This is a wonderful preschool / mother's day out program. Both of my children (ages 3 and 5)…read morestarted here at age 18 months. The teachers are wonderful and caring (most are mothers of children attending the program) and the curriculum is fun and engaging. The class size is small so each child gets the attention you would want them to have. Every time I dropped off my kids, they were each lovingly welcomed by their teacher. I always left feeling my kids were going to safe and that they were going to have fun. When I picked them up, this was always the case. The building is old but there are plans for improvements and upgrades. Please don't discount this program because of the site or location. It is a wonderful place for your children. We have since moved out of Austin and use our experience with St. Mark's as a standard while looking for a new preschool.

My son has been attending St. Mark's for about a year - he started at 18 months and has really…read moreenjoyed his time so far with the toddler class. He is absolutely in love with Ms. Bonny and Ms. Suzanne (I'm sure he will miss them next year!) and always comes home with new words, phrases, a joyous smile - and ready for nap time :) The facilities are clean and there are lots of activities to keep him occupied (plus a really great playground out back). There are lots of opportunities to get involved if you want - monthly events for kids/parents, lectures from parenting experts, Mother's Day breakfast, etc. but these are also entirely optional. Like many of the parents, we are not part of the church or any religious community but have never felt that this was an issue in any way (as one other reviewer also noted). At the end of the year, we received a beautiful photo album with photos and artwork from throughout the year; it was so touching to know that they had collected these moments/memories with this final project in mind and I think is symbolic of how children and parents are treated here. I know my son is not only well taken care of but also cherished as a little human being and am so grateful for the wonderful staff who make him feel loved. I found the place thanks to Yelp and noticed there are not a lot of recent reviews so here I am - if you're lucky enough to get a spot here, don't hesitate to enroll!

HCC is the best!! I have two daughters in the Tues/Thurs program, and we could not be happier! My…read morekids are always excited to go! The teachers are amazing and the emphasis on moral values and love is outstanding. They expose the kids to many different activities, and every day is something new and exciting. Couldn't be any happier!

We love HCC! BEST CHOICE we've made for our kids. Our daughter went there last year for prek4 and…read moreit prepared her so well for kindergarten. She is right on the cusp birthday wise so we could hold her back if we felt she wasn't read but her teachers were amazing. She started not knowing much at all and by the end of the year she was completely ready for kinder and is thriving at her elementary school. Our son is now in prek3 and it has been so wonderful for him. They have small class sizes and the teacher to student ratio is the best I've ever seen. It's a safe, clean, and extremely loving environment! We're excited for him to go back next year too! The office staff at the church as well as the directors in the HCC office go above and beyond for the students and families at Hope. We commute from 30 minutes away because they are worth it!

We absolutely loved our time at Goddard Steiner Ranch!…read more Both of my daughters (ages 1.5 and 3) attended for about a year, and I can honestly say it was such a wonderful experience from start to finish. My youngest was only there for about six months, but in that short time she learned so much -- singing her ABCs, counting, naming colors, and even identifying emotions! Ms. Amy and Ms. RiRi were amazing with her, and she adored going to school every morning. My 3-year-old had Ms. Rosie for a bit, who was so warm and engaging -- she even taught her how to "boop," which she still does to people to this day! Then she moved on to Ms. Abby and Ms. Mary, who are both phenomenal teachers and truly loved by all the kids (especially my daughter -- they were her favorites!). The front office staff was always welcoming, accommodating, and communicative. The daycare itself is clean, organized, and full of fun, creative activities. One thing I really appreciated is that there wasn't a lot of staff turnover, which made it feel more like a family. We had to move, otherwise we'd still be there. We miss the teachers and the community so much. If you're considering enrolling -- take a tour, and see for yourself!

I'm updating my review since I found LOTS of horrible reviews of this school from other parents…read moreand employee reviews of this school that are.. eye opening to say the least. I attached those screenshots so they don't get buried with the good reviews Jennifer pays people to write. Also for parents, if you seem skeptical ask questions! My cell is 7132926701 you can reach out to me there or you can reach out to me on Facebook etc. It's obvious Jennifer Burton ( the owner) wants to refute these claims, but I will not be silenced. My child starts to physically shake walking into any other school now. I keep asking myself why? what happened to my child at that School? She's terrified, and that is so not normal. Parents- if your kiddo is screaming and crying saying "I don't like my school" LISTEN TO THEM!

Over the past few years, we have tried a few preschools in the neighborhood and while they are all…read moregreat in their own ways, Covenant UMC Preschool takes the cake for it's excellent staff (many are previous school teachers), wonderful facilities (with an awesome playground), and a thoughtful curriculum for the kiddos. I've had kids at every grade level at this school and each teacher has been wonderful and engaging. The director, Jan Glosser, is so welcoming, warm, kind and knows each family personally which makes you feel right at home. We love it!

My oldest son started at CUMC in 2022 - he attended for two years prior to Kindergarten, and loved…read morehis experience here! Attending this wonderful school made transitioning to Kindergarten much easier! Now, my younger son is in his second year at CUMC and loves it so much. The teachers are all experienced and caring - the class sizes are small, giving each child the chance to grow and develop. Teachers send weekly emails to let parents know the weekly curriculum, there are after-school activities, and much more! Jan Glosser, the school's director is engaged in daily life at school and fosters a wonderful and caring community. I've met all of the staff and can personally attest to their care for the students.

Both my children have attended First English CDC and we absolutely love it. My child asked me…read moreyesterday if the school week could be 10 days long instead of 5, I think that sums it up nicely! We love the small school feel of it, with community and teachers who know the children well. The school is an establishment in the community, and I meet many people with grown kids who attended there. My kids love the shady playground, and my older kid who is no longer there still maintains that it has the best swings in Austin. There is also a nice open indoor hall for rainy or hot days, as well as activities like Soccer Shots they offer. There is a healthy breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack cooked each day by the school chef. The school is play based and focused on learning through play, which I think is perfect for this age. Thank you First English.

Both our children have attended First English since they were 18 months old (they're now 3.5y and…read more5y) and we couldn't be happier. The staff provides a caring, safe, supportive and educational environment for the children, with a bonus of prioritizing social-emotional learning and Montessori-esque methods. Our kids have been excited to go to school every day (huge win) and I'm so grateful not to have to pack a breakfast, lunch or snack because it's all offered by the school (and included in the tuition!). Highly recommend.

We live in Central Austin and have sent both of our children to My Friend's House since they were…read morebabies. Our oldest is now 4 and in the "big kid" classroom and will be starting Kindergarten next year. They've responded exceptionally well to the COVID19 situation and have been handling it incredibly well. Organized, efficient, and with a sense of community. We cannot say enough great things about this daycare. It's a tight-knit group of kids, and you feel the warm, nurturing, and supportive environment the moment you walk in. Our daughter is very outgoing, happy-go-lucky and well-rounded thanks in large part to the staff and upbringing she has experienced at My Friend's House. The classroom sizes are small enough where the teachers get to know the kids well and do a great job keeping an eye on them. There are activities each month, age-appropriate curriculum to help support them and the hours are great. The school is part of the campus of the church, and it is a very welcoming environment for everyone of all faiths and beliefs. A warm, welcoming environment. They also offer extra-curricular activities that should start back up once things settle with COVID. If you have any questions about whether you'd like to send your children to My Friend's House, I would be happy to speak more about it. Feel free to reach out to me and I can share more.

My daughter (who is 20 months at the time of this review) has been at MFH since she was three…read moremonths old. The Good: - The teachers have a genuine love for the kids and really nurture them. I see it in every teacher who has watched over my daughter, and for me, that kind of genuine affection was the deciding factor when I did my (exhaustive) childcare search. - I find a non-profit childcare setting to be a more positive, personal experience as compared with the for-profit centers I toured. - The majority of the teachers have been at the center for years -- many have put their own children through MFH. They're treated well by the administration and repay it with loyalty. The only comings and goings my daughter has experienced have been due to chronic illnesses or someone moving away to be closer to family. - The typical ratios are actually a bit lower than the state mandate, and the center is diligent about maintaining them. - There's a strong sense of community. There is a fall festival, class parties for major holidays, and the kids get little events like a pony rides and fire truck visits there at the church which they really enjoy. There are school-wide work days where parents and teachers alike pitch in to spruce up the center, and it feels good to be a part of that kind of cooperation. The Not So Good: - The administration is terrible at communication. If you want to know something, you have to bug them repeatedly and proactively seek information. Twice now my daughter has been bumped up to the next age group classroom and I was lucky to get a week's notice that it was happening. Not cool. Likewise, I have had several times that I've had to get personal contact information for my child's caretakers because the administration wasn't bothering to tell them what was going on when I called in sick. - The menu could be greatly improved from a nutrition perspective. Granted, I'm a bit of a nut on that point, and technically their food program meets federal nutritional guidelines. But the canned veggies and fruits and the pervasive eggos/french toast sticks/hot dogs/quesadillas bug me. I feel that the "give 'em what they'll eat" approach has really hampered my efforts at home to expose the munchkin to a wider variety of foods. They also basically require the kids to be on the meal plan, and there's not a storage option for bringing your own food. I had to get a DOCTOR'S NOTE just to request that my daughter not be served juice. It's quite silly. Overall, I'd recommend MFH. I've been happy with my experience there despite the occasional frustrations!

It might be a great camp, but the registration process was so poor that although we were told we…read morehad a spot at camp, we didn't. After figuring out the complexities of summer camps, I went in person at 10am on the first day of camp registration. I waited in line for 30 minutes. When my registration information was collected I was told that my child got into camp. A week later I was called and told that my child was on a huge wait list and that they didn't get into camp. Of course this meant it was too late. All the other sessions of the camp were full and I'd booked the rest of the summer. I am really disappointed. They are doing nothing about it other than "fixing thing for next year".

All 3 of my daughters have gone to this camp over the past 10 years. The staff is the best. The…read moreunique setting and experience is something they talk about all year. They always beg to go back the next summer. Could not recommend more.

LOVE CHILDRENS COURTYARD ! My daughter is currently attending there and has been there for a year…read morenow she loves the teachers and management and so do i ! They were amazing with her for her first day and making sure she is comfortable and have been amazing with her since ! Even on days i ask if she wants to stay home she says NO ! She is ready to her friends and teachers and have fun !

The director and teachers are very friendly and good with kids. They have a curriculum and teach…read moreage appropriate activities and skills. The layout is nice, it's clean, they provide snacks and meals.