Over time, the school and its management have steadily declined. Although there were some attempts…read moreto improve, the administration remains poorly run. There are a few good teachers in the Children's House, but beyond that, very little has been positive. Ms Manviya is great! Teacher consistency is poor, and there have been numerous management changes. The only good thing is that the classrooms are spacious and filled with natural light. We have since removed our enrollment due to these ongoing issues.

This school is an absolute mess, and I want other parents to know exactly what they're walking…read moreinto. When my daughter was in the infant room, things were fine. But the second she transitioned into the toddler room, everything fell apart. She came home with undocumented bite marks -- yes, bite marks that no one noticed or cared to report. She was sent home in soiled diapers almost every single day. The staff used the wrong diapers, wrong wipes, and even applied diaper rash cream when I had specifically instructed them to use coconut oil. That was never authorized. It felt like my directions as a parent were ignored. The turnover is out of control -- teachers come and go constantly because they are clearly underpaid and unsupported. The director changes so often that there is no leadership or accountability. The classrooms are dirty, the toys are old, and kids are always sick because the place is not properly cleaned. And if that wasn't enough, their billing practices are a complete disaster. Despite my child being on a voucher, they suddenly decided I owed them $4,000 because they didn't process payments correctly for months. Then they had the nerve to demand I pay it all at once, as if their incompetence was somehow my fault. At the end of the day, I pulled my daughter out because I could no longer trust them to keep her safe, clean, or cared for. I put her in an at-home daycare and the difference is night and day -- she is calmer, happier, and thriving. Guidepost Montessori in Marlborough is nothing more than a glorified, overpriced daycare that fails children and families. They are disorganized, careless, and completely unprofessional. I would never recommend this place to anyone. Save yourself the stress, the money, and the heartache -- your child deserves so much better.

I am the mother of a current student at the school. We have had quite the journey to find a school…read morethat is not abusive and productive for his needs. My son had attended 5 other therapeutic boarding schools prior to his start at Valley View. Many, if not all had an element of emotional or physical abuse. The industry is corrupt in so many ways, from the educational consultants who get financial kickbacks to the money-hungry owners of the for-profit schools, it really is difficult for a desperate parent to weed through the BS and find a school that actually cares about your child. VVS sets itself apart by being a not-for-profit school thus not driven by financial gain. They have proved to our family that there schools available that are truly child-centered. From the start, the school believed in my son. He wasn't just another "bad kid". Upon his arrival, he was in fact probably one of the most challenging kids at the school, but they trusted the process and supported him through it. Throughout his 1.5 years there he has grown into the young man that I could always see. The school started with getting his medicine correct. Because they have a full-time nurse they were able to monitor his behavior and report it back to the psychiatrist. They would make small adjustments to the dosage and time administered to give him the best opportunity to succeed. This then allowed his brain the opportunity to use the tools they were teaching him at VVS. I think one of the biggest differences between VVS and other therapeutic schools would be that they allow the boys to still be kids. The environment is less clinical and more supportive. It functions much like a regular boarding school with the support that kids like my son need. They have clubs, outings, and social opportunities to allow him to mature in a more natural type of environment. The staff has been so supportive of my son, so much so that his advisor takes him and other students fishing at a lake by his home and to have dinner with his family after. They interact with him much like a family member would, making him feel included all while being away from us. My son has gone from being kicked out of over 7 schools to being elected onto student council, on the honor roll, and even the school librarian; a position they created for him seeing what his strengths are. That is just what you get at VVS, they look for the good in your child and create opportunities for them to excel in that area. I can not thank them enough for the transformation they have allowed my son to make. I want to speak a bit about the negative reviews that can be found for Valley View. From what I have seen in our many years of therapeutic settings, you are dealing with students and sometimes parents with mental health needs. Often times disgruntled students that did not succeed in the program can interpret their experience as abusive. Other times they are angry that their parents "sent them away" and feel they need to seek revenge on the school. From our experience, when my son has had an issue with the staff he will let me know over the phone or facetime call. Often times when he and I talk through it we discover that he was interpreting their actions or words out of context...which is part of the reason many of the boys are there in the first place. There have been a few times that I did feel the need to bring it up with his advisor. Every time I addressed it with the lead staff, the issue has been addressed and resolved. My son has learned a lot from that process actually. He learned how to address things that make you uncomfortable, be heard, and the issue resolved. My last point I want to touch on is the price. This is a self-pay school, for most, insurance will not cover any part of it. This was the case for us. It is a huge financial investment. We have chosen to prioritize our son's future and are so happy we did. We went from being concerned that he'd ever been able to live on his own, to looking for top universities after graduation. Valley View School has given my son a chance at the life he deserves and for that, we will be forever grateful!

Before I start I want the reader to know that I was a troubled young man who absolutely made…read moreprogress at this school even though some events that happened to me are probably illegal now. These events happened 40+ years ago. I was adopted (as a baby, my adoptive parents were all I knew). So being institutionalized from them stung quite a bit. I remember being angry and confused during my first day. I had a moment so I snuck behind a shed (music and wood shop) to have a cigarette. 5 minutes in a large bald man showed up and told me to put out my cigarette. After I put it out I had a few smartass words for the man. He grabbed me by the collar and shoved me against the wall of the shed and said "You are here now!". That was day 1. I forgot this guys name, I do remember his brother taught guitar there. The next BIG thing that happened was, during my year I was having a bad day due to losing a privilege or something. I was walking by one of the Phils that ran the school. There was Phil Spiva and Phil (A-Hole). I was walking by Phil A. and again I'm sure I said something bad to him because he followed me into my "private" room then he shoved me onto my bed. He then got into my face and yelled "Your parents don't even want you anymore!" (Word for word). A very nice thing to say to a boy who was just rejected by his adoptive parents. Maybe I'm wrong for letting these past events affect me, maybe I should let it all go. So for whoever is running that place now, memories last a lifetime. Be careful of who you hire. Moving on

I am beyond grateful for Applewild Deven. We just graduated our 3rd boy from Pre-K and are…read moreheartbroken to leave. To be able to wholeheartedly trust the folks at AW to care, educate and nurture my boys while I'm at work is such a gift. The teachers and directors are such loving, smart, helpful and fun people and it's felt like a little family the last few years. The friendships my boys have built here have been beautiful to watch. The teachers bring the kids outside in all weather and all the adventures and play become an opportunity to learn, build, grow and spark curiosity. I cannot say enough good things- we are beyond grateful for this wonderful place and amazing people!

I WAS very very excited about this school- it seemed to have the perfect balance of structure and…read moreplay; outside and inside; natural materials for play; kind and calm teachers etc. BUT we were completely BLINDSIDED when they gave us a 2-week notice and kicked our little 5 year old boy out of school! Granted, we did have two virtual meetings to talk about his behavior- he was having potty talk, throwing toys sometimes and blowing raspberries/ making fart sounds with his friends (which the teachers said he was spitting on kids!!). When we met, I offered them suggestions about what works at home when he is giving us trouble but mid-sentence I was interrupted and persuaded time and time again that he needs an evaluation. I am sorry Applewild, five year old boys are just like that sometimes. I am very disappointed and heartbroken over their course of action. The director seems to be heartless. The teacher was so timid she didn't stick up for our son. The assistant teacher's main objective was making sure we got him evaluated. Which, we are right now...and he's doing great (he is above average!). They are not finding ANYTHING wrong. During his evaluation, the specialist told me that this is not the first time THIS YEAR that Applewild has kicked out children! Mid year- March! So now we are left scrambling for a new school, my son has anxiety about starting a new school, we have to get evaluations done just to prove Applewild wrong...so much stress! In conclusion, if you have a daughter, she will love this school. I would have loved it. If you have a child that needs firm rules and can get excited around other children, then Applewild will probably find your child to be "behavioral." I am deeply, deeply saddened by Applewild's approach. I have never in my life written a Yelp review- I am a very understanding person. This experience has rattled me to my core though. Something has to change with this school and they certainly should never try to persuade parents that something is wrong with their child. Shame on you, Applewild.

Children flourish here, where they learn the most important skills of all: autonomy,…read moreaccountability, and how to be themselves in a world that would prefer for them to be quiet and to sit still.

I am a former student of SVS and unfortunately I cannot be proud of this affiliation. During the…read moreyears I attended and afterward I witnessed some blatant hypocrisy and violations of the school's stated philosophy, including by some of the most seasoned staff members. The claim is that decisions are to be made by the entire community via School Meeting, but the staff do in fact gatekeep and manage to exclude any ideas or proposals that they don't like without any discussion whatsoever. I personally have known quite a few people who were burned by the heavy-handed controlling efforts of certain staff members. Make no mistake: SVS is NOT a democratic school; it merely masquerades as one. If the founders don't like your idea (or don't like you), it won't be up for a vote; it'll be squashed preemptively. There isn't necessarily anything wrong with a school where students aren't in charge. But it shouldn't pretend to be what it's not.

Our two children come home from Sudbury Montessori every day with smiles on their faces. It is a…read morecalm and encouraging environment. We have really enjoyed being introduced to the Montessori educational philosophy through Sudbury Montessori. The teachers send home photos at the end of each week so we can see our childrens' days in action. They have a lot of opportunities to be creative during the day - our daughter loves painting and gets to do a lot of that. We've also been impressed with their sanitation and organization during COVID-19. We have never once felt vulnerable or exposed thanks to the precautions they've taken and the communication around it. The kids' schedule involves a lot of outside play time and exploring, which is so important to us and not something that every pre-school does. The staff makes themselves available at drop-off and pick-up for any questions, and they're also just a quick phone call away. All in all we are pleased with this sweet little school and would recommend them.

My son has been going to this preschool since February 2015. He just loves it. The teachers are all…read morevery caring and supportive. He was four years old when he started, so preparation for kindergarten and socialization with other preschoolers was key. I have seen him gain so much self condidence and independence. He runs in his classroom each day eager to meet his friends. It is so cute to see. At the end of the day, he is never ready to leave. He's having so much fun. This is our last month at Shrewsbury Children's Center and I will miss the all teachers and staff. I feel my child has had a wonderful learning experience at this school and would highly recommend it for children of any age. He is ready and excited to be starting Kindergarten in the fall.

This place is great! The staff and the owners are really good with the kids…read more The atmosphere is fun and it makes the kids want to learn. They do worksheets with help and earn prizes. Every day has a theme and they do a great job keeping kids engaged. Once they have finished their assigned work for the day there are math related toys and games for them to use. They offer different options for plans to signup and also "close the gap" sessions and camps during the summer.

Our son has had an absolutely amazing first three months at the Brighton School! He joined in the…read morethird grade, and we were initially a little concerned that he'd have a hard time being accepted because most of the kids had been in the school for years. However, everyone was SO welcoming, from the teachers to the administrative team, to the students. He's had a great year so far, and we can't wait for him to come home every day and tell us about all the great things he's done!

We have had all six of our children attend this school, including one daughter who just graduated…read morefrom MIT. You cannot beat a school with small classroom size, curricula adapted to the individual student and loving care from faculty.