We had the best experience at MCA for my 4 year old kid Sahana kowsik. She has developed…read moretremendously as this is her 1st preschool after daycare and 1 year of break at home due to pandemic, we would be thankful to Ms. Smita and Ms. Waafa for showing her and other children all love and the care they needed. All the staffs are so loving and caring special mention to Ms. Smita,Ms. Waafa,Ms.Aari,Ms.Thomas, Ms.Nancy,Ms.Chris,Ms.Reni,Ms. Allyson. We had to relocate to sandiego 2 days ago but my kid keeps saying about her classroom friends and teachers 24×7 and says wants to go back to MCA after she comes from school she would enact and play her classroom scenarios with her soft toys as her friends, herself and me as Ms.Smita and Ms.Waafa. She loves her classmates and Ms.Smita and Ms.Waafa as they do so. Even I am so addicted to talk and play with my kid about her classroom. The best thing happened in her life is being a MCA student, I wish I had known about this place earlier and enrolled her from toddler program itself as they're in practice for more than 15yrs. We had to relocate otherwise she would be still going to Ms.Smita's classroom at MCA. My kid loves the place and the gift letters given to her from her friends and school. Ms.Smita has so much positivity and ever smiling face which influences the kids that even I take her as an example on this is how I need to be with my kid. Their education methodology is the best around Detroit as my kid was attending couple of daycares around until she was 3, I can compare her learning and behavioral development after going to MCA. Most importantly teaching is based on montessori methodology through activities taught to kids with love and care. She's eating even rice by herself now thanks to Ms. Smita,Ms. Waafa and Ms. Nancy. Thanks to Ms. Aari for teaching spanish and engaging the kids with the exercise song and dance moves. My kid perfectly teaches us that since beginning. She recently started full-time just for 3 weeks before our move and enjoyed time with Ms. Chris arts and crafts classes. Overall MCA is the best thing happened to my kid and us in Detroit and Ms.Smita's classroom is the only thing we miss now. Lots of love to you MCA, Ms. Smita,Ms. Waafa and all the classroom friends(its a big list to write their names) from Sahana, I am hopeful that she will always remember all of you as this is her 1st school experience. Thanks to Ms. Thomas and MCA office for giving Sahana an opportunity(enrollment) to be a MCA student.

BEST daycare in the area! Beautiful facility and incredible and caring staff! No other facility…read moreeven compares.

Excellent school! Great facility. Both of my sons went here with very positive experiences. They…read morehave now graduated and one is at U of M Ann Arbor and the other one is headed there. This Montessori school provides an excellent base for young children. You can only attend until 5th grade. Teachers are all good, front office staff is as well. My daughter currently goes here (4th grade) and has learned so much. The academics are on point and really challenges children. But your child is not pushed, if teachers see they are not doing well, they try to help and place your child where it is the best fit. The extracurricular activities are good - Art, Spanish, Computers, and Gym are important and done well here. It's a very diverse school. Tuition is about 15K per year but worth it!

My wife and I have sent our children - currently ages 4-and-a-half and 6 months - to School Bell…read moretwo days/week since they've been alive. About six child care centers exist within a 5-mile radius of my home, so the initial choice of School Bell was made after a fair amount of research and visits. I'll talk about the positives in a moment, but it's first worth noting why we're leaving. Due to various staff changes/leadership morale, the PreK program has, to my eyes, become little more than a glorified babysitting service over the last year. My older child, to me, is smart and articulate and can do puzzles like a champ, so I like to believe the two days/week he spent here in his very formidable years were good for him, but now that he's at the point where reading, writing, and the things you need to have at least a passive understanding of to succeed in kindergarten are important to me, I'm not seeing any of these things happening in School Bell's programs. There's no curriculum to speak of, there's no communication from the staff about what my child is learning, and there are no goals/expectations/milestones for him. In fairness, lots of education could be happening, but if it is, I'm not being told of it; what I do see is my child, when he arrives in the room in the morning, scurrying to the child allowed to have a tablet in school to wait his turn to play Angry Birds. This is not what I pay for. That's the big reason...the apparent lack of learning that has taken over the PreK room...but there are other small things: - On the occasions when signs are posted, it's not uncommon for them to have spelling or grammatical errors. Not that the kids can read them, but it doesn't inspire confidence in me when a center's leader cannot correctly spell "mismatch." - This is a first-world problem, but you can't pay by credit card. I get that the center doesn't want to pay processing fees, but as someone who really enjoys the benefits of credit card points, I'd really like to pay for the biggest expense in my life with a credit card. - My child absolutely loves Water Day, but it's only on Fridays this summer. He doesn't go on Fridays; would it be tough to switch up Water Day once in awhile so he can enjoy it as well? Now, all of that said, there are a lot of good things about this place; in no particular order: 1. It's clean. It's bright. 2. Nearly every teacher in the Infant, Toddler, and Preschool rooms I met there truly cared about the kids (or if they didn't, they weren't there long). Gone are luminaries such as Danielle and Georgia and Anne and a litany of others (as you likely know, the turnover rate in this industry is very high), but as of this writing, Denise and Allyson and Stephanie and Carly are there, among others, and they will take excellent care of your children. My kids have never been hurt, sunburnt, underfed, or suffered any neglect or pain (with the of-course exception of a fall of two on the playground) at this center, and for that, I am very grateful to the staff. 3. The price. The price fluctuates depending on how many days you enroll you child(ren), but in an industry with razor-thin margins, School Bell was reasonably priced, and the inclusion of snacks and lunch often made it seem like a bargain. For the older child, the price came out to about $5.90/hour, which, when you consider the work the women here do, is an excellent value. 4. Lunch is provided. Snacks, too. Not making lunches is a benefit I have learned to appreciate. In sum, if you're looking for a solid childcare center, this one is indeed solid. I wish we weren't taking the kids out, but the lack of a good PreK curriculum has forced our hand. Hope this helps anyone looking for a place to give care to your kids.

I have had my son enrolled at school bell since he was in the infant room and now he has moved up…read moreinto the toddler room and I am so appreciative of the amazing staff that helped us out along the way. Most importantly Ms. Carly and Mrs. Denise who have been there the whole time. Ms. Sidney and most importantly Ms. Lori who always make my family feel at home and take care of our son the very best they can.

This school is a gem right in the heart of Birmingham. That said, students come from many local…read morecities as it seems to draw many wonderful families looking for a safe and nurturing environment. They accept kids starting at 18 months (don't have to be potty trained) and you can create your own schedule from Monday - Friday. We are sending both of our children there this year. We have noticed HUGE strides in our children's learning and social skills. They do crafts (even the Tots class with kids from 18 - 2.5 years), read books, sing songs and teach lessons of sharing and tolerance. Our son started last year in the 3's program and it was so heart warming to watch him grow and play with his friends. His language improved and we got so many crafts to keep. Our daughter is now in the Tots program and only 2 months in, her vocabulary went from 20 or so words to now stringing together phrases and she pretty much repeats any word she hears. She was also really shy and now is very outgoing and loves playing with other kids. The teachers and school director are like family to us. They are really comforting and understanding and it is so evident that they love what they do! Other things that I believe set St. James apart: they disinfect all classrooms every (yes, every!) day, they have a very strict locked door policy and ID anyone that is not the usual pick up person (I've seen it for myself when a dad was picking up his son and a teacher didn't know him). They do work sheets and it is very focused on education / learning. All of the teachers there are required to do so many hours of training each year too. Again, you can do as many or as little days a week you want and mornings or extend the day to 2:00, they do lots of crafts, they have a balanced amount of activities and field trips and the other parents and kids are just wonderful. I've met so many great moms and feel so happy every time I am there. We looked at other schools and have friends at other schools and truly, St. James far exceeds anything we could have asked for. Check out the school! You can call Shar Wickens, the director, directly and set up a personal visit when convenient for you.

I could almost cry writing this! My son has some confidence issues. Mild autism, and a muscle…read moredisorder which affects his gait and fine and gross motor skills. Let's just say he has a bit of an extra challenge. But I can't even express the power of amazing teachers!! Every single one of his teachers this year fostered his confidence. He's a shy child but, his teachers told me he was a top participant in his classes. They encouraged him and praised him and also assisted him to use his skills in unique ways. For example, an art project for my son is daunting. He gets very stressed. He doesn't have the coordination to cut and paste or anything intricate. His teacher worked with him and allowed him to use his computer skills instead. So he was producing videos and power point presentations in place of some of the assigned work. This entire year, I knew his teachers cared about him, and his grades and wellbeing. I am sure this is also a reflection of great leadership on the administration side of things as well! Nate went from struggling last year in virtual school to shining brightly! With his math and science teachers' encouragement he applied, and was accepted, into Utica's Center for Math Science and Technology! He also managed to get on the all A honor roll! Thank a teacher! They can make an enormous difference in your child's confidence! I can't believe I have a Freshman now!

Utica Community Schools rock! I have 5 kids that currently attend 2 of the schools in the district…read more My oldest is at the junior high, but because he is in 9th grade, he's in the matching band for Eisenhower High school. This school is as exceptional, as the rest in the district. When we sold our house back in April, our number 1 criteria for finding a new house was that it HAD to be in the Utica district. We bought a house in Slate August, just days before the start of the new year- and it WAS in the Utica district. So close to our old house that our kids did not even have to switch school. The teachers are amazing and willing to help and go above and beyond 110%! They are willing to meet at your convenience- if you ever need to talk or if you see your child struggling. The inside of the schools are always immaculate- even if there is 100s of kids spending 8 hours plus inside. I can't say enough good things about Utica Community Schools. I'm so pleased with the education my kids are receiving!

St. Peter Lutheran School has been a wonderful place for our family. The academic programs are…read morestrong, the teachers are dedicated, and it is clear they truly care about helping each student succeed. The facilities are welcoming and create a positive environment where students can grow both academically and in their faith. I also appreciate the opportunities students have to participate in music, art, sports, and other activities that help them discover their interests and build confidence. The school values developing well-rounded students. I have also been impressed by the academic growth I have seen in my own child, as well as the recognition students receive for their hard work both in the classroom and in athletics. St. Peter is truly a special place with teachers and staff who are deeply invested in their students.

Excellent, warm church that is bible based. Has a Sunday School and weelkly school for…read morekindergarten to 8th grade.

I bought multigrain bread made by Rising Stars Academy at the Metropolitan Variety Store in…read moreDetroit's West Village. The bread was delicious and healthy. I'll definitely be buying more. I have previously mentioned the wonderful products made by Dutton Farms, a special education school in Rochester Hills. The products that their students make, like soap, hand sanitizer, and lip balm, are superior to anything made by mega conglomerates. I am also happy to support Rising Stars, another amazing special education school for adults with disabilities located in Center Line. The multigrain bread was fresh and tasty. It's also cheaper than any of the healthy bread you'll find at places like Whole Foods. I am happy to support a locally owned variety store like Metropolitan that sells products from schools like Rising Stars. I hope that more people choose locally made products created by programs that benefit the community over food made by corporate factories with questionable labor and safety practices!