This school is fantastic!! Our little one started a year ago and is thriving. The staff are…read morecaring, loving, and really care deeply about our child. They go out of their way to make sure that she is included and feels safe and secure. They also emphasize learning through play with lots of tactile and sensory play that's appropriate for 2 to 4-year-olds. Ms Amrita and Ms Diana do a great job leading. Miss Epiphany is especially caring and loving toward our child and all of the children. She and Miss Marie and Miss Michelle go out of their way to come up with incredible enrichment activities and holiday festivities and artistic endeavors for the children to explore. In addition to all of that they also have a wonderful backyard garden in their play yard and the kids get to experience a structured physical education program every week and they also learn their letters and numbers and read lots of books and are building the foundations of good learning. We had been a little bit worried coming from a at-home daycare to curious explorers academy but we shouldn't have because it has just been fantastic the whole time, we highly recommend this school!

My first experience with CEA was extremely positive! When I first spoke to Ms. Amrita she gave me…read morelots of info about the school and also offered us a tour (old campus). Out of all the preschool tours we took in the area, this one just felt right. The first day I dropped my son off for his first day of preschool there were no tears, no push back, and he walked right into the building. Over the time we have been at CEA we've seen our son grow so much. He's always been very shy, reserved, and pretty cautious. Since the time he's been at CEA I've seen him grow so much! He's become more confident, made new friends, and speaking up for himself. He's also become so much more independent. The staff at CEA is extremely professional, kind, and caring. There is no doubt in my mind that we made the right choice for our child. Thank you CEA!

Five and a half years, two kids, two Nomura grads. Today was our last day, and I want to put down…read morewhat this school has meant to our family. Joe (my son, age 7 at the time of this review) started at the peak of the pandemic. For a stretch there, we couldn't even come inside the building -- and somehow Nomura still made us feel involved and in the loop every single day. They took extraordinary care to keep the kids and the families safe without letting parents become strangers to their own children's world. I don't think I appreciated how hard that was until much later. Joe's transition to TK went beautifully, and I know exactly why: Ms. Rosi, Ms. Nickie, Ms. Djamila, Ms. Rosita, Ms. Young, Mr. Kim, Ms. Nao, and Ms. Valia (and surely others). That kind of readiness doesn't come from a curriculum. It comes from people who know your kid. Here's the thing you don't fully understand until you leave: at Nomura, parents are always welcome. Every child is treated as the main character in their own adventure. Not once -- not one single time in five and a half years -- did we get the feeling our child was a number, or an administrative inconvenience. That is rarer than it should be. When Diana (our daughter, now 4) had a rough transition into the Chickie class, the teachers sat down with us and built a plan. They were so attentive to what she needed that it stopped feeling like childcare and started feeling like family. And on her very last day -- today-- she arrived somber and withdrawn, and her teachers noticed immediately and gently brought her back out of it. I have watched that happen hundreds of times over the years. It is who they are. The teachers go above and beyond, always. And Administrator Matt Clark clearly treats this school as something precious, which it is. We're excited for what's next for our kids. But whatever they go on to do, a real part of it will trace back to who they became at Nomura as very small children. Today I'm sitting with gratitude and, honestly, a profound sense of loss. We went from being the new family on the block with a three-month-old, looking across the street thinking "wouldn't it be neat if our son went there," to being the parents of two Nomura graduates. What a ride. We're not planning a third child. But if we were? A big part of the reason would be getting to do this all over again. From the very bottom of our hearts -- thank you for how our children were nurtured and loved by this community.

Nomura preschool is truly a gem and our family feels very fortunate to have been a part of this…read moregreat school and community. Our 3 kids have started at Nomura since they were 2 years old, in the youngest Chicky classroom (although now enrollment is open to 18month olds!). Ms. Rosi, Ms. Cassandra, Ms. Djamila, and Ms. Kim were instrumental in helping our toddlers learn important skills such as feeding themselves and potty training! We were updated daily both verbally and with photos, and the amazing communication made all the difference during these huge milestones. In the middle classrooms, we have over the years, had the true pleasure of having Ms. Keila, Ms. Diana, Ms. Linh, Ms. Nickie, and Mrs. Young as our teachers, who have helped our kids learn their letters and numbers and learn how to share and play with others. The balance of academic, play and social skills was perfect and our kids have thrived during these years! Even Ms. Chieko, who we have not had the pleasure of having as a classroom teacher yet, has also played a crucial role in our daily routine. She has jumped right in to help with the transition at drop off, showing the great teamwork and community of all the teachers. The pre-K year has been an extra special year in our experience, with real friendships forming between the kids and lasting bonds forming with the pre-K teachers, Ms. Keiko and Ms. Nao. They truly care about the success and well-being as kids go off to Kindergarten or TK and often keep in touch with graduates. They do a lot to make the last preschool years very special, with field trips and special activities, again nicely balanced with academics and social skills that have lasting effects in years to come. There are also many extracurricular activities available, including Gardening with Ms. Rosita-who has the most calm and caring nature, Music with Mrs. Green, who delights the kids with her whimsical classes filled with music, instruments and magic (literally magic tricks!). This is such a great community that even teachers like Mrs. Kathy, who previously retired has come back to substitute teach! Nomura preschool is such an amazing, welcoming, and nurturing place for little ones. We are so lucky to have found the school!

We have so many good things to say about Skytown and its staff. Our daughter attended from age 18…read moremonths, in the Toddler Room. We were initially drawn to Skytown for the ratios (3:1 in Toddler Room), the transparency that comes from parent participation in the classroom, the respect for children that's at the core of their philosophy. We also appreciated the level of involvement that parents get in the preschool's day-to-day, without being a pure parent cooperative (the teachers/director are employees of the school with formal training in the education space). As we spent more time there, we really came to admire the staff, Allison, Nancy, and Bex who really embody the values of the school and do an incredible job at sharing their expertise with the parent community. Our toddler is highly verbal, intense, and energetic. We were reluctant to have her in school so early, but she thrived at Sktytown and learned social skills there that we/nanny wouldn't have been able to provide on our own. We were impressed with Skytown's commitment to using positive language to guide children's behavior, respecting children's autonomy, making each child feel heard and understood, and treating even the youngest toddlers as highly capable individuals with as much autonomy as they could safely have. The 3:1 ratio and small class size allowed even the youngest toddlers to be given with a high degree of autonomy in a way that wouldn't be as feasible in typical classroom. It is a great school for families who are happy to have their child come home with paint on their clothes or food from their snack still on their face because the child was given the opportunity to clean up after themselves. Skytown's commitment to making it a truly child-centric space shows in everything from the way the classrooms are structured and equipped to the way staff talk to the children. It was a joy to see the children be able to play with water, paint, wash hands on their own, visit sensory or pretend play areas, and transition from indoor/outdoor playspaces on their own accord. We have not seen anything else like it. The staff does an exceptional job at helping children learn how to problem solve on their own, and address interpersonal conflict while respecting all the children involved. Even in the toddler room, teachers and parents help the youngest children use age-appropriate methods of communicating through conflict, and use positive language to address unsafe behavior (running indoors, hitting, throwing things, etc) in a way that allows children to learn while still feeling respected and able to express themselves safely. As parents of a daughter, we are aware of when adults might be unintentionally interacting with girls differently than their boy counterparts, but this was never a problem at Skytown with staff or parents. We also noticed the staff and parent community were attuned to racial and gender inclusivity, didn't sweep things under the rug, and were proactive about diversity and inclusivity in all aspects of the school from the materials chosen to the way they communicated with one another.

Take a tour! Our family loves being at Skytown. This was our first experience having our son away…read morefrom us (no sitter, daycare, school) and this gave me the option to finally gain some freedom, but also still be a part of his learning experience through the co-op. It's been comforting to know he is safe and supported at Skytown by child development experts with a strong philosophy, and a community of parents and families with strong values. The care and concern for his food allergies by everyone has also contributed to our sense of safety having him away from us. Beyond all this, my son genuinely looks forward to school and his favorite people now are his teacher, the parents, and his friends! Skytown has become our village - we participate in the classroom together, we play outside of school together, we work on school initiatives together. It's really a unique and special experience and I'm so glad we had this option available to us. Skytown offers the only co-op toddler program (starts at 18mo) in Contra Costa County and is 1 of 2 in the entire East Bay. Like I said there's nothing like it around!

I'm writing this as a former student who went to Nuevo Mundo. My mom took my twin brother and I…read morethere when we were pre school age and I had nothing but good memories and times there. The teachers were so caring as if they were our own parents and they take very good care of us when we were kids. Not to mention they made learning so much fun and beyond school, they taught us how to be kind to one another. I'm 27 years old now and I'm a Real Estate Agent now and I just wanted to share with everyone that Nuevo Mundo being my first school I've ever attended it lead me to my path in education and it lead me to the path they wanted all of their students to be. I highly recommend any parents who wants their kids to have not only a fresh start in school but to have a good foundation to walk on to want to continue pursuing education as they get older have Nuevo Mundo be that foundation for your kids. Thank you

I love this school for my little queen,great staff! Communicate to me about everything and I…read moreappreciate that besides the fact they taught my daughter proper Spanish and English and reading and writing. Don't have any more complaints just wish they could go have an elementary school and middle school

My child has been attending Little Tree since 2022 and has enjoyed playing and learning there every…read moreday. The classrooms are well-equipped with age-appropriate Montessori activities, keeping her engaged and offering practice in various subjects like English, Math, Chinese, Science, and Art. She loves her teachers and often talks about them at home. I can see they are doing an excellent job teaching her not just academics, but also good behavior and independence. The teachers organize a variety of well-planned activities and events throughout the year for both US and Chinese holidays. Our family enjoys participating in these events, and we appreciate the many photos and videos shared with parents afterward to capture the memories. Another great feature of Little Tree is the optional lunch program. For $6 a day, they provide a tasty, nutritious, and balanced meal, which is one less thing for me to worry about.

Stay away from little tree unless you want to get kicked out with only a weeks notice. Our…read moreexperience with Little Tree was extremely disappointing. Our 21-month-old daughter attended the program for only about 10 days in the toddler program that is intended for 18 months and older. She was also absent for an entire week due to a fever,so basically 5 days on, 5 days off, then 5 days on. She had very limited time to adjust to a brand-new environment, teachers, routines, and expectations. The behaviors described to us were that she is very active and curious, sometimes puts objects in her mouth, and may quickly move away from the group. The school itself acknowledged in writing that these behaviors can be common at her age. What was most concerning to us was how quickly this determination was made. At only 21 months old and after approximately 10 days of actual attendance, we did not feel she was given an adequate opportunity to adjust to the classroom environment. We also would have appreciated more collaboration with us regarding strategies that could have been tried before the decision was made to end her enrollment. Everyday after pick up we got nothing but good feedback from teachers. Then one day a email saying her last day is in a week. Again stay clear away from little tree if you have a baby who loves to explore their environment and have fun. This center should have never been approved for a 18 month toddler program. Evidently they are not equipped to handle young toddlers.

This school doesn't provide for kids with autism. The preschool teachers were great. Kindergarten…read moreteacher we had not so much. They really should help with all since we all are God's children.

My two children have been attending St Davids since 2019. I can not say enough wonderful things…read moreabout the community and staff. Mr. Swanson, the principal, has great insight, experience, and compassion. The teachers are patient, present and creative, providing an engaging and exciting academic environment. This is a fabulous and culturally diverse school that has small class sizes, a before and after school extended care program, and a preschool. I highly recommend scheduling a walk through or attending one of the many community events. St David's "Santa's Breakfast" is Sunday, Dec 7th, come see what the hype is all about! The school's mission statement: It is the mission of St. David of Wales Catholic School to consistently provide a safe environment for academic and spiritual growth. Our school fosters the teachings of Jesus Christ in our students by promoting Catholic values. We prioritize moral and social responsibility and academic achievement. We cultivate global citizens in a culturally diverse community by promoting respect for all of God's creations.

Highly Recommended Nursery My child studied here for three…read morewonderful years, and I can honestly say this is one of the best places for little kids. The teachers are amazing, caring, and dedicated, and everyone there is incredibly kind and supportive. I highly recommend this nursery to any parent looking for a safe, friendly, and nurturing place for their child. We had a wonderful experience!

A little word Montessori School is the place if anybody wants to send a Child and be happy knowing…read morethat your child is in a safe and learning environment. My coworkers son is going to this school for the last two years, pretty much every day my coworker has to brag about something new his child learn. He said something about Child learn or some artwork or something amazing that the child did at school. He also tells the school director is amazing loving and caring so do the teaching staff very informative with what's going on in the school. Even though I do not send a child to this school, I feel like I know what's going on at this Montessori for last two years because I'm hearing it from my coworker pretty much every day how happy he is because he knows his child is safe, happy, and Learning every single day. So I would highly recommend for you to go and have a tour of the school and find out for yourself..

Our older daughter started at Little Lamb when she was 4yo and has really loved it. She was dealing…read morewith anxiety and selective mutism, and the Little Lamb teachers were very accommodating. Our therapist worked with them to train them with selective mutism techniques and they were kind and responsive to our daughter's issues. She adapted great and has graduated from their preschool program, and she still goes there for their afterschool program. The school is no longer in the home in Albany but in a dedicated school facility in El Cerrito. The school building has a lot of space and a wonderful outside area. We also send our younger daughter there starting at 18mo and she loves it.

My children attended Little Lamb and it was an incredible experience. The administrator and…read moreteachers are incredibly kind, attentive, supportive, and really care about each child's individual needs and what works with their personality. For example, my oldest child is very mature, and the teachers found ways to have her be their little 'helper' and help lead the yoga class which got her more engaged and challenged. The teachers are also really patient and nice, and my kids always remarked that they liked them. The activities they do at school are very creative and I loved seeing all the art work and crafts that they brought home. The lesson plans are very impressive with songs, art, science, play, and I really felt like my kids were getting a well-rounded experience where they were learning and also having fun. The school is also top-notch when it comes to health and safety -- from applying sunscreen and hats, to taking temperatures at the door and hand-washing, which was very important to me. My children also flourished in their Mandarin language skills which was absolutely amazing to see. We have graduated and gone on, but we loved our time at Little Lamb and couldn't have been happier.

We had a great experience at Keystone in our 3.5 years there and miss a lot of the engagement,…read moreeducation, and support. It felt like a real community. Our child was there from ~18mos old to 5 years old; from the thick of Covid in 2021 to August of 2025. She loved it and continues to talk about the teachers and staff. As she transitioned into Kindergarten, it's clear she and her keystone classmates are much further ahead academically and socially. We love the Montessori approach and Keystone seems to have a great facility and application of it.

Our family has been part of the Keystone community for nearly seven years, with both of our…read moredaughters attending from the time they were toddlers until moving on to Kindergarten. It's been such a positive experience for us. The teachers and staff are warm, supportive, and very thoughtful about meeting kids where they are. Both of our girls went through phases where drop-off was tough, and the staff worked closely with us to find approaches that made the transition smoother. Over time, they built such strong bonds with their teachers that school became a place they genuinely looked forward to. What we've especially appreciated is the calm, well-organized environment and the wide range of learning opportunities. Keystone offers a nice balance of Montessori learning, hands-on activities, and enrichment classes (Spanish, Mandarin, music, soccer, martial arts). Our daughters were able to try different things and discover what they enjoyed most. We've also seen them grow a lot socially, making friends, learning responsibility, and gaining confidence. Overall, Keystone has been a nurturing and engaging preschool that gave both of our children a strong foundation and a love for learning. We're grateful for the years we've spent there and highly recommend it to other families.

Our daughter has been attending Shining Star, and we couldn't be happier. Every day she comes home…read moreexcited to share the activities, show us her art projects, and sing songs she's learned. The teachers are incredibly kind, and Preeya's warmth, professionalism, and love for children truly shine through. Our daughter often comes home with salon-level hairstyles thanks to teacher Daisy! The meals and snacks are fresh and organic, each month we get a lunch menu (our daughter always talks about the big bowls of fruit). The kids get plenty of time to play, socialize, and learn through rotating activities and themes. When possible, they take walks to nearby parks which was a huge bonus for us. We know that a big part of our daughter's confidence and social growth comes from her experience at Shining Star. We feel so lucky to have found this school! It's the highest quality care with true community and heart.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Shining Star Schoolhouse in El Cerrito and its owner,…read morePriya. From the very first day, she and her team made my son feel completely at home, like he was part of a big, loving family. They helped him settle into a routine, and thanks to their patience and guidance, he was even potty trained during his time there--something I'm so grateful for! He absolutely loved the daily activities, from playtime and story time to the fun trips to the park. Every day was filled with joy, learning, and laughter. Beyond all of that, he built strong, lasting friendships that I know he will carry with him for years to come. Priya's warmth, dedication, and genuine care for each child truly set Shining Star apart. We feel so fortunate to have found such a nurturing place where our son could grow, learn, and thrive. I highly recommend Shining Star Schoolhouse to any parent looking for a safe, caring, and enriching environment for their child.