Chris and his team are incredible and truly care about each child's success. They're flexible with…read morescheduling and make it very easy to find times that work for our family. Communication has been great, and we regularly receive progress reports, which really helps us see how our children are improving. We have one child who was below grade level in math and has made huge progress this year, largely due to the support and instruction he's getting here. We also have a younger child who is above grade level, and we feel confident he'll have a real leg up going into 3rd grade thanks to Mathnasium. We feel very good about the investment we're making here and would highly recommend Mathnasium (this location specifically) to any family looking for strong math support.

I was searching for a math tutor or a place to help my child who was struggling with math. I…read morebrought my child in for an evaluation and had the opportunity to speak with Christopher about my concerns. He was very helpful in addressing my questions and explained the process clearly. The initial assessment helps them determine my child's strengths and weaknesses. They then place the student in the appropriate level to strengthen their math foundation. They don't move the student forward until they fully understand the current level, which I appreciate. This approach builds a strong foundation for more complex math problems, instead of just placing the student in a level they're not ready for.

My son started Kumon at this location four years ago.. The program has helped him perform well in…read moreschool, he's often the first kids who finishes the class works. This program has helped him to become a more independent thinker in every way. Kumon teaches him to be self discipline to the point where he is self-sufficient. The instructor is very direct and honest about my child's performance. Also his staffs are friendly and dedicated. I recommend this location to anyone who's looking for an after school program for their kids. Aileen N

Mr. Leif is an incredible Kumon instructor. He pays close attention to his students and is…read morepassionate about his work. Above all, he is deeply committed to the children who come to learn at his center. Before deciding on this one, I visited several Kumon Centers and quickly realized that other instructors do not exhibit the same level of care and communication as Mr. Leif. His center is immaculate and incredibly well-organized.

A longer overdue review. Selecting preschool/daycare for our son was one of our toughest decisions…read moreat the time. We were not comfortable with other facilities, and were growing incredibly nervous. When visiting Small Size Big Mind, we were quickly impressed and relieved. The owner and staff immediately gave us comfort, confidence and relief and our son was enrolled until ready to start pre-k at a nearby school. We have fond memories and stopped by many times since, to donate, say hi, and reflect. An amazing experience that we'll always cherish.

In selecting a preschool for our son, my husband and I toured many facilities in Alameda. We found…read morea lot of them to be cookie cutter and lacking something special. The second we first toured SSBM2 we were in love. The campus offers a whimsical and creative atmosphere and our son instantly fell in love with all of the handmade playground and classroom features. It's clear a lot of thought and love went into the design. The owners and staff are also a continued selling point for us. All of the teachers seem to genuinely love what they do and consistently provide an engaging experience for the children. My son comes home every day talking about the new things he's learned and it's been amazing to watch how quickly he's grown intellectually, socially and emotionally since starting in July 2019. Overall we can't recommend this school enough!

My son got great improvement after joining. Happy with this program for helping him improve in…read morereading and math.

My son get the good results to school. It help a lot...I plan to bring two sons thereread more

Our experience at The Child Unique Montessori has been very positive. The environment is calm,…read moreenriching, and full of gentle encouragement. The teachers are kind and genuinely attentive to each child's growth and development. It's no surprise that this school came recommended through word of mouth. Many families speak highly of it, and it's easy to see why. Some of the parents here once attended TCU themselves and are now bringing their own children. That kind of legacy speaks volumes. Dr. Cindy Acker and her team have built something rare and lasting in Alameda, a women-owned and led school that has quietly left a mark on this community through years of dedication and consistency. The involvement stretches beyond the classroom and into the home, where Dr. Acker gently shares knowledge that parents may choose to engage with through periodic letters and events. That kind of support, offered with care and respect, creates a meaningful partnership not only between the school and the parents, but also among the many families who feel part of this community. This is a special place that continues to shape lives, quietly but powerfully.

Both my sons have attended The Child Unique, from 2019-2020 and then from 2021 up until the…read morepresent. My older son is shy and a bit anxious, but I believe his Montessori teacher's calm presence really drew him out and helped him establish a strong bond with her. He loves creating and drawing, and his teacher last year really encouraged that and he flourished under her care! He graduated from TCU this past spring and is now doing well in kindergarten at our local public school. Our three year just started attending TCU this summer and similarly, has bonded really well with his primary classroom teachers. He's always happy when I pick him up and is signing the Mandarin songs he's learning from his Mandarin teacher. He seems to really be loving school and so both my husband and I are relieved and happy he is at TCU like his brother was!

My oldest daughter has been going to this kumon center since she was in 1st grade and my other 2…read morestarted even before they went to elementary school. Kumon has definitely built a solid foundation in both math and reading comprehension that is shown clearly with their academic results in school. My oldest struggled with reading comprehension and really benefited from the additional work from kumon. The kids don't like kumon but Ms. Jackie has been amazing, working with us to find a happy medium that will works both for the kids and I. Thank you!

I contacted Kumon because I wanted my kids to continue learning over their summer break - I didn't…read morerealize it was a long term program until I met with Ms. Jackie to discuss their assessment results. Initially I was weary of signing them up since I wasn't looking for something long term, but it really was the best decision for my kids! Since enrolling, my children have gained confidence in both English and Math, have far exceeded their grade levels and both qualified for nationally ranked gifted programs. Not only is the curriculum helpful but I really appreciate Ms. Jackie. The more I interact with her, the more I see her passion in helping her students succeed. One time I was waiting for my kids when a former student (now attending Stanford) came to visit Ms. Jackie and thanked her for helping him succeed - she told him not to thank her but to be proud of himself for working so hard and that HE did it, not her. I notice that she speaks similarly to her other students. Another thing I appreciate about Ms. Jackie is that she looks at each of my kids individually and really works with my family to ensure my kids have the right amount of work. Thank you Ms. Jackie and Kumon!

My son went to Rising Star for Pre-K and Kindergarten and had Ms. Kim as his head teacher both…read moreyears. He needed more of a challenge than he was getting at his preschool. Rising Star was a breath of fresh air with all the individualized attention, care and love Ms. Kim, Ms. Jayita and Ms. Sarah provided to each child. I felt that Ms. Kim really saw and appreciated my son and shared insights with us that came from patiently trying to understand him and not punish him when challenges arose. My son is very interested teaching others about dinosaurs and she gave him opportunities to build on that interest and strength which further gave him confidence and pride in his work. It's a very structured environment, while still having the flexibility to meet students' interests and needs. Rising Star was a true blessing in our lives, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a great education for their child.

We love this preschool - its creative programming (academics, playtime, gardening), its beautiful…read morebuilding, and especially its dedicated staff and teachers. They also have regular fun holidays and special events that are meticulously planned and just so warm and quirky. Both of my kids attended Rising Star and we feel incredibly lucky to have done so.

When I was first looking into pre-school programs for my daughter to be involved in it was a bit…read moreoverwhelming! We tried two other schools before but my daughter did no enjoy them. There was even one she begged and cried never to go back to. We found Northern Lights School thru a family friend and she absolutely loves it! There are morning she doesn't want to get out of bed like so many kids! But the moment I say "it's okay, you can just stay home with mommy", She jumps out of bed and starts getting ready. My child has flourished over the last year that she has attended and I plan to stick with them as long as they continue to instill the confidence and happiness that is present in my daughter about learning.

My experience with Northern Light School was extremely disappointing. After removing my child and…read moreenrolling them in another private school, I could clearly see how academically behind my child was. The difference in curriculum, expectations, homework, and preparation was obvious. For a private school, the product does NOT match the price tag. The curriculum did not compare to what my child receives now. Homework was poor, and I often felt like I had to teach my own child at home. Parents should not pay private-school tuition and still have to teach the curriculum themselves. There is a serious lack of transparency. Parents should be able to see student work, testing scores, academic progress, and meaningful statistics. Conferences and Back to School Night provided very little substance. Parents should not have to guess where their child stands academically or be discouraged from seeing what is happening in classrooms. I also had concerns about teachers being mean or treating children poorly behind closed doors. When concerns were raised, I felt administrators made excuses, defended the behavior, and ignored the concerns. Constructive criticism was not welcomed, and I felt administration and teachers became defensive instead of working with me and became very unprofessional, to the point not speaking and other administrators acting in same rude manner! There were also inconsistent school-wide rules and expectations. I strongly disagreed with the school's approach to ADHD and neurodivergence. From my experience, there was too much emphasis on pushing the idea of neurodivergence and encouraging children to question whether they were neurodivergent. Children should be supported without being pushed toward a label or agenda. I also felt Northern Light had moved away from the professional-family environment I originally associated with the school and was accepting families who did not seem aligned with the professional, academic, and behavioral culture I expected. The facilities are old, staff appeared burnt out, and the school needs fresh leadership, including more male leaders. There needs to be accountability above administration and a place for parents to be heard. After transferring my child to another private school, the academic difference became undeniable. My child is now receiving stronger curriculum, expectations, and preparation. Moving my child was the right decision. Northern Light needs more transparency, accountability, stronger academics, consistent rules, better leadership, and a serious evaluation of whether the education actually justifies the price.