Our family had a very disappointing experience at C'E Montessori…read more We initially loved the school and supported it wholeheartedly. I volunteered at events, helped with school shows, and even campaigned for two teachers to be hired. We believed in the community and tried to contribute meaningfully. But everything changed when we started voicing concerns. After my son began telling me about being punished by having recess taken away--a practice that goes against core Montessori principles--we brought it up with the director and later the owner. What followed was a series of evasions and dismissals. Recess continued to be withheld, despite their promises. We were also repeatedly told the school was bilingual in Spanish, but no actual Spanish instruction ever took place. We asked about this many times over the years, and while we kept being told a Spanish program was coming soon, it never materialized. Eventually, I shared my concerns publicly on the "North Brooklyn Education" Facebook group, after weeks of private conversations with the school went nowhere. That's when the bullying and personal attacks from other parents began. The reaction wasn't disagreement--it was shaming, piling on, and attempts to silence. On top of it all, we had to chase the school via multiple emails just to get $249 refunded that they owed us. That kind of treatment--from the school and the parent community--left us heartbroken and disillusioned. We hoped for a respectful, open-minded Montessori environment. What we found was the opposite.

We absolutely love C'E, our daughter went there for both camp and their extended day program during…read morethe school year when she was three. Previously, she had been in another Montessori school in Manhattan -- one that is quite well regarded -- but the hands-on love, enrichment, and programming at C'E far surpassed the other. Within a few months of her attending we were blown away by the teachers, the learning-based curriculum that was mindful but also enriching, and the communication was unparalleled. There are also so many special touches - they offer piano, dance, etc. - and also encourage the students to do things like take care of their own plants, make their own food, and participate in school musicals, bake sales, and card making. I highly recommend C'E to any family, especially those that really want their child to get a unique head start in a loving environment.

Lefferts Gardens Montessori (aka LGM) is a neighborhood gem. It's run by some of the most dedicated…read moreand passionate individuals and the teachers are phenomenal. I've had the pleasure of sending multiple children to LGM over the last 7 years from their 2 year old "Discoverer's" program through their 3-5 year old Pre-K program -- and have never thought twice about sending our kids elsewhere. If you are interested in Montessori, it's true Montessori. (Note: being a Montessori school/kid doesn't mean stale/sterile learning environments!! It's engaging, fun, and has all the normal aspects of a pre-school but within a beautiful structure). If you are interested in academics, my kids all went to Kindergarten at public schools after LGM and were reading and had math skills ahead of the curve. Can't recommend LGM enough to any family with young children!

Our daughter spent two wonderful years in pre-school at LGM. We knew that she was safe, well cared…read morefor and learning in a stimulating and diverse environment. What we didn't fully appreciate until moving on to our next school, was the incredibly high calibre of instruction at LGM. Each morning, the amazing teachers warmly greet students with handshakes and smiles, organized and well prepared for the day's lessons. Through out the day, kids enjoy the perfect blend of structure and individual choice and all activities are thoughtful and instructive. Don't be fooled by all the fun they're having, this school is teaching kids to love learning. The supportive administration and well-rounded parent body added to our great experience. A true gem - can't recommend it highly enough.

Both my niece and nephew are enrolled at Stuyvesant Heights Montessori and I've heard nothing but…read moregreat things from the children and their parents! The kids always talk positively about their friends at school and their teachers (specifically Ms. Alana and Ms. Hawa). One of the major reasons my niece and nephew attend SHM is because of their French immersion program. When a French teacher speaks with the children it's only been in French and every time my niece and nephew have responded in French! I've definitely witnessed them speaking more French at home and feel like our family is getting our money's worth. The days when I do drop off the kids the Head of School, Ms. Tracey, has been nothing but sweet and respectful to adults and children. Ms. Tracey takes the time to have a conversation and check in with each adult dropping off a student. This staff at SHM have truly made my family feel like we're a part of their wonderful community. I cannot endorse this preschool highly enough!

It took me a long time to write this review because a part of me wanted to just let it go. However,…read morerecently I was contacted by a parent I personally know who explained that they had pulled their child out of this school, and that pushed me to finally speak up. I became a teacher's assistant here in September 2022, straight out of college. Tracy Mina was actively recruiting new college graduates for positions at the school, and I applied and was accepted. When I first started, there were three classrooms. As time went on, I noticed a pattern: almost no teachers stayed longer than a year. Many would simply quit rather than deal with the environment. The longest-standing teacher there is Mrs. Tiffany. The only two teachers I personally saw who had actual teaching degrees and who were truly exceptional educators were Mrs. Stephanie and Mrs. Alana. Both of them eventually left as well. During my time there, I realized I was one of the only staff members who pushed back on some of the things Tracy allowed to happen in the school. Many teachers chose to leave instead of confronting her. One of the most disturbing issues was the way she spoke about race and ethnicity. It was blatant and uncomfortable. I had a student who was very fair-skinned but whose mother was from Mexico. Tracy would compare him to other students and say things like, "He's always going to get further because he's white." I also had a very intelligent young boy of African descent. Tracy once said, "He's just going to be another statistic because of how he acts." In reality, he was simply acting like a normal child--playful, loud, joyful, and full of life. At one point I had even considered sending my niece to this school because I trusted that she would be in good hands with Mrs. Alana. However, the blatant racism I witnessed completely changed my mind, especially since my nieces are mixed.Another major concern was the pressure put on teachers to lie to parents. I had a student who clearly needed behavioral support because she had never been in a structured school environment before. I told Tracy about my concerns, and she instructed me to lie to the parents and tell them their child was doing perfectly because she was afraid they might pull the child out and stop paying tuition.This situation happened more than once. When I refused to lie because of my integrity, Tracy told both me and the lead teacher that we were no longer allowed to speak to any parents unless she was present.There were also financial issues that directly affected staff. On after-school days, if parents picked their children up late after 6 PM, they were supposed to pay $2 per minute. Several times my co-teacher and I stayed until 6:45 PM waiting with children. One day a parent apologized and told us he had already given Tracy the late payment. We never received that money.When the head teacher later mentioned the situation to a parent, Tracy came into our classroom while students were present and began yelling at us, saying we were not allowed to speak to parents without her present.Another alarming situation happened one winter when the building had no heat for almost an entire week. Another teacher and I had to walk down the street to a store and purchase electric heaters ourselves so that our students would not sit in freezing classrooms.At the same time, Tracy would often cry to staff about not having enough money to pay us and would try to make us feel guilty for asking for raises. Meanwhile, she owns two brownstone homes in Brooklyn and a house in Martha's Vineyard. To be fair, after a year of me working there she did follow through on a promise to give me a $10,000 raise, bringing my salary from $35,000 to $45,000.Since leaving, I have remained in contact with several parents from the school (despite being told we were not allowed to have relationships with them). Many have since pulled their children out after seeing the constant teacher turnover, classrooms with one teacher responsible for 15+ children, and hearing from other parents about what was happening behind the scenes.For these reasons, I cannot recommend that anyone send their child to this school while Tracy Mina remains in charge. The last time I was there, the school had hired a new creative director who was wonderful and clearly cared deeply about children. Unfortunately I do not remember her name, but she was a French woman. If she eventually takes over leadership, perhaps the school could improve. Otherwise, I do not see this school lasting long.I originally got into teaching because I truly wanted to be someone who cares for children and helps them grow. After my experience here, I changed career paths entirely and moved into law enforcement. That is how negative my experience at this school was. She also turned off reviews on Google, because many people spoke out and gave a negative review.

Man, sending your kid to be taken care of by strangers can be tough…read more I was fully prepared to hate every daycare we toured and subsequently convince my wife that I should quit my job and take care of our little girl full time, because no one was good enough to do the job.* But we loved Changing Tomorrow as soon as we walked inside. The location may not be ideal (for us or in general - it's located in a construction-clogged area of Downtown Brooklyn), but the facilities are excellent, and the people are wonderful. It is brand new, clean, and very well run. It's as if they took stock of the bougie parents in the neighborhood, and decided to create a daycare that offered everything they might want: Flexible schedules and long hours (open 7 am to 7 pm). Nurse on site at all times. Organic food catered for the kids (after they turn 1). Montessori methods that focus on the cognitive, social, and emotional development of your kid. Frequent activities like dance, soccer, finger-painting, and trips to the park when it's nice out. Best of all, they have monthly meetings where they take suggestions for what the parents would like to see from the school, and they actually try and implement those suggestions where it makes sense. (I wish those meetings weren't at 7 am, but I suppose getting up early is part of being a parent.) We're only a couple of weeks in at this point, but so far I have to say that the staff is just amazing. They put up with the minute and specific instructions we (and I imagine all parents) throw at them on a daily basis, and they are shockingly on top of the Brightwheel app that they use to keep us updated on our child throughout the day. Yesterday I got over a dozen photos and videos of my daughter, plus updates on her naps, feedings, diaper changes, and more. My kid still cries every time I drop her off, but it's really gratifying to see a smiling photo of her just a little bit later so I know she isn't crying all day. A huge thank you to Meridith the Education Director, Ms. Victoria, Ms. Janiece, Ms. Maria, and all the other wonderful people that work here. I'm constantly surprised that the teachers in the other age groups (that don't spend the day caring for her) recognize my daughter on sight when we walk in the door; it makes the place feel a lot more like a family. Thank you all for taking care of our daughter; I know it isn't easy, and we really appreciate how much you care. It makes it a little bit easier to leave her with you. ____________ *And also because I'm a progressive man that knows my wife can handle the breadwinning duties in this modern world. Definitely not because I'm tired of working and need to be supported in this lifestyle to which I've become accustomed.

Enrolling our daughter in Changing Tomorrow Academy was one of the best decisions we ever made…read more We had originally planned to send her to a daycare just around the corner, but when that fell through were in a desperate situation. Amanda was so wonderful and found a place for us at very short notice. We weren't expecting much -- we were just happy to have found somewhere so quickly -- but our daughter flourished and thrived under their care. Amanda was extremely communicative and seemed to know everything about how our child was developing. She is so great with the children and just an extremely positive force to be around. We never worried for a second when our daughter was there. The teachers were wonderful at helping her adapt to her first daycare, and then helping her transition to the toddler class. We got regular updates and photographs throughout the day that regularly made us laugh. They came up with really great ideas for activities. They calmed us when we were worried and gave us tips to help her along. The facilities here are amazing, but the staff are what makes it great. We HIGHLY recommend Changing Tomorrow Academy and will be eternally grateful for how they took care of our little one.

I currently have 2 kids enrolled in BCH and we absolutely love it. It is a sweet, loving…read moreenvironment -- we adore the classroom, the backyard and the nutritious meals and snacks that the children are served. The teachers are very communicative and are always thinking of fun ways to keep the kids engaged and interested.

We had an absolutely phenomenal experience at Brooklyn Childrens House. Lisa is simply incredible…read morewith children and our toddler flourished in her care. The attention to detail and training with the highest level of montessori achieved is unparalleled. You will not regret choosing this establishment for your child's daily care. I cannot recommend Lisa and her staff enough and miss her terribly after we moved away from NY. 10 stars for BCH!

Luria is the most amazing place in the planet!! My daughter comes home singing, dancing. I switched…read moreher from another school this year and the results are unbelievable. She used to be bogged down with work and despair. Luria has transformed my daugher! The staff is so loving and professional. The learning is so interesting and multi faceted. I want to be educated there. It's so relaxing and fun. I have to say this place is perfect!!

Looks like a great school. We belong to the synagogue that meets at the school, and the rabbi of…read moreour synagogue is the rabbi in charge of Judaic studies at the school, and many members that send their children there are so happy. We see all of the projects that the children make, and I like how the children work in small groups in the classroom instead of sitting in rows. We've applied twice and not gotten in either time because so many siblings are applying. We'll keep trying.

Our daughter has been at Blue Playhouse since she was two years old. She's heading off to…read morekindergarten soon, shaped by this extraordinary place. We've been so lucky to be part of the community of this school. It's been a luxury never to have to worry about her safety, or wonder if our she's being cared for and loved. She's learned the beginnings of writing and reading there. The teachers have adapted to her evolving needs. Could not recommend a school, or really anything, more highly.

We have had such a wonderful experience at the Reggio Emilia Montessori Center - the Blue…read morePlayhouse! There has been constant quality support for our young daughter's education. The lessons are fun and multi-dimensional, incorporating critical thinking, reading, writing, art, play and socialization. The teachers and staff are loving and give great attention to all the students. In addition, the parent community is warm and supportive. It has been a real blessing starting our daughter's education journey here.