I write this review from a unique perspective as I was actually a preschooler at this very…read morelocation. As a matter of fact, I was a part of their very first graduating class of 1993! It warms my heart to see that Columbia is still in operation after all these years. When I had attended, it was a brand new preschool and truly the best of its kind. The venue was a large room sectioned off into areas per age range. I recall the place always being immaculately clean and full of awesome, educational books and toys. The part I feel had impacted me the greatest was the wonderful, dynamic staff. I still remember my teachers by name, though I'm sure they have all moved on by now. Four year olds are total sponges when it comes to learning, and I feel that the Columbia staff did a commendable job at preparing me for kindergarten. My days were filled with educational activities which involved a good balance of learning, art, singing, and play. I recall entering kindergarten and being at the top of my class. I cannot comment on the preschool's structure as it is today, but can confidently admit that it was one of the best experiences of my early childhood years. When I have children of my own, I'd wholeheartedly enroll them here. Thanks for the memories, Columbia!

We couldn't be happier as the parents of a thriving 20 month old who absolutely loves his teachers…read moreand the daily activities at this wonderful center! Structure, education, socialization and the highest level of care. Look no further and reach out today!

We have fond memories of Little Shining Stars Preschool. It was safe, small, and affordable…read more There were field trips and plenty of activities for the little ones. Ms. Laurel is the big shining star and models what it is to be kind, patient, and responsible. She is so approachable and there is no wonder why there is usually a waiting list. Don't knock on the front door of the house. During business hours, enter through the side gate to the backyard on Marlene and enter the preschool door in the backyard. Love this place!

Our family feels so incredibly fortunate that we found Little Shining Stars Preschool. Our daughter…read moreis currently a student there and the care and attention and education she is receiving is incredible thanks to Miss Laurel and her co-teacher Mrs. Biggs. It is so amazing to have found a school that is offering our daughter such a high quality education and experience and is still this affordable. We all want the best for our kids, and that's what each family gets at Little Shining Stars Preschool.

We love VCA, the teachers are so great! they have so much experience and love kids so much, it's…read moreeasy to see. We've been there over a year, our little angel was having trouble at her previous school, hitting kids and teacher's biting etc.. within weeks she was on the straight and narrow! She loves it there! there fees are VERY reasonable! There's even a Coffee Shop when the school is in session. Everybody is super nice and professional. They actually teach kids how to read and write as well as nurture them.

We have been going to valley christian preschool since my oldest was 4 and he is now a 2nd grader…read moreat VCA. My middle son is now in the 3 year old class and I can't say enough positive things about this school. Every teacher is wonderful and sweet to my son and Mrs. Wilson is very sweet and always accommodating with schedules (as much as possible) and my son loves going to school. It is decently priced and they offer an amazing curriculum. 5 stars all around

Upward Bound has provided a safe space for my daughter to grow and learn. She asks every day if she…read moregets to go to preschool. The teachers are creative, fun, and you can tell love for their job abounds. Can't recommend it enough!

Very good preschool. Easy for children to adjust because the staff are friendly and consistent…read morewith their schedule and attitude. It's great to have this preschool in our neighborhood!

Our experience with Creative Beginnings and its director, Johna, was extremely disappointing and…read moredistressing. We enrolled our 2-year-old son for his first preschool experience after clearly explaining in advance that he is a slow-to-warm-up child and may need time to adjust. Before enrollment, we were reassured that this was normal, that children often cry at the beginning, and that the school had experience helping toddlers transition. Based on those assurances, we trusted this preschool with our child. Unfortunately, the reality was completely different. On the third day, our son had what appeared to be a very positive drop-off. He recognized the school, walked in on his own, and separated without crying. Less than an hour later, we were called and told he was "not ready for school," and we were asked to pick him up. We were then told he should probably not come back. His belongings had already been packed, which made it clear that they had already decided to remove him rather than give him a fair adjustment period. We found this deeply unreasonable. He is only 2 years old, and many toddlers need time, patience, and support to adjust to a new environment. Instead of offering a gradual transition plan, reassurance, or professional guidance, the response was abrupt dismissal and labeling. Our child was described in a way that suggested his behavior was outside normal expectations, even though he has regular pediatric visits and has never been diagnosed with any behavioral or developmental abnormality. What made this even worse was how cold and inconsistent the communication felt. Before enrollment, everything was positive and reassuring. Once he started, the tone changed completely. Rather than support, we were met with negativity, impatience, and a clear lack of willingness to work with a toddler who needed a slower transition. At pickup, our son appeared unusually distressed and fearful, much more than we had seen before. He was alone in a classroom with the director, with no other children present, crying intensely. When we asked for clarification about what had happened and whether there were cameras to review the situation, we were told there were no cameras inside the preschool. That left us with serious concerns and no transparency. In addition to all of this, we were also alarmed by the drop-off and pick-up safety around the school. We observed unsafe traffic conditions and no clear child safety signage or controlled traffic measures in the immediate area, which is unacceptable for a preschool where very young children are arriving and leaving with their families. Overall, this was a very painful experience for our family. Our son deserved patience, safety, and a chance to adjust. Instead, he was judged quickly, dismissed early, and left us with serious concerns about the professionalism, judgment, and support provided by this preschool. We would not recommend Creative Beginnings to families with young children who may need a warm, gradual transition into preschool, and we strongly encourage parents to ask detailed questions about how adjustment difficulties are actually handled before trusting this place with their child.

My daughter and I enjoyed her time at Creative Beginnings! She always came home excited to…read moreshare/sing about all the things she learn in school, she loved her teachers (she still talks about them), and she loved having all the open space to play indoors or outdoors. My daughter had a blast on their water days, birthday celebrations, performance, trike event, and field trips. There was always something fun going on! I, as a parent, love that Faith and prayer are incorporated into their daily routines, teachers were quick to communicate with me for any questions or concerns, and I was assured from day one that my daughter was safe and happy with pictures and updates through the app. I also enjoyed their early and late start/end times of operation compared to other options in the area (even though we didn't always use them), autopay made payments easy, and their app was easy to use. Overall, we enjoyed our experience here and highly recommend it for your littles as well!

I really like this center the teachers are great! The director, Crystal, is welcoming and answers…read moreall questions about the center. The teachers Miss. Kathy is great too, she teaches the kids manners and how to count in English, Spanish and French! My kid really enjoys coming here and the small class size is really nice for that one on one attention!

My partner and I moved to Santa Maria in mid-May of this year, without knowing a single soul over…read morehere, and one of our biggest concerns was finding a school for our three-year-old. Let me say, we are over the moon about Grace Lutheran Nursery School. Within the first week, our child fell in love with this school. First thing she does in the morning is say "time for school!" and is upset on weekend mornings when she can't attend school. Within the first month, we noticed giant strides in her vocabulary, color recognition, social demeanor, and her attitude. Grace Lutheran has developed a love for school within our child which we believe will stay with her for years to come. The teachers are wonderful, always smiling, and helpful. We are very grateful for Grace Lutheran Nursery School and all they do for our child!

I will never recover from the trauma and abuse I endured at Valley Christian Academy. As an adult,…read moreI have been diagnosed with C-PTSD in relation to my experiences there. I left after Junior High without a will to continue living. I only remember bits and pieces of 5th grade. In 6th grade, we were taken to Ironwood Christian Camp for a week to be 'broken and reshapen in the image of God like Adam at an age we need it most,' where I was physically, spiritually, and emotionally abused by the adults responsible for my safety. We had to swim in a lake we were told "natoriously gives rashes to whoever showers last." Then, I was TOLD to shower last by Cindy Mudgett. The next morning, Ms Mudgett woke me up cheerfully telling me it was time to hike to Soldier Mountian. (Previous to the trip, we were told this hike is extreme, and optional.) I told her no. I told her I had a horrible rash between my legs and on my skin and that it hurt to walk. She smiled so sadistically I will never forget it, and she said "too bad, get up you have 5 minutes." while threatening to grab my blankets. I proceeded to hike for hours without any food or water. My whole class was crying because the hike was so hard, and we were only 11 or 12 years old. We were told the point was to feel 'God help you get to the top.' Cindy Mudgett still works at the school. I have plenty of memories of Joel preaching/shouting to us as children in chapel to what can be summerized as "why white male superiority is important: God says so." I felt empowered to leave a review after seeing some of the other ones left here. I am so heartbroken knowing my parents paid tens of thousands of dollars throughout the years for my education of memorizing Bible verses and having things like 'damnation' be my volcabulary words. If you love your children, do not send them to Valley Christan Academy. They will attempt to break the personaility out of them.

Overall a great curriculum and liked how children were challenged to reach their highest potential…read more I think this school was way better than public school and gave my grandson a good spiritual and intellectual start in life. On the other hand, my grandson had one teacher who was completely inexperienced and not a good teacher at all. she did not return to teach the next year stating that teaching was not for her.

Putting my son in child care for the first time was a decision that I weighed heavily. Trusting him…read moreto Seeds is one of the best decisions I've made. Ciara and her staff are kind, communicative and a delight to interact with. I watched my son flourish during his time there and his social, communication and motor skills increase. He was so happy there that when I came to pick him up he would just look at me and go back to what he was previously doing. I strongly recommend Seeds. Thank you, Ciara!

From the owner: We are not your average daycare. Our goal is to take little seeds and turn them into mighty trees…read more We want to help children develop their thinking minds so they can solve problems and make responsible decisions. We want our children to learn what it means to be respectful and we want them to learn skills that they can bring home with them. We strive to teach children how to treat their parents and other adults, their peer, and more importantly how they should treat themselves. We live in a day where technology is booming and children are exposed to so much in such in so little time. At Seeds we want to cultivate their innate child behavior and reinforce it with encouraging stimuli that will enhance their abilities rather then diminish them. Because when we learn, we grow and we are going to have a blast doing it.

Our daughter has attended 3 different pre-schools before this one due to my husband's change in…read morework location. This is by far the best school we have come across. It exceeds all of our expectations and is reasonably priced compared to others in the area. Here are a few of our favorite parts about VVCC. 1. Structure! Previous schools would switch out teachers depending on how many children were in class that day. Which left my daughter feeling insecure in her environment. VVCC reliably has the same teachers daily no matter the class size. 2. Cleanliness! Hand washing is prioritized upon check in. Before my daughter can join the class, the school asks that I take her potty and to wash her hands. She has not been sick at all this year. At previous schools she got hand foot and mouth, stomach bugs, and respiratory infections. 3. Flexibility! My daughter is crazy hyper and strong willed. Her teacher works with my daughter concerning her struggles and gives her different options to help her cope in the classroom. At other schools she was forced to be just like the other kids or leave. They really work with the children individually while still teaching them discipline. 4. Lots of family events! I never knew any other parents or friends at other schools. Here, we have family friends because there are meet and greets, harvest festivals, book readings, and holiday programs. 5. Learning letters! I love the curriculum they use to introduce and teach the pre-K class letters. They assign animals to a letter to help the children remember and my daughter uses that daily as she does activities at home. 6. Spanish immersion! The pre-k class gets Spanish lessons on Fridays and my daughter is picking up so quick! 7. Healthy snacks that change for diversity! 8. Great toys that are changed out weekly! Their outdoor play is large and has great options as well. 9. My daughter LOVES it. We wish we would have found VVCC sooner! Check them out, you will be glad you did .

This preschool is the best in the area. They take security, cleanliness, and overall safety very…read moreseriously. The administrator and staff are always professional, honest, and transparent. They have gone over and above for our family in the past, and I will always appreciate that. I couldn't recommend this preschool enough! The children are shown so much love and patience. My daughter loves going to school and says it's her favorite place to go to.