Good information on site. Wonderful location…read more Great teaching practices for children. I so love nature base education.

I sought out The Forest School of Minnesota because my son loves being outside. He's now been part…read moreof the school for 9 months. He loves it. He always comes home happy and shares his experiences of the day. He has learned better manners than I would have taught him at home. We have had only positive experiences with the teachers at the school.Having an older child, I've had a few interactions with preschool faculty in Minneapolis. I've been more than pleased with the honesty that Michele has provided me in regards to my son's abilities and personality. It is a very good fit for our family. The environment is supportive of reaching one's full potential. There is also a reverence for imagination and childhood all while preparing kids for kindergarten.

We feel incredibly blessed to have found Kinderhaus Montessori through some internet research a few…read moremonths ago and perhaps I can shorten your path to a great school with an endorsement as a parent. If you are reading this review you may be wondering (just like we were) about the best place for your child to begin their education. What do you look for? Will your child feel comfortable and welcome ? What can you expect from a Montessori education? This school had everything we were looking for and more. They offer morning and afternoon sessions and they offer both 3-day and 5-day programs. The class sizes are small and social and you likely won't find more caring and passionate educators than Miss Nora and Miss Susan. Plus, the tuition is affordable and some assistance is available. We are almost done with our son's first year and we are planning to enroll him for a second year in the fall. Our daughter will be going there, too - no doubt in my mind. You should know that this is a small school with a close-knit connection between children, teachers and parents and they ask for parents to play an active role in the school if you can spare the time. This isn't the "drop your kid off in the parking lot" kind of place and we love how our son has blossomed in the quiet and challenging environment under the Montessori philosophy practiced at Kinderhaus Montessori. I urge you to take a tour and see for yourself.

From the owner: Kinderhaus Montessori is a private, non-profit, parent-administered preschool. We believe that…read moreparental involvement teaches children that learning is both important and valuable. We are now enrolling for Fall! Call today for a tour. We are a part-day program. We currently offer morning sessions (8:45AM to 11:30AM) MON-FRI and afternoon sessions (12:45PM to 3:30PM) M/T/TH.

My son is in his second year at NCH and we have been so happy with this program. The units are so…read moreinteresting; continents, ocean, space, dinosaurs, book authors - our son has blossomed through these learnings. The teachers have nurtured him and helped us with some constructive feedback to prepare our very shy son for kindergarten. We love sign language and music every weds! The teachers are big on parent involvement (but it's not required) and I have loved volunteering in the classroom, it is just so much fun! We just attended the holiday 'peace party' and our 4 year has been walking around our house all weekend singing, "I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony. . . ". It's a heartwarming and loving place and I would highly recommend it to anyone!!

My husband and I looked at quite a few preschool programs to find one that would be a good fit for…read moreour son, and we are so fortunate to have found NCH! We chose this program because of the warm, welcoming atmosphere and the well-thought-out curriculum. Our son just finished his second year at NCH, and he has grown so much as a result of his experiences there. The director, Alison Hennen, draws on a variety of early educational philosophies (including Montessori) to create a curriculum that is both fun and educational, and the teachers are well-versed in child development. It's clear that they care a great deal about the children they teach, and they were always incredibly kind and patient with our son. We feel that NCH has given him the best possible preparation for kindergarten, and we can't wait for our daughter to attend the program when she reaches preschool age!

I could not recommend this school more. The teachers, leadership and support team truly care for…read moreand love our child. The curriculum is the perfect mix of fundamentals, life skills and free play and it truly brings a warm feeling in my heart to see how much our child enjoys their time here. Leadership is open to parental feedback and questions and they actually act on feedback to ensure that the whole experience is seamless. Not to mention, they use an app that sends pictures, video and update throughout the day which makes me feel connected to our child even though I am not there.

TLDR: The Gardner School is an amazing daycare and I could not recommend it more highly! The…read moreteachers and administrators are wonderful and there is no one I would trust more with caring for my child. Long review: My wife and I enrolled our child in the toddler program at the Gardner School ("TGS") after relocating to Minneapolis from Manhattan and having a lackluster experience with a lower cost corporate/chain daycare provider in Minneapolis. (In NYC, our child attended a large, national chain that provided OK care for an insanely high price.) The difference between TGS and the MSP chain daycare is night and day. At the old daycare, classrooms had a 7:1 student/teacher ratio, though they often would combine three different classrooms for morning activities. (While they technically were "in ratio," having 21 toddlers supervised by three adults was chaotic.) Children received almost no individualized attention and the facilities were messy and disorganized by the end of the day. Communication between the teachers/administrators and families was practically non-existent and we often had no idea who would be watching our child at any given time. Some of the teachers seemed to be overwhelmed or otherwise incapable of caring for the children. No efforts were made to formally introduce our child to classmates or my wife and I to the other parents. At the Gardner School, the ratios are much lower (5:1) and children receive an incredible amount of individual attention. The facilities are impressive and immaculate. Most important, the teachers are extremely professional and personally invested in the students. We get detailed updates on how our child is doing every day, including developmental milestones. The food is actually healthy (and not just carbs and sugar like the old daycare). The curriculum is important and not simply an afterthought. The teachers and administrators know all of the parents by name and are helpful, professional, organized, and friendly. We are greeted by name and with a smile when we come and go every day. Any changes or upcoming events are communicated clearly and in advance. Though the tuition is meaningfully higher than the other daycare, we have found that it is well worth the money. TGS has exceeded all of our expectations and we couldn't be happier with the care and service they provide.

Minnehaha Academy is a traditional college preparatory school that offers pre-K to grade 12…read moreeducation. MA has two beautiful campuses on the bluffs of the Mississippi River with spacious grounds, with about 12 acres each. MA, like many east coast prep schools, was founded by Protestants from Europe. Opening in 1913, the school is affiliated with the Covenant Church (a historic branch the Lutheran Church that is now a separate denomination). MA has a strong commitment to faith with weekly chapel services and taking a traditional approach to teaching religion by having specific religious classes and bringing the topic of religion into other classes as well. This is done with other subjects as well, since many of the humanities and sciences overlap--for example you could have a discussion in history class about science or literature; in this way the student is able to understand the whole story from multiple angles and gain a deeper understanding of the world. The schools commitment to academics is extraordinary, boasting one of the best AP programs in the state, and if the class doesn't have an AP test then the school offers alternatives such as the College in the Schools program where students take a class from the University of Minnesota from one of their teachers and earn college credit. The school has also partnered with various scientific institutions to send a project to the International Space Station each year, joining only two other high schools in the nation that have this honor. The language department is also very excellent offering French, Latin, Spanish and Chinese; all of which start out at high school levels (open to middle school students) and go through college levels. The teachers are highly educated and care very deeply about the students and for many, remain mentors throughout their time at the Academy and their future. Most of the teachers hold masters or doctorate degrees in their area of study. The community of students is kind and caring for each other, and many long lasting friendships are formed. The school also has excellent food and offers breakfast and lunch. MA has a head and sous chef who create healthy and delicious meals and snacks for the students. Breakfast generally has cereal, scones, sandwiches, eggs, pancakes, bacon, et cetera. Lunch offers a salad bar, made to order options, homemade soups and various options including fresh carved pork, turkey, pastas and chicken. The chefs are friendly and take student suggestions seriously and work hard to make the best food possible. The school is also very devoted to the arts and has a entire fine arts center that includes a woodshop, dark room, art room, pottery studio, band room, orchestra room, private practice rooms, art gallery, scene shop, costume shop, concert hall/theater. The school features several performance ensembles including a Concert Band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, String Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Men's Choir, Women's Chorale, Concert Choir and Madrigal singers. Each ensemble has earned top marks at state. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Concert Choir go on tour, alternating year to year. The tour locations have included: Prague, Slovakia, Salzburg, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Washington D.C., Chicago among other locations. In the year the ensembles are on break from the tour, they put on variety shows: the bands perform the pops concert and the choirs perform a medieval dinner. The school puts on three plays: musical, play and student run show; each has one various state and sometimes national awards. The school also has top notch athletic facilities including separate soccer and football fields, a full size ice arena, two full size gyms, wrestling room and a weight room. MA's athletic teams have won a combined 4 state championships in the past decade alone and provide very supportive C, JV, and Varsity teams. The school also has many organizations and academic teams. The Debate team, which I captained during my time is one of the state's best, being the only school to have a pair of debaters go to the varsity finals back to back (my partner and I), bringing home a state championship and a 2nd place trophy. The school also offers clubs centering around the environment, music, literature, journalism and writing. The school newspaper and yearbook have won various national awards for journalism, photography, layout, overall achievement, etc. MA really helps students achieve and builds a strong foundation for college through curriculum, advanced academics, supportive staff, and graduation requirements that are similar to most colleges. Many of the students attend private 4 year institutions including St. Olaf, Carlton, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Boston College, Vanderbilt, University of Chicago, Northwestern and more. Minnehaha Academy has nurtured the minds of some of Minnesota's best students. MA goes farther than the other prep schools in Minnesota: it truly is the place where youth meet truth.

From the owner: The original incorporation from 1905 stated: "The purpose of this institution shall be to furnish…read moreyoung men and women with the essential elements of a liberal education, and to foster the development of character under the personal influence of Christian teachers." On Monday, Sept. 15, 1913, Minnehaha Academy welcomed its first class of high school students. Grades 7 and 8 were added in 1972. In 1981, the land for the South Campus was purchased and a chapel was erected. By 1982, the Lower School served students in Grades 1 through 5. Kindergarten was added in 1985 and preschool in 1995. Students graduate from Minnehaha Academy prepared to excel in any number of fields. Some of our alumni include inventors, a Supreme Court Justice, Authors, War Veterans, an Olympian, Musicians, and many others in notable careers.

There is no better place for children to start out their educational and social/ emotional journey…read morethan Jean Lyle. My family spends nearly an hour in the car every day to get to Jean Lyle and we would gladly spend twice as long to go to this incredible place. Our daughter has blossomed under the expert and loving care of teachers many of whom who have been teaching here for decades. The student teacher ratio is amazing and the community of parents and kids is the kind of inclusive and welcoming space we all need and deserve. I don't write google reviews but Jean Lyle is pure magic and every parent should be lucky enough to be able to send their child here and watch them take flight.

Jean Lyle is a stunning gem of a school targeting children ages 3-6yr old. There are three areas…read morethat set this school apart from the rest for me: (1) Play-based philosophy: fundamentally, this is a SCHOOL not a daycare, with extremely low (like 1:4) teacher:student ratios often with student teachers and parent helpers on top of that. Children get to PLAY while they learn. With 45 years in business, this school was originally Macalester's "lab" school pioneering a caring and play-based learning philosophy that has continued, at its core. Curriculum if often driven by children's interests (oh you want to learn about sharks?) (2) The people: you know that one friend you have that makes you feel warm and heard? ALL the teachers here are like that friend. They really, individually, understand and love your children. (3) The facilities: many of the competitors i had toured sit in a small room most of the day. Jean Lyle has a huge gym and one Sunshine room dedicated to Art. Take a tour!

We have had 3 kids attend Bright Prospects over the course of 7 years and we are so grateful for…read morethe amazing experience we've had. The teachers provide such a wonderful learning environment, they truly care about the kids, and honestly it feels like they have become part of our family! The co op nature of the school provides lots of opportunities to build community with the other families. We love the art projects, science activities, play based learning, all class drama play performances ​and the family camping trips! We'd highly recommend this school!

Our daughter has truly blossomed since starting preschool here! The teachers are so knowledgeable…read moreand experienced, they have provided a welcoming and safe place for her to play and learn. The co-op experience has been great too, we feel like we really understand the program, have a voice, and are invested in our daughters learning and care. I recommend Bright Prospects to all of my parent friends!

My oldest graduated from here, and my youngest is going there now. Its a wonderful environment with…read morewonderful teachers. The community of families there is incredible and supportive. We've made wonderful friends there with the other parents.

We have had two of our children go through Green Earth with the remarkable Miss Renee. It's…read morepriceless to find someone to trust your children's development with. When my son entered at age 3 he was throwing tantrums left and right. Within a month they taught him to identify and name his feelings and he's been tantrum free ever since. They are so loving and caring and it has been a joy to be a part of the magical world they provide. I HIGHLY recommend Green Earth Academy!!! Provided an invaluable foundation that changed the lives of our children for the better.