Stepping Stones To Learning

I really like the weekly themes of the summer camps, and my kids had a great time at the summer…read morecamp. They are also really responsive via text and email. I take away one star for the reasons below. There is only one bathroom for 20 to 30 kids, which means a lot of waiting to wash hands. Also, while they charge $12 a day for lunch (which is quite steep for kids lunch), there is almost fried food daily with little to no fruits or veggies daily and most days there is no drink included. Friday lunch is 2 slices of papa John pizza and a capri sun for $12. Finally, the front desk staff is not friendly at all. No one greets you when you drop off or pick up your kids. If you ask a question, you get a one word response. I must say it's the most unfriendly staff I have encountered for a kids summer camp or kids activity.

My son was interested in robotics and we took a class to try it out. He's autistic so I wanted to…read moremake sure it was a good fit -- the class is wonderful so far. The teacher Plus is very helpful but also lets the kids explore building what they want. His second class assignment was to build a boat, but my son built a car instead and Plus was very encouraging towards my son. He looks forward to his robotics class every week.

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Elevate Edu

We've been with Serena and staff since pretty much the beginning and it's really been a positive…read morejourney. She helped us get in to several of the best and top rated private schools in the state of Hawaii. She then prepared us to be academically ready for the private school curriculum, and even now, we are doing remote tutoring 3X a week and my son is really excelling. He received high honors (3.74 GPA) on his first report card in middle school n before that was just a B level student. This school pushes challenging academics and they really make their students earn their grades. We would never have been prepared for this type of curriculum had we not been constantly receiving enrichment from Elevate. I've told Serena that I was willing to pay full price even though we are totally remote and still it is so worth it. She's accommodating and extremely organized with scheduling while working so hard to advocate for both of my kids. Don't get me wrong, we have found a handful of really excellent tutors to work with us in person while we are in Hawaii. However none of them offer the services that Serena does, STEM classes, coding classes, book clubs, contests, pre-k tutoring, and she even worked to throw a private party for my son.... as that is what he wanted. We are never leaving as long as my kids are enrolled in school.

This place is AWESOME!…read more The tutors are knowledgeable, patient, and dedicated to helping students succeed. Every child enrolled has shown significant improvement in their grades and confidence since starting at the center. The staff is also very responsive and communicative, keeping parents informed of child's progress and any areas that need extra attention. I highly recommend Elevate Educational Services to any parent looking for high-quality educational support for their child. TWO THUMBS UP!

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Kudos Education

3.8

(46 reviews)

0.2 mi

I have to thankful Michael & Ann help us to find the best congress debate coach Mr. Feldman in the…read moresouth California . He Is very responsible , Kind, Knowledgable, fun ,that's why join Kudos's class will make you love the debate so much . They have other coaches r also fantastic , join the classes before the spaces r gone .

My daughter has always liked to argue with me since she was little. One day I saw a Kudos flyer in…read moremy mailbox, so I decided to let my daughter join the Walnut branch to learn how to argue professionally. My original intention was to let her learn how to talk to people, but I didn't expect that my daughter would love fall in love with debate. Throughout the past three years, she has achieved good results in debate competitions. I am happy and also very pleased with the way my daughter communicates with people now. I sincerely thank Kudos, especially Michael, he is a very kind person and gifted coach. I asked my daughter, you have to go to debate class every weekend, do you feel tired? she said "no, I am happy and having fun". I think this is the best and most authentic evaluation from her. Thank you Kudos!

Kudos Congress before their 2nd league tournament in 2021

Speech Coach Allison Kalmus with our students after award winning performances!

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Kudos Debate at The Middle School Tournament of Champions in 2023

Mathnasium

4.7

(13 reviews)

Kids friendly and my two boys never hated math; it paces with all student's needs and teachers has…read morethe highest quality all the time

My son and daughter have shown great improvement in their math testing at school since they started…read morehere. The center does an excellent job of keeping parents informed through regular emails and in-person meetings. The use of games and prizes is great way to motivate the kids. My kids especially love the prizes, so they work hard to earn more cards. The staff is very responsive and friendly, especially when it comes to scheduling issues or providing extra support to the test preparation. Overall, we've had a wonderful experience and would highly recommend this center to other families.

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Beyond Curriculum

4.8

Offers customized solutions

Had a blast in the past at Beyond Curriculum! Many of their tutoring staff are very professional,…read moreknowledgeable and overall genuine people who are trying to not only help their students in their classes, but also help them achieve something better in life. Will was my mentor and he will always be there to push me to try and achieve more, be something "beyond". But again your own hard work is what determines everything, once you want to strive and improve yourself, choose beyond! They will help!

I had an excellent experience at Beyond. The tutors there were very knowledgeable and patient, they…read moremade complex subjects very easy to understand. I highly recommend this place for anyone seeking effective and supportive tutoring. My favorite tutor is Will, he is the best .

TECC - Temple City Education Center

4.2

(20 reviews)

1.9 mi

This review is long past due, but our gratitude for TECC has never changed. Both of my sons have…read morebeen with TECC since elementary, and it has truly been one of the best choices we made as parents. Before enrolling , we toured multiple programs, but TECC stood out immediately. We felt our kids would be safe and we saw the team's genuine commitment to helping children. We were absolutely right. My boys attended TECC year-round, including their summer camps. They were always so excited about learning STEAM; also movie days, cooking days and water fun. They genuinely loved being there. The TECC team's structured support helped my children stay ahead in their schoolwork and communicated with us whenever guidance was needed. Most importantly, my son learned leadership skills here, where he became Freshman vice president and later Sophomore class president. If you are looking for a safe, caring, and academically supportive after school program, TECC is the right choice. We are forever grateful for the foundation they built for our children.

Kids came here and they saw cockroaches here before. Run down place and carpet smells. Also the…read morestaff here which are kids of the owners unfortunately don't know how to run business, not really understanding or reasonable people. Their parents knew how to run business and know how to work with customers. That's why they have repeat customers. This young girl called Dani likes to act like the owner, and loves to quote policy this policy that. Also very money hungry place nickle and dime families when they can. I would say 0/10 for customer service.Reason why their business is going down. Now wonder previous years I tried to get my kids friends to do tecc temple together but they said this place was too dirty and didn't learn anything. They chose tecc Arcadia and other after school and summer programs instead. Now I understand what they experienced and couldn't agree more! Won't be coming back. Dani is very business like and cares only about money. They don't care about long term customers, just short term transactions.

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Sylvan Learning of San Marino

4.6

(55 reviews)

0.9 mi

Certified professionals

We've had a great experience with Sylvan learning! My daughter has been going since November 2025,…read moreand we've seen big improvements in her reading and comprehension. They provide a personalized plan, stay connected with her teacher, and meet with us monthly to review progress and give tips for home. Best of all, her confidence has really grown. Highly recommend!

Justine demonstrates poor leadership. She speaks to employees in a disrespectful and belittling…read moremanner, including shushing staff in front of us, the parents. Coming from management myself, her behavior is unprofessional and creates an uncomfortable work environment, as well as uncomfortable situations for the patients.

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Beyond Our Dreams Infant Care & Pre-School

4.9

(53 reviews)

2.2 mi

We love this daycare! Our daughter started here at eight months old, and she is now almost two. The…read moreteachers are kind, caring, and treat every child like family. She has learned so much, made great friends, and always runs inside with a huge smile every single morning. Highlights: Teachers give warm updates and care deeply for the kids. Ms. Jasmine the director also establishes a clear line of communication and keeps parents updated with reminders of activities or days closed. I love how in the summer, the older toddlers have a water day! They also get to participate in music and sport enrichment activities. My daughter came home so proud of herself for learning how to jump and kick a ball! Safe Space: The rooms are clean, secure, and very well-organized. I love how all of the artwork is what the children produce, and not put together by the teachers. The teacher to student ratio is also a plus! Peace of Mind: She's always smiling and laughing when I come pick her up because she's had an amazing day! Lately, she has started naming the friends she looks forward to seeing. Watching Her Grow: This incredible daycare has seen our daughter through every major milestone. They watched her progress from crawling to standing, walking, and now running. Today, she is quite the talker with a large vocabulary for her age. At 22 months old, she can already recognize some letters in the alphabet, count to 10, solve puzzles, and follow directions. Final Thoughts: We are truly sad to leave this amazing place. We are moving away from the Pasadena area, and saying goodbye is so hard. Leaving your baby with others is tough, but this team made it easy and wonderful. We are so grateful for them!

10/10 recommend! The directors and staff do an incredible job providing a safe, nurturing, and…read moreeducational environment. My first daughter just graduated from BOD after being there for 2.5 years (she started at 5 months). And there was no question we would enroll our second daughter at BOD, who is now almost one, and we started her at 3 months! We have gotten to know all of the teachers throughout the years and each one of them truly cares about what they do to ensure every single child is properly cared for. My younger daughter had feeding/OT issues around the time she started at BOD, and the staff helped accommodate OT exercises and feeding practices to help her overcome her issues while away from home. BOD treats their students as if they are their own children, and my daughters have absolutely loved attending this daycare. THANK YOU BOD!!!

Our beautiful BOD tree is growing 2024!

Our beautiful BOD!

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Our beautiful toddler playground

Enchanted Castle Montessori School - San Marino

4.9

(44 reviews)

1.1 mi

Our son Fraser started at Enchanted Castle at 18 months and just turned two. The transition was…read moretough during that first week; he cried constantly from drop-off until lunch, and we had to pick him up before nap time. Fast forward to today.. he feels so safe and at home - he is definitely thriving! Fraser has a very strong personality, and we love how patient the staff is and how the Montessori way allows him to channel it positively. We absolutely adore his teachers (Ms. Nhi, Ms. Veronica, Ms. Wen, and Ms. Cat) + a special shout-out to Ms. M, who spoils him with so much love! What really stands out is that all the teachers at the school seem genuinely happy and know Fraser personally. The director, Ms. Prima, is super on top of everything and fosters a great relationship with all the families and staff. I truly appreciate the extra thought and care she puts into the school. If you want a place where your child will be safe, known, and nurtured, we highly recommend this amazing team!

My child transferred to this preschool because of the Eaton Fire. One of the main reasons we chose…read morethis school was that it is much more than a regular daycare -- it offers a trilingual learning environment with reasonable price. Even though my child is in the English program, he also takes Chinese and Spanish classes. Friends of mine from other cities and states often see the school activities I share/post and tell me how envious they are that we have access to such an amazing preschool. My child has learned so much here, especially in STEM-related subjects. His life skills, independence, and hands-on abilities have improved tremendously. The school also provides a wide variety of enriching activities, including science fairs, carnivals, puppet shows, bubble shows, and animal petting events where the children can ride ponies and interact with rabbits and other animals. The school also hosts special Mother's Day and Father's Day breakfast events that make families feel very involved and welcomed. Every year, the winter and spring performances are what I look forward to the most. It is truly impressive to see a group of 4-year-olds confidently perform three English songs, one Chinese song, one Spanish song, and even a dance routine on stage. The children always look so confident and joyful. This year, my child will be graduating, and I am incredibly grateful to Ms. Joanna and Ms. Regina. They are warm, energetic, patient, and genuinely caring teachers. The classroom environment they create is loving and harmonious, and the children are kind and supportive toward one another. We will always appreciate the wonderful experience our child had here.

Son showing off his new invention

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Cheerful Beginnings

(11 reviews)

2.6 mi

We are not first time parents, and have explored many different childcare options and Cheerful…read moreBeginnings is at the top of our list! Our son needed full time care due to our busy schedules working in healthcare and Julia was so wonderful accomodating our schedules. My son loved his teachers here and Julia's experience and education in childcare is exceptional. My son felt right at home and sometimes wasn't ready to leave at pickup! They have an organized curriculum, access to app for daily updates and healthy meal plans. I have already recommended them to my coworkers!

We reached out to Julia to get an advice/consultation for our three year old son who is having some…read morebehavior and communication issues. We considered to get the Base package that includes in class observation, 1 hour phone conversation and 1 hour consultation from her documented recommendations. After one week, we got in-depth consultation from her which she includes appropriate parent and toddler classes. Overall, our experience was great and very informative. Our expectations were met and we were happy with the solutions we've received. Thank you!

Fully enclosed driveway for tricycle and scooter play

Magnetic ball ramps are a hit with all the ages.

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San Marino Community Church Nursery School

4.6

(9 reviews)

0.7 mi

This preschool is a beautiful hidden gem. If we could I'd give 10 stars! We enrolled our little…read moreApril 2021 and have watched her blossom. The teachers and their aids are all very kind and playful. We receive daily reports accompanied by pictures. It really helps us feel connected. I cannot say enough great things about the staff! They do an amazing job providing the kiddos with a nurturing environment that allows them an opportunity to develop their academic and social skills.

This school has the potential to be a wonderful part of the community. Unfortunately, our family's…read moreexperience was severely overshadowed by the current Director's leadership. Communication was a major issue. Policies restricted teachers from having direct, meaningful conversations with parents, making it nearly impossible to discuss routine concerns or conflicts involving our child. We also experienced beloved teachers leaving without any communication to families, leaving children confused and parents without answers. What made our time here especially difficult was the inconsistent treatment of families. For instance, some parents were allowed to use aftercare on an as-needed basis, while others were required to commit and pay regardless of usage. Policies also felt arbitrarily enforced; being publicly reprimanded for arriving two minutes late to pickup while other parents arriving even later faced no response created significant anxiety around daily drop-offs. We also noted clear double standards in school structure and operations. For example, while the website advertises every classroom as having a lead and assistant teacher, one classroom uniquely listed a 'co-teacher' a position held by the Director's sister. Most concerningly, private matters regarding our family were shared with other school parents without our consent, which completely destroyed our trust in the administration. The hardest part was the impact on our child, who developed a genuine anxiety around going to school. We ultimately moved to another local school, and the transition has been life-changing. We finally have the warm, transparent partnership with teachers and administrators that every family deserves. I do not write negative reviews lightly, but I hope sharing our lived experience helps other prospective parents make an informed decision. While the physical campus is beautiful, we learned the hard way that the leadership and culture behind the scenes matter far more.

Setting up the ramps. Active inquiry and experimentation in action.

Children learn principles of physics through active discovery.

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Jack's dad shares his cowboy experiences.

Peas In a Pod Daycare

4.5

(16 reviews)

1.9 mi

Our son went here since he was 1 and stayed up to 2.5…read more This place is wonderful, the food is super healthy, the older kid in the group usually learns to help the younger kids and practice being a leader, all the staff are super nice and friendly to work with. We randomly found this place, but we are super duper happy we found it!

We couldn't imagine a better place for our children to grow, learn, and be loved than at Peas In a…read morePod daycare. Our oldest child flourished here--gaining confidence, independence, and so many foundational life skills thanks to the nurturing and thoughtful Montessori-inspired approach. So when it came time for our second child to start care, we didn't hesitate for a moment. We knew they'd be in the best hands possible. What sets this daycare apart is the intentionality in everything Angelica and her team does. The environment is calm, clean, beautifully organized, and perfectly suited to foster independence and curiosity. Toys and materials are developmentally appropriate and Montessori-aligned, encouraging children to explore, make choices, and learn at their own pace. Another huge highlight is the emphasis on healthy eating. Every day, the children are served fresh, wholesome, and delicious meals and snacks. Our son has expanded his palate so much here--and we're always impressed with the variety and quality of the food. It means the world to us to know that not only is he learning and growing, but he is being nourished with real, nutritious meals as well. But what matters most is how much our son loves coming here. He feels safe, seen, and cared for in a way that's truly special. The love and respect Angelica and her team show each child is genuine, and it shines through in the way they thrive under her care. As parents, there's no greater comfort than knowing your children are happy, supported, and thriving--and that's exactly what we've found here. We wholeheartedly recommend this daycare to any family seeking a warm, Montessori-inspired, health-conscious, and loving environment. Sending both of our children here has been one of the best parenting decisions we've made.

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Stepping Stones To Learning - tutoring - Updated August 2026

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Elevate Edu

We've been with Serena and staff since pretty much the beginning and it's really been a positive…read morejourney. She helped us get in to several of the best and top rated private schools in the state of Hawaii. She then prepared us to be academically ready for the private school curriculum, and even now, we are doing remote tutoring 3X a week and my son is really excelling. He received high honors (3.74 GPA) on his first report card in middle school n before that was just a B level student. This school pushes challenging academics and they really make their students earn their grades. We would never have been prepared for this type of curriculum had we not been constantly receiving enrichment from Elevate. I've told Serena that I was willing to pay full price even though we are totally remote and still it is so worth it. She's accommodating and extremely organized with scheduling while working so hard to advocate for both of my kids. Don't get me wrong, we have found a handful of really excellent tutors to work with us in person while we are in Hawaii. However none of them offer the services that Serena does, STEM classes, coding classes, book clubs, contests, pre-k tutoring, and she even worked to throw a private party for my son.... as that is what he wanted. We are never leaving as long as my kids are enrolled in school.

This place is AWESOME!…read more The tutors are knowledgeable, patient, and dedicated to helping students succeed. Every child enrolled has shown significant improvement in their grades and confidence since starting at the center. The staff is also very responsive and communicative, keeping parents informed of child's progress and any areas that need extra attention. I highly recommend Elevate Educational Services to any parent looking for high-quality educational support for their child. TWO THUMBS UP!

Kumon Math and Reading Center of Pasadena - East

4.3

I brought my son here when he was in preschool, and Kumon gave him a strong foundation in reading,…read morewriting, and math. It also eased much of the stress I felt about whether he was learning letters, words, and numbers correctly. It was wonderful to watch him become more confident and capable while addressing potential bad habits early on. What truly sets this center apart, however, is the owner, Cecille. She is exceptional and genuinely cares about each child and their learning. She goes above and beyond to provide personalized attention, whether that means sitting with my son when he needs extra help or taking the time to understand each family's individual needs and schedule. Cecille is passionate about Kumon and its philosophy, and she is always looking for ways to improve her center. Her interactions with the children are especially heartwarming. You can see how deeply she cares about them and how much she wants them to succeed. She takes the time to understand each child's strengths and areas for growth, provides the support they need, and guides her tutors to do the same. I'm very grateful for the strong foundation and confidence my son gained here.

Love this center! My daughter has learned so much here and she's not even in K yet. She is reading…read moreand doing math. I'm so happy with her progress and our experience at kumon.

Huntington Learning Center of Pasadena

4.7

(17 reviews)

My child loves coming here and has gone from the bottom of her class to the middle in a few months…read more Huntington really has sparked a passion for reading that wasnt there previously!

A good friend referred us to Huntington Learning Center and we are very happy with the center…read more Everyone there is super professional and it really has helped our son get more serious about school and studying and has built up his self confidence. The tutors have been great! We highly recommend this center if your child needs tutoring. We are very pleased.

Mathnasium