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.

All Saints has been an incredible gift for our family. It's a small, nurturing environment that has…read morecompletely captivated and motivated my children. They walk through the front door every morning excited to be there, and they actually beg me not to pick them up at the end of the day. The personalized learning, the warmth of the teachers, and the feeling of a tight-knit, family-like community make this school truly special. Every child is known, supported, and encouraged to thrive. The academics are excellent, but equally important, the school fosters curiosity, kindness, and confidence. We feel so lucky to have this kind of resource here in Carmel Valley. All Saints' Day School is a gem, and our family couldn't be happier.

We have multiple children at All Saints and we couldn't be happier with our experience. From the…read moremoment our kids step out of the car at drop-off, they are truly seen. Every faculty member knows their name. Even the older students in middle school greet them with smiles and "Hi, we're so happy to see you!" That feeling of belonging is something we value deeply. Socially, All Saints is incredibly tight-knit for both families and children. As parents, we've made some of our closest friendships here because everyone seems to share similar values: involvement, kindness, and a genuine commitment to their children's well-being and academics. The students, too, have made wonderful friendships, and you can feel the sense of community everywhere on campus. Academically, our children amaze us with what they're learning at just four and six years old, but what sets All Saints apart is its equal focus on character building. Above all else, we want our kids to grow into good humans, and the school puts so much intention into raising kind, thoughtful, confident young people. It's truly special. The campus is beautiful, the teachers are passionate and deeply caring, and the after-school offerings are fantastic. Our kids love being at school so much that during breaks they ask, "How many days until we get to go back?" To us, that says everything. All Saints has created such a joyful, supportive, and enriching experience for our children. We genuinely couldn't imagine being part of any other school. We love, love, love All Saints. Go Saints!

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!

Auburn's House Montessori is an AMAZING place for children to learn, develop and grow. The teachers…read morehave leadership and vision when it comes to teaching the children and it's remarkable to watch. My son and daughter attended for over 4 years, all very important years and they would not be the amazing kids they are today without the guidance, love and structure they were given at Auburn's House. The Peace Table is one of my favorite examples of ways kids grow here. Children settle differences at a small child size table, with only one kid talking about their feeling at a time (whoever is holding the flower gets to talk). Everyone has a chance to be heard and to explain how they feel, reinforcing to kids that their feeling matter and that they matter. The adults do not interject right away, the let the children have the opportunity to be problem solvers and peacemakers. My children brought this into our home, after learning it at school, and they still use it with one another to this day. The things we learned from the teachers at Auburn's house helped us grow as parents! Mr. Joseph gave us tips and techniques to try at home with our son, that when followed almost always worked! They really understand children and their needs at this school and I am so thankful to have found it! It is worth EVERY penny spent, and then some!!

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 !

We LOVE Ryan Ranch Children's Center! We have always had one-on-one child care in our home for our…read moredaughter, and we were really nervous and hesitant to put our child in a facility away from home, so we decided we would not put her in a facility unless we were 100% comfortable and thought it would enhance her growth. We visited a few schools in the area, as well as around San Francisco prior to moving to Monterey, but didn't find a place that we were comfortable with until Ryan Ranch. I called Ryan Ranch the moment I heard of it from a nanny at the park and was super impressed upon learning about their curriculum from Miss. Kelly over the phone. I went in the next day to tour the facility and knew it was exactly where my 2-year-old belonged. I went back again the following day with my daughter and husband, and they felt the exact same way as me. It was such a pleasure to see my very shy 2-year-old jump up and down asking if she could stay. Things that stood out to us were the structure, the learning opportunities being offered and the fact that the children seemed very happy. Now, two months in, we are happier than we imagined we could be. My daughter is well taken care of, and though she went in with far more knowledge than a typical 2-year-old, she is still learning new things. She has become more confident, outgoing, and self-sufficient, which has been a real pleasure to watch over such a short time. The owner, Miss Loretta, goes above and beyond, and is very easy to connect with and talk to. TLDR: The Children's Center is a safe and inspiring environment for a child to learn and grow, and I would recommend it for any parents that are looking for more than a typical daycare for their young children.

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.