My daughter is in her second year at Native School and we cannot say enough good things about it!…read moreUnfortunately there has been some bad publicity because a former employee (trying to steal students away to a competing school she was opening) fed parents misinformation that scared them, including launching a really personal attack against the amazing director, Shannon, who is an incredibly transparent and thoughtful preschool director. She hosts regular meetings for parents to talk to her and will also always be happy to hop on a meeting any afternoon to discuss any questions and concerns. The program itself stood out to me immediately for being a really good supportive model for development. The students are not playing "Lord of the Flies" out in the woods, they are guided and supported by amazing teachers who spend their afternoons writing documentation of the learning in their classrooms and designing emergent curriculum. We could not be happier with the school we chose and our daughter loves school passionately. We have even decided to keep her in Native School another year instead of moving to the free public TK because of how much we love the program and the teachers.

***Warning to parents*** My experience with the teachers…read morewas generally good but you could tell there was a disconnect between them and upper management due to the high turnover rate and disruption in teacher continuity. The frequent and disruptive staff changes significantly effected my 4 year old son who was upset to see teachers come and go. At the end of our semester for 2024-2025 it became worse and substitutes/new faces were very common. We were told by some teachers that quit that safety regs/guidelines were not being followed(especially on rainy/stormy days). All that being said, we decided to pull our child out from the Fall 2025 semester. We had already paid for it but we figured we would be returned our reservation money due to the circumstances. Management refused our first attempt to reimburse us even after my child's spot was filled(Bad business etiquette). So here we are with our reviews and our next steps will be small claims. In the contract it states that they will maintain a consistent and properly staffed program...That was not our experience.

With my background in developmental psychology, I'm definitely picky about early childhood…read moreeducation, and Casa Montessori has been an absolute perfect fit for my daughter! They do an amazing job with the Montessori approach, setting up activities that really encourage creativity, independence, and choice. I love how balanced it is, too--there's a great mix of classroom time, outdoor play, and art projects. The positive impact at home has been huge. My daughter is constantly coming back with new vocabulary and skills that motivate her to clean up after herself. The vibe there is so warm and sweet. Every afternoon, she loves saying goodbye to her teachers and the school bunny before we head home. They also go all out to make celebrations feel extra special. She absolutely loves being part of this community, and couldn't ask for more as a parent.

This was my 21 month Old's first experience at Montessori (she also has never done daycare) and as…read morea SAHM, I was incredibly nervous as to her reaction to the changes. Jacky was AMAZING in taking the time to meet with me 1:1 to discuss all my fears, answer questions and ensure my daughter had a wonderful experience. Ms. Vanessa and Ms. Areli are so supportive and nurturing and care for all the littles in their space. They're great about calling if your little one is having a rough day, and keeping you updated. We're moving so we had no choice but to leave Casa, and we're SO bummed! We highly recommend. The space is beautiful, inviting, relaxing and secure.

It was actually an old draft that had been sitting in my account. I realized I never posted before,…read moreso I went ahead and posted it now. I'm not carrying anything. All good here. Just thought I'd share my experience with others so they aren't surprised. I've had people ask me what I thought about Highland and I've told them, so it seemed fitting to make it public to warn people. Now you are making things up. No profanity was used. How did you even come up with that? You weren't there. Did she make that up or did you? And what disrespect are you talking about? Me being mad? Yes, I was mad, but there was no disrespect. Raising my voice a little out of frustration that I had just told the teacher about my kid's reflux, then less than an hour later I had to pick her up for what you even confirmed was spit up? I missed my deadline and had to rearrange my whole week because of that. You told me I could bring my kid back that same day once you confirmed that the teacher didn't even know what spit up is (yet she is watching 10+ kids all day long). But I refused because I had been called so many times to pick up my child in the past. My kid has since been at another preschool and I haven't been called a single time to pick her up. If anything, your school and the teacher had a clear disrespect of my time and my job on many occasions when you would call me and require me to pick up my kid for silly reasons. Can any other reviewers confirm that this has happened to them as well? I am sure there are some that would say so themselves. I totally understand what I committed to when registering. I didn't know that my kid would be sent home again, and after so many times, I just had enough. I asked for a refund of the deposit, but you refused despite the mistake on your staff's part. That's ok. I figured since that is the case, then an honest review is fair.

We are so happy with our Highland experience. I was very anxious about sending my daughter to…read morepreschool for the first time, and we toured several facilities to see what was out there and what would be the best fit for us. As soon as we toured Highland, I knew we had found our place. The teachers are so incredibly kind and nurturing, and the Reggio Emilia play-based philosophy they follow is so wonderful. We love how much outdoor time our daughter gets, and she loves telling us about everything she's learning. In addition to the classrooms, there is a garden, mud kitchen, art atelier, and critters for the kids to play with / learn about including Tortilla the tortoise and Larry the chinchilla. Our daughter has been there for nearly a year now and we just couldn't be more pleased. As a mom, it's so important to trust the school and caregivers that interact with your child/children, and Highland is a truly wonderful place to send your kids.

This nature school has been an absolute gift for our family. Our kids came home happy, muddy, and…read morefull of stories every day. The staff is caring, the environment is peaceful and inspiring, and the learning is hands-on and meaningful. It's everything we hoped for and more--highly recommend!

We have been searching for an alternative way of learning for our daughter and contemplated home…read moreschool until we found Wild Wander Forest School. It's exactly what we wanted for our child. My daughter age 5 attended the summer camp and she absolutely loved it and thrived with learning in nature. We can't wait for fall school to begin!

We absolutely love Pilgrim! I was going to send my 3 year old son somewhere else, but decided to…read morecheck out Pilgrim last minute before committing and I'm so glad we did! The entire staff are so calm and sweet, the playground is amazing, they have so many awesome toys, and offer art and activities for the kids everyday. They also make holidays so fun and special for the kids. I wish I would have sent my older son here too. There are so many preschools to choose from in Carlsbad, but this one is really centered around the kids and I am just so pleased with the entire experience. I will miss this sweet school when my son goes to TK next year.

We sent both of our children from the ages of 2 to 4 to Pilgrim and we cannot speak highly enough…read moreof the school. It is such a warm/homey environment, and the teachers are so incredibly loving and caring--Miss Katia, Miss Sarah, and Miss Karina have such special places in our hearts. The school is play-based so the kids have many opportunities to explore various activities at their own pace, to use their imaginations, to play outside for a significant amount of time each day. Though the school is at a church, there is no religious curriculum, which our family preferred. Our children loved the school and were always so happy at the end of the day. We can't recommend Pilgrim enough!

Sent my first two children here when it first opened at 2 1/2 years old. They attended until…read morekindergarten Three years later I asked to enroll my last child who is now two, as I would of liked to have all my children attend the same preschool. There was no loyalty to me as a parent who helped them establish their fledgling facility. I understand having no availability at the moment but I would appreciate working with a parent who had been loyal, was there from the beginning and helped increase their enrollment by sending many Carlsbad parents to them. Not as much as even a response. Just heads up, the teachers they hire are kind and great with the kids but the owners have always come across as cold and uncaring. More concerned about the bottom dollar than the children's best interest.

Our child has attended preschool at Goddard School since 2023 and I only have amazing things to say…read moreabout our experience. All of the staff go above and beyond for the kids every day. The school itself is clean, safe and welcoming and it's in a nice area. My daughter is excited to go to school everyday, has amazing relationships with her teachers and has made friends! Her teachers work with her to break her out of her shell and she has grown so much while attending school. She comes home everyday excited to tell us about the activities she did, what the kids are up to in class, new things she learned and how much fun she had. She loves the different playgrounds, the art activities, her teachers and so much more. I would say that for our daughter, the price has been worth it since she has grown so much and she has been equipped with so many great tools for life and school. Thank you to every staff member for having a worry free and enriching environment for children and making a difference in my daughter's life. *Tadpoles is the App that is used to send photos and updates to parents and I love getting update throughout the day and daily reports to see what our child is up to and to have conversations with them about their day and projects.

I'm a grandma to three kids who've attended here. I've never seen a better school in my life!…read moreClean, nice teachers, newer modern school. They even have healthy school lunches (unlike public school). My mother was a Special Ed teacher, so I grew up hearing about education. I'm soooo impressed! And grateful my grandkids had such a great head start!

When we relocated to the area, one of our biggest concerns was finding a high-quality preschool. We…read morespent hours reading reviews, touring schools, and agonizing over the decision. Ultimately, we were referred to Carlsbad Country Day School by an acquaintance--and we are so grateful we followed that recommendation. From the moment we toured the school, we were impressed. The staff is incredibly warm and welcoming, the campus is clean and beautiful, and the overall atmosphere is calm, joyful, and thoughtfully run. The curriculum is fantastic--our kids enjoy yoga, sports, reading class, and so much more. The school also provides healthy and delicious meals daily, which has been a huge relief for us as busy parents. Even better? The kids love the food! As for their teachers--Mrs. Gina and Ms. Stephanie are absolutely wonderful. You can tell they truly care about their students and pour so much effort into making each day special. Mrs. Gina creates such a positive and engaging learning environment for our older child, and Ms. Stephanie brings so much warmth, fun, and care to our younger child's classroom. We feel so lucky they have these amazing educators in their lives. Our kids are genuinely excited to go to school each day. One of them won't even say goodbye at drop-off, and at pickup, it's like pulling teeth to get them to leave--honestly, we take that as a great sign! The outdoor space is spacious and full of activities to keep them busy and happy. The school also hosts adorable events throughout the year--like a mother/son dance, a Christmas party, and more--which really make families feel connected. They also offer professional school photos twice a year, and the sibling pictures are to die for--some of the cutest we've ever had taken. We truly feel like we won the lottery finding Carlsbad Country Day School. Our only wish is that they went through elementary school too!

This preschool has made such a meaningful difference in my child's development. It's exciting to…read moresee the photos they share throughout the day that show just how much my child is learning. The school has helped my child speak better, socialize more, paint, and engage in activities that truly support their growth. Every teacher we've had so far has been amazing. They're patient, caring, and create an environment where my child feels completely safe and supported. I'm grateful for the love and effort the staff puts into each day.

I think this school is amazing. The teachers do a great job balancing learning and fun. I've seen…read moreso much growth in my 3 year old since he started here. His behavior has improved significantly. He is happy and excited to go to school every day. The Principal and VP's are very involved and work hard to ensure every child is getting their needs met. I highly recommend this school!!