We attended summer camp for the last two weeks of June. The teachers were great and the environment was enriching for our 3 year old, she loved it. We chose the Native School because of their long-standing reputation, regardless of anything we read online. Don't listen to negative reviews, this was a solicitation effort and breach of their systems. Shannon was very honest and transparent about everything going on, and answered any questions we had, she made us feel very supported. I would entrust this program with my child, and we are excited for fall!! read more

My son had a great time at the native school summer camp. He went to 2 different locations and enjoyed them both. It was wonderful to have him come home full of stories of tadpoles and butterflies and dirt :) read more

I am so saddened to be writing this review, but I am unfortunately not left with much choice given the current happenings. My son has been in the Piccola class for the last year--we started last summer in their parent/child summer camp. Initially, it felt like the school was a space that knew what they were doing. As an educator, I know it can be difficult to manage all of the pieces and so I thought it was impressive that this was all done with no traditional brick and mortar. Then our class lead teacher was let go in October with no communication from the director. Thankfully, our class gained Ms. Jen, but after several months we were told she'd be leaving for a different role. At this point, I reached out to admin with a very strong letter in support of Jen remaining in her role for the sake of continuity for the students. The director, Shannon, responded with rudeness and an air of superiority that did not speak to the community and collaboration that the school boasts. It became clear very quickly that Shannon is not someone who is willing to engage with professionalism and will instead gaslight parents to get the result she wants. In the past few months our location has heard from the director ZERO times about the constant change in staffing--the one constant has been Jen (a freaking angel), but aside from that every other teacher has either quit or been let go often having our kids with too few guardians--a ratio that is illegal and unsafe for kids. Beyond this, I watched as Shannon filled in and grabbed my son aggressively at the start of the day. Her use of hands was a direct juxtaposition to what the conduct of the school speaks to. It is clear that Shannon, NOT Jen or any of the other teaching staff is the problem. It will be a miracle if we see any of our deposits for summer camp and the 25-26 year without going to small claims or court as there are no teachers to fill the roles. At this point we also have a whole school camping trip this weekend with absolutely zero communication about whether this will continue or not in the face of Native School losing its staffing. Know that Shannon and her team may respond to these reviews but distrust what is said. Speak to the families who have all experienced first hand the same and trust that the teachers have not been at fault as will be implied. read more

My child attended last year at SD Park. Unfortunately we have moved, but our experience at the Native School is something my son still talks about , we are having a difficult time finding a program similar that holds the same reputation and can provide him the same experience. As someone that has paid the enrollment fee, you can see in the paperwork that it is non-refundable, and that it isn't a deposit. I don't understand why people need to leave bad reviews in retaliation for not receiving a refund, especially when they signed paperwork stating that they understood that. If communication got messy I'm sure Shannon would own up to it, she has always been honest with our family, and there were changes in staffing at the end of the year that I'm sure took a toll on her. I have only seen a few people speak on it, but it seems like the staffing changes were the action of a separate group, and didn't have anything to do with Shannon .Either way, the school is a great place for all kids that have a chance to enroll. I would do it all over again, my son still talks about it everyday. read more

My son attended Native School's Piccola and Forest Kinder classes from 2023-2025. We are currently in our last week of school at the Vista location. Our first year, we had two great teachers.  Unfortunately, one of them became uncomfortable with how the school was handling certain issues and this led her to quit. The next year gave me clarity as to why teachers may be having issues with the school. This 2024-2025 school year has been an absolute embarrassment for the school. We started off the year with two great teachers and within a short time one was moved to the piccola class and given a new title and the other quit. We then got two new teachers. Then another teacher swap, and another. I can name 6 teachers that consistently popped in and out of the co-teacher role. There was zero communication from Admin about what was going on with our class and our teachers were being directed to have minimal communication with the parents. I took it upon myself to voice my concerns with the teachers many times and every time I did, I gained more knowledge about how terribly supported the teachers are. Once I recognized that the teachers are not the issue, I decided to reach out directly to the Director. I did this despite having been advised by multiple parents about how dismissive and uncooperative she would be.Speaking directly with Shannon the Director of the school was incredibly insightful and exposed how big of a scam she is running. She spoke poorly of the teachers and put the blame on them. She dismissed the fact that we have not had consistent teachers throughout the whole year and claimed that our class was intended to be a training campus. Since this conversation with Shannon, we just keep facing issues at our campus and losing hope in the school all together. This last month of school, admin can't seem to piece together enough teachers. The ratio of teachers to students is alarming and very likely illegal. We have one week left of classes and it'll be a miracle if the teachers remaining will continue showing up. I feel terrible for the one remaining teacher at Piccola and our one remaining teacher at Forest Kinder. I do not know of a single student in our class that will be returning next year and highly doubt our teacher will be returning. Considering my experience, I feel the need to warn all parents interested in this school. I suggest that all interested parents reach out to other parents within the school as I know of multiple campuses experiencing the exact same issues. read more

Our daughter has been blessed to attend 3 great schools so far (LA & SD) and the Native School is the ultimate! She spent 2 years at the San Dieguito Campus and if she had it her way she would still be there! Fortunately she is excelling in kindergarten, yet she still is VERY vocal in her love of The Native School. She would do anything to see Ms. Nikki and to be back in the park playing and learning with her friends. As parents we enjoyed every minute of pick up / drop off because we knew that the magic does not last forever. Thank you to everyone Amber (& Barbie), Andrea, and Ms. Nikki just to name a few! read more

This school is nothing short of amazing. It is everything you could ever ask for when choosing a partner to nurture your child's development. The staff are all experts in early childhood development and are very purposeful in how they engage with the children and encourage the children to engage with one another and their environment. They achieve developmental growth in the most natural and healthy way. They children are recognized and supported individually and the staff are incredibly gentle and positive. You hear everyone talk about whole child development/multi-sensory teaching/play-based/insert buzz word here, but this school actually lives these and effectively implements them. This results in the most positive outcomes for children. The families are really great too, a really supportive and nurturing community. read more

My son and I attended multiple guided play sessions and we naturally enrolled him in the Piccola program when he turned three. We loved the idea of the Native School as well as all of his teachers. Unfortunately, every single teacher we had in both the Guided Play and Piccola classes left and it is clear that poor leadership on behalf of the owner and admin staff are the reason. The owner is an eloquent and persuasive speaker but is manipulative and lies. If consistency is important for your child, this is not the school for you. read more

My child is attending the fall 25 school year. I just wanted to leave a review to express how transparent and kind the staff and Shannon have been. We have a 3 year old, and it is his first time attending any type of schooling, we have been really anxious regarding this transition. We decided to go with Native School based on a friend's recommendation, her 3 children went through the program many years ago and they had a great experience. We expressed to Shannon our concerns and needs regarding our child, and she made us feel extremely supported. She allowed us to attend a day of camp for free to make sure it was the right fit. It was! being outside with amazing teachers that create a nurturing environment is only what I could hope for my child. Mrs. Yvonne is a very kind individual and we are very excited to work with her this year as our PreK teacher. I would say if you are considering enrollment to reach out to their team, they will answer any questions you may have. I don't really understand what experience these other folks have been having, but ours has been completely opposite. read more

Irresponsible leadership. Lots of teacher turnover without any clear communication about what is going on with the school, who the teachers will be for each day, etc. It took us so long to find a school and feel comfortable with sending our daughter to school at such a young age and this experience has made me complete mistrust this school completely. I've asked repeatedly to remove my daughter from their summer program and provide a refund as I no longer feel safe or comfortable sending her to this school, but I have not gotten any response from the school. I keep getting weekly emails with my daughter's name on the roster which at this point is a privacy breech. Shannon has basically taken our thousands of dollars and is refusing to refund us. All their third party consultant has told me who has followed the same diatribe as Shannon of speaking with a lot of negativity towards teachers and defending Shannon who doesn't even have the audacity to address parents in a live meeting was that if Shannon refunded all the parents, the school will go bankrupt and will have to shut down which will be well deserved at this point. The least Shannon could have done was apologize to parents and return our money. read more

Our son has attended the Native School for the past two years and LOVES it! We have been blessed to have Ms. Nikki as his lead teacher both years. She is an exceptional teacher who goes above and beyond to create a safe and fun space for her students. The teachers have an incredible understanding of child development and are wonderful at seeing each child's unique strengths. The integration of academics, physical activity, and nature sets The Native School apart from others. If you are looking for a program that implements outdoor education and outdoor exploration, this school will not disappoint! While we are sad that our time at The Native School is ending soon, we know our son is academically and emotionally ready for first grade thanks to his wonderful teachers. We are forever grateful to Ms. Nikki, Ms. Teddy, and Ms. Andrea for their kindness and for making each day a beautiful adventure! read more

Our son loved Native School during his kindergarten year! He enjoyed getting to know San Dieguito park and we were so grateful that he got to be outdoors in nature while learning. His teachers Ms Nikki and Ms Mary Beth are such wonderful instructors and created a positive & encouraging learning environment where everyone was respected & the kids had such a great time.. we highly recommend Native School! read more

My daughter had the best time here! Would highly recommend! I loved the daily updates with photos and it was great that it was all outdoors!

My husband and I were searching for something in the realm of perfect for our daughter. A school that we felt could really impact her and assist with her growth in ways we weren't capable. We didn't exactly know what we were looking for until we stumbled upon the Native School. The teaching staff is best in class. The Scandinavian Forest School concept combined with Reggio style of learning really is perfect for little ones growing minds and love of the outdoor play. Our daughter has grown so much since she started there. Her vocabulary is exploding. Her love for the school is so obvious to us. Her friendships have continued to grow at such a young age. And most of all, her love for nature and the creative play is just amazing to see. We love the native school so much and feel so extremely lucky to have found it! read more

The Native School - Preschools Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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We absolutely love this school! We've been with Native School for four years now and both of our kids went through the Piccola and Forrest Kinder programs. The number one skills that I've noticed in both of my kids since being students at the Native School is their confidence in nature. They're comfortable taking risks and exploring safely. They've made great friends and have learned so many important fundamental play and academic skills. We've loved all of the teachers at the school. They are kind and caring and fantastic communicators. We have had a wonderful experience at the Native School and will always be forever grateful for the time our family got to spend at the beautiful Batiquitos Lagoon. read more

My son climbs the walls indoors, but LOVES the outdoors, and the opportunities for learning outdoors are limitless. Spending time in nature and educating our children about the earth is so essential in these digital days, and I am beyond grateful to have this preschool near my home (at a lagoon and a park). Every time I pick him up he says, "I had so much fun today!" They play in the mud, find bugs, watch birds, sort sticks and use their imaginations while learning foundational skills at this play-based school. He adores his teachers and classmates, and they adore him as well. We feel this school is setting him up to become the best human he can be. read more

The Native School - a log bench at the lagoon - Preschools Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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We love the Native School! My daughter went to the San Dieguito location for 2 years and had the best experience! We saw her confidence grow in her ability to take physical risks in the park and her love and curiosity for nature will now forever be apart of her. She's an expert on native plants and can always point out poisonous plants on hikes. My daughter calls Ms.Nikki her "school mom" because she went the extra mile to make her feel safe and comfortable while at school. Nikki's background as an elementary school teacher is such an asset to the program! If you are looking for an enriching, unique school experience in the magic of nature, you are in great hands at the Native School! read more

As a parent I am incredibly grateful that the Native School offers preK- Kindergarten classes! The teachers are exceptional in providing an array of learning tools to facilitate lessons in the outdoor classroom. From students writing books to picking up trash to observing the wonders of animal tracks together the school provides a safe and nurturing place for child like wonder to thrive. The weekly class themes are communicated and the daily reflection journals are representative of the days activities through photos and narration. If there were questions and/or inquiries that came up after school hours, the teachers were responsive and thoughtful in responding. Native School is exceptional for offering a Forest school curriculum and for fostering a culture of kindness and creativity that for our family encouraged curiosity and engaged process oriented learning. read more

My daughter joined the native school this year and LOVES it! Her teachers Miss Nikki and Miss Teddy are the kindest, most loving and fun teachers a kid could wish for. They care and connect deeply with our children. In class they implement learning and nature exploration in their day to day activities and even motivate a group of four, five and six year olds to go for hikes! My favorite part at pick up is to see my daughter deeply in play with sticks and cones, building, exploring entranced by her own imagination and nature. I truly believe that you can only protect and value that which you love. And what better way to love "nature" then in such play. As a parent I also appreciate that I get invited into the daily activities thru a portal, where I can read up about the day and see pictures of their adventures. The school cares to establish connection between families as well, and offers each month a fun and different meet-up possibility, from whale watching to hiking or finding certain plants in the botanical garden. As a family we very much enjoy the outings and appreciate all that effort that goes into organizing these events. We are so grateful to have found this wonderful school! And thank you Miss Nikki and Miss Teddy for being such an important part of our daughters life! read more

We had both of our boys at the Native School and we feel very lucky they were able to experience learning in an outdoor Nature school. Over the course of two years we were at both locations and our kiddos had a wonderful experience at both. The teachers do an expectational job fostering a loving and mutually respectful environment between them and the children. I couldn't recommend this program more strongly to other parents. Reflecting back I've realized the additional benefits from having my boys learn in an outdoor environment. It taught me that the opportunity for learning can happen anywhere; doing math with whatever objects are around, writing in the dirt or sand with sticks, learning to categorize objects, understanding the impact we have within our environment etc... I also loved the supplemental projects they provided. It reinforced my ability to teach my boys in ways I wasn't keen to. There is no "busy" filler type of work coloring printed out worksheets, etc.. but really thoughtful immersive ways to learn that engage children. My eldest son went all the way up through their kindergarten program. I was a little nervous in the beginning that he may not be at the same level as other kiddos entering into 1st grade. I am happy to report he is flourishing in the traditional classroom now. He had no trouble transitioning and is doing math and reading well above grade level. A special shoutout to his kinder teachers Mrs. Nikki and Mrs. Andrea for being such amazing teachers, I owe it to them that he his doing so well! read more

We enrolled our 4 year old son in the Native School and couldn't be happier. Seeing our son's growth--educational, emotional, physical, and confidence--during the school year has only reinforced that decision. Ms Rose and Ms Andrea are fantastic teachers who implement a program that mixes education, exploration, and the great outdoors. It's unique and perfect for us. We anticipate getting our youngest signed up once she is old enough! Cannot recommend enough - 5 Stars!! read more

We can't say enough good things about Native! We have been with them for two years now and our girl loves it! The atmosphere and environment they work so hard to create is wonderful. The fact that she gets to explore each day in nature and learn by doing is exactly what we are looking for. I love that school isn't cancelled due to weather either - her favorite days are the muddy, rainy days! The entire staff is very supportive and anytime we need support as parents they are more than willing to listen and offer advice or ideas. We are truly grateful to have found them and have made many friends. If you are looking for a place where your child can enjoy the beautiful nature around them and learn in an incredible environment I would highly suggest checking out Native! read more

I never write reviews, but I can't help but share my excitement for The Native School. I was looking for a childcare option for my toddler that really took into consideration child development and felt like a good fit based on our family values...and one that wouldn't break the bank. This school far exceeds all of our expectations. My experience with this school has been nothing but extraordinary. From the quality of the teachers to the creative learning opportunities and activities they engage in, to the daily portfolio showing what they did that day and why... I feel like my child is in the best, safest hands he can be when I'm not around and you can't put a price on that. I cannot recommend this option enough! read more

Been with this school for two years and love it. It's amazing how much they learn just being in nature.

My daughter has started with The Native School this school year in September and I have nothing but great things to say. This Forest School combines outdoor education with Reggio Emilia teachings. My daughter looks forward to going to school and comes back with stories and enthusiasm to investigate and learn more. Its exactly the environment I was looking for! Her teachers are patient and kind and supportive. I feel lucky to live in San Diego to have a chance for such an education. read more

My 5 year old has been attending the Native School since March. This was her first school experience and we have nothing but good things to say about it. She has truly blossomed during her time there, her confidence has grown as has her love of nature and her eagerness to take risks and enjoy the world around her! We are so thankful for the nurturing and attentive teachers, the small class sizes, the sensitivity of the teachers for each of the students unique personalities and needs, and the space that their educational philosophy gives for children to learn and explore. Combine caring, engaged, creative teachers with plenty of unhurried time exploring the beautiful outdoors and you have the perfect environment for children to grow their natural curiosities and love for learning. The Native School does just that! read more

My son has been with The Native School for three years. The school has grown to be an amazing community that I am sad we have grown out of as I can not find anything that compares for elementary school. It truly has been a great foundation for my son's future. The school goes beyond the idea of getting our kids outside and in nature. The teachers are impeccable and are teaching a curriculum of awareness and kindness. They teach about concepts and issues, the academics then fall in (and my son has a great grasp on the academic side too). As the pandemic hit they were able to adapted immediately and offer multiple online resources and daily zoom lessons in addition to office hours, parent and assessment support. Partially, I feel that they were able to adapt quickly because of their philosophies of teaching to adapt to the children and to the environment they are learning in. My son had also been in another more traditional preschool when the pandemic hit and The Native School went above and beyond comparatively. I felt as if they put supporting the students and the families first - above the fiances of the business. They continue to adapt by offering support on how to talk to children about racism. It has been an amazing resource in very difficult times. The Native School is an inspiration and exhibits the type of real life lessons and reactions to difficult situations I want to teach my son. I highly recommend the school. read more