Choosing a school for your little one is such a stressful experience, but Harper makes it very…read moreeasy. We've been with them for two years now and have had nothing but good experiences. The admin staff, especially Ms. Lopez, is amazing and really cares about the students. Ms. Lopez is "on the ground" enough that she knows the kids names and they all say hi to her when they see her. The preschool teachers, Ms. Gwen, Ms. Margaret and Ms. Kim, are phenomenal. They approach any issues with kindness and sensitivity. They are also firm with the kids and set good boundaries and routines. Finding that balance is typically difficult, but they do it with finesse! The curriculum here, even with the preschool class, sets the kids up for success in higher grades. It balances play and fun with learning. From letter recognition to name writing to "STEM" - via tiny science experiments - music and Spanish, outdoor play and story time, they do it all. Since day one, my child has been excited to go each day and has thrived in the Harper environment. The learning progress I've seen, especially at such a young age, is astounding. We love Harper and appreciate all the staff very much! We hope to be a Harper family for a very long time to come!

Highly, highly recommended for elementary school! A lot of…read morethese reviews are for the daycare/pre-k programs, but I'd like to review the Elementary program, which is newer and smaller. Our son joined the Kindergarten program halfway through the year in Jan '25. He had been at a well-regarded RWC public school, but unfortunately he struggled there with behavior, academic, and motivation issues. Basically, he was slipping through the cracks. He was regressing academically, and most worryingly to me, he was starting to hate going to school. He started at Harper at the mid-year break. There was certainly an adjustment period - the Harper kids were *so* far ahead academically. But, the curriculum is individualized and the support was tremendous. It was amazing how quickly he improved on all fronts: behavior, academics, and motivation. He literally sprints from the car to class each morning. He is so excited and talks about what he learns constantly. He has developed a positive attitude, curiosity, and emotional maturity beyond anything we could have hoped for. Ms. Shaynee, his teacher, is an absolute rock star. We feel so lucky to have had her as his teacher. The class size for elementary grades at Harper is absurdly small right now. Like, 5-10 kids. At first, I thought it would be weird. But it's actually a wonderful number for this age, and it makes Harper such an incredible deal. It's obviously a new school and a new program, and I'm hoping it grows with him as he progresses through the grades. Overall, if you are looking for a private elementary, I just can't recommend Harper enough. No private school in this area is cheap, but I feel we get incredible value for our dollar. The fact that the aftercare is so affordable helps. Also, we hear that if you have multiple kids there then the cost goes down a lot.

My son (age 2) has been enrolled in Little Builders since he was 18 months and we continue to have…read morea positive experience at the school! It is a happy, safe place he loves to go to every day. All the teachers and staff are friendly and great with the kids. Highlights of the school include: Small teacher to student ratio; also the students form a tight bond with the small class. Great outdoor play space, lunch and snacks are provided and included with tuition. I'm also impressed with what my son has learned at age 2 has learned Spanish and knows all his colors and and animals and starting to learn numbers and letters in both English and Spanish.

We feel so lucky to have found Little Builders Daycare. Our daughter has been attending since she…read morewas 18 months old, and over the past 10 months, we've seen her grow and thrive in so many ways. Andy, Amy, Katelyn and Andrew do such a thoughtful job creating age-appropriate activities that keep the kids engaged, learning, and having fun. We're always impressed by the creativity they bring to each day (all of the art projects, sensory play, storytime and lots of music) . We love getting the daily photo updates. It's clear she feels safe, happy, and loved there, and we're so grateful to have this nurturing little gem in our neighborhood.

Our child has been here since age two, and we chose this school over another bilingual daycare…read morebecause we were immediately impressed by how calm and organized the environment felt. Every child seemed focused and independent -- no chaos or yelling, just a serene, well-run classroom. From what we can observe, the school is very classically Montessori. The kids do daily "jobs," and the teachers emphasize independence and emotional regulation. Compared to other daycares or preschools our friends' kids attend, there also seems to be a stronger academic element here. The teachers really care about each child's development -- we get detailed feedback and even an annual report card. As more academically inclined parents, we appreciate that our child is already learning a lot while still being encouraged to explore at their own pace. The campus feels very safe, tucked away from main streets, and we love getting daily photos of what our child is doing in class. Overall, we've been really happy with our experience.

Our 2.5-year-old son has truly thrived during his time here. He's both enjoyed himself and grown in…read moreways we'd hoped for. This is exactly the kind of supportive, engaging, and joy-filled environment we wanted for his first preschool experience.

We just wrapped up our first school year at WPNS and are heart-warmed (and relieved) we found this…read morejoyful, caring, creative community of teachers, parents/new friends and children. WPNS is intentionally small. The teachers know each child and meet them where they are, incorporating their interests into the classroom, assuaging their fears and celebrating their achievements. WPNS is the first place our child learned to trust (and love!) an adult outside the home and family, and we feel lucky it was in such a safe and nurturing environment. After day one, our child came home singing new nursery school songs and asking to go back. Classrooms are clean, age-appropriate and set up to enhance discovery and play. The teachers guide toddlers with warmth, but don't miss a thing. Their patience, expertise and energy is astounding. The new campus, among the redwoods, is calming. The snacks are healthy and filling. (These elements may seem small, but our experience at a different, renowned preschool doesn't compare.) We have complete faith that the director and staff make decisions that are best for the children and their development. They do not compromise curriculum to drive enrollment or appease trends. Though we were unsure what to expect, we came to champion the welcoming nature of the co-op model and the opportunity to play an active role in our child's school while learning parenting tips along the way. The time commitment has been accommodating, reasonable and fun. WPNS gets the highest recommendation!

This is a wonderful preschool that I can't recommend highly enough (provided you are able to commit…read moreto the co-op duties). Between our 3 kiddos, we've experienced 2 other preschools and this one is by far the best run--with great communication, thoughtful and creative curriculum, and a warm, welcoming environment. Diana does a fantastic job as director, and Susan is such a lovely, loving teacher.

Such a warm nurturing place to be a part of and see your little one flourish. Definitely couldn't…read morebe happier to be part of the RPNS community.

This is our third year at Redwood Parents Nursery School, and we have absolutely loved every…read moreminute. My oldest son is graduating Pre-K this year, and my youngest son is starting the Toddlers program with Teacher Andi in the fall. I'm so excited for my youngest to experience RPNS these next four years (and also glad to get another four years at RPNS myself!). RPNS is a play-based preschool co-op in Redwood City, and has offered my son such a wonderful experience getting comfortable in a school environment while still having a ton of freedom to learn through play. The teachers are outstanding and so loving, and I feel lucky to have found such a great community here. I didn't know much about co-ops prior to joining RPNS, but the parent participation aspect has been HUGE for helping me find my community as well as helping me grow as a parent. I've also loved being able to be so involved in my son's preschool experience, which I'm not sure I would have gotten elsewhere. I highly, highly, highly recommend Redwood Parents Nursery School if you're in the Redwood City or surrounding area!

My daughter has been attending Thistlegarten Creative Arts Preschool for nearly a year now and we…read morecouldn't be happier with their teaching style, curriculum, and the team. We've seen such tremendous growth and emotional development in our now 2 year old. This is because they expose your kid to so much every single day - music, art, dance, crafts, language, and even cooking! My daughter has also brought home some of the most elaborate crafts I've ever seen based on the lesson of the day. We couldn't be prouder of the young lady she is growing into thanks to the guidance and influence of Thistlegarten.

My daughter has been here for three months, and we are so happy with the teachers and the…read moreenvironment. The staff are creative, loving, and calm. This is our third childcare place, and is absolutely the best. Update: Two years later, my child has now graduated from Thistlegarten absolutely ready for kindergarten. She enjoys going to school, interacts well with adults, knows how to be a good friend, pays attention to instructions, and plays very well with great imagination and creativity. We have made wonderful friends with other families at the school, and we are ever grateful to the staff for their love and care. It is great that they have a male teacher, Bryan, as well to help with all that great little boy energy that sometimes isn't understood by all female staff. Teacher Helen is superb at giving calm, quiet, constant love and attention. One thing more: In any school, there will be disagreements with the teachers from time to time. I have found that the staff is very receptive to discussing situations and difficulties and flexible to making changes where they need to be changed. Not every school is like this. Big kudos to director Sandi and teacher Nancy in particular for their open ears and open hearts.

We loved our experience at St. Michael Preschool & Infant Care. Our son started around 15 months…read moreold and thrived there. We've seen a lot of schools over the years with our older child, and this one stands out. The teachers really understand early childhood development, and you can feel how intentional everything is, from the classroom setup to the daily activities and programs. Nothing feels random or one size fits all. We'd play videos from his school day at home and he would clap, stomp, and smile watching the songs and activities. He also picked up sign language quickly. We also loved the early, positive exposure to using the potty and know this will be helpful when it comes time for potty training. Communication with the staff is easy and open. They always made time to talk and were glad to discuss his progress or any questions we had. We never felt rushed or brushed off. The food program is amazing. Organic ingredients, lots of variety, and creative options like spinach waffles along with different lunches and snacks. You can tell a lot of thought goes into it. They were flexible with schedules and routines, so he was supported based on the needs he had at that specific time not what the whole group was going through. We're sad to be leaving, and the only reason is that we're moving out of the area.

St. Michael is an incredibly special place for children and parents. My son loves every moment…read morethere and has grown and learned immensely since he started at nine months of age. He is taken care of so warmly and so lovingly that it is a joy to drop him off in the morning and watch him happily and confidently walk into the building to start his day. I am deeply impressed with Mary's (the director) philosophy -- she is truly connected to the children and teachers and also sets great standards by relying on best practices she learns from recent research and findings. This means she relies on her day-to-day experience while also listening to experts and professionals about what children need to grow and thrive. The teachers are exceptional: loving, kind, smart, and incredible educators and caretakers. It's absolutely great. I don't know of any other place like St. Michael and I feel deeply, deeply grateful we are a part of this community. Not to mention that Mary and the teachers are extremely responsive, helpful, and flexible in their approach to caring for each child. I honestly don't know how they do it, but they do.

We had a great experience with Challenge. Great teachers and community. Highly recommended!read more

An absolute gem of a preschool!…read more ​We cannot say enough wonderful things about this school. It is exceptionally well-organized, and they are always planning fantastic events that bring the class (including parents) together--our absolute favorite is the dance performance, which always completely blows us away! ​The teachers are incredible, and the convenient lunch options make our morning routine so much easier. Most importantly, our daughter comes home happy every single day. Seeing her love school this much gives us total peace of mind. Highly recommend!