This preschool is outstanding. The classroom is a beautiful space filled with fun and creative…read moreoptions for learning. The teaching staff is highly experienced, compassionate and fun. They do an amazing job combining hands-on play with structured activities throughout the day, with lots of opportunities to develop social skills and school readiness. Also, the families who attend the school are a close-knit and supportive community. The hours are convenient and flexible (offering both whole and half-day options and full and part-time options) and the price is very reasonable. The preschool is also connected to a public charter school that is open to all PPS students, which is especially convenient for those with school-aged children who would prefer one location for pick-up/drop-off. My child has been attending Trillium preschool for two years and absolutely loves it. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Our family has been with Trillium Preschool for four years, and we'll be sad to leave this sweet,…read morecreative, fun, inspiring, supportive little preschool program in 2018. A wonderful little school for youngsters to get their feet wet in school, pick up important social skills, make art, do messy science, and explore their growing world.

Overlook Collaborative Preschool is such a wonderful school! As a former teacher I can truly say…read morethat all children, families and extended families are supported in the children's educational experiences. The time and thought that goes into each activity is extensive. From the meaningful play between children to the provocations the teachers set up on the table in the morning; each one has a great deal of importance in the learning experiences of each child. Each child's voice is heard, understood and valued within the community. All who enter the school are treated with respect and chearished for what they contribute to the community. This makes a great difference in how children communicate with each other, problem solve and interact with others. Once a child graduates and moves on to the next school in their education they take all the communication tools the gained at OCP and share them with others. Many times former parents would send a email, call or return for a visit to let us know how successfully their child was communicating and working with other children in their new class. As a teacher it was very rewarding to hear these stories. OCP is a fantastic school for children to learn, grow, develop and blossom into fantastic members of the community.

OCP is an incredibly warm and welcoming learning environment. Everything Erin and Diane do--whether…read moreit's the daily journal log or baking a snack or gently teaching my son how to write his name--is done with so much thought and care. My son is both able to access curriculum at his own pace and prompted with a safe and appropriate level of challenge, the perfect balance for him to learn and grow safely.

Aprende Con Amigos was an amazing experience for my child. It's a place he always looks forward to…read moregoing to, and I'm certain that without them he wouldn't be ready for Kindergarten. Along with Spanish, my kid learned counting, writing, colors, shapes, and natural science while at Aprende. That experience of having your kid say "Papa, this tree was once a little seed and it fell in the ground and then it grew!" is really too precious for words. Another huge benefit of Aprende is forgiveness and flexibility. My own child really struggled with aggression (hitting kids and teachers) and the teachers worked with him for over a year, never blaming him (or his parents!) but also keeping other kids safe. I know it was a lot of extra work, but they stuck to it and now my kid's behavior is under control. Also, the community of parents is great, and we made some great friends at the community events. Finally, there are just amazing teachers at Aprende. I don't want to list them all off but their ability to turn the barely controlled chaos of rambunctious kids into a learning environment is amazing.

We attended the summer camps this year and had a great experience. They had separate sessions for…read moreschool aged children and pre-K kids, which works out well. The facility is clean and inviting and the staff is friendly and all seem very caring with the kids. My kids are in Spanish immersion school so it was nice to continue their learning over the summer. They have a good security system and it's very professionally run. I definitely recommend Aprende con Amigos.

My son went to Wow and Flutterville from when he was 6 weeks to 9 months, and I felt that he was…read morevery loved and well cared for at WAF! The owner is very warm and kind and has a progressive vision for child care that I appreciated. When my son first started he was at the Sellwood location, which felt very organized and cohesive to me. He later switched to the N Portland location and that location experienced a bit of staff turnover - which is not anyone's fault - but it contributed to a feeling that the environment was slightly chaotic and the teachers weren't able to develop a consistent daily rhythm. All in all, I would definitely recommend this as a loving place to send my kids again!

Didn't have the best experience here, everything seemed great at first, staff is friendly but when…read morea situation came up they seemed to have "no idea" what happened and I got a very scripted response. Upon picking up my daughter around 5pm I could tell within min something was off, her eyes were red and she had snot and dirt covering her mouth area, and acting weakly while putting her in the car seat she was extremely hot, my first reaction was oh maybe she played to long in the sun and maybe cried over a toy or fell? When I got home I live less than 10 min away, she had a high temp, im in no way blaming anyone for her having a fever what I find unusual is that no one "noticed" well was she upset did she fall or cry? Response I got was no she was fine and playing and took water breaks. Mind you she's not even 2 I would expect someone to notice something may be off. Turned out to be an ear infection. In addition after I msged the staff about the incident I didn't feel like anyone really cared to ask what happened or check. Especially now with COVID , don't you want to know what was the outcome if your kids are attending there? It's a shame cause I think my daughter enjoyed it for the most part. Perhaps this is normal at daycares?

From the owner: Nature-based, arts-integrated, bilingual Spanish. Enrolling for Fall…read more Matriculando para el otoño. Aprender jugando

New Farm Montessori creates a warm, loving environment for all children. Here's a few amazing…read morethings about the school: Amazing homemade, fresh snacks and lunches Chickens and a bunny Walks to the park All the wonderful Montessori classroom resources Lots of singing and guitar playing Art Did I mention the wholesome food? And best of all - teachers that love the children.

From the owner: New Farm Montessori is a home-based preschool program for children age 2.5-6 years in the Arbor…read moreLodge neighborhood of North Portland.

Pipster Prep has been a blessing! The teachers feel like members of the family and our children…read morecanot wait to come back each day! With actual teachers leading the class, our children are learning a lot in a very structered way! Thank you, Pipster Prep!

Pipster Prep was great--until it wasn't. We were one of the first families when the school opened…read morein May 2023 with just two classrooms, and stayed through April 2025 as it expanded to eight. Unfortunately, the quality of care and leadership didn't grow with it. While many of the teachers were kind and well-meaning, the majority were very young, newly trained through online programs, and often promoted with minimal hands-on experience. This inexperience showed, especially when it came to basic safety and communication. We raised several safety concerns over our time there: loose screws left in classrooms, unsecured furniture, choking hazards like popcorn and whole grapes on the snack menu, and toys with loose button batteries. Water beads--another well-known risk--were even used in class. We, and other families, were repeatedly brushed off or met with defensiveness when we brought these issues up. Our daughter has severe food allergies and had multiple reactions at school. Instead of ensuring a safe shared environment, the school had her eat meals alone at a table--at just 2 years old--while other students with allergies had entire foods banned from their classrooms for their safety. Even with discussions with their owner, Tessa, they don't seem to actually have a cohesive set protocol for handling allergies at their schools. Our daughter's school stored EpiPen was also allowed to expire by three months, only discovered when they went through medications for a state inspection scheduled the next day. There's only one classroom in the entire building with windows to the outside. The outdoor space is tiny, surfaced with hot rubber bark from recycled tires that stains clothes and skin when wet--definitely not designed with young children in mind. Multiple complaints and suggestions from parents were made over the two years we were there but nothing happened. Communication with the director, Jessica, was one of the most frustrating aspects. She often went weeks or even months without replying to emails, was rarely present during school hours, and didn't seem to support or equip teachers to navigate concerns with families. When we did hear from her, responses were often dismissive or defensive rather than collaborative. Eventually, we were blamed for "teacher burnout" simply for raising ongoing concerns about safety and our daughter's well-being. We appreciated the daily photos, but it often meant that teachers spent significant time on iPads instead of actively engaging with the children. For the high tuition we paid, our daughter frequently spent playtime drawing on a whiteboard with dried-out markers or sharing a single marker among many kids. In March 2025, we were suddenly told our family would not be allowed to return in the fall because our occasional concerns were"too much for Jessica's mental health". This came without any prior indication of issues or feedback. A few weeks later, we were immediately expelled from the school and received an email accusing us of "disruptive and inappropriate behavior." We had picked out daughter up early that day for a Doctor's appointment... Shockingly, Jessica sent an email to the entire school community sharing private details about our daughter's medical history, and invited other parents to "come into her office" to learn more about our family--something that was not only unethical, but a serious privacy violation. We were wowed by the newness of the school but should have done more due diligence as organizationally, it doesn't seem equipped to handle its rapid growth. Despite Jessica's experience as a preschool director, her lack of openness to feedback, poor communication, and disregard for legitimate safety concerns are deeply troubling. Since leaving, we've heard similar stories from other families and former staff. If you dig past the solicited 5-star reviews, you'll find more parents speaking up about the same issues. Advocating for your child's safety should never be treated as a threat or burden. That should have been our biggest red flag of all.

Our son has been with the Fremont Center since it opened. Our older son also went through…read moreChildroots from daycare through preschool at other locations, so we have extensive experience with the school. I am so deeply grateful for this program, it's hard to express fully. It has been incredibly positive for my children in so many ways - social/emotional skills, creativity, independence, learning, joy, bonding with teachers. Too many to name! My kids have loved it here and thrived. For our kids, this has been the best child care in the city. Yes, it is pricey, but it is on par with other high quality child care programs. I love that they provide healthy food, including lunch, so I don't have to pack it every day. No doubt, the first 6 months at the Fremont Center were a rough go (as stated in the disgruntled review posted here). There were some highly unusual circumstances that came up with a couple of the teachers and they had some difficulty finding replacements. This is partly due to the very high standards they have. We have NEVER had a bad teacher at CR. If someone doesn't meet their standards, they do not hesitate to let them go. I appreciate that. My older son still has relationships with some of his previous teachers. High turnover is pretty normal in the industry. CR's turnover rate has reduced dramatically since they instituted higher wages and better benefits for teachers. All of the staff at the Fremont Center are stellar. My son has personal relationships with the administrators (director and preschool specialist) there, in addition to his teachers. I can't imagine him anywhere else and I tell everyone I know what a great place it is. When my older son got to kindergarten he was far ahead of most of his peers in terms of social/emotional skills. All of the CR parents I have talked to say the same thing. When we have playdates at our house, the behavior of non-CR kids is noticeably different (more behavior issues). The thing the sold me the most on CR when I first walked in was the WAY they talk to the kids. It is so respectful, and this in turn teaches the kids so much - to have self worth, to feel respected and respect others, to navigate conflict successfully, etc. That is the thing I still value the most about CR. It has actually taught me how to talk to my kids. I am grateful for this program in so many ways.

I wouldn't say we are picky parents, but the saying "third time's a charm" fits for us. After…read moretrying two other childcare options, we found Childroots and we couldn't be happier. Their philosophy of child led learning and socializing is a perfect fit for our child. The director and teachers are always available and are in regular communications with us about how we can best help our kid overcome problems, enhance his learning, and work through some of this big childhood emotions. We know our kid is growing fast, and when we can't be there, we are so glad that Childroots can be. They are not only helping our now 5 year old build skills for life, they are helping us be better parents.

Our son attends The Carl and we couldn't be happier!…read more From the respectful manner in which the teacher speaks to the kids, to the daily outside playtime in their private playground. From the vivid and expressive way teacher Elizabeth reads at story time (which draws even the most energetic child to the rug), to the messy and wonderful different crafts the teachers provide. They are a play-based preschool that listens to your child's opinions and gives them structure while allowing them to develop their growing autonomy. Love this school! They are really accommodating to people wanting to check out the preschool day as well. Worth checking out for sure!

Our daughter has attended The Carl Preschool since we moved to Portland a year and a half ago. The…read moreexperience has been amazing - especially as a new family to the community. We felt instantly welcomed as a family and our daughter has blossomed. She will attend Kindergarten in the Fall but is already talking about going back to visit teacher Elizabeth whenever she can. Elizabeth is magical. She engages the children and sparks their imaginations through play, cooking, baking, nature walks, farm visits and conversation. Her love and presence has been a gift to our daughter who will move onto "big school" with confidence, a love of learning and a strong foundation as a loving, charitable and spiritual person. I love this school and what it has given my daughter. And I will forever be grateful to teacher Elizabeth. Thank you Carl Preschool! Go check it out - your child will love it.