Both of our kids went to this school. We couldn't have been HAPPIER with our experience. The…read moreteachers of the school truly care about the students - this is reflected in every detail of the day and curriculum. TCI built an amazing community that we still keep in touch with years later. We are so grateful to have found this school when we did!!

Two months since my last child graduated from TCI and they still talk so positively about their…read moreexperience there! They still get emotional when we reflect on how much they miss TCI as TCI has been such an integral part of our lives for so long! They fingerknit (something they learned at the school) as they reflect and reminisce. I've had both of my daughters attend TCI - my oldest started at age 4 and went until she went to Kindergarten and came back for all the breaks and the summer. My youngest started at 20 months and just graduated this past summer at 5.5 years old. I frequently travel for work and my kids have been to over 10 child care/day care facilities (Creme, other montessoris, Goddard, Kindercare, ISM private academy, immersion academies etc.) and my oldest will be in 2nd grade at XinXing Academy in Hopkins....so I can confidently say that TCI is, by far, the best school for children for SO many reasons. They are 1000% child focused. - They always do what is best for the children from how the environment is carefully prepared and the word choices the guides use in each language they speak. - The environment is set up for a child's lifetime success and it is absolutely beautiful with high quality materials and crazy attention to detail. - The children learn independence and responsibility - they get their own water and snack, they sweep up their own messes, materials are put away when completed. Plus they learn how to plant and pick their own food in the garden. - The guides are HIGHLY qualified in both the toddler and children house communities (think graduate level credentials) in addition to the AMI certification. This is a huge difference compared the frequently underpaid 'teachers' in 'day cares' that just watch the kids. - The lead teacher and staff are amazing partners in parenting - they help think through challenges a child might be having and provide a lot of insight into their development - it's like having a developmental coach for the child! Some things to be aware of is that you need to make lunch each day - I know other places will provide lunch, TCI does not. There are a lot fewer pictures that you receive in comparison to other pictures - as Lishi said, the focus is on child development, not taking pictures. I would be happy to talk to any parent who is interested in TCI - I know that sometimes it is daunting if you aren't familiar with the Montessori approach. I've added in a few pictures to this review - these are my children only (which is why I blocked out the other child's face). Masks are not required, the one picture that had a mask on was because my daughter was coughing and I didn't want her to get others sick :)

I would like to share my experience with EPM, which has been quite mixed. While the school has a…read moresolid reputation, I left disappointed.  Not only in the education my daughter received, but also the overall attitude of the staff and unprofessional communication.   Communication from the staff was often unclear and inconsistent. I found myself acting on their recommendations, only to have them recant those suggestions when it was convenient for them.  It felt like I was being gaslit.  At times, my daughter's provider recommendations were not followed.  They would state my daughter was the only child not napping as an example, but yet there was a room full of children not napping.  They stated my daughter didn't have friends not knowing that we played with kids from class on regular basis and still do to this day.    A particularly memorable incident that encapsulates my experience occurred on Halloween. My daughter was thrilled to wear her light-up princess dress, exuding pride and excitement as she arrived at school. However, the teacher checking in students remarked, "wow, that is distracting," in an annoyed voice, which was incredibly deflating for my daughter.  I think my daughter picked up on that she was not liked by the staff and that impacted her.  The overall lack of smiles or morale didn't seem good in my experience.   Changing a child's daycare/school setting can cause a lot of disruption.  That is the only reason why we stayed as long as we did and tried to make it work.   On a positive note, Soccer Shots, Wee-Move, and Piano teachers/coach were great.

We moved our kids to EP Montessori last summer from an early childhood center, and we and our kids…read morehave been so happy there! The teachers and staff are all very caring, and got to know our kids really well from the start. Our kids (2.5 year-old in Toddler and almost 5 year-old in Casa) had an easy time adjusting. We have a rule follower and an independent spirit, and the approach at EP Montessori has really helped both of them as they develop and learn. Both of our kids participate in activities that come to school (piano, dance, yoga, soccer) and enjoyed them, too!

We sent our kids to St. John's because we supported the Catholic Montessori style of education. But…read moreafter nearly a decade of our family being part of this community we had no choice but to pull midyear. Our children often brought up concerns to staff but were consistently dismissed or ignored with little to no follow through. Over time our kids stopped speaking up, having learned it fell on deaf ears. Discipline was applied inconsistently with consequences depending on a family's connection to the administration rather than the conduct itself. When our special needs daughter was physically attacked by a younger student, the student was shielded from consequences outlined in the school's own handbook. The moral of the environment among students was not consistently in line with Catholic teaching and conduct was often not addressed. We were loyal to this school through a lot a friend our best to make things work. Sadly. it just continued to get worse.

Can't say enough about this awesome little school. I have had children in the Toddler, Children's…read moreHouse, Elementary 1 and Elementary 2 programs. Can't wait until my oldest is in the Adolescent program (middle school). Great teachers, amazing community, top notch education.

Both of my children have learned and grown at APMS and we wouldn't change it for the world. It is a…read morewonderful community of families. Welcoming without being weird about it (you know what I mean). I highly recommend APMS to everyone.

This school is amazing. My children have come so far while attending. I have seen unbelievable…read morechanges in how they interact with others, how they manage themselves at home, and how independent they can be. The teachers are so kind, the environment is bright and clean and inviting. My younger son has always been very strong willed, and refuses to be coerced into anything, but at school, he has begun to challenge himself more and more. Skills that we can't get him to try at all, he suddenly comes home willing and proud to show us. The community is warm, and I adore everyone there. It's affordable, small, and very personal. I can't recommend Augsburg Park Montessori enough.

Don't be fooled. I am not saying this school is perfect but by no means does it deserve its current…read morerating. This is the classic case of the few people that had negative experiences going out of their way to post their feedback while those of us that are extremely satisfied don't share our feedback. I sent my two daughters to this school. They had the same teacher the entire time. The same manager the entire time. I am shocked at the lack of turnover. When a teacher does leave, it is usually to another Step by Step facility because of a promotion. Highly recommend SbS Edina!

We do not have good experience with this school, my kids went for almost a year. teachers are rude,…read moreand kids feel disconnected with teachers.

It has been over 1 year since my children have attended EMAS and it was the best decision we have…read moremade for them. My wife and I consistently talk about how they are thriving in this environment. The standards of accountability, care and education speak volumes. Nearly all the teachers know our children, teacher retention is astounding compared to previous centers, and my kids talk about their teachers constantly. The staff address any concerns immediately with open and honest communication. A very welcoming and caring community, I highly recommend to family and friends!

We have moved quite a bit for my husband's job, so we have seen many daycares/preschools. We wanted…read moreto enroll our 3.5 yo son in a preschool that actually focused on education and social development. We could not be happier with EMAS! My son has been a student here for about a month now. They are very attentive to both my son and the parents. Communication is fabulous. We get frequent emails and the teachers talk to me all the time. The director checks in too, asking if I have concerns, how the adjustment is going, etc. my son has already learned so much and he looks forward to going to school every day. He does five half days and he ends up missing the afternoon craft. The teacher overheard him telling me he didn't have the art work from the previous day hanging on the wall, and she said she'd do the craft with him the next morning. I figured although she meant well, there was no way she'd have time to do a one in one craft with my son. Amazingly, she did! My son was so happy and I am beyond impressed with her dedication to making sure my son felt included. I can't say enough. My son loves the food, he gets plenty of play time and lots of education. He's happy and so am I.