren't interested. To add insult to injury, they knew they were in trouble for breaking the contract so they made up a bunch of stuff about me in a letter to Community Care Licensing and distorted events that had actually happened to make me out to be a problem parent and that was why they broke the contract only weeks after they'd signed it. They provided a copy of this letter to my ex, who used it in custody court and then proceeded to make life even more miserable for me and my children. I was never informed by the school exactly why they'd dropped me. I just got a short, hostile phone call from Nancy Haskins that said it was all my fault and I could have prevented it if I'd wanted to. I didn't hear the "real" reason until my ex filed their letter in court as an exhibit in a pleading. During the first year that I was struggling to survive after leaving my husband, and dealing with his reindeer games, my daughter's teacher was very sympathetic, telling me that if she "had to choose a side, it would be mine." She compared my ex to Hans Reiser, whose children with Nina Reiser had also attended GLM. I can't help wondering if they treated Nina Reiser like they did me, and pulled their support from her when she needed it most. Sad to say, this teacher also ended up writing a distorted letter about me and that betrayal hurt the worst of all. I'm pretty sure I glimpsed her at Summitt Hospital last week; when she saw me, she turned around and walked the other way as fast as she could go. So at least she has the grace to be ashamed of herself. An apology would be nicer, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm most angry with this school and their unprofessional treatment of my child because they completely dropped us from alumni lists so we don't get invited to things like the Back to School Carnival, and all the parents of my daughter's friends started avoiding us and wouldn't set up play dates with her. I think it's despicable that my poor kid, who needed stability in her life, lost not only a stable educational situation, but all of her beloved friends in one fell swoop. This is after taking thousands and thousands of dollars of her savings for her education the previous two years. I guess once the money ran out, their concern for her welfare ran out too. They made all this noise about wanting only what is best for my child, and then stabbed her in the back in a most despicable manner. Nancy and Helen, if you're reading, you ought to be ashamed of yourselves. I hope that all parents reading this review think long and hard about getting involved with this school. The underhanded, malicious behavior of the administration of the school is something that should be avoided. In a word, sleazy. There are schools just as good for less money.

Oakland Montessori School

3.7

(17 reviews)

Our daughter Mabel was at OMS for about 2 1/2 years, from 2-5. It's no exaggeration that OMS was…read moreone of the best parts of our life during that whole time. She has thrived there, making friends, loving her teachers, learning independence, learning about the world and just plain having fun. We looked at a few different Montessori schools as we were thinking about preschool, and a huge part of why we chose OMS was the amazing outdoor space. There are two separate classrooms (one for 2 year olds, one for 3-5) and they are separated by a huge outdoor space, so rare to find in urban preschools. It's fully fenced, safe and provides for children to have so much room to roam, explore and play. From the time she was two she was able to explore and have real independence. It was a very special part of her time there. The teachers are also wonderful. They are kind, caring and make the kids feel taken care of and safe while also giving them space to form friendships and choose what appeals to them. We'd frequently talk about how our daughter was a 'little citizen' at school: the manners they teach them, the ability to be in a group and interact with others, the skills to sit in a circle, pay attention, be heard, share. As she gets ready to go to kindergarten this year, we are so grateful that our time at OMS prepared her for this next phase. She is on the young side for K but we feel confident that she is ready for it and a HUGE part of this is her time at OMS. We'd recommend this school to anyone.

We pulled our two-year-old daughter out of this school within two months of her starting…read more Other negative reviews of OMS on Berkeley Parents Network and Yelp mention the same sorts of things we experienced. We regret not fully reading those reviews before enrolling. This was not our first preschool experience or our first Montessori experience. Our daughter was happily enrolled at another Montessori preschool in Oakland for a year. We had no real issues with that school, and our daughter seemed comfortable and engaged there. We moved to another part of town and wanted to switch schools to avoid a long commute. I was wowed during our OMS tour by the outdoor play area and the promises made by one of the school leaders. In reality, this school can be unsafe, unstructured, and understaffed, especially in the toddler class. Two good toddler teachers left within two weeks of the start of the school year and told parents they had been bullied by school leadership. Reviewing old reviews on BPN and Yelp, it seems this is not the first time good teachers have left in questionable circumstances. In the teachers' absence, a parade of substitutes came and went. There was very little continuity of care for the youngest students for weeks. One day, we saw a teacher roughly grab a child's arm in an inappropriate manner. The boy was not in danger, putting others in danger, or doing anything that warranted this treatment. We ultimately pulled our daughter out after repeatedly seeing kids unsupervised near a gate atop a steep flight of stairs--a gate they could open. At one point, we watched a toddler unlatch the gate independently and go down the stairs without a single OMS staffer watching him. We informed them as to where he was, and no one seemed to take it seriously. At pickup, the kids sometimes seemed to be left to their own devices largely and sort of roaming around aimlessly. We know Montessori involves a lot of independent play and exploration. That's great and an approach we intentionally sought for our kid. However, this felt more like understaffing and disorganization. Our daughter frequently talked about kids crying at school and missing their parents. We didn't put excessive stock in this; toddlers say lots of things and aren't always reliable narrators. But we saw it with our own eyes at pick up. Kids were crying, and no one was appropriately responding to them or helping them through their feelings. The response was sort of clinical and rote. Since moving to a new preschool, she talks about fun things that happened at school and says sweet things about her teachers. She never talks about kids crying and missing their parents. Basic communication with parents was awful. Emails were confusing and haphazard, and critical scheduling information was poorly communicated. The only positive thing I can say about the administration is that they returned our full deposit and unused balance. In short, do your homework and really look into this school's online reviews before enrolling your kid here. It's a shame that this beautiful campus isn't better run.

Broadway Children's School

(51 reviews)

Our youngest child went here for the PACT program and it was a wonderful experience. The teachers…read morewere sweet and very attentive and had great interventions and teaching moments (for the kids and me!) throughout the day. Having had an older kid go through a different program I'm familiar with the stress that can sometimes accompany a co-op preschool but they made the experience pleasant, judgment free, and safe for everyone! I highly recommend the school!

Our daughter has been attending BCSO, in the PACT classroom for a year now and words cannot…read moredescribe how much we love this school. First and foremost, the teachers are very caring and attentive, not only to children but to parents as well. Since it is a play-based school, different toys are provided each time we attend class. Hence, children have plenty of learning opportunities through play such as working on their fine motor skills, social skills, and exploring different ways of playing. Having a nurturing environment for our daughter to begin her education journey is very important to us. We are very grateful that we've found BCSO as they continue to exceed our expectations. Our daughter wakes up in the morning wanting to go to school and leaves school with a big smile on her face. She had made tremendous progress with her learning development as well. Lastly, we recently relocated to another city, but decided to have our daughter continue attending BCSO. This school is truly a gem!

Little Sprouts Preschool