The owner has harassed me to take down the truth as she puts so much into advertising that this is…read moresomething it's not! The truth is not going to be oppressed , and don't let her scam you!

There was no interview process. They accepted my child despite my telling them of delays and being…read moreworried about potty training. Blame your reasoning on covid precautions, but you didn't do your due diligence to check out my child as a prospective student, and then asked her to leave after 8 days claiming that no other child has issues in your school, when statistically that is impossible, and I know other children in the program that do suffer. MDS shamed us as parents and left us without any resources or direction on how to help our child, with an ongoing autism diagnosis process. They never tried with these kids. They only want the ones that will comply and easily fit their mold. American Montessori Society should be ashamed of this school, as they do not represent Maria Montessori's dream.

We love this school, and whatever happened with the 1 star administration, we have felt nothing but…read morekindness, respect, and professionalism from the current administration. This school us beautiful in every way, with such heart and soul. I want to invent a time machine so I can go back to being a kid and enroll myself here. Enough said.

This is an excellent Montessori school. We're sending our son to pre-school there. Although it is…read morepretty expensive ($8k+), he has really developed there and the educational staff there is top notch. Montessori schools can be a crap shoot since Miss Montessori in her infinite wisdom never trademarked her school name or philosophy. So any joker can call themselves a Montessori school. There are a few in Chapel Hill like this. However this school is a legit Montessori school. It's accredited by one of the big Montessori organizations and they take their training seriously there. I think all of the teachers are Montessori certified, most of the helpers too. What really impressed me on the tour was that all the teachers have been there for many years. They're all really dedicated to the children and letting them explore their world. The facilities are ridiculously nice. They have wonderful playgrounds and the middle school is new. They have a new music and art building which is amazingly nice. You get what you pay for in this case. They have very active parents who organize multiple fundraisers for the school. I've got no reservations about sending my son here.

Montessori Farm school is a wonderful school. Our daughter has been at the school for 2 years and…read morewe have loved it. My daughter has learned so much not only academically but socially as well. The teachers are so nurturing. You can tell they enjoy working with the children and are invested in the wellbeing of them. If I had to do it again I would no hesitation sending our daughter.

This school is so amazing. My son has been here since age 3. This school has provided a magical,…read moreprepared environment for my son to thrive socially, emotionally and intellectually. We love Virginia, Wendy, Jen and Meghan so much and it is going to be so hard not seeing them next year. I know that they have prepared my son for a great future, but I wish he could stay. It is a beautiful and enriching place.

My youngest child recently graduated from KJP, so here is an updated/final review with the benefit…read moreof several more years of experience. Both of my children loved attending KJP and were well prepared for kindergarten. Krystal, the director, has done a fantastic job over the years of growing the school and establishing a great environment for the kids. The teachers and staff are great, and several of them have been there since we first enrolled our kids almost five years ago. Things were a little different for a while during COVID but everything has since returned to normal. Hours are 7:30-5:15. A few years ago they redid the playground in the back and it's really nice. There is a nice courtyard bu the entrance and exit doors that they have improved as well. Since last year there has also been a security guard present for much of the time, though I don't know if this is expected to be permanent. One of the parents also set up a Discord chat group for KJP families; I did not participate but I've heard it's pretty active. If you are looking for a preschool you would be well served to check out KJP. Your kids will be in excellent hands there!

We love Kehillah! Our daughter started preschool at the age of two and we are really impressed with…read morethe educational approach and loving care she experiences every day! The teachers are great and our little one actually likes going! The place is well managed and has a strict COVID-19 protocol that gives us peace of mind. The staff are fantastic!

Our family's experience with IMS Durham has been deeply disappointing and frustrating. We enrolled…read moreour three-year-old expecting a safe environment and constructive communication with parents, but repeated injury-related incidents and the school's responses ultimately caused us to lose confidence in both. And as it turned out that IMS is not licensed, it is unclear what governmental or other oversight bodies are responsible for oversight of student safety. Among other incidents, our daughter cut her finger while provided a manual pencil sharpener with a metal blade in the classroom to use independently and later came home with unexplained scratches near her eyelids. In another incident, according to the school's own account, a staff member took her hand while redirecting her to sit down, after which she began crying. She reported an arm injury and requested ice. After pickup, she was in significant pain and unable to lift her arm; she was subsequently diagnosed with nursemaid's elbow and required medical reduction. On another day, she sustained a significant tongue injury during nap time. When we picked her up, her shirt and blanket had substantial blood on them, yet we had not been contacted beforehand. We were told that approximately 16-17 children ages 3-6 were in the room and that one of the two people supervising them at that time was a 15-year-old girl on her first day. What troubled us most was what happened when we repeatedly raised safety and communication concerns. At our first and only in-person meeting with the Head of School, which primarily concerned our child's safety, our recollection is that she told us early in the discussion that if we were uncomfortable with the school's practices, we could look for another school before discussing the concerns. We followed IMS's own Handbook process and ultimately escalated our unresolved concerns to the Board Chair. We met with the Board Chair online to discuss them, but before receiving follow-up, IMS terminated our three-year-old daughter's re-enrollment only days before the new school year began. Our daughter had not been accused of misconduct or behavioral problems. The termination letter instead cited the frequency and nature of our communications--including concerns about injuries, supervision, parent notification, and regulatory status--as part of its reasoning. We were left scrambling to find another school at the last minute. In the previous two years in a daycare in another city, our kid was doing quite well. Based on our family's 7-month experience with IMS, we cannot recommend IMS.

Incredible dual-language programming in a Montessori setting with experienced and caring teachers…read moreand admin. Strong and vibrant parent community.

I attended Emerson Waldorf School for 10 years. To say I loved my time there is an understatement…read more I went from crying everyday at my charter school in first grade to thriving academically, socially, and artistically. At Emerson, students are not only seen as learners, but also as whole people who have thoughts, ambitions, and capacities beyond memorizing formulas. In elementary school I learned through stories and to this day I am able to remember the content of the lessons- the math activities that helped me learn all my times tables forwards and backwards, the stories I wrote in cursive, the doll I knit in second grade. In middle school, I wasn't taking tests to measure my knowledge, but instead I was writing stories and drawing depictions based on the lessons of Ancient Egypt, Geography, History, etc. Thanks to Emerson I can write college level essays (I got A's on all of my first semester college papers), I play the cello, I sell crocheted hats and knitted socks, I love sports thanks to my years on the volleyball team, I honestly love math, and I have still kept the friendships from my years at Emerson. I think that is what I love most. The students are so kind and everyone is able to be their truest self without shame. There are no expectations to conform to what society (or social media) thinks is popular at the time. Every child deserves to attend Emerson Waldorf School.

Academics is delivered in a unique and creative way here. Using the Waldorf approach has proven…read morehighly effective for our son who has been there for 9 years now. Grateful to his teacher Mr. Wiley.

This is a Montessori School in name only. They use the name to explain to parents why they have a…read morelow rating with the state, but don't do anything close to the actual Montessori Method. They don't offer proper benefits or treat their employees well. For example, if the school closes for inclement weather, the teachers don't get paid for that day. That extra payroll money just goes straight into their pockets. The owners are unprofessional and inexperienced.

We recently moved away from Durham and leaving Indigo was the hardest part. As a new mom, I was…read moreterrified of making the wrong daycare choice. From Day 1, Ms. Luisa and the rest of the staff made me feel so at ease. Our girl attended Indigo from 7 to 12 months and she never had a bad day. She LOVED going to see Ms. Luisa every day - I can say with confidence that she loved our daughter like her own. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. We miss you, Indigo!

Oh, my ickle baby is growing up! Greer started school last week, at a mere eleven weeks old. She…read moreis by far the youngest baby in her class; her classmates are all over a year old, and move up to a classroom for older babies next month, and then Greer will be all alone, so please send new friends for her to play with! I cannot bestow enough praise on Indigo. Last summer, my husband and I toured a few daycare centers, and Indigo blew away the competition, as far as we were concerned. The school practices the Montessori philosophy, which fosters a loving environment where children can grow and learn at their own pace, allowing them to spend extra time on the activities that interest them most. I found this much more attractive than your average (or above-average or even excellent) state-licensed daycare center (and I used to work at one several years ago, so I have an insider's knowledge), where the state's early childhood curriculum---and not necessarily the child's strengths and interests---rule the school. The director and teachers are loving and capable, and there is very little staffing turnover, unlike at the daycare center where I used to work, where conditions were unpleasant, and we teachers were rarely allowed to call in sick. I recall, in the short year that I worked there, nearly everyone---adults and children included---having strep throat, myself as well, and I am rarely sick. When Greer first started, her teacher, Ms. Michelle, was out sick for two days. You might think, eeks!, the teacher's sick!, but I considered this a very positive statement about the working environment at Indigo. If you're sick, stay home, get better, then come love on these kids. I think that's fantastic. Indigo Montessori and Wonderland Enrichment Arts are two separate entities that are located in the same historic building near Brightleaf Square in downtown Durham, that function as one. Wonderland operates from 8:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m., then it's Indigo from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. (which is when I pick up my bebeh), then Wonderland again from 1:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. These four-hour-or-less blocks allow Indigo and Wonderland to function with needing state accreditation, which means more freedom in their curriculum and lower costs and a more flexible schedule for parents and their kids. I drop my baby Greer off at Wonderland at 8:00 a.m., then pick her up from Indigo at 1:30 p.m. (I then work from home until 5:00 p.m.). In the summer (June through August), Indigo is closed, and Wonderland operates its own summer camp, with full or half day options.

We moved our children to Global Montessori Academy ( off Hwy 55 but close to West Cary and the RTP…read morearea ) due to the school's proximity to my work place. It was the best decision we could have made for our children that year. The Director Ms Mary and all the teachers there are wonderful , approachable and very hardworking. My children learnt so much at GMA in the 1 year that they were there that I wish I had sent them to GMA right from the beginning -we really miss the school. The school has a curriculum which they set out for the year( they email the schedule at the beginning of the year). The children enjoyed many field trips . My children learnt complex science terms, history, music and much more. GMA does not advertise much. Its mainly word of mouth publicity. I am glad to see they finally made an appearance on yelp which is why I am posting here. GMA is also open to newborns and toddlers but I do not have experience with those teachers so cannot really say much. They also have a school bus in case you cannot pick or drop off your children to school and I liked the fact they are open almost all year except during the December holidays ( a blessing for working parents). One area of improvement is that I wish they had a better play yard but overall that was less of a concern for me.

From the owner: Global Montessori Academy is an independent school, led by caring, experienced Montessori…read moreteachers. Our school is designed to appeal to the natural curiosity of the child in a secure, respectful, and encouraging setting. The best way to become familiar with our extraordinary program is to experience it. Please review our website and give us a call to schedule a tour. We are confident that you will be impressed by what G.M.A has to offer.

I (briefly) taught a morning yoga class at this new-age daycare center. (Those of you who know me…read moreare laughing. I was an unlikely and probably unsuitable candidate for such a position. Here's a typical exchange between a child and myself... Child: :silence: Me: So... erm, what did you ask for from Santa this year?) Take that scenario -- multiply it by a bunch of kids aged 2-5, add distracting video games and Elmo toys, and subtract two wrestling boys and one little girl still crying over being dropped off. Now, you try motivating anyone to do a Downward-facing Dog! Anyway, even though my time as a teacher quickly expired, I got a good feel for this place and for the owner, Mastenah. She's wonderful, by the way, and her two girls --I'm convinced-- are the cutest and sweetest girls in all of Durham. The center has come a long way, and quickly, in Mastenah's hands. It's brightly painted and full of fun things (books, toys, blocks, a piano for sing-along) for toddlers. But the best thing about Wonderland is it's new-concept methods. In addition to yoga they offer cooking, pottery, Spanish, martial-arts, and more. (Heaven help whoever has to instruct that martial-arts class!) There's an outdoor play-set for more traditional play too. Mastenah bought the upstairs floor and is making plans to expand the daycare center. Wonderland is in the same building as a Montessori school, so many of its methods are in line with that, though it's not technically affiliated with the school. They offer flexible pick-up and drop-off times. All of the teachers are CPR certified. If I had kids (well don't hold your breath), I wouldn't hesitate to register them here.

Our children ages 3 and 1 are attending Wonderland full time all summer as part of their summer…read morecamp childcare program. It's the first time for both of them to be in full time childcare 8:30am - 5:30pm, 5 days a week, and it's a fantastic experience for both of them! They both are very happy. My son (the 1 year old) absolutely loves his teachers. This was the first place I've ever left him where he doesn't cry when I hand him over to someone else (including grandparents!) Instead, he sometimes cries when I pick him up and it's time to go home! I love the building - extra tall lofty ceilings, spacious play areas, and a friendly welcoming environment. And I love the staff - the teachers are all so nice!