Great preschool and elementary school programs that supplement core education with growing a…read morechild's self confidence and independence. Teachers genuinely care about each child's progress. The Montessori approach to education equips children to create, challenge and think on their own. I also like that elementary grade children seem to have a lot more movement throughout the day due to the programs design.

An amazing preschool that caters to children aged 16 months to six years old using a warm…read moreenvironment and teachers skilled in the Montessori method! Located in Home Moravian Church, this half-day program is divided into inside and outside activities that are child-led. They offer two, three or five day options. The classrooms are full of simple, intentional toys that provide opportunities for children to solve problems and collaborate with others! The outside space is a simple, natural playground with sand boxes, gardens and "mud kitchens" where kids can use their imaginations. All of this is covered with sunshades for the hotter part of the year. The proximity to Old Salem allows the older children to explore the many sights with the guidance of their teachers. From the perspective of a parent, the school is very intentional about providing resources to help in continuing the Montessori method at home. . I feel like I have learned as much as my children! I have two children in Salem Montessori (one in the younger toddler and one in the three to six class) and both have thrived! If a half-day program fits your schedule, this school is the best option for your children to grow and learn!

The school is amazing I love the way that they teach children through unusual methods and really…read moreteach them about what's important like layer of gardening and teaching math on an abacus

This is an amazing place! I never worry about my children while they are here. From the teachers to…read morethe administrative staff, everyone is kind, well trained, and thorough. I pick up my children every day better than I left them. From a mom that stayed home with her first child until he was 2. I have never felt very confident about leaving my children under another's care, but I never worry about them at Greensboro Montessori. They love their teachers and their teachers love them. Everything from the curriculum to the manner in which they speak to the children is purposeful and kind. In addition to being well cared for, my 2 children, 3.5 and 1.5, are also learning. My kids have been to other schools and we visited other daycares before we decided on Greensboro Montessori, but none compare. They have a magical formula of learning through exploration and play. They treat children like little explorers and scientists, guiding their play. There is no competitive helicoptery vibe. They simply look for opportunities to tie information into a child's natural exploration. Children explore different "works" rather than cheap toys. They play with sand and water, paint and blocks with the intention of figuring out how we function in the world rather than being "entertained." They also spend a lot of time outside with nature, walking in the nearby woods and gardening which I value tremendously. Children are also encouraged to be independent. Each child is considered at their own level and challenged to do things for themselves in a kind and supportive environment. I was surprised to find when my son started here at 2 all the things that he could do for himself and was eager to do. Everyone needs a purpose and children are the same. This school provides children with a safe and nurturing environment to learn and grow. The school also provides helpful seminars on evidence-based gentle parenting techniques and fosters a real sense of community. There are regular events for all ages and opportunities to participate/volunteer. We considered schools that were more budget, providing diapers and multiple meals and snacks as part of tuition, but none had the level of caring and commitment I feel here. This place isn't simply caring for your children and keeping them alive, but constructively and mindfully creating a complete environment for children to become well rounded, empathic, intelligent people.

Mary's School is one of the best preschools in Boone. Both of my daughters are students at the…read moreschool and their time spent there has been invaluable. Mary Willis and her staff do an amazing job with the kids and sincerely care about each and every child they come across. During the year Mary writes a report on a child's progress and meets with parents to discuss it. When I have shared these reports with friends and family members, they couldn't believe how detailed it was and how lucky I was to have such a great teacher for my kids. At school, the kids learn through doing hands-on practical activities. From preparing their snacks to washing their own dishes. The children also learn from each other. Mary uses the older children as teachers to help the younger children. This fosters independence as well as raises self-esteem. Children are also encouraged to define their own boundaries by being allowed to say no to others. This also teaches them that it is okay when others say no to them and to respect their boundaries. One of my favorite things is that the kids are allowed to get dirty and messy in order to explore and learn new things. They play outside every day and learn how to socialize with peers. My kids love it at Mary's School and I have seen how much they have grown in the past years as a result of what they have learned there. I would encourage any parents to start their child's education at Mary's Montessori.

From the owner: As a Montessori classroom, we have a multi-aged classroom from 2.5-5, so that there is always…read moresomeone who is learning, someone who can teach, and the oldest children are valued, competent helpers. In the three year cycle, we get to know children deeply, and see clearly their strengths. Our staff of 3 have a combined teaching experience of 47 years!

We transitioned from a corporate daycare to Childrens House Montessori when my daughter was old…read moreenough to enroll. We are never looking back. She loves going to school each day. We cannot say enough great things. We cannot wait for our son to be able to join as well.

We absolutely love this school! Our son has been here almost a year and he looks forward to going…read moreevery day. They treat these children like family and it is such a fun and special learning environment.

Love this school! We started August 2024 in the pine class M/W/F for 3&4 year olds. It was an easy…read moretransition as our son was practically jumping out of the car to go inside. We recently had another baby who will be starting her program once our son ages out into public school. Such a great surprise to receive during pickup today! Love this school, the teachers, the atmosphere and what this program stands for! If yall are on the hunt for a great Montessori reggio school, look no further. It's 12/10 worth it!

From the owner: Bright futures begin with solid foundations. At Ivybrook Academy, we take a progressive approach to…read morePreSchool that encourages critical thinking, highlights creativity, and fosters a love for learning. By recognizing the strengths and needs of each child, we allow their individual uniqueness to shine.

My child attended this school for many years. I have a very low opinion of this school for the…read morefollowing reasons: 1) a male child exposed himself to my child and another child at this school. The school did not notify me of this issue - my child had to disclose it to me. When I told the school director about it she effectively did nothing about. Additionally, she did even notify the parents of the other effected child of the situation. 2) My child was vicitimed by a bully in her class for years. This situation resolved itself when they child left. The school's director tried many times to get me to understand that things like this happen with children and that I was blowing it out of portion. 3) My ex-spouse and I were involved in a very nasty custody battle for many years. The school and its adminstration constantly took sides. At one point when I lost custody the school's director effectively told me that the contract was with the other parent and that as such I would not receive any communication about my child and that I would be removed from the email update list and that they would not provide any updates on my child's progress. 4) Very high teacher turnover. The school only has 3 full time teachers and within a couple of years the school fired 3 teachers. 5) many parents fall into social tribes - the child see this behavoir and copy it. I found that child tended to function in groups that excluded other children. Even a teacher at the school who had children at the school were victimized by this type of ingroup/outgroup abuse by other students.

Our son has been attending Anami for the past three years and we could not be happier with the…read moreschool and our experience with the team of teachers and staff. Everyone is happy, warm and welcoming and most importantly passionate about  their work and bringing out the best in each child. Our son has been thriving in the small family type environment and he enjoys the focused attention he receives. He enjoys school so much that he even requested to stay for after-school-care. I would describe myself as a very protective parent, but knowing that my son is at Anami gives me a tremendous peace of mind. Aside from the warm and caring environment, the curriculum is excellent and his learning and growth has been tremendous. It is a tight knit community were parents make new friends among themselves. The school hosts many community evenings and events to get the families together and keep everyone informed about developments. I highly recommend Anami!

Our kids attend this preschool and I can't say enough great things about it!…read more First off, Countryside is incredibly wholesome. The snacks and meals are genuinely healthy, the classrooms have enough developmental toys to engage the kids but not enough to be overwhelming, and there are acres of space outside for them to run around (of course there are separate fenced playground areas within to prevent runaways ;) The teachers are genuine, trained and certified teachers--not babysitters who are out of a real job. The lessons taught are real-world lessons of responsibility and grace: like putting your things away, letting a child use a toy until they're finished with it, and mechanical skills like (at the toddler level) learning to arrange their lunches, pouring their own water and taking care of their things. If you've had your children at a "preparatory school" or daycare like we have, you've probably observed them feeding your kids things you wouldn't eat like cheetos, "fruit" snacks, lots of juice, cookies, etc. We felt like we couldn't escape this system of the daycare feeding out kids junk food--even when we asked them to feed the kids an alternative, the preschools would feed it to them anyway! This would never be accepted at Countryside. Another great thing is that the family population is diverse--lots of different colors, socioeconomic representation, and a few languages spoken--which we wanted and appreciate. Unlike the church daycares (and "preparatory school"), they won't try to force any religion on your kid but rather teach respect for all people. I could go on and on, but the last thing I'll say is the teachers are REAL teachers. If you've had your children in even the best daycares in Charlotte, you'll know that the teachers are actually babysitters (although some have a degree, *maybe* in early childhood ed if you're lucky) who graduated and can't find a job in their field and are working at a preschool just because it's a j-o-b. Countryside's teachers have tenures at the school of generally 5-25 years and are clearly both experienced and committed to the children. Turnover is NOT an issue here, unlike at the schools we've been to. No one else seemed to mention this in their review, but since child care is expensive, I'll mention it: Countryside is about 40% less expensive than our previous daycare situations (providence preparatory and a chain daycare)!!! We feel like we've struck gold--a way better child care situation that's much more affordable. Highly recommend!

Great people work here, we're very happy with the experience we've had our son is always very happy…read moreto go here, Ms Leola and Ms Marilyn are very comforting and caring.

This is a great place to introduce your children to​​​ Montessori. Safe and supportive learning…read moreenvironment no​ matter what level your child is on.

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.

Words can't express how grateful I am to have found Earthshine, we are coming up on a year that my…read moreson has attended here and he couldn't be happier! He has grown so much over this last year and it has been so exciting to watch. All of the staff is amazing, if your looking for a great place for your little one this is it!

After reviewing many preschool options for my 3 year old boys, we started out at a fancy, expensive…read morecenter that had an amazing campus. My boys weren't very happy there and, although the center was amazing, the classrooms seemed overcrowded compared to what we were told the ratio would be. My autistic son has an aide who remains in the classroom with him and she reported to me that sometimes the room would be stuffed with children beyond the official capacity. We received a lot of behavior reports concerning my other son and, again, my aide reported that the classroom spent way too much time sitting at the table instead of letting the kids move around the classroom. The time spent outside was minimal, even though they had very beautiful playgrounds. I've spoken to several early childhood education experts who say that in this age range (under 5), you should look for centers that have more open play space than tables. You should also look for places that are less academically focused, since what's most important for kids this age isn't in memorizing facts, but learning how to get along with others, developing self-sufficiency, and enjoying the process of learning. Earthshine's Center isn't the prettiest of places, but don't let that fool you. My boys both absolutely love it and my one son's 'behavior problems' completely disappeared when we switched schools. My boys were never really happy to separate in the old school, but after about a week at Earthshine, they were eager to bound away from me. I think the format of Montessori - where the child leaves the parent instead of the parent leaving the child - helps tremendously. The best thing about Earthshine is that, if the weather is good, they are outside. Playing, eating, learning, is all done in a space that's big enough for the kids to really run around and burn off their energy (which makes bedtime easier for me). Inside the classrooms, the tables take up a smaller portion than any other center we toured. Children are encouraged in self-directed learning, but unlike many other Montessori centers, this one isn't as hands off as some are, which can cause some children problems in that they aren't given ANY direction. When we were considering this school, my son's behavior therapist warned us that Montessori schools can be either really good or really bad. The really bad ones basically have no structure and, while some children are motivated and interested enough in learning to complete their basic education on their own - many, if not most children, are not. This school is one of the really good ones. There's enough structure that my boys know their general plan for the day (lunch and nap happen in the same order), but enough flexibility to keep learning fun. Like any good Montessori school, they have 'observation stations' where you can watch your kids through a one-way mirror and observe them in the classroom. I see my boys select a playmat and toys, play with the toys on the mat, and then clean it up themselves. They've become much more independent since starting the school. Their special needs knowledge and accommodations are top notch and the best I've found. My autistic son has really benefited from attending. There are many schools that turn down an aide. We toured a lot of places and many refused to let my son's therapists in the classroom. To me, this is suspicious at the 2-5 year old age. A aide is trained to help the child inside their environment and it isn't like the other children will be distracted by another adult, who they see as just another teacher. It speaks volumes for the transparency of Earthshine that they allow aides provided they meet the state requirements with detailed background checks. We are moving soon and I'm going to miss Earthshine. I'm sure my boys will too.