Both my girls (6 and 2) have been at Montessori School of San Dimas, and it's been a really good…read moreexperience for us. My older daughter went through the program and is now in first grade. The foundation she got here was so solid that she was already at first grade level when she started school. My younger one is here now, and I can already see the same love for learning developing in her. Ms. Fahmeeda, the director, is wonderful. She genuinely cares about the kids and their long-term success, not just what they're doing day to day. The teachers are also great--patient and kind. What I really like is the community feeling. My older daughter made friends here that she's still in touch with, and now their younger siblings are classmates with my younger one. It feels like a big extended family. The Montessori style is a big plus. It's not just about the academics--it's about sparking curiosity and independence. I saw that with my 6-year-old, and now again with my 2-year-old. And for the quality of education and care, the fees are very reasonable. Overall, we've been very happy here. I'd definitely recommend Montessori School of San Dimas to other parents looking for a place where their kids can grow, learn, and feel cared for.

This is truly the BEST school to bring your children to! My son started here at 18 months and is…read morenow 4 years old--and he absolutely loves it. He adores his teachers and looks forward to coming every day. He has a big personality that can sometimes be a lot for adults, but the teachers here are incredibly patient, kind, and understanding. They've helped him learn independence while also showing compassion and guiding him to slow down when needed. Ms. Fameeda, the director, is outstanding. She not only checks in with us regularly but also makes my son feel special by letting him be her little helper. When we were expecting our second child, she went above and beyond to support him in adjusting to the idea of becoming a big brother--working at his pace so he never felt overwhelmed. The teachers are wonderful--caring, funny, and always communicative. He especially loves Ms. Tami and thinks it would be the coolest thing to hang out with her outside of school (he doesn't, but the thought makes him so happy!). The school also does a fantastic job of creating community. They host the sweetest holiday events, where the kids get to perform and celebrate--it's always adorable to watch. They also hold parent-teacher conferences to keep us updated on progress, and they were a huge help with potty training too. Overall, I couldn't recommend this school more. The environment, the staff, and the care they provide are unmatched. We're excited for our 6-month-old to join once he's old enough, because we know he'll be just as loved and supported as his big brother.

Both of my kids started at LPG at 18 months old. It's so hard to have someone else care for your…read morelittles but knowing they were here at LPG made it much easier! They are loved on, cared for, and educated so well every day! My older daughter recently started KG and in her start of the year assessment for early literacy, she tested at the level of a 1st grader who had completed 20% of their school year already! That was in most part due to the hard work of the amazing teachers at LPG over her 3.5 years there. Small classes and a tight nit community. We love LPG so much and you can feel the love of each teacher and administrator! Lots of communication and support for parents. And price wise I also find it to be more affordable than what many of my friends were paying.

There's many places I could start this, however, I'll keep it short. LPG truly is amazing…read more Education and guided play are a major part of their program. All of the teachers and admin staff care for our littles as their own. With small classrooms (student to teacher ratio), they are able to give ample attention to each child. They are on top of communication and open to any questions regarding curriculum. Price for tuition is comparable to other Christian programs in the area, with multiple schedules available to accommodate family schedules. Couldn't recommend LPG more

If I could give this place 10 stars I would. My little girl has been coming here since she was 1…read moreyears old. She is now going to be 4 and all three years have been such a lovely experience. For both my daughter and us. My son even attends during summer. The teachers and staff are so friendly and helpful. I love their style, the garden they have, the accessible swim lessons right on campus, the little events they throw and seasonal concerts. This place is just so adorable. We are going to miss this place soooo much as my kids are moving on to another school. However, we will alway return for summer camp! This place is like family and they treat you like family! Thank you Dove Day for everything you do here!

I'm so thankful to have found a good daycare for my 1 year old. It's hard to find somewhere where…read moreyou feel 100% confident in your child's safety and education. The teachers make me feel like I'm handing my child off to another me. My daughter is 1.5 years old and loves school and runs in and doesn't even say bye to me half the time. They play outside, take buggy rides, have nap time, meals, and I really like that they make the extra effort to put up pictures of the kids and their families on the wall. Their pets too :) They have open house just like regular schools and they communicate constantly which makes me feel so at ease. They require your own unique access code to get in, etc. All my nieces and nephews also go here and we love it. Mrs. Lebruni had my niece and now my daughter and she feels like family :) We're going to miss her when we move up to the next class, but we're also excited. And they just decorated for the spooky season and it's so cute!

Our son has truly thrived here. Socially, academically, there has been such an improvement since he…read morestarted. He's eating new foods, he's able to follow routines, he's socializing with others, he's started writing and reading. We absolutely love it here.

We are so grateful to have found Ms Ashanti's Children's Ark daycare! She is very passionate about…read morekids and she is well organized. Our child comes home so happy, he really loves the daycare. Ms Ashanti is super efficient that even with a room full of toddlers and infants, she manages transitions seamlessly and keeps the parents well informed. She is very attentive and takes her time with each child and she also taught our child to read and write. We especially love the way they find time for little celebrations, kids love those special moments. Ms Ashanti is very patient and incredibly nurturing, and we couldn't ask for a better start for our little one!

We have had an amazing experience at LVPPP. The teachers and staff are caring and create a…read morewonderful environment for our kiddos. The freedom to play and create has helped my daughter's social development exponentially.

LVPPP is truly a hidden gem in the Foothills area. It is magical, beautiful and a super special…read moreplace for littles (and their families, too). ***Please don't be alarmed by all the old reviews from 5 plus years ago. I've heard that LVPPP was indeed a very different school back then! Totally different leadership and teachers.*** First off, a little background on me- I have a degree in childhood development and early education, but first and foremost, I am a parent. And I want to be as involved and connected with my child's life as much as possible. I also fully understand that every child and every family's needs are different. So for us, LVPPP was an ideal fit and we are so happy with our decision to send our daughter there. This preschool fulfills all my wants and prayers for my child's first school experiences outside of our home. Some main highlights: 1. Teachers who are loving, nurturing and care about every single child's life and sees them as whole individuals and unique. My daughter absolutely LOVES her teacher and that's saying a lot for a child who is extremely attached to her mother and has separation anxiety. LVPPP teachers help prepare children and their parents for the transition being "away" from their families for a few hours at a time. They are so patient, so empathetic and really take the time to honor each child's feelings and individuality while modeling cooperation, co-regulation and communication. It is a very warm and home-like environment. 2. Community of caregivers, parents, families who all are working together for the school and the children. LVPPP is a co-op school and is part of the California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools, which is a network of organized co-ops focused on the principle that the best education will result from an active partnership among parents, teachers, and children. Being a volunteer in my child's classroom 2-3 times a month really has allowed me to get to know the people who actually see my child- I know the teachers very well and also know every single parent and child closely, much like extended family. We have playdates and help watch each others children outside of school as a result, and this has been invaluable benefit being part of this school- where lifelong relationships are fostered. 3. Child-directed, PLAY and inquiry based learning philosophy. PLAY is the work of the child. LVPPP is Reggio Emilia inspired and we love that. It follows my child's natural curiosity and focused on the process versus end product in learning and development. LVPPP's director is extremely knowledgeable and passionate in this area and empowers both students and families to be active agents in their environment. The environment is set up to invite play and exploration. Children engage in messy play, engage all their senses, challenge their fine and gross motor skills, and really tinker and experiment in open-ended play. There's also a big emphasis on social emotional development and regulation. The campus itself is beautiful and every detail has been well thought out to provoke exploration, discussion and creativity. 4. It's a non-profit that's trying to serve the community, providing high quality early childhood education to families in the area. It strives to be very accessible, diverse, inclusive and welcoming to all. All backgrounds are celebrated and family structures. I appreciate the fact that the tuition is quite reasonable and allows families from various levels of means still be able to access a preschool with the bells and whistles you may find at higher end preschools, but it's due to the joint effort of hard work that the families and teachers have contributed from their own time, effort and dedication to make the school what it is. 5. Health and safety is taken seriously especially during this COVID era. The director and leadership stay atop local health authority recommendations and goes above based on the input of the families and what they're comfortable with. We have been very happy with the pragmatic approach that LVPPP takes in trying to ensure the students stay healthy but also understanding that nothing is perfectly avoidable.

Gateway Montessori Preschool is without question one of the biggest blessings to have been bestowed…read moreupon me and my wife - upon needing to seek out daycare for our daughter 3 1/2 years ago. Without question - Diane Virga is the ABSOLUTE BEST director we've come across - and her staff is comprised of the most caring, courteous, compassionate, patient group of educators we've ever come across. When our son was born just two years after our daughter - the transition with the school in terms of adding our newest addition to the Gateway family was amazing. The parenting advice that we've received from this school has been invaluable to our children's development - and I would absolutely recommend this school to ANYBODY looking for child care. We don't live in San Dimas - we live in West Covina, and we happily make the trek across town to a place that makes our children extremely happy. It's safe - and loving - and I absolutely adore that our children attend school here.

My kids have been going here for 3 years and they love the staff. I feel safe leaving them here…read more They take care of children well and feed them.

Both of my children have attended Faith Lutheran. When we moved to the San Dimas area, I toured…read morealmost every preschool program in the area. As an educator myself, I wanted a school that would prepare my child well for future academics, as well as instill the values I was brought up with in the Lutheran church. Faith was the best choice for our family, and I have been nothing but happy with our choice. My elder child left Faith completely ready for kindergarten. He excelled in kindergarten and I know it was due in a large part to the education he received at Faith. I think those of us who have actually had children at Faith would wholeheartedly disagree with the lone negative reviewer on this page. I highly recommend this preschool.

You won't find a better preschool/ daycare! The director, Ms Nancy, leads by example and is truly…read morepassionate about creating a safe, fun, nurturing environment for young kids to grow in their faith, education, and friendships. My twins entered the school just shy of turning 3 years old. The teachers we had the most experience with were Ms Kathleen, Ms Kimmy, and Ms Kay. All 3 women are excellent! My kids learned so much here and always felt safe. This school gives a very home like environment. My only regret is not sending my kids right when they turned 2 and that we didn't know about this school for my oldest son to attend when he was a toddler. If this preschool went all the way up to high school, we would never leave!

We started our now 3 year old daughter at Caring Hearts early this year because we had another baby…read moreplus I had to get back to work. She was extremely slow to warm up to anyone around her even with our families and friends, so my anxiety and mom guilt was running pretty high. Mrs Iona and Ms Bree were wonderful. They were very patient with her and kept in touch with me constantly. Within a week my girl opened up, was talking about her days and her new friends. Now our 1 year old boy also goes and he is very eager to leave the house in the mornings with his sister. Everyone in that house are very experienced with kids and they treated mine as their own. That reassurance and peace of mind knowing your kids are safe, well fed, well socialized and learning good manners while you're away is the best feeling a working mom can have. On top of that they cook home made meals, do multiple field trips, host events around the holidays so we get to meet the other kids and their families. I agree with the other parents it's the quality of care you're paying for if you think it runs a little higher. To me it's the best money I've spend. We're very thankful for Mrs Iona, Ms Bree, Mr Roy, June, Abby, and all the staff who dedicate their time and hearts to such high quality early childhood education and will recommend them to any parent or parent to be.

You will not find a better home for your child. We have 2 girls who absolutely have loved their…read moretime with Miss. Iona and Miss. Breanna here. Iona has become part of our family due to the love and attention she has given our children. I don't know how she finds time to sleep because she gives the daycare 100% effort and time. She always has them doing new activities, crafts, and learning programs. My oldest was more than prepared for TK and probably could have gone straight into first grade based on everything she learned during her 5 years with Iona. The girls are always talking about how good the food is. I truly feel like what they're getting at this daycare is better than what I can provide at home. If you think the price is too high, know you are getting a much better quality service- the teaching and care.

**Disappointing Experience at Arrow Montessori School**…read more I had my four-year-old daughter enrolled at Arrow Montessori School for ten months, and our experience has been extremely disappointing. Over the last 2 1/2 weeks, I was called almost daily to pick her up from school, significantly cutting into my work hours and adding financial strain to my single-parent, single-earner household. My daughter was bullied by two other children and frequently came home with scratches, bite marks, and bruises. Instead of addressing the issue, the school blamed her for the bullying, claiming she was "bothering" the other children. The staff lacks the skill, education, and patience to handle behavioral challenges in children. They often implied my child had issues but then admitted they weren't psychologists. This inconsistency was frustrating and unhelpful. Furthermore, the school engages in excessive fundraising, with my daughter participating and helping generate several hundred dollars. However, none of this money seemed to benefit her class. The staff also lacks resources and understanding to support neurodivergent children, expecting all students to behave like well-behaved little robots. The school does not adhere to the traditional tenets of Maria Montessori's teachings. Instead of fostering independence and curiosity, the children are frequently made to perform songs and dances. Additionally, the staff's impersonal approach, referring to me as "mother" rather than knowing my name, was disheartening. During the last 2 1/2 weeks, my daughter experienced tantrums, leading the school to give me an ultimatum: either put her in therapy or she would not be allowed to attend the summer camp. This caused me a great deal of anxiety and sleepless nights, adding to the overall stress of the situation. Each time we approached a solution, another hurdle was placed in our way, including limiting her school hours to 9 am-12 pm or after 2 pm. The treatment my daughter received from the administration was particularly troubling. The administrator would often mock her, saying, "What? What are you saying? I don't understand you." My daughter has been diagnosed with a speech disorder, which I had informed the school about, and she is receiving speech therapy. Despite this, they spoke to her as if she was stupid. Because of her speech difficulties, she sometimes tries to communicate with her hands, and they have also asked her if her "hand was broken." They treated my child like there was something wrong with her. I offered to sit in the classroom to observe her interactions with the other children and was denied, being told it was against their policy, which seemed very suspicious. Eventually, they allowed me only 15 minutes, during which I observed a child push my daughter hard onto the concrete floor. Very little was done by the teacher to correct this behavior. The administrator said that only a child psychologist was allowed to observe children in the classroom and proceeded to tell me that there were a few kids who are autistic and have behavioral issues in the classroom, but you wouldn't be able to tell because their parents could afford their own therapists. I couldn't tell if she was being honest or just trying to make it seem like I wasn't doing my part as a parent to promote my child's well-being. I felt like I was being gaslit. Additionally, the playground is in disrepair, with wood splintering, structures leaning, and plastic pieces popping up, potentially causing harm to the children. The outside bathroom is also disgusting and poorly maintained, adding to the overall neglect of the facilities. Given the substantial funds raised through fundraising efforts and the high Montessori tuition fees, the school should be able to afford necessary upgrades and maintenance. Moreover, the school has implied religious affiliation with New Creation Church, making it a private sector institution that also receives tax exemptions by being a "church" school. This makes the lack of proper facilities and support even more unacceptable. When I went to discuss changing daycare providers with the school district, I learned that one of Arrow Montessori's long-standing teachers had left to work for the district. Additionally, two receptionists and another teacher left within just a few weeks or short months of each other. This high turnover rate indicated deeper issues within the school's management and environment. The school lacks compassion and seems more focused on giving the appearance of a great school to appease the wealthiest parents while mistreating and dismissing those who aren't as fortunate. I do not recommend Arrow Montessori School. Our experience was marked by bullying, inadequate support, unsafe facilities, and a lack of true Montessori principles.

Arrow set my kids up for success. They are thriving thanks to the great academics, supportive…read moreemotional development, excellent caring teachers and staff. We wish we had a third kid to send to this school. Highly recommended.

My daughter who is 11 now went there when she was 2 years old until she started Kindergarten. Ms…read more Elaine (her preschool teacher) is WONDERFUL! So when it was time for me to go back to work after I had my son there was no other place I wanted or trusted to leave him. When I walked in with my daughter to register my son, my daughter asked me if she thought Ms. Elaine would remember her and I said I didn't think so. Well when Jordan walked over to her she said "Hello Jordan I haven't seen you in forever!" My daughter felt so excited that she remembered her, I almost started crying, it was like no time had passed at all. Ms. Elena (the morning infant teacher) has been wonderful. So patient and understanding of how difficult it is for me to leave him. Mu son's been going there since he was 4 months old (he's almost 1 now) and he loves all the teachers and they love him. You can tell all the teachers love their kids and vice versa. Ms. Christy (the Director) is very attentive to parents needs and concerns and Ms. Nicole (the Assistant Director) is so sweet and wonderful! I feel like everyone there is my second family!! I HIGHLY recommend this center!

My son has been going to this daycare since he was around 3 months old & is now 3 years old, and I…read morecan say with a 100% confidence that I trust and love this daycare so much! They have played such a crucial role in my son's life, and I am so grateful to have found such a great daycare. Melissa, Ms. Angel, and my son's other teachers have been so great to my son, and I couldn't be more thankful for that.