Fantastic school for your little ones! Our son has been attending since he was 1 year old and it has nothing short of a wonderful experience. When he started, he wasn't yet walking or talking and now he's almost 3 and has been through 2 classrooms (infant/toddler and now preschool). He's doing exceptionally well - is very verbal and independent - and has made great friendships with both his classmates and the teachers in each of the classrooms he's been in. For what it's worth - my sister and I both went to Montessori schools and that experience was so positive for my mother that she trained as a Montessori teacher and now runs a school (unfortunately in a different country). Since the Atlantic Ocean makes it hard for us to send our son there, we had to look for a suitable alternative near by that is true to Montessori and is well run. We've evaluated 10-15 different schools in the Berkeley/Oakland/Lamorinda area as we looked for the right spot for our son. Here are my favourite things about Rockridge Montessori- + Loving staff, extremely low turnover. The head teachers in each classroom that we've been part of have been there for over 10+ years - which speaks to how the school's administration look after and invest in their teachers. This is very different to other schools where turnover is very high. + AMS (American Montessori Society) trained teachers, plenty of Montessori time and activities from learning letters to practical life (cooking!). + Very clear and protective care policies for your child. For example, they disallow teachers babysitting students on the weekend to avoid favouritism. + Involved parent community - lots of social events and birthday parties. We spend a lot of time with our son's friends and their parents. + Well maintained facilities. Parking is easy, the playground is fantastic (and kids get to spend a lot of time outside, which I love). + Tonnes of communication. It's been very easy to get updates on our son (which was very helpful during those anxious first few weeks). The teachers update us on his progress throughout the week and have been a big help when it came to potty training him. + Diverse student body + Parent friendly hours (7:30 to 6pm) and - starting next year - prepared hot lunches for students. + Location is very close to BART, if you commute into San Francisco - about a 10 minute walk (or you can park at BART parking for $3 - post COVID there is usually space until past 9am). In conclusion - we're very happy we made the decision to send our son to RMS and would heartily recommend it to anyone who was considering it. read more

My younger toddler son went to Rockridge Montessori for about six months in 2021-2022. I thought about posting my experience for awhile, hoping other parents can make a decision. As I know it is difficult to find a caring, loving and trusting place for your young one. In the beginning of the process we were taken care really nicely. Paul and the other partner were communicative and encouraging. As soon as my son started we realized the challenges. 1) they have a lot of holidays/time offs. It almost felt like a school with a general timeframe. We ended up taking a lot of time off and asked family support since the school would be closed occasionally for things like; planning, cleaning, holiday, etc. 2) lots of plastics. Toys outside are plastic which is not a Montessori way. Inside, they were using a lot of plastic materials too. 3) I'm sad to say this but unfortunately teachers are not good at communicating. We struggled and we often hear other parents having trouble understanding what teachers were trying to say or they would be shy or not interested in providing updates. 4) A few times there were incidents in the class regarding biting. We were not communicated immediately. We were told when we picked my son up, and that felt really bad. On top of this, the teacher did not share a lot as she said she was not there when it happened. The other parent shared with us that his daughter was also got bitten and they were not communicating with much. Once we reached out to Paul, his response was very disappointing. He did not take any responsibility on the communication part and did not follow up with any action items. 5) my kid was not necessarily introduced to Montessori way of learning; neither myself. I was disappointed with teachers and the school overall after the teacher conference. We spend 15 mins online and neither teachers were able to communicate and tell us what our son is like during the day, how we can help him. It felt like some daycare. I know lots of good people work there too, so I wanted to keep my experience a bit neutral but these were the main points why we left that school. It is in a nice location but the education is not good. Paul was not engaging and helping. His emails were not supportive; more so cutting things. He did not like if we questioned anything. Also we always sensed that "you can leave if you want" kind of attitude along with, "you signed a contract for a year, so good luck" It is hard to find a good place for your kid, especially in the bay. However, I would like to say, this is not a place I'd send any kids I know. Not worth your time, money and energy. Good luck. read more

Update - Paul reached out with a nice email as well as the following statement: "In any case I was disheartened to see the review and can only imagine how upset you were with the school to have written that. For any role I or the school had in upsetting your family I am sincerely sorry." I've made a few adjustments accordingly. ................................................................................. Seems like a great Montessori from the visit we had. The teachers were patient and the facility was nice and clean with plenty of stations for kids to explore. The different stations are very interesting and would have loved to see our daughter try out different skill sets at the school. I just didn't like the fact that the teachers were surprised when we toured the facility in 2018 and they didn't think they're were available spots in Fall 2019. However, the Admin eluded that there's a high chance that a spot will be opened and suggested we put in July as the start date to increase our chances. As Paul politely pointed out in the email, it was my mistake for not reading the application's fine print carefully that the school will not communicate with parents that are on the waitlist even when the preferred start time has passed and it is the applicant's sole responsibility to follow up with RMS. This was tough for a household with multiple kids when you have a ton going on and you signed a document months back. I must admit that I appreciate the business aspect of such policy and the revenue it must generate. I was taken back when they just cashed our application fee and never called or emailed. I would have expected that a $75 waitlist/registration fee with a potential monthly tuition of around $2000 would result in at least an occasional status update or a warning that the preferred date we've requested will not be met. I've also talked to a few schools that told us that they will not cash the application fee unless they are certain that there is space available for the child so that skewed my expectation a bit. Maybe it's not common, but it showed the human aspect of those institutions. Luckily we found another school that only allowed tours for the school when they can guarantee availability at a certain date range. It was a pleasant experience and we didn't have to gamble with our child's future. I'm positive that RMS is an amazing school or the waitlist would probably not have been this long. Check out the rave reviews here as well as on BPN. Paul mentioned that the waitlist is now 12+ months after I wrote my initial review. News to us! Just be aware that the process to get into RMS will require you to take the responsibility to constantly follow up and that might not fit well for particular family situations. Learn from my mistake and plan accordingly if this is your first choice. read more

We are finishing 3 years here and love the mix of Montessori with yes you need to line up after lunch and the diversity of the teachers. Also love the focus on children's emotions! read more

Our family and daughter love Rockridge Montessori! The teachers are warm, caring, and encouraging. We love the well-balanced, Montessori curriculum. Our daughter comes home singing, dancing, and showing us what she's learned each day. The administration is also top notch - they've been able to navigate COVID and add new protocols, while caring for the kids and their families, and keeping their staff and students safe. We love RMS and the Quails teachers :) read more

I would not recommend sending your child here. The preschool is unethical. Only 2 weeks after they deposited our huge "deposit" check in January (they require 2 full months' tuition for a deposit), our financial situation changed and we realized we would not be able to afford the high price of the preschool. They insisted to keep $580 of our deposit, stating it was "policy." This was in mid-January, for a spot that started in September...they claimed it was because they had turned people down for that spot, but, they had 9 months to fill it so I doubt it was anything but greed. Additionally, this preschool is a bit like walking into the "Stepford Wives"...academically ok, but a cold, sterile and non-loving atmosphere. read more

We love this school! Our son has been here over a year and he's thrived in the warm, encouraging, and educational environment. Hats off to Sandi and Paul who are deeply invested in the well being of the children and teachers. Our son is quite shy and never once did I feel like he wasn't brought into the fold and encouraged to play with others. The teachers are smiling every day and seem so calm (whereas I'm running in a mess with two kids). I leave knowing he's safe, surrounded by caring, respective teachers. The other families we've met are also amazing -- overall, a fantastic community to be a part of. read more

My son attended RMS since he was 18 months. He started in the infant toddler (IT) program which is a true gem. The teachers at both the IT and preschool are knowledgable and caring. The school reflects the diversity of Oakland and bay area. Though I loved the IT program, I found the preschool very crowded but my son did not seem to mind. RMS is a safe, warm stimulating environment for children. I always had peace of mind when I would drop him off and go to work. RMS provides the right amount of academics and play. My son was reading at 2 and a half and I really credit the teachers at RMS for fostering his interest in learning. RMS is on the more expensive end but the teachers get benefits unlike other schools so in my opinion it is well worth it. Sandi and Paul are fantastic. I really came to feel like our family was part of a big family. Unfortunately, we had to move due to a job change. We will really miss RMS. read more

My son went to RMS and now is in 6th grade. We loved RMS for him and wish he could have stayed there through elementary school! He felt so much love and encouragement from the teachers. The curriculum helped to build his confidence in ways that have stuck with him all these years. Thank you for making such a wonderful and warm experience for the children and families! read more

We have two children currently at RMS, both of whom began in the Infant/Toddler Program and graduated into the Preschool. We've had nothing but great experiences here. Our kids love going to school each day and come home having both had a fun day with friends and also having learned something new. The teachers are truly wonderful. They are loving, happy, and genuinely enjoy the kids. When we arrive in the morning, the kids are usually dancing at morning circle time and my kids saunter into the classroom with nary a glance back at me. That's what you want in a preschool experience, your kids not clinging to you at the door begging you not to leave. The administration has never been anything but professional, communicative, understanding, and nice. They're family owned and operated, and are committed to the Montessori philosophy. The facilities are bright, clean, and charming. The classroom is light-filled with stained glass, and is set up in a traditional Montessori manner. They have pet fish, a class turtle, and a super fun outside area with all sorts of equipment, bikes, playhouses, etc. all nice and shaded. The kids eat lunch outside and all seem quite happy. The school arranges extra goodies for the kids like fire truck visits, visiting animal keepers, a fun school carnival, Easter egg hunts, and other seasonal events. There is also an annual school play, which is heartbreakingly adorable. Having been recently looking at many other Montessori schools in Los Angeles (we're moving) I can say that RMS has the perfect blend of Montessori philosophy with the fun that seems to be missing from the more serious Montessori institutions. After all, it's preschool, not college, and the kids should learn and develop, but not at the expense of good old fashioned fun. I'd highly recommend RMS if you're looking for a great Montessori in Oakland. read more

I started both of my kids at Rockridge Montessori before they were two years old. Choosing a school for such a young child is a huge decision, and one that can potentially leave you second-guessing, but it didn't take long for me to feel confident that I had found the right place for them. They are excited to go to school and have made many great friends there. They come home each day singing songs and carrying cute pieces of art. When my daughter was three, she was telling me about Mozart and Africa and was well on her way to learning her letters and sounds. At four years old, she is unstoppable with her enthusiasm for writing and I couldn't be happier. The facilities are very nice: clean, sunlit classrooms and ample, fun outdoor spaces. In nearly three years, I have seen very little in the way of teacher turnover, and it's clear that the teachers care about the kids and always impress me with their patience and friendliness. The administration is very easy to work with and I am grateful every day that I can trust them to provide a positive, formative experience for my children that will benefit them long after they leave. read more

By far one of the best school experiences a child could have. The entire staff is fantastic from the teachers to the administration. My daughter has learned so much because of her time at RMS. They taught her to read, write, and most importantly, to be respectful to others. I can't say enough good things about it. Get on their wait list! You will not regret it!! I promise you it's worth every penny. And RMS please start a K-8 program so we don't have to say goodbye! read more

I cannot say enough good things about this school. Our children are thriving, the teachers are excellent and very communicative with parents, the environment is exceptional and nurturing, and the Montessori curriculum has been wonderful for our children. Our daughter is 5.5 and has learned how to read and spell words this year and is counting into the 100s/200s. Sandi and Paul are wonderful and smart people with big hearts and a true vision for how to run a preschool. This school also has a lot of excellent features for households with two working parents. We initially started our kids at another preschool in Rockridge and had a very bad experience. I wish we came to RMS sooner--our kids are doing so well and our family feels so supported. We love you RMS! read more

RMS provides my entire family with tremendous support and an outstanding educational experience. As a working mother, I find great comfort knowing that my two year old son and four year old daughter are safe, well-cared for, and learning. Both my daughter and son started in the Infant/Toddler class. This is the only one to two year old school program in the Bay Area. Most schools start when kids turn 2 1/2 years old and many require the kids to be potty trained. The Infant/Toddler class provides students with a nurturing environment where they develop social and life skills while participating in art, music, reading, and activity based learning activities. The teachers are superb. They demonstrated genuine care for my children making me feel comfortable and confident each day I dropped them off. Currently my children are enrolled in the preschool where they learn valuable academic, social and life skills while building a network of friends and supportive adults. RMS does a superb job teaching students to read. My four year old has started reading books and has a highly advanced vocabulary. She is also leaning basic math skills - number sense, addition and subtraction, and money value. My children enjoy the balance provided by the daily schedule - Montessori time, circle time, outside play, circle time, art, Spanish, and Fitness In Transit courses. My kids love attending RMS. They are happy and excited about learning. My husband and I feel extremely blessed to be a part of the school community. We our proud RMS parents. read more

Our daughter has been at the Rockridge Montessori School since she was 12 months old. We can't recommend this school highly enough. The children are friendly to each other, the parents are great to hang out (we went out for wine tasting on the week of Valentines Day while the school watched the kids, it was great!) and the administration goes out of their way to help and listen every step of the way. The environment is always stimulating and our daughter' social, verbal and motor skills are well above the average for her age. We loved the school on our first visit and have had plenty of opportunities to come in to watch our daughter, as well as participate by reading books during circle time, planting the school garden or helping out with the school yearly barbeque. A attractive thing to us was that the school is a academic Montessori and is well aware of the testing pre-kindergarten that some schools require in our area. To my knowledge most kids have easily passed those exams, which means the teachers are aware of my child's development speed and continue to stimulate her as she masters the early montessori "practical life" activity. Our daughter also now has an awareness of other's feelings and is very self-sufficient and independent, which I think were virtues she learned at school. The teachers are patient and affectionate with the children, they provide feedback on what my child does during the day and share insights on my child that are helpful and accurate. For a mom whose English is her second language, my daughter's English is superb, I am amazed at her verbal development and how open she is to my native language since she has friends and teachers of all nationalities at school (the weekly Spanish class with fun songs has helped tremendously). We plan on staying with this school until she graduates, we were so lucky to have found them early enough on her development that has allowed her to flourish in a safe and stimulating environment. read more