Our daughter was a founding student at Modern Schoolhouse in Eagle Rock. She attended TMS from when…read moreshe was 18 months until she graduated as a 4-year-old (when our family moved from LA to Denver). It's difficult to capture the gratitude and appreciation we have for Sue and her team in words. Modern Schoolhouse was an integral, joyful part of our family's life for several years. The teachers expertly crafted a safe, nurturing, and rigorous environment that provided a strong foundation for our daughter to blossom and grow. I feel like we will always look back on our enrollment at Modern Schoolhouse as one of the best parenting decisions we've ever made. A few things stand out about TMS: CURRICULUM - Our daughter was enrolled in full-time childcare for a year prior to Modern Schoolhouse. However, it was unclear whether her previous caregivers were working toward any kind of goal (e.g., Kindergarten readiness) or if she was learning anything. That changed the instant we enrolled at TMS. I remember feeling skeptical when Sue asked us to purchase a special pack of flashcards. However, a few months later our 1.5 year-old daughter was recognizing the alphabet and making letter sounds at home. We were legitimately shocked! Preschool years are so important for kids to develop foundational skills and get broad exposure to different topics. Modern Schoolhouse delivers a learning experience that feels ambitious, but not forced. Our daughter was always engaged with the current unit (e.g., marine life, camping, etc.) and excited to go to school. That is the best feeling as a parent! The regular assessments and parent/teacher conferences helped us understand her progress and make a smooth transition to our new school in Colorado. CARE - At the same time that preschool aged children are exploring new academic concepts, they're also learning how to interact and play with other children. Modern Schoolhouse does such an excellent job helping their students communicate, manage their emotions, and engage with their classmates. At TMS our daughter learned things like how to ask for space and differentiate between good vs. bad choices. Teacher/staff transitions are inevitable and unavoidable in early childhood learning. What stood out to us about TMS was the quality and consistency of the team over the years and across classrooms. The teachers at Modern Schoolhouse helped us through the various ups and downs of life with a toddler and major transitions like potty training. Now that we're no longer enrolled at TMS, we're realizing that we took for granted how proactive and responsive the teachers were with their communication. The "ouch reports" from the playground, the quick responses to questions, it's all so important for parents - especially if this is your first childcare experience. COMMUNITY - Lastly, I want to highlight the broader Modern Schoolhouse community. Our daughter became very close with several other girls in her classroom and over time we became friends with their parents as well. TMS families are diverse, kind, and welcoming. I appreciated the music day potluck, annual art show, graduation, and the various other ways that Modern Schoolhouse brought everyone together to celebrate the students. Thank you Modern Schoolhouse! We will forever be grateful to you for the positive impact you had on our family.

We learned early on how incredibly important and foundational the learning ages of 2-5 were going…read moreto be for our son's growth. Until the age of two, we were able to nurture his love of creativity through art, get him engaged in reading and music, and keep him active and independent while learning at home, but his social-emotional growth needed a community like Modern Schoolhouse to truly develop. We met another family at his favorite playground that had an AMAZING experience at Modern Schoolhouse and their daughter, who was academically gifted and raised with similar philosophies, was thriving under their care. We enrolled and discovered for ourselves that Modern Schoolhouse was indeed an absolute gem for child development. Our son entered after turning two, and he was very shy/reserved at the time. The talking, dancing, singing, bilingual artist that blew us away with his funny ideas and love of learning at home, needed help expressing himself in the larger group. Over the next several years, Leonardo was able to grow and thrive his ability to emotionally self-regulate, from having a 'safe space' at home to being able to identify what he was feeling and how to 'calm his body,' to listening to others and respecting common space. What we didn't anticipate was not just the top quality of the school, the clean aesthetic spaces, and the exceptional teachers (Teacher Alicia from class 3 was truly amazing!!), but also the like minded and kind community that became a key part of our son's social life. During our son's first years at home, we studied Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia- instituting some principles of each in our approach at home. It wasn't until we met Sue and her philosophies at Modern Schoolhouse did we see some of these same philosophies embodied in an American child care setting; and we must have interviewed or toured at 5 or more local schools before finding Modern Schoolhouse. The core beliefs consist of the idea that children are competent, capable, curious individuals with hundreds of ways of self expression. The role of the school and family should be creating a structured, clean, and aesthetic environment that is conducive stimulating exploration and discovery. Teachers in this sense guide and foster collaboration rather than just 'delivering information.' Giving our son a new challenge was hard at first, but Sue and her staff were quick to offer suggestions and outside resources so we could reinforce some lessons at home, especially around his development of social/emotional skills like managing anger, dealing with disappointment, and learning to communicate when he needed space. He also was given the chance to learn how to build relationships and have positive interactions with new friends. Each 'season' and month had different themes that would be clearly delivered in monthly/quarterly emails along with chances to meet with teachers on child progress in key development areas of language, tracing, use of scissors, how to put on shoes/jackets, counting, class participation/listening, and emotional self expression. By class 3 (3 years old and above), our son was giving 'show and tell' presentations, using the 'sharing bee' to discuss their weekend, and playing inventive games to stimulate imagination and curiosity. Through the use of brightwheel, we were always shown photos and videos of our son having fun with friends and doing some fun activity. The school also offered many events at the school such as the "annual art show," "parent and me" day, and music sessions from Teacher Gaia culminating in a student led music performance (the cutest!). This year all the 4 classes made their own animal costumes and acted out various Disney themes. It was extraordinary to see him flourish and thrive under Teacher Alicia in class 3, who is truly remarkable for her ability to connect to kids and meet them where they are on the journey. By the end he was more confident in his presentations and even singing his favorite Disney songs Karaoke style to the class! Everything ended on a wonderful note with his graduation and small speech to parents and the graduating class. We were given an opportunity for a graduation photoshoot and his 'family book' with messages from all of the teachers as a keepsake that he created during his time there. As he graduated before many of the others in class 3, everyone created a special hand painted art for him with with the handprints of all his friends. It is bittersweet to go onto the next chapter, but he graduated school scoring high in every single metric of development, and he easily was interviewed and accepted into an international private school. Thanks you for being such a key part of his childhood journey and we hope to stay in touch with Leonardo and our growing family!

We absolutely love this preschool. Our daugther started when she was 2 and we could not be more…read moregrateful for the experience it has given her. The focus on empathy, kindness, and meaningful daily activites has made such a positive impact on her growth and confidence. The teachers are truly wonderful, warm, attentive and deeply invested in the children. The food is incredible and thoughtfully prepared, and the sense of community is really special. This school is so much more than a preschool and we highly recommend it!

River East is an excellent preschool. The entire staff are very nurturing and caring toward each…read morechild. They put us at complete ease when dropping our 2 year old off for her first out of home childcare / school experience. The activities and ethos of the school are uniquely intentional and researched. Every day is curated to focus on the appropriate phases of early childhood development. At River East my child is safe, learning, eating well and developing beautiful friendships with her peers and teachers. We couldn't be happier that we found this school.

My family is back at Rose Scharlin for my second child. It has been a truly wonderful experience to…read morebe back on the yard, but with an entirely new group of children and families. My youngest is genuinely obsessed with school and would go there every day if she could. My oldest is going into 4th grade this year and her elementary school consistently has high praise for her social/emotional skills, which I largely attribute to her time at Rose Scharlin.

I can't say enough great things about Rose Scharlin. It's such an amazing community filled with…read morewonderful parents and supportive teachers. The social and emotional development that we've experienced since we started a year ago, has been life-changing. There's no doubt in my mind that I'm a better parent because of my experiences at Rose Scharlin. It is a commitment, but totally worth it if you have the bandwidth.

We LOVE Highland Park Montessori! The director is awesome and you can tell that she TRULY cares…read moreabout what Montessori means. Her passion for making sure the students excell will blow your mind. -- When she shared her experience in running other Montessori schools in New York we just knew that we were in the right place. We receive so much more than any other school we've looked into. Our child is excited to go to preschool every day and we can tell she's learning so much. So happy to have found them.

Here's what I can say about Lilo and her style of teaching:…read more She leads with love and respect for the child, always. Our son learned from her for almost two years and her patience, support and belief in him allowed him to grow exponentially in that time. She is consistently creative with her lessons, incorporating art, music, and yoga, which we loved seeing our son incorporate into his non school time activities. He has used the breath work he learned from Lilo to calm himself down during moments when it is needed. He has even taught us to take a moment to collect ourselves! That is because of Lilo. Lilo takes the time to get to know a child and will incorporate their passions into lesson plans. Our son loves trains and train lines, so she worked with him on his writing and spelling by allowing him to create a train line using the words he wanted to learn. She is incredibly creative and in tune with every child. No one size fits all approach with her! We appreciate how level headed Lilo is when dealing with children and the emotions that they have. She is patient and allows for a safe, loving space to work through what those emotions are and at the end of the day she understands that each child is working through things on their own timeline. She expects respect and love from children (as that's what she leads with), but ultimately is realistic with expectations. Children are children and her chill is infectious. Lilo creates a safe, loving environment that allows for children to flourish. If our son didn't have to grow up we would be with Lilo until the end of time!

We have been part of the Grandview family for over 6 years now. My youngest will be finishing up…read morehis last year here. This school is a gem! What we love the most is that the school is play based and child centered. Kids get to explore while they learn. The school provides a large sand yard , bike yard as well as a large indoor gym for those cold/rainy days. Forever thankful for Grandview's help in instilling the love of play, creation and imagination in my kids. Have to also mention that the school director is very open and receptive to parent/family concerns and suggestions. Thank you Grandview, we will miss you!

We love this school! They have a huge outdoor area and a big indoor gym where the kids can play…read morewhen it rains or it's too hot to play outside. All the teachers are so kind and loving and they do a great job with the kids. My older one has been going there for 1.5 years and my younger one is starting as soon as he turns 2. I've looked at a lot of pre schools and this is hands down the best one. I'm so happy my son gets to get there every day and learn in a fun and nurturing environment. They teach them so much there. I continue to be impressed by this school.

We sent our child here from age 2.5 to 4, and we loved every minute! The teaching staff is well…read morequalified and even worked with us on social emotional coaching and toilet learning. We loved participating in family and community events, where we could connect with other parents in the neighborhood. Our child was able to do so much independently as a result of attending Blossom... she was cutting with scissors beyond Kindergarten requirements at age 3! I've since recommended Blossom to many other friends and incoming families, and we continue to keep in touch and return to the school to visit.

Our daughter was part of the first class at Blossom and we adore everything about the school. It…read moreis a warm and welcoming environment. When our daughter graduated last year we were sad to leave. The teachers are so devoted to their students, the Montessori curriculum and the school community. If ever there was an issue or a concern it was addressed immediately. They also created a wonderful community, help the parents get to know each other, I am still friends with the other parents, and Blossom was works with families who need financial assistance. I noticed there is a 1-star review. I don't think their child attended Blossom. Our experience is the opposite of what they expressed. We loved all the teachers and our daughter was completely prepared for TK when she left Blossom, though I never wanted to leave.

I have a 4 year old soon to be 5 and a 2 year old turning 3 in July..and I must say that I am so…read moreblessed that both my children attend this school. They both have only been here 10 months and they have both grown so much. The love for God and for the children is definitely present and I feel very safe and happy to leave my children here everyday. Ms. Norma is the director and shes been very helpful with all my needs. She's very understanding and will work with your schedule. I also give Ms Katherine big kudos, she's the 2 year old teacher. I must say she is the most loving and patient teacher I have ever met. She gives the little ones lots of love and comfort. My son cried for a month when he first started but ms Katherine always comforted him and made him feel safe, she always assured him mommy was coming back. Ms Katherine is also in charge of the potty training...as a working parent I must say that I'm so happy I found a school that included potty training.. ms Katherine did a fantastic job. Now my son instead of crying says bye mommy! he loves being here. The 4 year old class had some turn over but now it seems to be pretty stable and both ms Lupe and Ms Merissa do a wonderful job together in getting the kids ready for kindergarten. My daughter is now writing her 8 letter name and is starting to read. Little by little the center is doing its best to improve their facility...and I'm more than happy to be part of their growth.

This preschool has been amazing for not just our son, but for the entire family!…read more We started our son going here right after he turned 2. He's now 2.5, so we've got half a year experience there and love it! Upon visiting the school for the first time and also when we went back to turn in his forms, he cried when it was time to leave because he wanted to stay!!! We've done short days, medium length days, and super long days, and he's done well in every case. The school's flexibility with my varying work schedule is one of my favorite things about it - I've been able to vary which days my son goes to school and how long when I need to. Katherine, the 2-year-old teacher, is the toddler whisperer...the way she keeps multiple toddlers' attention and interest while maintaining calm is unbelievable...plus she's warm and comforting (holding, hugging, or carrying children who need it in the moment) which is so important in my opinion because they're so little! She's always got new, fun, exciting activities and crafts planned for the kids that they are so proud of and excited to tell about/show off. You can tell she loves what she does and she's at the top of her game, for sure. The facility inside is just lovely and full of fun experiences and learning centers. I especially love how they bake and cook with the kids in the kitchen sometimes. (They made and then ate a birthday cake for Dr. Seuss' birthday, for example...how cute is that?!) Outdoor facility isn't as nice as the indoor facility, but they do get the kids outside a lot when it's nice - bubble play, water play, bikes, playground, lunch outside - which is really nice. They are truly super supportive of potty training at the child's own pace (and changing diapers if that's where the child is at)...I'm so grateful they didn't require pull ups when we were training my son. He had a couple of minor accidents there in his underwear, but he finished potty training quickly and confidently because it was supported at school the same as at home. To top ALL of these wonderful things off...the kids really do learn - even at 2! BUT Katherine never forces them to do more than they have the interest/attention for...it's a beautiful thing watching her teach them. And so fun the way our son uses what he's learned at home - breaks out into songs he's learned there, picks up a quarter and says "Washington," counts, points out letters, etc. My son was a late talker - barely using words when he started school just past age 2, but his speech began improving and expanding so much once he started school...I really do think it was a big help for him growing in that area. Norma, who runs the school, is a lovely woman who truly cares about the kids. It's a very special place...you'd be lucky to have your child there... Oh - and it's THE MOST AFFORDABLE preschool I've found in the area, too.

My three children attended the neighborhood nursery school from 1988 through 1993. In retrospect,…read moreit took me six years to graduate from nursing school. My three children grew up to be wonderful, caring adults. Their formative years were blessed with the experience of young children are growing up in a loving and productive atmosphere. The opportunity to bond with my children over those six years was invaluable. I was fortunate enough to have a work schedule that would enable me to miss every Monday for six years.

This is a truly special school, and attending has been an incredible experience for my family. The…read moreschool is completely outdoors, and the children get to explore and learn at their own pace. The space is beautiful, the teachers are incredible, and it provides a really magical preschool experience that our entire family will treasure. It is a co-op, so you need to be able to devote time to helping out with the school, but the rewards you get in return make it well worth the effort. In his time there, my son has really thrived, and become a confident, capable and thoughtful kid. He has made good friends, and we have become very close with many of the families.The school is a wonderful community, full of supportive teachers and parents, where you get to be a part of your child's education and growth. After the isolation of the pandemic, it has restored my faith in humanity to be a part of such a warm, welcoming place, where everyone truly cares about the development and well-being of all the children. If you have a child about to turn 3, check it out, take a tour, and you might love it too!