Not sure why there are so many bad reviews. My son has gone here for 3 years; first in a 50/50…read moreEnglish/Chinese environment, then in a Chinese immersion environment. We're very happy with the teachers he's had, with the friends he's made, with the extended hours of the school, etc. At first we didn't think he was learning much Chinese, but then his grandma came to live with us from China, and we realized he was just shy, and he could actually speak Chinese very well. Overall, great school, happy with his progress in English, math, Chinese. Happy with a structured curriculum that also gives him free time to choose his own passions.

I would give 0 star if I could. This is a fake Montessori school. It has no Montessori…read morecertification. Unlike other Montessori schools, kids play with toys in the afternoon instead of doing work. The classroom is full of Montessori material, but that's only for decoration. The kids have never touched some of the materials because teachers don't even know how to use them. Also, most teachers don't have certification either. The way they treat student is completely wrong. They dont comfort kids when they feel said. I feel like they don't actually care about their students and their feelings. The school is closed this year in March due to coronavirus. Parents send tons of emails asking for tuition refund and we receive no response. Not even to just acknowledge that they have received our email. The director refund 25% of tuition fee for April while the school is closed for the month. Some parents want to hold off their April payment until school reopens. They received a notice from school saying that if you don't pay for April, we will consider this as an act of withdrawing your child from school. The 2 month deposit would be gone. Their decision is very business driven to benefit their needs. They are still making money from us during this time period and use it to support school development(they are building a new campus) and teacher training program. Would a school without certification spend money on teacher's development? I doubt it.

We've had a wonderful experience with Eastgate Montessori Garden. Our daughter joined when she was…read morejust 2 years old, and even after only half a school year, we've already seen tremendous growth. She has become noticeably more confident, more social with other children, and her English skills have improved dramatically. What truly sets this school apart is Teacher Monica, a rare gem in the Greater Seattle area. With over 30 years of Montessori teaching experience, she brings a depth of understanding, patience, and guidance that's incredibly hard to find. She also had a knack for recruiting compassionate and loving assistant teachers such as Rebecca, Lori, and previously Gnana, whom we greatly appreciated. While only a very select number of schools in the area have teachers with comparable experience, those schools tend to be quite large, and it's not always guaranteed that your child will be placed with one of their most seasoned educators. At Eastgate, the environment is more personal and intentional, and we felt confident that our daughter was receiving direct support from someone who truly understands Montessori principles and how to nurture each child's growth. We're grateful for the warmth, consistency, and quality of education our daughter received here. Highly recommend!

We moved from the east coast and started with EMG from last November. I have to say we are very…read morelucky in finding this school. EMG is a true gem for the eastgate community. What I love most about EMG is their Montessori approach to education. My child has flourished under this method, which encourages hands-on learning and exploration. The teachers have created an environment that is both nurturing and stimulating, allowing my child to develop their unique interests and talents at their own pace. But what really sets this school apart is the teachers. Monika and Manisha are both wonderful educators who are passionate about their work and truly care about their students. They go above and beyond to ensure that each child in their class feels valued and supported. I have personally witnessed the impact that Monika and Manisha have had on my child. They both have a unique ability to bring out the best in each child and help them reach their full potential. I am so grateful to have them here. In conclusion, I highly recommend Eastgate Montessori Garden to any parent or guardian looking for a school with caring and loving teachers. The Montessori approach to education, combined with the school's warm and welcoming atmosphere, make for an exceptional learning experience.

My daughter attended the toddler program at Arbor, and unfortunately, our experience was not very…read morepositive. From the beginning, she was reluctant to go to school, though at her age (3 years old) she couldn't clearly express why. On the administrative side, I often found communication confusing and overly bureaucratic. The primary care director frequently stepped in when issues arose in the classroom, but her messages did not always align with the teachers', and she did not appear to have decision-making authority. When we finally decided to withdraw our daughter after several difficult months, the process was particularly challenging. We submitted our withdrawal notice one day later than the contract required (on a Sunday rather than Saturday). While I acknowledge that this was our oversight, the financial impact was in the thousands of dollars, and the school was unwilling to make any accommodation. Discussions with the primary director, assistant head, head of school, and eventually the owner all reinforced the sense that policies were rigid and prioritized the business side over the child's well-being or the family's situation. I later spoke with another parent who had a very similar experience regarding withdrawal fees, which made me realize this was not an isolated case. To be fair, there are dedicated teachers at Arbor, and I know some children do well there. However, if challenges arise, families should be prepared for limited flexibility and a process that may feel more focused on contractual obligations than collaborative problem-solving.

very unfriendly, not welcoming staff. Atmosphere/ environment is dingy not well lit, a bit…read moredepressing in-fact. not family oriented and to say it lightly biased.

We couldn't be happier with our experience at Lakeside Montessori School. The environment is calm,…read morenurturing, and thoughtfully designed especially their large, beautifully maintained playground. The teachers are incredibly attentive and skilled at meeting each child where they are, while gently guiding them forward. Our child has not only flourished academically but has also grown emotionally and socially -- something we attribute directly to the Montessori approach and the dedicated staff here. A special shout-out to Connie and her administrative staff, who set the tone for the entire school. They are warm, approachable, and clearly passionate about Montessori education. We're so grateful to be part of the Lakeside Montessori family. It's a hidden gem in our community.

One of the best schools in the area, my daughter loves to go here. We feel lucky to have discovered…read morethis school.

Both of my kids attended TLC Montessori, with one starting during Covid and the other as a toddler…read more It's a fantastic school for overall development. While many parents focus on academics, I was more interested in how my children were learning new things, participating in concerts, and performing on stage. They gained a wide range of skills and became more independent. Ms. Kim and all the teachers are well educated and dedicated, always looking happy and smiling, and greeting everyone with a welcoming attitude. They treat the kids and their families like their own. Other children in the neighborhood who also went to this school have grown up to do really well.

TLC has been an excellent experience for both our sons. We moved to Sammamish at the beginning of…read morethe pandemic with 4 and 2 year olds and were looking for a school and were new to Montessori. Our neighbors recommended TLC and we couldn't be happier. The school never closed during Covid and managed a once in a lifetime pandemic with grace and foremost, childrens' safety in mind. our oldest son is now in public school and has excelled because of the foundation the Kim's and all the great teachers provided him. Couldn't recommend the school more highly.

My son did two years of preschool plus kindergarten at Lake Hills Montessori School. I'm sending my…read moredaughter next year, so I guess you could say we love it. The small class sizes mean that the teachers can really give each child individual attention: most often, lessons are one-on-one. This school has a great balance between discipline and freedom. Kids are allowed to choose what works they do, within reason, but the environment never feels hectic. My son was very shy and worried when he first started preschool and he had really blossomed in this environment. I think having consistent familiar teachers for all three years made a difference. They were willing to be patient with him and work slowly at his level until he was ready to open up. Financially speaking, this school is a really good deal for what you get. 5 days a week, 2.5 hours a day. The price is higher than a church-run play school, but much cheaper than a day care school, and the educational quality is much better than either of them. I love that my son really learned things instead of played all day, but did it in an age-appropriate way (no worksheets, no sitting at a desk). He was always so excited about the new things he had learned and remembered them years later.

My wife and I are so pleased to have our daughter enrolled at this school. Lake Hills Montessori…read moretakes awesome care of children, teaching them responsibility and giving them a sense of belonging. Literacy, team work, leadership, communication, respect, patience, all aspects that are important for littles to work on are addressed through meaningful and well-articulated curriculum. As a Bellevue School District teacher, I appreciate the communication I receive about what she is learning in class. My wife and I are empowered to ask questions about what she is learning in class thanks to the weekly themes and regular progress updates. Students going through the Montessori method are regularly creating things they can bring home with them, so we get a piece of her learning back with us nearly every day. The kinds of soft skills that Lake Hills Montessori enforces is on display anytime you go to visit. Classroom procedures and expectations are clear and transparent, and you regularly can observe students working on and teachers giving feedback about those procedures. This enables a classroom environment that is remarkably calm and focused for students as young as three years old. Our daughter is full of energy 24/7, but this program has an excellent way of channeling and focusing students learning during their time there. As a music teacher, I also appreciate the use of song and the recognition of composers throughout the school year. The implementation of music is clear when we drive home and hear fragments of new songs and lyrics that we don't recognize. This provides one more way for us to interact with our daughter about her education, seeking out videos of the music she is learning and singing with her at home. The staff at this school are kind and nurturing while also being fierce professionals at what they do. The intentional preparation and attention to detail is evident from the first visit when we met the staff and continues with each visit afterwards. We are both so thankful for this excellent program!

Our daughter started her journey in the U.S. at Aster Montessori, and we are incredibly grateful…read morethis was her first school. The teachers created such a warm, loving, and nurturing environment that made her transition into a new language and culture so much easier. She grew in confidence, made wonderful memories, and always felt cared for. Choosing Aster Montessori was one of the best decisions we made for our family. We will always be thankful for everything the school has done for her.

Our youngest son has been attending this school since he was 3.5 years-old and potty-trained. He…read morewas very ready to ditch his large daycare in downtown Issaquah Highlands. I found Aster when it was recommended by the director of Sno-Springs School, near our home. I was admittedly skeptical as I was not particularly impressed by other Montessori schools on the Plateau and in the Highlands. Ms Aparna and her assistant director worked with me and my wife to devise a plan to acclimate our son to their environment and routine. We started with part-time enrollment in their summer camp program. My son immediately loved their large grassy and wooded play area, which was 3x bigger than his old daycare's concrete one. We then continued with Aster into the school year. Although it was very difficult for him at first, Aster Montessori was very patient with our headstrong son's adjustment to Montessori. He quickly improved his social skills ("grace and courtesy") and made good friends at the school. He looked forward to going to preschool each day. As parents we are pleased that our son is achieving his language & math milestones with ease -- he is ahead of his older sibs when they were in preschool -- we are most excited that he's maturing as person. That is, he is starting to understand and regulate his rather challenging temperament. I just wish Aster had been around when our daughters were in preschool! Pros: Happy and eager classmates Low turnover among the teaching staff; they are experienced, too Great communication with parents at pickup, by e-mail and during conference. Clean and bright classrooms Big playground for a small preschool Nurturing environment Many attendance options available Amazing music teacher Cons: Montessori not a natural fit for every personality (like my son's?) Can be difficult to get to know other parents Once-a-month snack duty (ok, not really a problem) Only offers preschool-to-kindergarten (i.e., 3-year 3-to-6 y.o. cycle through Kindergarten)

Our son has attended CMS for only a short while although, his confidence, social capabilities, and…read morespeech have advanced since starting! He's naturally bashful so our number one goal when scouting out schools was to find somewhere that offers small class size and kind attentiveness, which we've accomplished here. I enjoy the activities that the school organizes to include parents/ families and the staff is always gracious when I need assistance and/or have questions regarding scheduling, billing, and developmental progress. He is glad to arrive in the mornings and comes home healthy and happy! CMS is truly a gem, providing peace of mind because we know our child is in good hands and thriving when in their care, which is most important to a parent when away from their child.

Don't come here. My 3yo son was constantly bullied at this school and didn't want to go to this…read moreschool anymore. When I told the director, the director said "they are like brothers and you know brothers sometimes fight with each other" wtf?? The turnover rate of the lead teachers here is pretty high. We spend 8 months here and have the lead teacher changed 3 times.