The director of the school, Gisa, is wonderful. My son went there for two years after turning…read morethree. His second year was interrupted by the pandemic and although he didn't get the in-person interaction we wanted him to have during that second year, there was just the right amount of online engagement (once a week) to continue his education. I know it's ultimately our jobs to teach our kids, but it's incredibly helpful to have an experienced educator guide you through the academic concepts, mental leaps and milestones, expected challenges, etc. Also, had it not been for Gisa, I would not have understood anything about LAUSD's E-choices application and enrollment process. She's great at bringing parents together to brainstorm and share ideas too. Needless to say I highly recommend the school and Gisa's program. My son had a great time when he was going in person with two half-days a week. He also had a great time with his weekly circle time classes once a week and in-home activities after the school was physically closed.

Butterfly garden preschool has been a blessing to continue our two young toddlers (2 and 3 years…read moreold) education in this time of quarantine. A balanced curriculum of fun content for each kids level of preschool! The teachers have made themselves available to encourage us parents to create a beautiful homeschool routine. Our older daughter feels a positive challenge in her daily schoolwork and as a mom I don't have to prepare a curriculum! It's all laid out for me weekly with a variety of approaches to keep my children interested. We are very pleased with our children's progress from the curriculum provided here and most important our kids are happy while at home yet still connected to the outside world. We highly recommend teacher Gisa's preschool Butterfly Garden!!

After a rocky year at a Montessori school, a behavioral therapist highly recommended Young Minds…read moreLearning Academy (YMLA) to help our son strengthen his executive functioning skills. From the moment we toured, we felt the difference--the commitment to nurturing the whole child was unmistakable. We enrolled him that week. Over the two years our son attended YMLA, he flourished. He learned to use his words, respect boundaries, build confidence in his social-emotional skills, and academically reached a kindergarten level while still in TK. At some schools, education can feel like a job. At Young Minds, it is clearly a calling. That dedication is evident across the entire staff and support team. The level of care, patience, and individualized approaches they pour into each child is nothing short of remarkable. As TK began winding down, we heard countless parents express the same sentiment: "What do we have to do to get the owners to open a Young Minds Elementary?" That says everything. As our son moves on to an independent grade school, our entire family will dearly miss Young Minds. We are incredibly grateful for these two formative years and for the foundation YMLA helped build in our son.

We are so grateful we chose Young Minds for our daughter's TK year. It was truly one of the best…read moredecisions we made for her. Before TK, our daughter attended a play-based daycare. Since she is naturally shy and quiet, we wanted a program that would help her build confidence and prepare her for kindergarten. Young Minds exceeded our expectations. The teachers are caring, patient, and genuinely passionate about helping every child succeed. At first, our daughter needed time to adjust to a more structured classroom, but her teachers supported her every step of the way and helped her gain confidence. We loved how Young Minds balanced academics with fun. From art, music, sports, and holiday celebrations to hands-on learning activities like the Classroom Store, every day was engaging and meaningful. Our daughter loved earning coins and "shopping" for small prizes, and she couldn't wait to come home and tell us all about it. Over the course of the year, we saw an incredible transformation. She became more confident, independent, and outgoing, and she truly developed a love for learning. Most importantly, she loved going to school every day. Even now, she still tells us how much she misses her teachers and asks if we can go back to visit them. We are incredibly thankful for the wonderful teachers and the caring community at Young Minds. If you're looking for a TK program that will prepare your child for kindergarten while making them feel happy, supported, and excited to learn, we highly recommend Young Minds!

We have sent our older kiddo to Gan West for a year now. Being new to the community, we did not…read moreknow what to expect when it came to school/childcare. But we feel that thanks to Gan West our elder child has made great strides in learning academically, practicing potty training, and learning to empathize and socialize with other kids. Also being a non-Jewish family we were able to continue on learning its beautiful traditions and always felt included in this community. Though a little bit closed off to parents than usual due to new COVID procedures in place this past academic year, from what I have seen the teachers have been great. Whenever we address a concern, they do not take it lightly even if it is coming from the mouth of a toddler. We feel this is due to the leadership of principal/owner/morah Sarah. It is a small community so we feel that in a big city we have made some good friends. We will unfortunately be relocating to another city, but if we weren't we would be back here again :) Thank you Gan West!

We had such a wonderful experience at Gan West for both our boys. Our kids loved going to school…read moreevery day and we knew they were in great hands!! Huge thanks to Sara, Elizabeth, and all the wonderful teachers at this special school.

We took a tour the other day. They are a top notch organization. Brittany was great to work with…read more The facilities were great and safe. All the kids seemed to be having so much fun. We didn't end up sending our daughter here, but only because there wasn't an opening in the age group we needed when we needed it to be. But I wanted to post a review because I liked it so much.

As a mother of three, I've experienced a variety of early education environments--and I can…read moreconfidently say that our experience at St. John has been exceptional. From the moment we walked through the doors, we felt a warm, welcoming atmosphere that immediately put both us and our child at ease. I may not be able to name every teacher, it's clear that every member of the team is incredibly nurturing, attentive, and genuinely passionate about what they do. My son is especially blessed to be in the Yellow Room. His teachers, Mrs. Jenn and Mrs. Dulce, go above and beyond to create a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment where every child feels valued and encouraged to learn and grow. Since starting here, my son has blossomed both socially and academically. The curriculum strikes a wonderful balance between structured learning and creative play, helping children build confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking skills. I also love the regular communication and updates that keep us involved and informed every step of the way. I highly recommend the school to any family looking for a loving, supportive, and inspiring place for their child to begin their educational journey. It's been a fantastic foundation for my son--and a true blessing for our family.

Southern California Montessori School is truly a hidden gem, and we feel incredibly fortunate to be…read morepart of it. Under the wise and compassionate leadership of Ann Abellera and her exceptional teaching team, the school fosters a deep love of learning that radiates through everything they do. Ann brings a calm, thoughtful presence to the school, and her decades of Montessori experience are evident in the respectful, child-centered environment she and her staff have created. Rather than traditional classrooms, there is one beautiful, open learning space that allows children to move freely and engage deeply with their work. The materials are thoughtfully chosen, and the environment is designed to spark curiosity, independence, and joy in learning. I've noticed the pride my kid takes in his discoveries - it's so rewarding for a parent! Beyond academics, the school nurtures kindness, responsibility, and confidence. It's clear that every child is seen, respected, and encouraged to grow at their own pace. The outdoor space is also a huge plus--a well-maintained and cheerful playground that gives the kids a chance to run around and play. Southern California Montessori is more than a school--it's a community rooted in trust, care, and joyful learning. We can't recommend it highly enough.

27 years ago, I had the pleasure of going here as a pre-schooler! 27 years later I came back to…read morevisit with my life long friend that I met here! Wow I was brought back to relive some great memories. Most of the staff are still the same people who took good care of me! The staff even remembered an item I brought for show & tell. Talk about paying attention to details! Seeing all the kids in such a good flow, cleaning up after themselves and listening to all the instructions was so beautiful to see. If you're looking for a pre-school, look no further. The caring staff, strategic system that works to develop foundational skills & dedication to providing a nurturing, tailored space for kids is what makes this pre-school amazing!

We've had multiple children go through the Trimmersion (Mandarin + Spanish immersion) program, and…read moreevery single one of them have absolutely loved their time at CCM. My older kids were devastated to leave. The teachers and staff are beyond exceptional, and they treat the kids with so much love and kindness. We've become close friends with many of the other families, which speaks to the care and thought CCM takes in putting classes together. They also have a robust activities/enrichment program, including soccer, tennis, and dance. Most importantly, my kids have come out of the program fluent in 2 foreign languages! There's really no other preschool like it on the Westside. My only note is I wish CCM would extend through elementary school! :)

Our kiddo just graduated from the best preschool which prepared her for the global world!…read more Specializing in full immersion programs Spanish only Mandarin only Mandarin & Spanish dual (switching classes after nap) I read that exposing children to multiple languages before the age of five unlocks part of the brain otherwise not developed. I researched and toured countless preschools before selecting CCM. Our kid did the dual which was the best decision ever. My husband speaks Spanish (but doesn't at home) and I know very rudimentary Korean. Our daughter at the agent of 2 years 3 months picked up both languages quickly. Hearing multiple languages was normalized at her young age. She has loved learning the language & experiencing both Latin & Chinese traditions. All kids get to dance with mariachi singers for Cinco de Mayo Break piñatas Lunar new year Dragon or Lion dances And too many more cool events to list Culver City Montessori is intimate, clean & safe. We loved the teachers & staff. They became family throughout the years and we hope to continue to be a part of the CCM community for years to come. Highly recommend!

After 5 wonderful years and 2 children attending FPNS, we can wholeheartedly say that it has truly…read morebeen a formative and joyful part of our family's life. From the very beginning, the school stood out for its intentional approach to early childhood education - every aspect of the experience feels thoughtful, nurturing, and rooted in a deep understanding of what children need to thrive. What makes First Pres truly exceptional is its sense of community. The connections we've built here - with teachers, staff, and fellow families, are genuine and lasting. This isn't just a school, it has become a second home for us. We have made lifelong friends through this community, and our children have felt deeply known, supported and celebrated every step of the way. We are endlessly grateful to have been part of a place where both our children and our family have grown so much. This school is truly a magical and special place!

We learned about FPNS through word-of-mouth from two family friends, and couldn't have been more…read morehappy with the experience for our son. FPNS has a phenomenal teaching team, a really tight knit community, and the Reggio Emilia learning style has been so valuable for character development. We moved from NYC where we were in an excellent Montessori program in Manhattan, but nonetheless were floored by the program and community and think this school has been so great for our son. The administrative and staff are some of the best people, and they truly partner with parents to create and adapt the child experience.

LHT and Ms. Jackie have become such a special part of our village! Between our two kids we've had…read moreat least one here since the summer of 2022.  Our older son started when he was 18 months old and attended until he moved up to TK. He absolutely thrived in the welcoming and nurturing environment that Ms Jackie has created and he was so well prepared for this transition. Our younger son also started at 18 months and it's been wonderful to see him growing and thriving just like his big brother. I know he'll be so prepared for TK when the time comes!  A few special things that stand out to me: (1) Ms. Jackie truly takes the time to get to know each kid and adapts her curriculum (and her menu!) to highlight their interests. (2) The small size of the school makes a difference. It's such a gentle transition. (3) It's nurturing while also encouraging independence. Ms. Jackie is great at gently pushing us to see how capable our child really is -- even when it's tempting to just put their shoes on for them because it's faster! We feel so lucky to have found such a supportive preschool and would highly recommend it to other families.

We were first time parents looking for a preschool and so glad we found LHT. Our daughter went here…read morefor 3 years, and LOVED it. Now she asks to go back and visit the school and Ms Jackie. Any concerns we had with our daughter at home were also noticed by Ms Jackie and her fellow teachers, and they helped us get our daughter through the concerns. I personally was not looking forward to potty training. Ms Jackie took that anxiety away and essentially did the potty training for us while showing so much patience and love with our little one (and us parents too) Our daughter graduated from LHT (yes, there is a graduation ceremony) and was completely ready for TK, knowing how to act in a classroom setting, and being further along in her education than most of her peers. There was also a strong community among the families attending here which helped us as well.