This school mostly has teacher that are in it for the summer breaks and the paycheck. They are not…read morein it for the kids.

I love this school and my son has literally blossomed in the 2 months he has been here! Such an…read moreamazing staff, so helpful and informative for parents like us who are so new to early learning centers/daycares. My son has been at home with dad for 3 years so all of this was very new for my family. When I first called to get information about the school it was just a wonderful conversation! Desiree was so patient with all the questions and concerns I had, such a different experience from any other place I reached out to who just seemed to be annoyed with all my questions I had. Needless to say the entire staff helped make this new transition for us all so easy and helped us every step of the way and we couldn't be happier with our decision!

My 4 year old started stepping stone in March of 2024 when I decided to return to work. It was the…read moreonly daycare with availability I felt comfortable sending him to in the area. When I came to make the initial payment and the director asked if I wanted to meet his teacher I of course said yes. We went outside where the kids played and I was excited to see who he'd be with all day. Mind you, this was to be his first time ever being away from me. His teacher was young, and looked super uninterested in talking. She said hi with what I couldn't even consider a smile, and didn't say much to my son. At drop off his first day the morning teacher didn't say much either. She didn't really offer any assistance when I was trying to leave and my son was visibly scared and upset. This went on for the weeks he was there. I did not like the staff member who hung out with the kids until his teacher showed up. She said good morning and that's about it. Towards the end I think she could tell I was irritated and offered my son things to keep him occupied while I left. My overall feel was these "teachers" don't like being there. I did not like this environment. When The lighthouse opened we made the switch and it was night and day! My son was SO EXCITED for daycare because the staff is AMAZING! I got constant updates, I don't have to ask for his meals to be updated through the day, he was engaged, the teachers are engaged and happier. I would never suggest Stepping stone to anyone.

I'm aware this may merely look like a rant and I can assure you it is not. I am writing this as we…read morefelt it necessary to warn other parents. The experience our children had at the YMCA Science Hall location was nothing short of shocking. There was absolutely no safety for any of the children as the doors were propped open every morning, and ID's not checked upon pick up. out of 3 weeks we saw an actual adult on site in the mornings no more than 4 times. Our children told us about parents that had a verbal altercation during one drop off where the "staff" of high school children just let 2 adults hurl obscenities at each other in front of a room full of children without so much as asking them to step outside. We were also told that there was a " no device" policy which was one of the things we were quite happy about. Not only was this not the case for the children, but the "staff" were buried in their devices for the majority of the day, and the children freely sharing inappropriate videos and video games. The program itself was convoluted at best, as several of the activities that got the kids excited were canceled on the day of with no notice. Most of the days were spent sitting in either the auditorium or cafeteria for hours on end. The most disturbing incident was when our daughter was injured by another student in an accident on a swing set. We only found out after she got in the car and I noticed that her face was swollen. The "staff's" first aid consisted of giving her a cold sponge and sending her back to the playground. No attempts were made to contact us, or even inform us of the incident when we picked up the kids. When we reached out to Alexis, the director of the program via email (as there is no phone number to call), asking for a call asap to discuss this, her vacation responder instructed us to email another staff member, which we did. Three days later we still had not heard from anyone. They finally emailed back and were unfazed at best, until we sent the pictures of our daughters extremely swollen face which got worse enough the following day to warrant a doctors visit. Then Alexis's fill-in actually made the phone call we requested, a full 5 days after the incident, she attempted to downplay the Incident that she was not only not present for, but also woefully misinformed of. She claimed she'd look into it and call us back. This never happened. Don't get me wrong, accidents happen, but a program designed to educate and care for children that has NO supervision other than other children, does not take safety seriously, disappoints the children repeatedly, and couldn't care less when children are injured is not a program that ANY parent should subject their children to and needs to be examined by the appropriate authorities before something goes seriously wrong.

I currently have three kids enrolled at the Science Hall Elementary After School Program and I been…read morevery satisfied and pleased with the services that my family receives these past 3 yrs. Ms.Kesha is the supervisor for this location and is awesome to my children. She is great with my boys and has patients with them being a handful at times. I have never had to worry about my kids not getting homework done or help with reading. I work late hours daily and it can be difficult for my children and I but with the help of these teachers makes me feel at ease coming home with their help.

If there were more nice and helpful teachers that cared more about the students well being rather…read morethen themselves.

Title: Extremely disappointed about the School's Handling of Student Issues, teachers' retaliation…read moreand administration's lack of accountability I am extremely disappointed and (actually concerned for other kids) with the way this particular IDEA charter school in Kyle has handled situations involving the students. As a parent who once strongly believed in the Charter's school's promises of individualized attention, a strong focus on community, and quality education, I am now deeply concerned and let down. Our experience with this charter school was nothing short of constant stress and disappointment. What was once presented as a nurturing, student-focused environment has devolved into a place where retaliation against children and a complete lack of accountability from the administration have become the norm. Unfortunately, my child was subjected to an incredibly unjust situation where certain teachers allowed themselves the right to take a biased matter into their own hands. Rather than addressing concerns through the proper channels, the teacher acted out of what appeared to be personal frustration or bias, directly targeting students in a retaliatory manner. Whether through harsh disciplinary measures, humiliation, or isolating students, their actions were entirely unprofessional and inappropriate. What's even more disturbing is that when as a parent raised these issues with the administration, I was met with excuses, deflection, and a refusal to take responsibility. Instead of addressing the teacher's behavior or investigating the situation, the administration seemed more interested in protecting its staff and reputation than in ensuring a safe, supportive environment for the students. The lack of accountability from leadership has left us feeling helpless and betrayed. It is unacceptable for administrators to turn a blind eye to such misconduct, especially when it involves retaliatory actions against children. Their refusal to enforce proper protocols and their failure to provide any meaningful resolution have allowed these harmful behaviors to continue unchecked. This school prides itself on being an alternative to traditional education, but it has failed to deliver on its most basic promise: to prioritize the well-being and growth of its students. Retaliation, lack of professionalism, and administrative inaction have created a toxic environment that no child should have to endure. Teachers must be held accountable for their actions, and the administration must take responsibility for its failure to manage these situations appropriately. Until then, I cannot in good conscience recommend this school to any parent who values their child's emotional and educational well-being. To make matters worse, the school seems more focused on maintaining appearances than genuinely resolving the issue. Transparency is non-existent, and when pressed for updates or solutions, we were met with defensive attitudes instead of constructive dialogue. This is not what we signed up for when choosing this school. Charter schools are supposed to offer an alternative to traditional public schools, but unfortunately, this one has proven to be no better--if not worse--in dealing with critical issues. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this school to any parents who value their child's education and emotional well-being. I wish I had listened to other parents who advised me not to sign up my child at IDEA School, but I hope that this honest review will help other parents to make a better choice in selecting schools for their children.

A month ago Percy W. Wrote exactly what I'm going to touch base on. I've been on this waitlist for…read morea year and 3 months. They told me I was 3rd after following up 3 months after. I put a deposit and everything. I still get $0 balance invoices. I'm pretty sure they are scamming people. Taking payments that are non refundable and never returning calls. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DEPOSIT UNLESS YOUR KID IS FOR SURE IN.

We toured the facility in July and were told the wait was up to 3 months, that current teachers had…read moretheir kids there and that they had priority on the waitlist (understandable). However, they would all be moving up soon and therefore there would be openings in all the classes. We submitted a non-refundable waitlist fee of $150 (for 2 kids) on July 9th because we would be moving to Kyle in Jan. Since they never followed up I emailed them on December 8th and was told my younger child was 3rd on the list. I followed up again on Jan 12th and was told that he was now at the top of the list. I called twice in February and once again 2 weeks ago. We had to put the kids in other daycares. I called today and was told that the waitlist is longer than what I was quoted and there were people that have been on the list for 2 years. Overall not a good experience, the building is dated, and the yard is dry and bleak. The (residential) front doors can hardly be considered secure. When you enter the first thing you see is a glass wall with sun beat baby toys. If you want a daycare that will follow up and update you on the waitlist, or even return phone calls, just know it is not their policy to do so unless you are at the point of enrollment.

We love First Step School and their teachers. We love the…read morefact that they actually have a curriculum to teach the kids and prepare them for school. I appreciate being able to go onto the Parent portal and see pictures of our girls activities throughout the day. The portal also lets us know what to work on with her at home. This is exactly what we were looking for...not just a daycare but a preparatory environment to set the foundation for her learning and development. She loves her school and is happy every day we take her. This gives me peace of mind during the day.

I have been so amazed with first step school from the very beginning. They are the sweetest people…read more I love the structure that they have. It's not just a daycare it's a school. My son is excelling in every aspect. And it's because of first step school! Best decision I ever made was starting my son here. I have no complaints. It's such a positive and fun environment. From outdoor fun, to dance parties in the gym, to weekly assessments, the lunches you purchase are perfect and they provide bibs if you need them too! My son is happy there and even runs to the his teacher. Which for me brings me comfort knowing my son is safe and happy. 10/10 experience and I recommend first step school to anyone looking for a full time place to send your child too. You will not be disappointed. Best school/daycare in San Marcos! Go see for yourself! You will not be disappointed!