Our son has been attending Bright Little Minds Montessori for the past four months, and we have…read morebeen happy with his care. The staff are incredibly compassionate and attentive toward the babies, which gives us so much peace of mind as parents. They create a warm, pleasant environment and consistently engage the children in fun, age-appropriate activities that support learning and development. It's clear that the teachers genuinely care about each child, and we truly feel this is a place where our son can learn, grow, and thrive. We are grateful to have found Bright Little Minds Montessori.

Out child has been going to Bright Little Minds for almost 2 years and love it. The teachers have…read morebeen amazing with fostering the academic and social growth in our daughter. They provide daily updates with photos through their app, and really communicative if there are any issues, like an injury or she wasn't feeling well. She has made so many friends and learned valuable skills that are age appropriate. Sticking to a schedule has helped us out at home as well. We're sad to leave as our daughter starts a new school, we're glad she was able to grow so much at Bright Little Minds.

Being part of Explorer has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience…read more There's a joke that parenting is the one job nobody has to pass a test for -- that there really ought to be some kind of "SAT for parents" before anyone is handed a child. Explorer is the closest thing I've found to that school, except it never tests you. It teaches you. And what it teaches is less about how to raise a child than about how to be a good parent -- and underneath that, how to be a good person. What it made me see most clearly is this: the bond between a parent and a child is one of the most extreme imbalances of power that exists. In no other relationship does one person hold so much control over another human being -- over their time, their body, their choices, even their sense of what is real. And yet we almost never name it as power. We take it for granted. As a society we rarely talk about the restraint a parent owes a child, precisely because the child has no way to demand it. Explorer takes that restraint seriously. The community here holds to a belief that is simple to say and surprisingly hard to live: that we are not only here to protect our children, but to respect them. And what surprised me most was what that respect produces. Children who are treated with respect learn to extend it -- to their peers, and to the world around them. They come to understand boundaries not by being controlled, but by having their own boundaries honored, and by watching others honored too. They learn it through play, through sharing how they feel, through being given room to work things out rather than being told how things will be. I'll be honest: none of this is intuitive, and much of it runs against how most of us were raised. It asks you to hold back in the very moments when instinct says to step in and take charge. It asks you to be challenged -- to be willing to find out you were wrong. So I don't think Explorer is the right fit for every family. It's for the ones ready to walk in open-minded and let themselves be stretched. For us, it was exactly that. I'm deeply grateful that our family found Explorer, and that we've had the chance to be part of it.

We LOVE Explorer. We started our LO at 18 months and are saddened that graduation is in one month,…read moreending our time here. Being here for 4 years, we've been able to see a lot and meet lots of families. It isn't for everyone. But if it is for you, as it was for us, it's a godsend. We couldn't be more thankful for all that we've learned, the kindness and patience we've received as new parents, and the community we've been able to take with us as we leave. The #1 reason I chose Explorer Preschool was the required monthly Parent Ed Classes. As a former teacher, I love learning but not too proud to admit that I need to pay a school to hold me accountable. Sleep deprivation is a big deterrent. Explorer, however, is special because what we learn is immediately applicable. Parents learn from each other, ask questions we hadn't thought to ask yet. We get the opportunity for our LOs to be loved and supported by a caring community of similar values. We, too, fall in love with other LOs and get to watch them all grow up together in a safe space. We don't have family here, which was daunting to say the least, as first-time parents in 2022. Now, after 4 years, we feel like the close families that we've bonded with will remain our friends for a lifetime. I love how much my LO just goes up to other parents just to have a good laugh, and how much these other LOs come up to tell/share the most exciting news of the day. A lot of families have come and gone in the last 4 years. But the ones that stay until graduation, at least in my experience this year, it says a lot about them = dependable, flexible, kid-centered, sees value in education, team-player, committed, nature-loving, and open-minded (we're in an all-inclusive school). I could go on forever! Thank you, Explorer Preschool!

I wish I could give Learning Pathways 10 stars - and I never say things like that! The teachers…read moreare stellar - warm, inviting, and terrific at making learning fun. That's because the school treats them like family, unlike so many other schools in the area. My daughter comes home with new words and skills every day, and I can see the pride she takes in learning. She has learned so much academically (writing, reading, math) that she is actually too advanced for ordinary TK programs, which is a good problem to have! And when she had trouble adjusting to a different classroom, Mr. Wes and Mr. Wyatt were incredibly kind and helpful, and ultimately worked with us to find a place where she felt happy and supported. The Willow Glen campus is intimate and beautiful, with a lovely covered yard and play area. Mr. Wes, Mr. Wyatt, and Mr. Todd run the school with such thoughtfulness and care, through pandemic ups and downs and everything in between. We adore the school, the teachers, and the kids. What a special place.

Our child attended this preschool around age four. While the school is organized and structured, it…read moreultimately was not the right fit for our family. One positive aspect is the teacher-to-child ratio, with three teachers for approximately 23 children. The program runs efficiently, routines are clear, and from an operational standpoint the school is well managed. The directors, Mr. Wyatt and Mr. Wesley, were consistently kind, professional, and thoughtful in their interactions. That said, the classroom environment felt very crowded, particularly during nap time, when children were closely packed together. Our experience with teaching staff was mixed. Two of the three teachers appeared relatively inexperienced, especially in communication during drop-off and pick-up, which often felt limited or awkward. One more experienced teacher stood out as warm, confident, and engaging, and the contrast in experience was noticeable. Our main concern was that the program seemed best suited for children who fit narrowly into a compliance-based model. Children who were still developing self-regulation skills -- which is developmentally appropriate at age four -- appeared to be labeled or judged more quickly. In our case, our child was repeatedly singled out for age-appropriate energy (like in music time) and expressive language, and at times it felt clear that one teacher lacked a strong understanding of early childhood development and behavior. After raising ongoing concerns, I communicated to the director that I was exploring other preschool options, as I was not satisfied with how things were progressing and felt the program would likely not meet our expectations. Shortly afterward, we received an abrupt email from the owner stating that our child was being unenrolled. While the timing felt abrupt, we had already decided that transitioning to another school was the right move for our family. To be clear, this is a structured and well-run preschool, and it is clear why they have a waitlist, they truly do a great job, all around, but it may be a good fit for families whose children thrive in that environment. For us, we were seeking more experienced educators who could thoughtfully support a range of personalities and developmental stages. After moving to another preschool with similar structure but more seasoned teachers, our child thrived.

My 2 year old daughter goes to Valley Oak Montessori, and has been there for 6 months now. Being…read moresuch a young child, I wanted a loving, caring and homey environment for my baby, where she can be well cared for, socialize and enjoy, while also also learn, and grow. I don't have enough words to convey what a wonderful pre-school it is. The teachers are extremely warm and care for the little ones like they are their own. As a parent, you leave behind a piece of your heart and want to know your child is being cared for, where they spend the most of their time, especially of their crucial developmental years. Early on, teachers took care to learn Isha's naptime routine and even learnt the Hindi lullaby she was used to and sang it to her everyday. That really helped ease her transition from home to school. Their monthly menu is diverse and even has Indian meal options which was a big plus for me! They have a very balanced plate and I don't have to worry about my kid eating healthy at school. They also have very well planned weekly curriculum where they teach kids life skills, have them do projects, have monthly themes for kids. They engage with the kids 1:1, have circle and music time which is great for kids to learn new songs and dance. The classrooms are large, where kids have a very clean environment and a good selection of learning books and toys (See pictures). The outdoors is also very well setup for kids to have physical activity, twice a day. They post weekly newsletters on what the kids were taught at school and it helps us better understand what kids are learning at school. They also have special events planned for Thanksgiving, Christmas, where kids perform songs and have parents join in for the celebration. Mrs. Varsha, the program director is very warm and approachable, and makes sure to know and bond with every kid personally, despite having such a large facility. She makes sure to care for every kid's individual needs and receptive to feedback. She makes sure to take action on the smallest feedback very promptly, while always being very kind with the parents and her staff. The school is gated and I've found it to be very safe for my kiddo. The student to teacher ratio is also very healthy 6:1, and they regularly post photos and videos of kids on brightwheel, so you can see their special moments through the day. The teachers try to make sure every kid is well cared for, and I cannot emphasize what an incredible job they do! Taking care of little ones, especially in their parents' absence, everyday is one of the most important and rewarding jobs in the world, and they are doing a brilliant job at that. My older kid went to a different preschool and I wasn't very happy with how it was run, but I feel like I hit the jackpot with Valley Oak Montessori. Thank you very much for making it so easy for me as a mom to leave behind my child, knowing she's loved and cared for. It's a very hard job, and extremely well done! Big thank you to the entire team!

Great school and great teachers. We had our daughter start there at age 3, she is now almost 5 and…read moreable to sound out 1 syllable words, knows all the sounds of every letter including the long and short sounds of the vowels, knows her letters by sight, is able to write her name, letters, and numbers. Because of this our daughter was able to pass a kindergarten entrance exam and get admitted to a private elementary school. Thank you so much for all your hard work and for getting my girl ready for her first year at kindergarten next year!

My two children went to SJMS and our second child graduated this year. We miss them so much…read more If you are looking for a real Montessori experience, I highly recommend this school. All of the teachers (including assistant teachers and outdoor teacher) are trained with AMI (Association Montessori Internationale), which is hard to find. Teachers are supportive and caring. They offer parent workshops and provide handouts to families in order for us to understand Montessori and children's needs. I hope other families could experience what our children gained from SJMS. Thank you to all of the staff for taking great care of our children. We will never forget this experience.

Our daughter currently attends SJMS, and is thriving. We are so happy with the experience she is…read morehaving, and intend to send our twin sons there as well once they are old enough. We looked at many preschools, but none of them felt quite right until we toured SJMS. The staff is extremely conscientious, engaged, and dedicated to the children. While many schools claim to be Montessori, many don't actually adhere to the principles very closely. SJMS is a true Montessori school, taking the time to not only practice the Montessori method but also to educate parents about the method. The school is small, just two classrooms with two dedicated teachers in each classroom, so the student-teacher ratio is quite good. If you're looking for a Montessori school that prioritizes the experience of your child, look no further.

We sent two of our kids to Bright Sunrise Preschool. From day one, the staff were incredibly…read morefriendly and responsive--any questions or concerns were addressed quickly. We got updated throughout the day with the app. Our main priority was safety. We felt confident knowing our little ones were in good hands. Plus, the ample parking made drop-offs and pick-ups a breeze. The school hosted a variety of events throughout the year. We highly recommend to any parent looking for a safe, clean, and well-organized early education experience!

My child stayed at Bright Sunrise Preschool for a week of backup care and we had a great…read moreexperience. The teachers were so kind and helpful. On my child's first day, they helped us quickly manage his separation anxiety and within 5 minutes they posted pictures of him happily playing on the Procare app. At the end of the day he was so excited to tell us about his day, the teachers, and the friends he met. I love the facility and the way the rooms are setup. There are 4 rooms connected to each other so it's easy to separate the classes during curriculum and free play, and it's also easy to teachers to hop between rooms as needed. The school provided excellent lunches and snacks, and posted great pictures of the children eating together on the Procare app. Also the outdoor play area is excellent. There are many cars, balls and toys for the children to use. The shade structures are expertly set up, and the playground equipment is fun and safe. With all the children ages 2-5, the teachers and facilities are perfectly tuned to these ages. Such a great school!

Ms. Naila is the best PreK teacher! She goes the extra mile to ensure each child shows progress and…read moremakes learning fun! Highly recommended for the start of children's learning journey.

We are so happy with Miss Naila! This is my daughter's very first school experience, and from the…read morevery first day she has absolutely loved it. She comes home every day excited and full of stories, and even on holidays she says she misses school and keeps talking about her teacher. The classroom has such a warm, friendly atmosphere that has made the transition so easy and joyful for my daughter. We are truly grateful for the care and encouragement she receives--it's made school something she genuinely looks forward to each day.

I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation for Ms Roy, Ms Kritika, Ms Tarika and…read morethe entire kindergarten team. They are amazing educators, and we couldn't speak more highly of them. My son recently completed the kindergarten program here and I want to speak about our experience while it's fresh in my mind. We have been so extremely happy by the academic growth he achieved this year. He is now reading confidently, working at a level ahead in math, and writing complete paragraphs. We appreciate the structured curriculum and thoughtful lesson plans that challenged him and helped him build a strong academic foundation. Thank you to his teachers and the supporting staff for their role, we can't recommend this program enough. Please consider scholars if you have any tk/kinder aged children.

My elder daughter has been going to scholars for over a year now. She started when she just turned…read more3 and we felt ready to put her into an institution from a home based daycare. It was the right decision, because we have seen her grow so much from her time at scholars. The teachers really pour their heart into nurturing and caring for the kids. She comes home with amazing art work, work sheets and tells us about all the new things she learns every week. They organize a lot of events where parents get a chance to connect with teachers and other parents. The annual spring and winter concerts are very well organized and it's rewarding to see the community come together. Overall it's been a very fulfilling experience and we're glad we found scholars ! They encourage outdoor playtime and also hone kids' personal preferences as well. Their reports are also very detailed and specific for each kid. They have also started meal service which is a huge relief for busy parents. I cannot wait to send my younger daughter to scholars once she's ready.