Prestigious Name, Disappointing Reality: A Costly Lesson in Leadership Failure…read moreThis school operates under a well-known private franchise name, which initially suggested high standards and professionalism. Unfortunately, our experience over the past six months fell far short of those expectations. The school advertises small class sizes and a strong sense of community and family. In practice, those promises were not upheld. Class sizes increased abruptly from 13 to 20 children without adequate communication or adjustment, undermining the individualized attention that was promised. Despite claims of fostering a supportive community, leadership consistently failed to demonstrate transparency, collaboration, or accountability. From the outset, there were concerning signs of disorganization and lack of professionalism--such as a building alarm repeatedly beeping during drop-off. More troubling were classroom experiences in which children were publicly humiliated during circle time, and parents were chastised by teachers regarding their parenting. These interactions were inappropriate and deeply unprofessional. Classroom management appeared chaotic. Children's belongings were frequently lost, and parents were left to coordinate among themselves to recover missing items. There were frequent conflicts among children, and concerns were often addressed by labeling toddlers as "behavior problems" rather than applying developmentally appropriate strategies. A significant concern was the lack of appropriate training and expertise among staff. While teachers are required to hold a degree, many did not have degrees in early childhood education or relevant developmental training. Aside from CPR and First Aid certification, there appeared to be limited preparation in child development. In contrast, the few teachers who did have early childhood education backgrounds demonstrated a clear understanding of age-appropriate behavior and needs. Several staff members offered diagnostic opinions about children without the education or experience to do so. When parents disagreed or raised concerns, false or misleading reports were allegedly written to support a predetermined narrative. The school did not consistently follow Primrose franchise guidelines, ASQ questionnaire standards, or even the professional input of parents with advanced education in the field. When I formally filed a complaint and provided video evidence of mistreatment, the owner dismissed the concerns and instead focused on my child's reaction to the behavior, rather than addressing the conduct itself. This response reflected a lack of integrity, empathy, and understanding of toddler development. Rather than supporting families, leadership defended unprofessional conduct and placed blame on children for age-appropriate behavior. While there are a few dedicated and capable teachers, the overall experience was overwhelmingly negative and ultimately led us to unenroll our child. Attempts to seek support or resolution were met with further mistreatment. Even after withdrawal, the owner continued to deflect responsibility and place blame on a child simply for being a child. Given the nearly $30,000 annual cost, this experience was not only disappointing but unacceptable. Our child was more stressed in this environment than in other institutions, which should never be the case. This is not the experience a family should have--especially not at this price point or under a prestigious franchise name.

My son hated this school. The vibes are not welcoming or friendly in the classroom. I had to remove…read moremy child from this establishment after two months because of the repeated unprofessionalism of the teachers, I'm extremely disappointed. He went all day without eating and I wasn't notified until pick up. Where he then had a tantrum on the floor in front of everyone which is EXTREMELY Out of character for him. Another situation was I overheard the teacher talking about a dating app experience and how much she wishes she didn't have to come to work everyday. If these conversations are being had in front of parents just imagine what's being said throughout the day. I complained to the director on multiple occasions about my son not adjusting and the teachers being inappropriate and under qualified just as far as basic compassion kindness and professionalism and I was brushed off. The final straw for me was when my fiancé witnessed the teacher elbowed a student in the face on accident and the girl starts crying and the teacher says " your suppose to announce yourself if you're behind someone " . It's Unbelievable that this is the behaviors being modeled at a private establishment. I would strongly suggest you think twice about what's most important to your child before enrolling here. Yes they will have 5 star home cooked meals and an awesome curriculum but This is not an emotionally safe space for your child.

Our family has been part of the Imhotep Academy Village for the last 5 years. I have two children…read moreat the school, my only regret is not finding this community sooner. The school is setup to challenge the scholars to operate with a spirit of Black Excellence. Imhotep has been around for 30 years and is truly a hidden gem in the Atlanta area. This afro centered institution has instilled a sense of pride within my kids and have reminded them through daily affirmations and instruction of their greatness. Black History Month is all year long! Kids learn from Prek to sing the Black National Anthem, recite the Ultimate Student and about the 7 Kwanzaa Principles, and their significance. The teachers, staff and admin work tirelessly to ensure the scholars are stretched to their optimal potential. The PTA is very active and partners with the school to support the greater objective of our institution. I believe the combination of these items working in sync is what makes this village successful.

My son's early foundation began at Imhotep Academy and ended with UGA. It carried him through High…read moreSchool and College. His teachers recognized and complimented him on how self assured and confident he was. His academic readiness was above par. Imhotep Academy was and still is worth the investment in your child's future. Thank you to Founders, Staff and Faculty of Imhotep Academy. Home of the "Ultimate Student"- job well done !!!!

We love Vinings Academy! Our oldest son is 5 and had been at the same daycare facility since he was…read morea baby, which we liked, but we wanted to move him somewhere closer to home with COVID. We were nervous about taking him out of a program he was so familiar with. But due to the amazing teachers and administration at Vinings Academy, he adjusted so quickly. Most of the teachers have been there for years and years and are so sweet and caring and do such a great job making learning fun. They teach the children different languages and it has been so adorable having the kids come home and sing songs in Spanish to us. This past year with COVID has been so crazy but finding Vinings Academy has been wonderful.

We love this school. Both our kids have thrived there and the environment makes everyone feel like…read morefamily

I came here to do a site visit as we are expecting. You have to get on a waitlist, so naturally, we…read morewanted to see what the space looked like. Very clean and secure. The front office managers were very kind and welcoming. I really like the early childhood education focus on exploration and motor skills. We joined the waitlist for next year as it will likely be the best option for our growing family.

I had toured a few schools when I just moved to Georgia and instantly I fell in love with this…read moreplace. I was able to grow in my career and foster a good environment to learn and grow for my son. The owner has given me a wonderful experience and the teachers have all been very warm and welcoming.

My 4- and 2-year-olds both attend this school and we love it! It is truly an atmosphere of love and…read morerespect and has cultivated an excitement about learning in both of my kids. It also fosters independence and my kids are capable of so many things that I never thought they would be at their ages. The teachers are kind and patient, but firm, and they really get to know you children and appreciate who they are as individuals. The fresh, healthy snacks from a local co-op are just a bonus. My only problem with the school is that it doesn't go past age 6. We'll be so sad to leave!

I have a 2 year old and 5 year old at SMS. My 5 year old has been attending since he was 3 and the…read moreschool opened. We were planning on homeschooling but I still wanted our kids to start with some school environment experience. Smyrna Montessori School was everything we were looking for. My children get lots of individual attention, are encouraged to explore and learn as much as they want and have had some wonderful friendships develop. There is a strong sense of respect modeled through kindness towards the teachers, classmates, learning materials and the world (cultures, the environment). The teachers love my children like they were their own and are passionate about the Montessori style of learning. Both of my children have gained a lot of confidence and independence since they began there. If I ever have a question I can set up a time to talk with any teacher. I'm always impressed with how aware they are of everything my child deals with on a daily basis, what their strengths are, how much progress they have made in areas of behavior, character and learning. I do wish they extended beyond the Primary program (3-6 years). I don't think there is any problem with illness any different than any other school environment. I don't love that the lead toddler teacher spot has changed hands a few times, but I understand that when a teacher has a baby she will want to take time to be with her new baby. This has been the only reason for teachers leaving that I am aware of. Those teachers have stayed in contact with the school and return for visits when possible. We feel very fortunate to be at Smyrna Montessori School and are so happy it opened at the perfect time for our kids. And as far as safety goes, our children are referred to as precious gifts, children are not allowed out of the classroom unless a teacher or parent is with them and the school and yard are secured during the day. I have no concern for my children's safety at all. Montessori is a different approach to learning than what a lot of people are used to, but for us it has been perfect. Oh, and I LOVE that I get an email and photos every week from each of my kids teachers touching on what the kids are working on and enjoying and some explanation about the Montessori process.

Grow Montessori gave my son (Heir) a foundation I'm endlessly grateful for. Thank you to Tracey,…read morethe owner, for building something so intentional... and to Ms. Taren in the toddler program and Ms. Liz and Mrs. Savannah in primary. Each of them was instrumental in his development, and the community they foster is what truly sets this school apart. The proof: my son is now in pre-K elsewhere at a school he loves, and he still talks about his Grow teachers and friends and asks to see them. When I asked if he'd want to go back, he said he loves his new school but he really, really loves his Montessori school. This is a kid who, asked whether he'd rather go out with mommy or daddy, always says "both." He doesn't pick favorites. So that meant something. Thank you, Grow Montessori, for the lasting mark you left on our family.

My little guy and our family love Grow! He started back in March 2020 but was only there for…read moreliterally 9 days before COVID-19 turned our world upside down. During the time that the school was closed to in-person learning, it was decided that there would be a virtual learning option where packets would be available for pickup at the end of the week and all materials and lessons would be in the packet to help guide us clueless parents on what to do. There were bi-weekly zoom calls with my son's teacher, Ms. Jasmine, and I appreciated all of her guidance during that time and how easy it was to communicate with her. When the discussion started regarding whether or not the school would open for in-person learning, I loved that there was a townhall meeting for all parents/guardians to ask questions and voice our concerns. We received very detailed communication about how things would look when, and if, school reopened and this helped calm my fears a lot. Now that in-person learning has been back in session for more than a month and a half, I must say that I truly feel everyone has done a wonderful job keeping our little ones safe. The class sizes are super small (of which I absolutely love) and my son's teacher is just the sweetest and the best teacher I could ask for. This little 21-month-old is a ball of energy and she keeps him busyyyyy and updates us with things that he is doing in class and I never wonder whether or not he's okay because she is always reaching out letting my husband and I know what he's doing/has done in class. The skills that he has learned in this short period back has been amazing and being someone who loved her Montessori based education as a child, I am thrilled and sooooo thankful to have Grow Montessori. If you're looking for childcare that is literally going to help your child grow, and a staff that is truly compassionate, kind, devoted to the children they serve, this is the place for you.

This is the Best School in my opinion the Owner and Staffs are great and my Son teacher Ms Reynolds…read moreis an excellent example of a great teacher she truly care about young kids development my son learned well over what we expected of him in the short time he was there I really appreciate all of what you all have done to prepare him from PreK to His next journey to Kindergarten in Elementary School‍‍‍‍

From the owner: Appleton Early Learning Center, located in Southwest Atlanta 1/2 mile from Southwest Hospital has…read morebeen loving, caring and training young children for more than 30 years. The center has been under the same management for over 18 years. We are dedicated to giving our children quality childcare that encompasses a stimulating curriculum to ensure that each child has a more effective transition into his elementary years.

Both of my children have attended Northside Drive Baptist Church Preschool and we love it! All of…read morethe staff and teachers are wonderful and loving, and were like an extension of our family. My children received a top notch education there, and my oldest son entered kindergarten at an advanced level! I could not be more happy with our experience at this school.

I was going to start by mentioning names of the staff that I felt should be recognized, but that…read morewould be everyone I know there. We are very picky parents, im sure just like you;) We found this place, and let me tell you this place is a dream come true. We COULDN'T BE HAPPIER! This staff goes way over and beyond! My kids teachers, Ms Cheryl and Ms Victoria are AMAZING! They truly LOVE our kids and love on them. They put our mind at ease everyday, and always updating us on their day. My kids are "those" screaming kind of kids lol, but not here. They love their teachers immensely. I cannot believe I didn't find this place sooner. I have to say also the front office staff, Ms Joleen and Ms Patti are AMAZING. My heart is just so filled from this place. Best decision I have made as a parent.

The best preschool in Atlanta hands down! I went to PRUMC when I was a little girl, so I knew it…read morewas where I'd want to send my kids one day if I was still in Atlanta. It is every bit as wonderful as I'd remembered, and I know my kids will be as prepared for elementary school as I was. It is not only a great learning atmosphere, but somewhere where kids really enjoy themselves and love going! I can't say enough about the teachers and staff! One of my preschool teachers from over 30 years ago is retiring this year. It definitely tells you something about the school when you have people who stay there throughout their careers. So thankful to have the preschool for my children!