I went to this school. It's good. The superintendent was my principal when i went. She is super…read morenice and staff are nice too. I love all the teachers there. There is a new principal now so I don't really know about him all I know is that he does not dress like a principal and he acts like a student not a principal. Almost all teachers are great. One of the kindergarten teachers, I will not name her because that's messed up, is very mean. She flipped off a mom outside of school and is mean inside of school too. But if you are looking for a school for your kids, this school is great. They are also great with attending students with disabilities. My younger sister has spina bifida and they do a great job to help her with her needs. This is a very long review and yes, I'm a minor and no I don't go to this school anymore, but I used to. Ok bye I'm done typing hope this helped anyone who needed it

The best teachers and staff.. positive, friendly environment. My son has attended TK,K,1st,2nd and…read more3rd here and will continue on. He loves it and so do I. Great after school care program as well! Highly recommend !!

We love love LOVE River. Our oldest went there from K to 5th and the only reason we didn't let her…read morefinish 6th grade there was because River doesn't have a Jr. High/middle school program and I prefer smaller middle schools for our kids so when she got into the middle school program at this other school, we moved her. It was a hard decision that I still sometimes regret. Just like any education programs, give it some time and have faith in the system, good results will show before too long. Montessori schools assigns lots of works to their students during school time (4-6 assignments completed each day plus research projects/teamwork projects) so some students might have a harder time in the beginning but there's also no homework which allows quality family time and the time for extra activities after school. No gradings which allows kids to like learning and wants to learn. Montessori education also provides the freedom to choose how much time students want to spend with each subject but yet still comply with the CA curriculum standards. The idea is for the students to challenge themselves to want to do better each time and they have just the right tools there to help the kids to do so. Doesn't that sound more like the real world/jobs after schools? Need I say more? Learning is just more fun and practical at River! Oh did I mentioned about their Science Fair and the International Family Fair and the Sustainable Creator's Fair that's all open to the public??? Today at the parent teacher conference with my kid's new teacher at the middle school, I was told she's kind, and she is doing well in all subjects. Top 20 percent of her age group in reading thanks to River's excellence Montessori education that positively reinforced their students to want to do harder and better. I am not the only parent from River that have this "after River experience" in fact, many have mentioned the similar experiences with their kids after River so if anyone ever questioned how the students are doing after River Montessori... they are doing great! If you are interested in learning about non traditional / alternative educations for your little one but still has your hesitations, schedule a tour with them and see the River magics with your own eyes!

A free public Montessori school! We love the school, especially after paying for private…read moreMontessori preschool for both our kiddos in another area. Our kids both love their guides and their friends. The staff has done a great job making the best of the available space. We're so happy we made the choice to go here.

We have only been here for six months and feel like we have been welcomed with open arms by staff…read moreand fellow parents alike. All the teachers in the school seem to know our children's names. Parents all greet each other warmly each morning during drop off and will introduce themselves to newcomers. Becoming involved in school programs and committees has been easy. The PTA officers are completely approachable and excited to have new parents get involved. The Kindergarten teachers have a deep understanding of early childhood development and the importance of creative, imaginative play and artistic expression as part of the daily curriculum. The kindergarteners are thriving academically and exceeding state standards in this low-pressure, nurturing environment. We feel that this school is a hidden little gem that needs to be discovered!

My son has attended OA for 3 years. In my experience with the school, I think the teachers and the…read moreprincipal truly care about my son's growth. He has struggled in a few areas and they have worked with him to improve his skills and grades. The only issue I see is student to teacher ratio - initially this started out 22 to 1 and now it is 30 to 1, which is too much for elementary students. Also, OA has a very low student population (~250) which ensures the students are lost in the shuffle of a big school.

I can't say enough wonderful things about this preschool. My little one went to this preschool for…read moretwo years, and it's absolutely the best! The teachers are truly amazing! I have high standards, especially when it comes to my children's school/education, and this preschool is the best in Sonoma county. Sharry, who is the director of the preschool has years of experience and is the best! All of the teachers have strong educational backgrounds when it comes to child development. My little one always says how much she loves her teachers and how much fun she has every day. I would highly recommend this preschool to everyone!

I can't say enough about this amazing pre school. I currently have one granddaughter enrolled and…read morehave another that attended and is entering 1st grade as well as a 3rd granddaughter that starts in August. This is such a warm, affectionate environment that encourages creativity, encourages Independence, and praise the children constantly. The focus truly seems to be on getting the children prepped for kindergarten, praising accomplishments, encouraging the children to interact well with others. The teachers are patient, warm, and obviously rooting for each child as an individual. Our family absolutely loves this pre school and you can't put a price on being worry free with our little ones. If I could rate it higher I definitely would.

We were initially drawn to this school because of its beautiful philosophy and child-centered…read morelanguage about independence, exploration, and nurturing a love of learning. Our grandson started there shortly after turning two, and he absolutely loved going to school. Unfortunately, our family's experience with the administration did not reflect the warm and developmentally appropriate environment described in the school's mission. From early on, my daughter was repeatedly approached with concerns about completely normal toddler behavior -- including delayed expressive speech at just over two years old and difficulty sitting through circle time. Many toddlers, especially active young boys, are simply not ready for highly structured group expectations at that age. Rather than partnering with parents in a supportive way, the communication often felt pressuring, judgmental, and lacking in understanding of normal developmental variation. At one point, the director even suggested that although we were paying for three days per week, our grandson should be removed for the middle day "to reset." That recommendation made little sense to us and did not feel supportive or solution-oriented. In our experience, families should understand that despite the Montessori-style language and emphasis on following the child, this program operates with fairly rigid behavioral expectations for very young children. If your child is under four, still developing speech, highly energetic, slow to warm up, or not naturally inclined toward structured group participation, this will not be the right fit. This environment may work well for children who are already very verbal, compliant, and comfortable with structure at a young age. But for active toddlers who are still developing at their own pace, it did not feel accepting or supportive of the "whole child" philosophy the school promotes.

We truly love Pepper Preschool and the wonderful teachers. The space is so thoughtful and sweet…read more The "Montessori Light" style has been perfect for our sensitive son and the themes for each months learning have taught him so much. There is a wonderful balance of outdoor and classroom time and his two years of Pepper Preschool have made him more independent and interested in learning. Each teacher brings a unique perspective and we love that they have all been at Pepper School for years. Most importantly he has learned how to be a kind friend and his ability to interact with other children and adults has blossomed. When recently deciding between TK and a third year at Pepper we opted for another year at Pepper. We know the skills he is learning and the wonderfully low teacher to student ratio will prepare him well for school.

First and foremost, I just wanted to take a tour of the school, no commitment. However it seems at…read morethis school that is not an option. When I called I was told they only have a "tour season" what ever that means. Which I would think would be right about now for the Aug 2017 school year but apparently this "tour season" it's already over and tours are not given at this time. Instead I was instructed to go on the their website to get all the info I needed and fill out an application to be put on a waiting list. Hmmmmm, waiting list for a tour? I'm not even sure I want my child to go here as of yet. Why would I want to be put on a waiting list for school I wasn't even allowed to see?? Kinda of hash stance to take for a school who only has a 3 star rating. Any case, first impressions are everything to me whether it be on the phone or in person. Needless to say this was not a good one. With so many choices for preschools in the Santa Rosa area I'll be moving on ...

My kids have been attending College Oak for approx 3+ years now. I love this school, their…read moreteachers and overall lifestyle. They compost, garden, feed the chickens, do art all day, build relationships, gain confidence, etc -- what more could you ask for in a school!

As the Executive Director of the infant center next door to Happy Time Preschool, I've had the…read moreunique privilege of watching countless families graduate from our program and transition seamlessly into theirs and I can say with complete confidence that there is no better place for young children to grow, learn, and thrive. On a personal level, four of my own grandchildren have attended Happy Time, and the love and support they received there was nothing short of extraordinary. Ms. Melinda, the director, is an absolute treasure. In all my years working in early childhood education, I have never met a more compassionate, dedicated, and visionary leader. Her heart is fully invested in the well-being of every single child, every family, and every member of her staff. Happy Time isn't just a preschool it's a family. Ms. Melinda fosters a warm, nurturing environment where children are celebrated as individuals, where creativity and curiosity are encouraged, and where learning happens through joy and connection. Her team follows her lead with the same genuine care, professionalism, and passion that she models every day. As both a fellow educator and a grandmother, I can say with 100% certainty: if you're looking for a preschool where your child will be truly seen, supported, and loved Happy Time is the place.

Finding the right daycare for your little ones is never an easy decision, but from the moment I met…read moreMs. Melinda, I knew I had found something truly special. I had a list of places to tour, but after meeting her, I canceled the rest--she was THAT incredible. Her warmth, expertise, and genuine love for children make this preschool and daycare more than just a childcare facility--it's a second home. Over the past 7 wonderful years, she has cared for my two children, as well as my niece and nephew, ensuring they feel safe, nurtured, and inspired to grow. Her dedication to every child's well-being, learning, and happiness is unmatched, and I wouldn't trust anyone else with their care. If I ever have another little one in the future, there is no question--this will be the place where they'll learn, play, and thrive. I cannot recommend Happy Time Preschool and Ms. Melinda enough to any parent looking for exceptional childcare!

this is a very good school, my teacher, Ms b is the best. She got us a pet fish and we've been…read moreloving it, but the food is not so good, but it is something and the playground is very funny. But it could work on some tiny improvement. First thing is I find lots of dog poop when I am walking on the track in the morning but the best thing about my school is my music teacher, I think that's how you spell her name and I love this school and I hope it does not be closed ._. bye

Very beautiful school and everyone who I met are very friendly! And there have huge playground and…read morelots area where the children can play games! Amazing!