my kids has been attending the studio for 6 years. It is primarily PK-8 program.The kids gained…read moreboth math skills and improved greatly their self confidence. One of the best features of studio is that they evaluate progress of your child constantly. First evaluation happens when you bring your child to meet with studio director. She would tell you right away the level of math you child belongs to. Each grade in the studio is divided into 3, 4 levels for kids with different math abilities. They can bump a child from one level to more advanced one ("from one group to another" they call it) if they see that a child gets ahead quickly. The level of math in the studio is very high. Problems solving, logic, VERY, VERY STRONG fraction base, very strong algebra and geometry.

We've done SEM and RSM, and I wish I had found a review like this without having to try both, so…read moredecided to write it. Classes wise, Studio for the win hands down. Our kids really enjoyed the classes, the small size (up to 6 kids, sometimes 7), the teachers, and the materials. Lots of variety, interesting problems alongside more basic ones, more levels, and the kids clearly learned a lot. RSM classes are larger (10-12 kids), only 2 levels (plus a 3rd which they designate for "math addicts only" - the kids who crave more math), and apparently good, but not as "fun". The kids are clearly still learning, but it feels more like a chore. So, for classes, SEM is the clear winner IMO. For homework, the story is completely reversed. SEM homework consisted of 15-20 pages, so even if some pages were really short, the sheer volume was overwhelming for the kids. The pages were often bad quality photocopies, and often very repetitive week to week (same style puzzle for weeks on end for instance). The homework battles were endless, and at some point the kids simply refused to do them. It was nice to get interesting questions, but when it's essentially the same interesting question over and over and over again week after week after week, it's no longer interesting (e.g. find the differences between pictures, circle, count... Or solve an identical logical puzzle with 30 variations, week after week). We also didn't feel the kids were learning that much from the homework - some things were too easy, others just repetitive, and overall is just felt like too much. Then, they were expected to correct all the mistakes from the prior homework before getting their "reward" (stickers towards prizes), so unfinished homeworks just piled up one on top of the other, becoming even more overwhelming, and even less rewarding. There was no "partial" option - they got a reward only for perfect, completed, corrected, homework. RSM, on the other hand, is GREAT for homework. 3-4 pages, so not overwhelming in volume. All pages are printed fresh, not bad quality photocopies. They expect the homework should take 30-60 minutes (vs 60-120 min in SEM, usually took us 75-90min). It's been taking 25-40min tops, to do in full. The parents are encouraged to NOT do it with the kids, so the teacher can evaluate what the kids did on their own. This is helpful, and we've had no qualms about our child doing the homework only partially sometimes. From 4th grade on, you enter the answers online, and the kids see immediately if they were right or wrong, and get scores and badges/"medals" online. The questions kids did not do correctly get dealt with in class, and are not carried over to the following week. If the kid didn't do the HW in full, they didn't. No big deal. As long as they don't fall behind in class, no one makes a big deal of it. (In SEM it felt like we were constantly talking to the teachers about incomplete HW). So, homework wise, RSM is the clear winner. If SEM put together a better homework policy/system, we'd go back in a heartbeat. But the homework in SEM introduced so much stress, to the kids and to us the parents, that we decided we can't deal with it. For kids who are already stretched to the max with extended days and other activities, and parents who are working full time and don't get a lot of quality time with the kids, and would rather spend quality time with their kids when they do have the time, and not spend it on homework battles, RSM is a much better fit. So, for now, we've moved to RSM. And I say that sadly, because I do think the classes and also materials in SEM are better. They really taught math through games and tangibles whenever possible. Overall, SEM is like an exciting startup with many kinks still remaining, RSM is like a well oiled machine that moves forward with much experience and relatively little innovation. Both have merits. Hopefully this review helps others trying to decide between the two options. It's a tough call. I really wish there was something out there that "married" the best of both.

My son worked with Tutor Emma in the Axiom Learning in Wellesley for preparing his ACT test. Emma…read moreis absolutely amazing! She is very patient thorough,and knowledgeable ACT tutor. By working with my son, she learnt my son's weakness and did a training focus on the weakness. Her tutor improved my son's ACT score a lot!! Though I did have a unpleasant time with coordinator the guy who is making the schedule in Axiom learning center (I want to give him1 star if I can), but the tutor is great so I still give this learning center 5 star.

We have been very pleased with Axiom Learning in Wellesley. The staff is prepared with a…read morewell-thought-out lesson for our child each and every week. Additionally, the level of communication they provide us regarding her progress has been exceptional. We have a lot of experience with tutors and Axiom takes learning enrichment to the next level.

Eli Portman is a terrific teacher! And both the Eliot street and amory street locations are very…read morecomfortable, with easy parking.,,

It makes me sad to write this review, especially since I felt the possibilities of a community…read moreatmosphere at the Eliot school, but I was really disturbed by the use of the words, to me in the last email by the Assistant Director, Jean - "At this point, I think we just need to part ways." (when someone who's providing a service to you says that - HUGE RED FLAG!) So, I signed up for private lessons with Joe for $65/hour. This was expensive for me, but I really needed to get a project done for a deadline. I was clear about what I wanted a small model of a house, with all mitered joints, because I was going to use it to cast a model. I even brought paper patterns. Joe met with me and said it was do-able. We did the first session of three hours, one of which he gave me an hour free, it seemed to go well. (I got the hour free - because the the machines here aren't so good - so its not your fault, his words) We didn't finish so I suggest we meet again. An hour into the next session, Joe proclaimed that the project was not do-able and too complicated, because there isn't a left-handed table saw. He even took my piece and attempting to go forward, took it the sander and wanted to sand it down to 45 degrees (yikes). Anyhow, so I decided to cut my losses and say, okay let's stop. He decided not to charge me for this hour. So I left with a pile of wood, and also broken-hearted, because I had really wanted to complete this piece. So, I wrote Jean, asking if I could get my money back, because I was clear about what I wanted in my project and felt like I should have been told that my project was not do-able from the beginning or at minimum, warned. Not have my project unfinished, after I had spent $130, 4 hours of time, and $30 on materials. And on top of it, I now need to find and pay someone to build this model. It wasn't anything personal against Joe, he was a nice guy, but more about professionalism. For example, if you had a contractor who said they could do something, they wouldn't walk away midway through the project and say it was too hard, leaving you hanging. Same concept. But instead, I got an email that from Jean that said, we are NOT refunding you, but (as if I had won a prize) we aren't charging you for the extra two hours Joe gave you, and "at this point, I think we just need to part ways."

Both of my kids (soon to be in 3rd grade, soon to be in 7th grade) are thriving at Wellan. It's a…read moreterrific learning community for pre-K through 8th grade; ~300 children, from pre-K to 8th grade, with small classes and skillfully staffed. It feels like a traditional schoolhouse model right in the heart of Newton center. The Montessori method leverages a child's interests, inspiring curiosity, creativity, and a desire to learn.

I recommend NMS to anyone that I can. When going on tours of various preschools for my son a…read morecouple of years ago, I had no real knowledge of what Montessori teaching was. Honestly, I thought it was very "hippy dippy", kids just doing whatever they wanted all day. When I took the tour (Deanna is awesome!), I was amazed... like jaw-on-the-floor amazed. The things she was showing me in the classroom just MADE. SENSE. It was like a light bulb went on, and I knew my son had to go there. We are now in our second year at NMS and couldn't be happier. The building is filled with people who care, immensely. The amount of planning that goes into a classroom is insane. NMS has a great community around it, the events held for student and families outside of school, educational events for parents (like Montessori in the Home), and fun events for parents too. The administration at NMS is amazing, every teacher is amazing, the specialists (library, music, language, etc) are amazing, the Parent Association is amazing, the early/late care staff are amazing, the office staff are amazing. I know that I am doing the best that I possibly can for my son by sending him to Newton Montessori. I've already seen the difference it has made, and I know that it's really the best environment for him to become the best, happiest, smartest, kindest, little boy he can be. And those are all things that will serve him throughout his life. Everything in his classroom is there for a reason, whether it works on fine motor skills, or how to hold a pencil, it all builds on lessons throughout the Montessori classroom years.

Comprehensive and structured one on one lessons were very helpful for my daughter…read more Weekly report was also helpful. My daughter's SAT score went up quite a bit! Thanks, Josh!

Our family has had a great experience with Prepped & Polished. Our daughter started at the end of…read more5th grade and continues in 6th grade to help support her on executive functioning skills. Our tutor, Cassie, has been wonderful in using our daughter's strengths to help her create habits and processes to set herself up for success.

My son was a student at Crossroads Center For Children, and I could not say enough how great this…read moreschool is. Staff is very loving, professional and caring, and they helped us on so many occasions and really made a big differene in my son's life. I highly recommend this school to all families who have children on autism spectrum.

My sister and I have both recently graduated college. We are quite similar but have had very…read moredifferent academic experiences in both high school and college. I went to public school and she went to Shady Hill, and I attribute much of her success to how Shady Hill prepared her. She digs deep into topics, connects the dots, thinks holistically, and has an appreciation for the interplay of culture, history, and geography. These are all things she tells me are at the core of a Shady Hill education. She also says the confidence she feels to voice her opinions and advocate for herself were nurtured at Shady Hill. I love my sister and want to thank Shady Hill for giving her the opportunity to fully realize the person she is.

We visited SH and loved the campus and the teachers we met. We liked everything about the program…read more(our kids were K and 1) until we heard that the school does not teach foreign languages until grade 7 or 8 (I don't remember which) because the person showing us around said 'we think kids can learn just as well later when they can read and write'. My specialty is bilingualism/multilingualism (20+ years research and teaching) and my jaw hit the ground. I thought I'd heard wrong but I hadn't. This is complete nonsense. Kids learn a second language much better when they are very young, and certainly none of us knew how to read and write when we learned our mother tongue. Years of research by myself and others backs up my assertion and it's just not true what SHS says about languages. Kids who "learn" later are unlikely to have a native accent and unlikely to be as fluent. They may still be very good but there is NO valid reason (if you want to teach a language) to miss out on the first important years when kids learn so well. I assume the parents aren't that interested in their kids learning foreign languages and that's why the school made this decision, but for us it was a deal breaker. I am still baffled by this, and having met some older SH grads (now in high school elsewhere) I can confirm they are nowhere near the language learning level of kids who start in K or grade 1. SH is a wonderful school but they are in just plain wrong about this particular thing.

We couldn't be happier with our experience at SSDS! Our children (Kindergarten, 2nd, and 4th…read moregrades) are thriving in an environment that is both academically strong and deeply rooted in Jewish values. The teachers are incredibly dedicated, nurturing, and truly know each child as an individual. The curriculum is engaging and fosters both a love of learning and a strong sense of community. What really sets SSDS apart is the warm, inclusive, and supportive community. From holiday celebrations to the monthly family Shabbat singing and dancing, we feel so fortunate to be part of a place that not only prioritizes education but also instills a love for Jewish traditions and values. Our children come home excited to share what they've learned--whether it's a new Hebrew song, a STEM project, or a meaningful Torah lesson. If you're looking for a school that will nurture your child's academic, social, and spiritual growth, we wholeheartedly recommend SSDS. It has been the best decision for our family!

I never expected to send my kids to a Jewish day school. We ended up at Schechter because my…read morehusband is an alum... and I'm so glad that we did! Schechter gave us a community in Boston -- a community that feels like an extended family -- and has given our kids an amazing education, a moral code, and a foundation for the future. Schechter Boston is a place where every student is known and feels that the belong. And parents feel the same way! As someone who grew up culturally Jewish (attending a Hebrew school where I learned very little), I am so grateful for all that my kids are learning, and jealous that I didn't have the same educational experience!