We moved halfway through the school year in 2022 and no preschool was open to take us. I was…read moredevastated for my then 4 year old. By chance I learned of this secret gem co-op and was able to get a spot. This was my first experience in co-op and it was so much fun. And more importantly, was a wonderfully healing experience for me and my son (middle child who became a big-brother at the height of Covid.) Being in his class taught me how to be a better parent and gave me so many new strategies at home. Having the time together was very valuable to my son. Miss Kristen is beyond amazing with the children and extremely generous with her time, attention and love. Aside from everything I said above, the cost of this program is incredibly low and the financial savings we had from joining co-op helped off-set moving costs. It's an unbelievable value.

Would not recommend it!!!…read more Parenting classes are mandatory and a complete waste of time for an adult. So when it came to priorities it was an easy choice. We had a family member with a terminal illness and in the last weeks of their life, we chose to spend our evenings with them and missed a few "Parenting Classes" and were suspended. In the month before we talked about taking our child out of the class because of the constant coughing and runny noses in the classroom (to protect our family member and not have to wear a mask around them). Some kids were great and participated others just ran around and terrorized the other good kids. Some parents would get together right after school and talk while the kids played with hot wheels (usually 15 or 20 minutes), until we were asked to leave because the kids' sound bothered the school office's secretary.

We absolutely love Agape Academy, and so does our daughter! The teachers are fantastic and always…read moreon top of things, the curriculum is engaging, and the facilities are clean and welcoming. It's such a safe and inclusive place--exactly what we wanted for her preschool experience. Big thanks to Lisa, Carmel, and Catherine for being so caring and amazing at what they do. We couldn't have asked for more. Highly recommend!

What a sweet school!!! Our family had such an incredible experience while attending Agape. My…read moredaughter and son attended Agape Academy starting from age 2yr-5yr. Not only are all of the teachers dedicated and loving but they take personal interest in your child's wellbeing. My children have gone off to school and still talk about how fun their pre-school was and how they miss it. We are still friends with many of the families we met and love to community Agape fostered for us.

This school is part of the Carmel Unified School District, providing child care, toddler care,…read morepreschool, preK and after school care for River Recreation kids. Their teaching philosphy is around Reggio Emilia - a more student-directed, teacher-observer approach. The facilities are generous, each age group has their own playground area in addition to the classroom space. Teachers are professional and carefully document each child progress/experiences. They have a very active parent's organization that is involved in many fundraisers over the course of the year. In comparison, the tuition is more affordable than other local preschool programs. CONS: Extensive Waitlists - Basically, there is more demand than school capacity at the infant - preK level. In theory, they accept children starting at 6 weeks in age, although they have extremely limited availability in the 6 weeks-age 2 range (reserved for staff of the school district). Children enrolled part-time who desire full-time enrollment, can wait several months to over a year, to be converted into full-time status. My child is currently enrolled.

From the owner: Carmel Child Development Center is Accredited by the National Association for the Education of…read moreYoung Children. We serve children from birth to kindergarten.

Potrero Canyon School is top notch. My child and I love it! We recently moved and she was coming…read morefrom a family run, 6 child daycare where she had strong bonds to both teachers and her friends. Potrero Canyon is a proper preschool, with a larger student population than we were accustomed to, and yet it has a familiar, wonderfully caring vibe. Hours are 9am-3pm. I would describe all 5 of the teachers as very warm, energetic, diligent and dynamic. Andra and her team are full of fun and fresh ideas! My child is generally reserved in new environments. Andra, Aletha, Alexa, Liz and Sarah all worked with my daughter to help her begin friendships, and to draw out her desire to participate and socialize with other students. The classrooms are clean, bright and cheerful, the outside play area is fantastic. I love that biology and other sciences are presented in a really engaging way. I also enjoy the genuinely friendly greetings from teachers and students at the beginning of each day, and the smiles and daily updates at pick-up time. The monthly newsletter is charming and edifying. If the hours and location are a good fit for your family, look no further--Potrero Canyon School is a true gem!

From the owner: The dedicated team of experienced teachers at Potrero Canyon School provides loving and safe care…read morein a fun and positive learning environment.

This is a gem of a school! My child attended for two years and I am so pleased with the experience…read more The school environment is welcoming and fosters curiosity, learning, and discovery. The excitement with which my child talks about the day's work, and the enthusiasm for learning that has been instilled, are very encouraging. I truly appreciate the Montessori approach, especially the practical life aspect, which has positively shaped my child's day-to-day habits. I'm also grateful for school's effort to educate parents on the Montessori philosophy and methods, as there is a lot that I have been able to incorporate into my home life with positive results for my family. The teachers were continually patient and understanding with my child, who had long stretches of regularly getting upset during the drop-off time. I would highly recommend Auburn's House to any parent!

When beginning to plan our move from VA to CA, finding a non-traditional school was important to…read moreus. Our daughter had been in a traditional classroom preschool setting which included circle time, small group work, and play time. What we started to realize is that she was developing a dislike for learning. She would fuss and not want to stay if we ever arrived at school during circle time or small groups. As an educator and PhD candidate studying Education this really bothered me. Knowing about the Montessori method, I began to search for this curriculum as I felt it might be a better fit for my child. I found Auburn's House and have been so pleased. My daughter is excited to go to school again, and loves to tell us everything she is learning! At school, our daughter is taught in a manner that develops the whole-child. This is very important as we want her to be well-rounded and have a variety of interests. In addition, the school supports the emotional and social aspects of the child that is void in most other settings. This gives her the ability to become an independent learner and explore the world around her. The special attention to the emotional and social skills has turned our quiet and somewhat shy child into a confident and independent child. While we could go on for pages about the benefits of this type of education, especially for preschool age children, the best way to get an idea of what an AMAZING place this school is for children is to visit and watch the interactions between the students and the teachers. It is truly something I never could have imagined after my years in education. Ms. Auburn has a gift, and we have been so lucky to be able to reap the benefits of her gift. Each child is an individual and Ms. Auburn appreciates this and helps each individual to grow on his/her own path. This is so important to us as parents, and to me as an educator. I could not have chosen a better place for my child!

My daughter has been attending this daycare for several months now, and I absolutely love it. The…read morestaff is wonderful, caring, and attentive. I highly recommend this place!

Our daughter attended Great Beginnings for a couple of years and it was a truly wonderful…read moreexperience for the whole family. We came to trust the whole team implicitly. They are kind, gentle and fun for the kids to be around. We cannot recommend Great Beginnings strongly enough as a safe, creative, fun and educational environment for children. They also have a great outdoor space which affords the children hours of outdoor play each day.

Unsafe center for kids wouldn't recommend your children coming here. Management clearly does not…read morecare about some of the kids my niece got hurt unsupervised very disappointed !

Best place for my 3 year old. He had a hard time transitioning into the daycare routine but Miss…read moreLoretta and all the teachers were so understanding and helpful with the transition. I am so so grateful for this place

Concerns About Honesty and Educational Quality…read more As a parent, choosing the right school for your child is paramount. It's with a heavy heart that I write this review for Stevenson (RLS) Carmel Campus, which my child attended for multiple school years. I believe in providing honest feedback to help other parents make informed decisions. Pros: * The hot lunch program at the school is commendable. The variety and quality of food offered are impressive and appreciated. *Initially, their "specials" program was robust and enriching, thanks to a team of talented teachers. However, now the majority of the lower school special teachers, who were very talented, left the school. Cons: * Honesty and Transparency: One of the significant issues we've faced is with the school's administration. There's a disturbing pattern of misinformation and lack of transparency. This ranges from trivial matters like outdoor activity times to critical aspects of our children's academic and social-emotional experiences. It's been disheartening to untangle these inconsistencies as a parent community. *Educational Quality: When it comes to academics, the school unfortunately falls short compared to other independent institutions. Despite claims of offering differentiated learning, the reality doesn't match up. The one-size-fits-all approach fails to meet the diverse needs of students. *Staff Turnover: The specials program, once a highlight of the school, has suffered due to the departure of many talented educators. This loss has noticeably impacted the quality of the program. Conclusion: While I appreciate the efforts made in certain areas like the lunch program, the overarching issues around honesty and educational quality are too significant to overlook. I had hoped for a more transparent, nurturing, and academically challenging environment for my child. For parents considering Stevenson, I urge you to thoroughly research and look into other options. The well-being and education of our children are too important to compromise. We have a group of post-Stevenson families and the common theme is how thankful we are that we decided to leave, how much better our kids' new schools are, and how much happier our kids are.

After interviewing at several schools, my daughter (then a pre-schooler) was most enthuiastic about…read moreStevenson. She has thrived both academically and developmentally here since Kindergarten and hopes to continue through to the Pebble Beach Campus. Her teachers are passionate and caring, and really get the best out of her. We are excited about the new Administration and Teachers.

I could talk all day about my experience here! I was a summer counselor in 2018 and I adored all of…read moremy students. They were such a joy to be around and such precious souls. I made lifelong friends here and had one of the best summers ever working to enrich the youth and traveling through California. However, this camp was run by a racist, homophobic woman. She repeatedly discriminated against me and quite literally bullied me when at the time I was only 18 years old and she was almost 60. I'm pretty sure she wanted me to quit because she constantly picked on me and singled me out. Julie was her name. She also discriminated against some of the children who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. There were several students who traveled from Mexico to attend the summer camp and she prohibited them from speaking Spanish which I felt was just discriminatory and downright wrong. These are girls as young as 7/8 years old. It was so horrible to watch a grown woman diminish the confidence and demean the character of little girls who could've looked up to her. Even though every single one of my children loved and adored me as their counselor (they gave me so many gifts throughout the summer and even had their parents give me gifts at the end), when I applied to return as a counselor the following summer I was denied the position and it is very clear why... I think it's a great place to send your children, as they will make meaningful lifelong connections and have an opportunity to learn and grow, however I truly do question the people who run this institution.

Twelve years...yep...really...truly...from first grade through to high school graduation...I didn't…read more"live" on campus...I was what you called a Day Student once I reached high school. This is where I learned how to play tether ball, four square, roller skate like a mad demon around the old oak tree that was the centerpiece of Lower School. Where we were herded together like sheep in our adorable P.E. uniforms (all white) by Sister Jean's Great Pyrenese named Sally. And later, by Sister Claire's sheepdogs, Woolsie and Winston. The place where I learned to love dance, and music and singing...where gifted professionals taught us how to embrace life and be passionate about literature, sculpture and art. What was it like going to an all girls school? Small, welcoming, a family that we could call our own...my first grade class had 17 students...my high school graduating class had a few under 100. How can you compare this experience to the public schools my neighbors attended? I cannot...as I did not have the co-ed experience until college. Santa Catalina was, is and always will be an incredible teaching institution...and I was fortunate to attend.