I strongly advise parents to think twice before sending their children to this school. Our…read moreexperience has been filled with severe safety oversights, poor academic planning, and a complete lack of teacher accountability. Severe Safety Concerns: The school utilizes its own forest area, but supervision is shockingly poor. My child was lost in it multiple times. In one incredibly negligent incident, a teacher completely walked away from the group without even realizing my child was left behind. Substandard & Unlicensed Staff: We found out that multiple teachers on staff do not even hold proper teaching licenses. The English instruction is highly unprofessional; the teacher struggles with basic verb tenses and passes these grammatical errors and incorrect English habits onto the students. Disorganized Curriculum: The academic planning is entirely backward. The principal pushed the curriculum into multiplication before the students had even mastered basic subtraction. Because of this structural failure, my children were left severely behind in math when they finally transferred to a different school. Lack of Care & Blame Culture: The staff consistently shifts blame onto the children instead of taking responsibility. When the kids complained about being freezing cold outside, teachers dismissed them and blamed them for "not wearing enough layers." In art class, teachers stand by while students' clothes are ruined with paint, later claiming it is the child's fault for not wearing a poncho. I have had to throw away numerous pieces of ruined clothing.

Our son was at IFS for 3 years. A few key takeaway from our experience (and why we will enroll our…read moredaughter in the next couple years when she is ready: 1. Mandarin immersion school I think of it as going to school, but you go the extra bonus of Mandarin language (with all benefit that come with growing up as bilingual child). One can argue their preference of home based daycare, regular daycare, or school. I personally prefer school (compared to daycare) to have less students turnover, more organized activity (no one come at 9.30, 10am, and 10.30 - which break the focus of the activity), and better curriculum. 2. Reggio Emilia/Project based learning I prefer not to focus too much on academic for kids under 5. There will be time for that later on. I believe that should not be the focus for 3 years old child. Project based learning allow children to play while learn. 3. Outdoor space They do not stay at "sterile" room. The school intentionally allow students to explore and play with nature. Our son (5 years old in non Mandarin speaking household) received a lot of praise from native speaker during our trip to Taiwan that he spoke fluent Mandarin. During our time here, we enjoyed all of his teachers. We are aware of some turnover impacting some other students, but at the end of the day, some of them are out of school's control. We definitely sad that we have to leave IFS family as our son was accepted at Jing Mei. Otherwise, IFS is a strong candidate for our son's continued education.

I can't say enough nice things about this school. My two boys have both been here since they were…read moreinfants and I went back to work. The teachers are wonderful. Some of them have been here a very long time which says something about this place. They're happy individuals who greet me and chat with me everyday when I drop off and pick up. They're energetic, and create age appropriate class activities that support a little one's imagination, and they display a genuine care for my children. Mary, Joy, and Pam are great at what they do. They communicate well and support you as a parent. There are nice little bonus when a child attends here as well. If you have to take your kids to a school, and you want to know that they are cared for and loved. Having a good time and thriving as best they can outside of being with their family. This is that school for me, and I am blessed to have Mary and the staff here.

We really loved the Rainbow School. You get that family feeling there and I felt my child that was…read morelooked after for and safe! The owner Mary is very reasonable and friendly, and knows what is going on in the school. I liked that she is often around. Everybody there is friendly and helpful, even during the most stressful COVID times! My daughter loved every minute of it, especially time spent with miss Sarah and miss Sheetal, who are great teachers and always greet our family with a smile! There was lot of art and outdoor time, and they have a lovely gym for when the weather is really bad. My daughter also loved the food, snacks and the treats they would have, I.e movie day with pop corn and such. She is moving on the kindergarten now, but the Rainbow school certainly has left a lasting happy impression with her! Thank you Rainbow school!

We've had our 4 yr old daughter at Evergreen for the past year and it's been a wonderful experience…read moreoverall. Ms Gowri and Ms Lucky are the best and our daughter loves being in their class and has grown and matured quite a bit in the past year. They run a very polished, tight, safe/secure ship there and she's learned so much this past year. We're very greatful to Ms Gowri and Ms Lucky and also to the admin-staff and support-staff as well!

I wouldn't recommend here unless you look for a temp care. The teachers are fine but the…read moreadministration and mgt needs to improve.

My kid attended this daycare. We loved it, the teacher is caring and experienced. And management is…read moreprofessional and kid focused.

I'm giving this establishment a 1 start and if I could give none I absolutely would…read more I moved to issaquah in November of 2021, I called this establishment to get my daughter in for daycare as she wasn't yet the age for preschool. Somehow I kept not getting called because they didn't have enough space ok cool, she ended up going to the ECEAP program so daycare was no longer needed besides after school which she still had not been picked to go to daycare there claiming there was no space still. In January of 2022 I had my son, I had waited until after summer when I was done healing from my C-section enough to walk again I tried to get my son up for this daycare in November but of 2022 and they told me there was no space and the waiting list was long, try again next month. I called in December and they finally said they had an opening and he would be able to attend the day of or after his first birthday. I was excited thought I was going to finally get a chance to work and be able to provide for my kids properly. Once I called them in January to double check things, they told me they lost their teacher for the 1yr old class and was waiting to find a new one, so as soon as they do I was supposed to receive a call. I never got a call, so I called back the next month checking to see what's going on? They told me my son was no longer on the list and that I had to go back on the waiting list. Of course I was furious because how long do I have to wait now? Let a few months go by, summer rolled around I tried again to check his status, they told me he was not on the list AGAIN so I had to put him on the list now for the 3rd time. Today I call to check his status and guess what? Lol HES NOT ON THE WAITING LIST AGAIN AND I HAVE TO BE PLACED AGAIN ON ANOTHER WAITING LIST, just to NOT receive a call or any heads up of what's going on. I'd be fine being on a waiting list as long as the communication is together and I actually receive a call. But no, there's no sense of courtesy at all, not once has my son been set to a higher priority considering the fact that the screwup was and has always been on their end and not mine. Why is no one communicating with each other about this stuff? And why is this stuff not being written down or documented so there's proof instead of just making me feel like shit every time I get off the phone with this place. I just want to be able to provide for my kids, I don't have help with baby sitters, I don't barely have family out here. I've went to college and graduated just to not be able to work at all. Barely making ends meet and struggling in between for what my kids need. Idk something needs to absolutely be done.

We have had two children go through the Goddard School on 228th Ave. NE, with our youngest…read moreapproaching the final year before kindergarten--7 years of cumulative time with our kids. The administration has been top notch. The teachers have been consistently bright, caring, and gentle. The school policy "errs" on the side of protecting our children, even if that includes occasionally asking another parent to withdraw a student after multiple aggressive behaviors (they are fair and give chances). We have found this policy to be a blessed relief after having children in schools in Texas who were at risk of injury from bites, especially, and other aggressive behaviors. One common criticism in reviews has been staff turnover. It is true--I noted it on one of the feedback evaluations a few years ago. It is an unavoidable part of running a program in the costly Eastside of Seattle. Goddard cannot afford to pay their teachers Microsoft salaries while maintaining a reasonable market price for tuition. There are, however, staff members who have been there from the beginning. While childcare in our region is not anywhere close to cheap, Goddard has a very fair pricing structure and the well-developed curriculum and nurturing that is part of the experience makes the price, in my opinion, a bargain of sorts. The school administrators have ALWAYS been immediately responsive to any concerns, requests, questions, or feedback. They work hard to make the school the best it can be. I don't give 5 stars lightly, but as an educator and a parent of four, I have seen what works and what doesn't. This place works.

We had a positive experience with the infant room and some toddler-room teachers. Unfortunately,…read moreour experience changed significantly after our daughter transitioned to a toddler room shortly before turning one, especially after a caring teacher went on leave. Communication and management issues further worsened the situation. One major concern was the toddler room's policy against bottle feeding. Despite practicing with sippy and straw cups, our daughter was still unable to use them reliably, and we did not believe she was developmentally ready to stop bottles, particularly since she was born three weeks early. We asked to delay the transition or allow temporary bottle use, but our initial requests were declined without a clear alternative. We ultimately escalated to the owner, who allowed bottle feeding as an exception in another room. This raised concerns about whether the transition was developmentally appropriate. Washington regulations state that children should transition from infant care to cups when developmentally appropriate. The center focused on the toddler-room ratio, but our concern was whether our daughter was actually being treated as a toddler when she still needed infant-appropriate feeding support. Bottles were not permitted, there was no refrigerator or bottle warmer, and the materials were primarily designed for toddlers. We were also told the favorable ratio during her first week was simply because enrollment was low. We were told she had to transition before one because there was no space in the infant room in September - they enrolled more infants. We were additionally told that it was important to let children "suffer sometimes" so they could learn. Different families may have different views on this philosophy. The final trigger for us was how our daughter's crying was handled. After being out sick for several weeks, she returned needing extra comfort. At pickup, we found our 12-month-old crying alone on the floor in a different room while two teachers were occupied cleaning. She had no other children around her, her eyes were visibly puffy, and she looked exhausted. The experience was deeply upsetting and made us question whether she was receiving the responsive care she needed. That evening, she also appeared unusually thirsty, had dry diapers, and drank a significant amount of water at home. This was especially concerning given the inconsistent communication we had already experienced regarding her food, fluids, and naps. When we withdrew, the office administrators were apologetic and acknowledged the teacher-turnover challenges. The owner maintained that the bottle accommodation addressed our concerns. We also requested that October tuition be waived since our daughter would not attend a single day after withdrawing in mid-September, but the request was denied based on the enrollment agreement. Ultimately, every family has different expectations for childcare. As two busy working parents, we need to trust that our child's developmental needs are recognized and that basic information about her care is communicated consistently, without repeatedly having to advocate for it. We are grateful to the teachers who cared for our daughter warmly, particularly in the infant room, but based on our experience, we decided this was no longer the right environment for our family.

We had a wonderful experience at Eastgate Montessori Garden. The teachers and the nurturing…read moreenvironment played such an important role in our son's development. We could see how much he grew, learned, and gained confidence during his time there. What makes this daycare especially meaningful is how warm and welcoming the environment is, not only for the children but also for their families. Parents are encouraged to participate in activities and truly feel like part of the community. Monika, the owner, is incredibly caring, attentive, and supportive. She genuinely cares about each child and is always encouraging their growth and celebrating their progress. The teachers are also kind, patient, and dedicated, creating a place where children feel safe, loved, and supported. We are very grateful for everything they did for our son and for the positive impact they had on his development. Eastgate Montessori Garden will always have a special place in our hearts, and we highly recommend it to families looking for a loving and supportive environment for their children.

We've had a wonderful experience with Eastgate Montessori Garden. Our daughter joined when she was…read morejust 2 years old, and even after only half a school year, we've already seen tremendous growth. She has become noticeably more confident, more social with other children, and her English skills have improved dramatically. What truly sets this school apart is Teacher Monica, a rare gem in the Greater Seattle area. With over 30 years of Montessori teaching experience, she brings a depth of understanding, patience, and guidance that's incredibly hard to find. She also had a knack for recruiting compassionate and loving assistant teachers such as Rebecca, Lori, and previously Gnana, whom we greatly appreciated. While only a very select number of schools in the area have teachers with comparable experience, those schools tend to be quite large, and it's not always guaranteed that your child will be placed with one of their most seasoned educators. At Eastgate, the environment is more personal and intentional, and we felt confident that our daughter was receiving direct support from someone who truly understands Montessori principles and how to nurture each child's growth. We're grateful for the warmth, consistency, and quality of education our daughter received here. Highly recommend!

We've had a wonderful experience at Evergreen Montessori Academy! The Montessori curriculum is…read morethoughtfully designed and encourages our child to grow into an independent, curious, and confident learner. It's been amazing to see how much she developed both academically and socially through hands-on learning and self-directed activities. One of the things we appreciate most is the low student-to-teacher ratio. The teachers truly get to know each child and tailor their support to meet individual needs. It's clear that the staff genuinely care about the students, and that makes a huge difference in how our child feels about school every day. Another unexpected bonus has been the lunch program. Chef Renato prepare food that is healthy, balanced, and kid-friendly--and our child actually looks forward to lunch! It gives us peace of mind knowing she is being well-nourished during the day. We're so grateful to have found a school that aligns with our values and supports our child in such a holistic way.

My daughter Nora is having a great time at school here. She not only has learned to respect other…read moreteachers and friends, but also has become more independent and confident. I highly recommend EMA.

My 5 and 3 year old both go to KCS.  KCS is like a second home.  Everyone is so warm, welcoming,…read morecaring, and genuinely love kids.  Many of the faces I see there were there when my eldest first started 4 years ago.  If I start naming names, it would be a huge list because everyone I have encountered at KCS have been amazing.  When we walk in the hallway even teachers from other classes tend to know my kids names and give us a warm welcome as we pass by.  I am always in such awe of the curriculum, and way they are always changing the layouts in the classrooms with exciting ways to play and bring alive learning experiences.  Their in house kitchen makes such delicious homemade food for the kids that I wish I could eat there as well! They have such an impressive array of outdoor/playground areas for the kids to enjoy in rain or shine. I could not imagine a more well run daycare!  They really know what they are doing!!! They were great at keeping up with latest Covid recommendations from the state for daycares and communicating the updates to everyone as clearly as possible. My friends with kids elsewhere would ask me about KCS Covid guidelines, and were always so impressed with how well KCS managed the craziness of the past couple years. I am sad that my eldest will be leaving KCS, but happy my youngest has another couple years.  Today was the last day of the school year, and my kids' teachers gave such touching cards and gifts to my kids for them to remember the year.  Thank you to everyone at KCS!  One of the best choices I ever made was deciding to send my kids here!

Our oldest daughter is a proud graduate of Kirkland Children's School. Over the last four years, we…read morehave felt so grateful that our daughter was able to attend KCS. Each of her classes was a warm, nurturing environment that promoted learning and true connection between students and their teachers. The staff at KCS was also a pleasure to deal with throughout our time at the school. Finally, I have to commend KCS on their handling of the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. KCS was very conscientious in the application of health and safety precautions throughout this period, and the staff was very flexible as health guidelines continually changed. Overall, I couldn't recommend KCS more, and we will miss everyone there as our daughter moves on to first grade!