My daughter loved PKA! We had to move out of the city, but she thrived when she was there. They incorporated a variety of activities (I.e. morning meditation, gymnastics, music time, STEM focused lessons), took daily walks to the park (some times botanical garden) weather permitting, and celebrated public holidays with fun events. The staff would send a daily photo and the teachers would update parents during pick-up. Huge shout out to Teacher Shira, Annie, and Jasmine! My daughter still talks about them until this day. read more

We've been very impressed with our time at PKA. The teacher to student ratio is perfect. All of the teachers are very patient, and we've been happy with the quality of care and attention they have given to my daughter and all the kids at PKA. My daughter learned so much in one year. It's remarkable how much she grew verbally and we really noticed her confidence level boost. We would stay at PKA if we were not moving! We're sad to say goodbye. She was always so excited every M/W/F to go to school each morning and see her teachers and friends. They offer a wide range of curriculum from art, sensory play, cooking, cultural education, movement and free play. I was worried at first that my daughter didn't need such structure or a rigid school atmosphere at 2 years old, and maybe just day care would be a better option. But we decided to try PKA and we are so happy we did. Our 2 year old blossomed and loved it. We highly recommend PKA and would give it 10 stars if we could! read more

The 3 best decisions of my life: 1. Moving to NYC 2. Getting married 3. Listening to my wife when she said: "Brian, we're sending GABRIEL (our son) to PKA". Thank God, I listened to my wife! Our son spent the first 6 months at Prospect Ave. location and then to St. Johns (because it was closer to our home). Here's the short version of why PKA is GREAT! - Great leadership - Josie and Quinn are awesome! They're always available for feedback and/or concerns, they love the kids, and run a tight ship (rules, curriculum, etc.) that works. - The teachers - Both locations have amazing teachers who are loving, kind, great teachers, and help our Gabriel and other kids LEARN. - The extras - they'll bring in Brian who plays guitar and the kids sing along, take field trips, do yoga (really), send photos to the parents, balance art/reading/play time/napping, etc. - They CARE! I'm new to this. First kid, etc. On several occasions I'd ask Josie or Quinn or the teachers for suggestions, tips, etc. and they would always solid, caring advice with encouragement. - I can RELAX - leaving your kid with somebody else is scary. You can't help but worry...is he okay? Are the teachers watching him? Taking care of him? Teaching him? I TRUST that he's okay and that he's being taken care of as if he's the child of Quinn, Josie, and/or any of the teachers. I KNOW he's safe, having fun, and learning. That means a whole bunch!! read more

We sent our son Quincy to PKA for 2 years and have nothing but wonderful things to say about the teachers, the activities and the overall positive vibe of the program. Our son loved the thematic based learning, with modules focused on dinosaurs, to celebrating foods from around the world . The director (Josie) is personally invested in every single child. All of the teachers are wonderful, but we have to give a special shout out to Ms. Annalee, Ms. Odetta, Ms. Maria and Ms. Fatima - our son really thrived under their nurturing care. The school also handled the challenges of the pandemic well and tried to balance necessary school closures with the needs of working parents. Thank you PKA for providing a safe, fun and stimulating experience - keep up the great work! read more

Many, many moons ago, when PKA first popped up, I used to walk past and think, "What a cute little school! Sigh...would I ever have a family of my own where I could bring my child to such a nice neighborhood school so close to my home?" Years later, my dreams came to fruition, and my son was enrolled for one summer and one full school year. We could not love the staff and school more- PKA loved my son like family and my husband and I felt so comfortable (after having had a less than ideal situation at a different school) we were so happy that he was happy. Laura is one of a kind- she's the REAL DEAL! Warm and nurturing (I don't know how she does it day after day, year after year, but she's seriously gifted in the art of raising kids!). She's an artist and she encourages all types of mediums from paint and clay, to slime and construction. My son built confidence, made some wonderful friends, cultivated kindness and empathy, and had great field trips! We pass them now, on our way to the "big" public school my son attends and my memories are so cherished. We are Forever Friends with PKA! read more

PKA is a wonderful school. The teachers and administrators create an environment for kids to learn, interact and feel safe and loved. I will never forget our school tour before our son was enrolled. As first time parents who never had to resort to having a babysitter, it was very important to us to feel connected to wherever we chose, and that first visit blew us away and left us feeling so at ease, we knew it was the place for our family. My son has grown so much with the support that he receives from his teachers. He loves going to school to be with his friends, and for music sessions with Brian and Yoga classes with Jovan. He loves story time, trips to the parks and the many great field trips offered by PKA (so do mom and dad!) I cannot recommend PKA enough. My only piece of advice would be: Don't hesitate to book your child's spot! Their spaces fill up quickly, so if it feels right in your gut, go for it. read more

We highly, highly recommend PKA preschool and summer camp programs. My granddaughter attended for two years and will now be going into preK at her local public school. Otherwise, we would have kept her at PKA forever! The environment, headed by owner/ director Josie, is nurturing, creative and safe with an incredible staff. Her two main teachers, Analea and Laura, are to be commended for their control of the classrooms, kind, patient and loving attitude towards the kids, and are fun and adventurous. We will miss them dearly and they will always have a place in our hearts for starting her education in learning to cooperate, playing with others, a strong sense of self and a love for nature. Thank you PKA and please feel confident in entrusting your toddler with this wonderful staff. read more

Our 2.5-year-old son is just finishing up his time at PKA. He's been a part-time student at the Prospect Heights location, attending the school twice per week. There's much to love about the school. The teachers are attentive, caring, and supportive. The classrooms are clean and well-suited to exploration and learning. Our son has enjoyed his time at the school. I've lowered the rating to reflect problems we've encountered with the management. On multiple occasions, the school has failed to provide us complete information about special events and activities. The oversight seems to stem from our part-time status. Understandably, teachers have a hard time keeping track of what information they've shared on specific days. I do, expect, however, the school to communicate adequately about events and activities that require families to change plans. They have not done so. Most recently, a lack of communication caused us to learn of our son's graduation performance less than a day in advance. It's set for a day when he normally does not attend the school. We would have had to rearrange his plans to allow him to participate and our plans to be able to attend. With such short notice, none of that rearranging could occur. He won't be able to perform, and we won't be able to attend. It caps his PKA experience with a tremendous disappointment. Perhaps more troubling was the school's response when I expressed concern about not receiving notice of special activities. The individual who manages the school accepted no responsibility, claimed to have repeatedly shared information that neither of us recalls, and attempted to shift blame by telling us that the school has only received this sort of feedback from us. It was a surprisingly unprofessional response. A simple apology and commitment to better communication in the future would have smoothed things over. Instead, I find myself unexpectedly glad to be moving on. We'll miss the teachers and students, but not the administrator. read more

We love PKA. my son joined in the big kids class at age almost-3 and it was his/our very first experience with a daycare/preschool situation. we had just had our second child and he was struggling with adjusting, as were we. He can be a wild kid, and he wasn't potty trained. PKA gave him just enough structure and a lot of outlet. He was potty trained in less than 4 months with the help of the wonderful teachers and he never once complained about going to school - loved it. For me it was amazing to have people i began to trust so much helping raise my son. he learned a lot about compassion and emotions, as well as how to regulate himself, use the toilet, the solar system, yoga, music, and art. i'm so happy he was there and i can't wait until my daughter is old enough to join the littles. read more

Our daughter attended PKA last year for a short time. The teachers were great and attentive. The education director was absentee and very rude and nasty when pressed for information. They also price gouged/over charged us for their services which is one of the reasons we pulled her. We were paying 1700 a month for two days a week with the agreement we would eventually be able to receive 5 days a week. The Director actually told my wife that she has spots but didn't want to offer them to existing families who wanted more days. After a month, we were told there was no room for our daughter to be moved to 5 days a week. With the Thanksgiving break and the Christmas break my daughter was barely there and we paid more than people who had 5 days Lastly, the school doesn't focus on real content. Letter recognition, numbers colors...these are areas you kids will need to know to be successful in PreK and beyond. I'm glad we moved her to a better school. She's learned much more in a shorter amount of time, which her PreK teachers for next year have told us is terrific read more

I enrolled my son in Prospect Kids Academy when he was 2 years old. I interviewed roughly 9 new early childhood programs. From my first phone call to PKA I knew they were special. When I entered the school for the first time I noticed the teachers greeting each child in the common space by name. The Director answered all of my many questions and gave me a tour of the facility. On his first day, she was there, assuring me that my baby would be OK. I felt confident that we had an open line of communication and that my husband and I could call her anytime to see how he was doing. I am a first time parent and I can be a bit much at times with my baby (not me) but with that extra effort it made it easier for me to go about my day knowing my son was in good hands. As a parent, I entrust my greatest blessing to the staff at PKA every day, and I am grateful for the loving care and guidance he receives. Thank you. read more

PKA is amazing. Love the teachers and the attention, care and amazingly the control they show with the kids. I never feel bad about leaving my daughter because she is so happy to attend and play and learn. My daughter has attended since she was two and did summer camp this year. My son will attend here when he is old enough. read more

I selected PKA as the perfect private preschool for my now 3 1/2 year old son. I had the usual concerns would he make any friends, etc. We enrolled him when he was 2. We started at the south slope location because spaces were filled at crown heights. We were able to transfer him to crown heights the following year. The teachers at both locations are patient, caring, and very creative. They take a mindful approach to teaching and correction when necessary. They engage in active play and learning. When my son was a little late with potty training, the teachers and administration were nothing but patient and supportive. Each day I'm impressed with how much my son's vocabulary has expanded. PKA is a wonderful place for your little one to thrive. I recommend them 100%. read more

PKA at the Prospect Heights location was a great choice for my son. He was two when he started until he graduated to Kindergarten. He learned so many things that helped him transition smoothly to Kindergarten. He had a great group of teachers that cared so much for him and prepared him for the real world. The directors are also great and very friendly with everyone. I highly recommend PKA!! It was a great choice for my family. read more

Both my kids went to PKA (my younger one is still there), I can not say enough about how wonderful this school is. Both my kids have learned to love school and I owe it to the teachers and school at PKA. PKA focuses on early childhood development while making it fun. It has shaped both my kids. My older son is now in elementary school and he wouldn't have acclimated so smoothly if it wasn't for the foundation that PKA has built for him. I know people have choices these days with universal pre-k and we had that option this past year but decided that PKA really is worth every cent. I have no regrets on this. I can't speak for the universal pre-k teachings but between the teachers, the teachings and the overall structure I can't say a bad thing about the school. They have amazing teachers who I know I will keep in touch with for life. I HIGHLY recommend PKA to anyone. read more

My son started attending PKA one month ago. It is a wonderful preschool with caring educators. They organize field trips, provide snacks and take the children to park daily. They emphasize appropriate early childhood development but make it fun for the children. I highly recommend PKA. read more

My daughter has attended PKA for 2 years and I could not imagine a better place to send a child. Most mornings on our walk to school, she would be chanting "PKA, ON OUR WAY," the same happy refrain all the kids chant in unison on one of their many walks or trips. Two years ago in the first week of school, we unexpectedly found ourselves in a situation where we no longer felt comfortable with our daughter's daycare/school, and we wanted out immediately. It's a terrible, helpless feeling when you feel upset about where your child is and desperate to find another option once the year has started. We frantically called and emailed every daycare and school in the area to try and find somewhere we'd feel okay about; we didn't imagine we'd get so lucky that PKA would have a spot for her (with extended day until 6 which we needed!) - and we have been endlessly grateful for their role in her - and our - life ever since. In the two years since then - one in "The Littles," one in "The Bigs" plus two summers of their fabulous camp - we can honestly say the guidance and love she received there from her teachers, the school directors Josie and Quin, and her friends has shaped who she is. The PKA environment and philosophy stresses compassion, fun, self-expression and respect for oneself and others, and it's woven into the everyday in such a way that it has truly become a foundation for who she is becoming, and has helped us with the tools and language to support that in our home life. PKA's deep belief in play-based learning, their progressive thinking, their ingrained respect for every child and every parent - these have been the building blocks of our daughter's life these past two years. As she and her friends have matured and their skills have developed, the most amazing thing to see is how the teachers have led the kids from being surrounded by these values, to embracing them on their own, to growing the language skills to continue to demonstrate those values even as their independence becomes more fierce, making sharing harder and conflicts more prevalent. We feel so lucky that our daughter has been given the gift of warmth and compassion so that she can express her feelings and can empathize with others - because we all know life doesn't get any easier or more free of potential conflict as we get older. I remember when we toured the school, Josie, the wonderful director of our location, said "playing is what kids this age should mostly be doing, and they're so naturally curious, it's up to us to use that as a jumping off point to teach them." That felt like home. With that philosophy, the kids and teachers have explored every aspect of colors and different feelings they can represent, animals and insects, transportation, gardening, cooking, movement, meditation, building, crafts, games, stories, songs (mostly The Beatles, Stevie Wonder and Ziggy Marley!) I am endlessly in awe of PKA's educators and their patience, their intrinsic wisdom, their sensitivity and their boundless capacity to provide the love and security needed for each tiny kid to grow into themselves. They are approachable, joyful, honest and candid - exactly what you need through the standard trials of parenting - potty training, sleep regression, behavior changes, limit-testing, picky eating, moving; how to address things from a new bedtime routine, to saying goodbye to a pacifier, to the illness or passing a loved one. The kids are not the only ones being taught by this amazing staff. And in situations where I feel like I'd go insane with one child, these gifted teachers excel with a whole classroom of them - on rainy days when they can't go to the playground, they have dance parties inside and parents, wet and annoyed from commuting, are met with a school buzzing with energy, music, and red cheeked kids with a million things to share and a million more to look forward to tomorrow. We cannot recommend PKA highly enough - it is the best home away from home a child could have, and we feel that way even more today than we did 2 years ago when we were so lucky to land there. read more

We could not be happier with what a wonderful learning environment PKA has been for our child over the past two years. Its play-based approach allows the kids to get excited and hands-on with all the topics they're learning about, and to be actively involved in deciding all the things they'll explore together as a class. All of the teachers are phenomenal and do a wonderful job guiding, supporting, and relaying each child's enthusiasm for learning and all the concepts PKA exposes them to. Our child is excited to go to school each morning and never wants to leave at the end of the day. The director and teachers have built a school that is a true extension of the larger community, from exploratory walks around the neighborhood, to regular engagement with local cultural centers, to inclusion of families in events or lesson topics. It is such a welcoming place to come to each day, and the openness and camaraderie of all the families are a testament to the incredible learning environment and community that PKA has established. Having such a stellar educational option so directly connected to our neighborhood, routine, and regular family activities has been invaluable. We can't recommend it highly enough! read more

I cannot recommend this PreK enough. My son attended last year and it was a wonderful experience for our whole family. His teacher's were not only warm, friendly, generous and altogether lovely people, but they were also both exceptional educators. They would take the time to answer our questions and even helped us navigate child-rearing issues we were having outside of the classroom. A year later, our son still talks about his teachers, and made friends there he still sees to this day. PKA a very special place and I feel so lucky that our family was able to be a part of it. read more

Our 2 year old started in the fall and we love it! She's at the St. John's location. Josie is great and her teachers annalee and Carlene are amazing. All very genuine, nice people who love the kids and really care about their work. We jumped into PKA without a ton of info and we couldn't be happier. How lucky. read more

PKA was a pure blessing for our son. I had heard wonderful things about their summer camp and was the first one to enroll my son the beginning of January this year. I wanted to make sure he was on the list and ready to go! He had been at a different school/daycare since he was 2 years old and it went from wonderful to horrible within a year. Needless to say I had to follow my Mommy gut feeling and pull him out immediately. With nowhere to send him, I was in a panic. I had him home for a week and was so desperate to get him into a better program before he started at PKA summer camp. I had already scheduled a day to meet with the Director of PKA, Josie - give her the paperwork and payment for summer camp and I asked her if there was any way my son could start earlier, that I was desperate and had anxiety about the situation we were in. She at first said no, so sorry but they were full. Then she remembered a boy was leaving the younger class the end of March and my son could take his spot. I honestly felt like a million pounds was lifted off my shoulders. They were our shinning light and a huge blessing to what I thought was going to be a disaster of a couple of months. My son joined the last 2.5 months of their school year. Within 1 week, yes, 1 WEEK! My husband and I saw positive improvements with his attitude and kindness towards others. The other school that he was in had become negligent and he was constantly coming home saying other kids hit him. I could see him turning aggressive and defensive. PKA turned this around IMMEDIATELY. My son learned how to express his feelings, show sympathy towards his peers, respect and appreciate nature - all within the first week. My son LOVED going to PKA, those 2 months and being in their summer camp June - August was nothing short of amazing. Annalee and Alicia (his teachers) are names he always talks about. During his bedtime prayers he always says, Thank you God for PKA, thank you for Annalee and Alicia. Josie the director is an absolute sweetheart and Laura the teacher in the big kids class was always so kind and nurturing. I shed tears saying goodbye on his last day there. They have no idea how great they made me feel as a Mother sending my baby to be in the care of someone else. I for the first time had no worries or concerns for him while he was in their care. You will not be disappointed for sending your little one to PKA. It was the best decision I have made as of yet for my son. The only thing I wish is that it wasn't so expensive. That is my only criticism- but, it was worth every penny. read more