Advantages: * A foreign language and the great French…read moreteachers * Declamation * The small class sizes * The backup care as a flat fee (takes it off the mind about getting care for most needed days) * The school spirit activities Disadvantages: * The horrible, unorganized administration * The small class sizes Don't expect any Einsteins to come from here -- due to Einstein not speaking until he was 4, this school would have filtered him out as an inappropriate student. The fact that they post a poster that says "Everyone is welcome and accepted here" is misleading. The administration are only concerned with low maintenance children, so don't go to this school unless you are sure that your child is cookie-cutter. There is tons of busy work, which I'm not sure results in learning, as my child got 80-100% on everything, but the administration told us that our child was underperforming. The administration of the school didn't even congratulate us when our child got an external award, which left us with a cold feeling. I know that this review will not make a difference since the Philly school system is so messed up, that you're desperate to get your child ahead and will send your kid here no matter what. So, let me be honest here -- St. Peters is good until it's not (meaning that if you have a child that's out of the norm). So in most cases, you're probably OK and will have a pleasant experience. Given that most parents reading this are sending their kid to pre-k/kindergarten and have no idea what their child will be like in their academics, let me give some advice. If this school asks you to get a psycho-educational evaluation, DO NOT DO IT (or do it eventually on a long wait list at a more affordable college but refuse to give it to them). We did it, spent a fortune, and St. Peters hardly tried to accommodate the child given the evaluation. We thought that they would truly take it to heart and that the "personalized attention" that they try to imply through the small class sizes, would materialize. NOTHING. They just used it to get rid of the child. It was quite disappointing because the teachers seemed really lazy about trying new things... they would occasionally try something that worked with my child and then would stop and complain later about the child and I would have to ask "why aren't you doing X incentive that worked"? Beyond this, if they do go after your child, do not feel alone. I have heard countless stories about them getting rid of perfectly normal and especially gifted children who just cause them extra work. I feel like they create an atmosphere that parents are constantly in fear and panic because they put pressure on parents to do their heavy lifting. For me, "homey don't play that" with their large tuition. But they don't care and kick kids out all the time. Apparently, they don't need the money because of Philly's lacking schools that create desperate parents. Moral of the story: Elect officials who will build Philly's public schools, give to your public schools (even if you don't go there). Because without good competition, private schools don't have to care about every child and surely don't care that children are unique, fragile blooms. Extra negative notes: There is so much evidence of lack of organization -- some major announcements are not until the last minute, I got the initial advice to read the newsletter like a bible because there are things buried in there, and their graduation took 3 hours, with kids as young as 7 having to wait without dinner until 8:30 to get out. Extra positive note: At least they organized an afterschool program with a flat fee.

We LOVE St. Peter's. Our children started in kindergarten and are now in the Upper School. The…read morecurriculum is challenging but engaging, the faculty is top-notch and so positive, the administration is responsive and not only willing to have conversations about problems with the school, but proactive in finding solutions. The families are now really so many of our best friends and our kids are being prepared for an ever changing world. It's definitely a small school, but we feel that gives our kids such confidence as they get in the upper grades - they are the big kids, looked up to by the younger ones, sort of avoiding all the unnecessary pressures of a typical "middle school" at a time when they are so vulnerable emotionally. If we could go back in time we would send them here all over again!

I have nothing but good things to say about Old City KinderCare. My son has attended since he was 4…read moremonths, he's now 13 months. I couldn't be happier with how my son is treated and how he's progressed since starting at KinderCare. His teachers are very kind and all of the staff treat my son like he's their own. The facility is new and clean with a large indoor gym for the kids to play in year round.

From the owner: Infant Programs (6 Weeks - 1 Year), Toddler Programs (1 - 2 Years), Discovery Preschool Programs (2…read more- 3 Years), Preschool Programs (3 - 4 Years), Prekindergarten Programs (4 - 5 Years), Before and After School Programs (5-12 Years), Summer Programs (preschool, prekindergarten, and school-age)

Our son has been in the PreK classroom for a year, and the school is phenomenal. His teacher has…read moregone out of her way to get to know him individually and create a curriculum that supports his interests and strengths. The kids are exposed to a wide range of subjects and activities - art, music, reading, writing, gymnastics and soccer. The school does a great job preparing kids for kindergarten.

My son has attended Schwartz since he was 2 and just turned 4. I am so grateful for the teachers…read moreand community at Schwartz. It truly feels like a family. My son always looks forward to going to school. I am also a teacher at a local school and am always very impressed with the emotional, social and academic skills that Schwartz kids that come into Kindergarten with!!

I took a clay handbuilding class here with Antea and really enjoyed it! The instructor was super…read moregenuine and fun and it was a very informative and relaxing experience. I love that the model is to teach students new techniques each week but let them create whatever they want. I was creatively deprived before I took this series and it immediately made me happier to have this outlet each week. I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to try something new and plan to be back for another class in the fall.

Dual location review: Fairmount and Queen Village…read more Philly Art Center has been part of my daughter's life since 4 years old (almost 10 now). I called the Art Center in Fairmount (it was only one location at that point) and spoke to Ms. Jill, explained that my daughter was a new 4 and I was concerned about leaving her. She nicely told me get over it and I would be fine (of course she didn't say that), she reassured me that she would be safe and have fun..after the first class, my daughter was hooked; it doesn't hurt that they get to color on the mirrors in the studio. Throughout the years my daughter has taken numerous classes at the Fairmount and Queen Village Centers, in addition to "Date Night", which you drop your child off for a couple hours and pick them up, I believe around 10pm; they feed them, they go to the gym, and of course do art. Not only are they doing art, the children learn about artists and how and why things are done. I believe the regular classes were about 90 minutes for children. There are general art classes but most of them have a theme or time period that they focus on; one of her favorite classes was pottery. Numerous adult classes and birthday parties are also offered. Recently my daughter started back at the Art Center for drop-in camp. Seeing Ms. Jill for the first time in years was the highlight of our day. While she is the owner, she is fully invested in the children and it shows by how much my daughter loves her! For camp, the campers get creative so it is recommended your child comes in play clothes and sneakers because the do go to the park; before-care and after-care is available. Over the years, due to scheduling conflicts we were unable to attend regularly, but anytime I hear someone talk about their children loving art, I always recommended the Art Center! Ms. Jill and her staff are amazing, now with an addition location in Cherry Hill, NJ! You go girl!!!