My 4 children have attended this school over the past 10 years, from 18 months to 5 years old, and our family has had a very positive experience. The teachers and staff are caring, patient, and dedicated. They were also very helpful during potty training which helped so much. Each morning, they check children's temperatures, which gives us parents peace of mind and shows their strong focus on health and safety. The school is very well organized with daily routines, activities, holiday events, learning programs, and strong parent communication. I always appreciated the progress reports and updates, showing how involved and attentive the teachers are. The environment is always clean, welcoming, and well managed, with consistent routines, rules, and food policies. Many teachers and staff have been there for many years, which speaks highly of the school's stability and management. A special thank you to Maria in the office (20+ years) and all the wonderful teachers my children have had, including Samantha (19+ years), Karen, Yatsiri, Nicole, and Lorena. I highly recommend this school to any parent looking for a clean, organized, loving, and trustworthy environment. read more

My daughter has been attending First School (Cathedral City) for about 18 months. It has been a wonderful learning experience for her, and she is thriving socially, and in language skills. For the majority of the last year she has been assigned to Miss Arcadia's Classroom. She loves Miss Arcadia, and talks about the books and the stuffies (stuffed animals) that are in the classroom. I am particularly grateful to Miss Arcadia (and the whole staff, Miss Myra, Miss Marlene, and everyone else) because they were super helpful to me when it came to potty training. They were so helpful at maintaining consistency, despite the fact that potty training too longer than I hoped. Next year my daughter moves to another classroom, and we'll miss having Miss Arcadia. read more

My daughter had been attending First school in La Quinta going on 3 years. Her teacher now Miss. Samantha is amazing. My daughter loves her and learns so much from her. I'm so happy that her last year at this school is being spent with Miss. Samantha. Thank you so much for all you are doing with my daughter. read more

My sons have attended First School-CC since they were both 18 months old. They are now 3 & 5. I'm so thankful for everything that has been poured into them by the whole staff. Miss Linda has been AMAZING!! For a long time, she was the director as well as a teacher, and she managed each with diligence and consistency. Her dedication and pure love for the kiddos is incredibly apparent in everything she does. My son has learned how to write his name, the alphabet, and numbers 1-20. She has equipped him not only with academic skills but also social skills. Over the years she has taken her time to help him learn how to manage his emotions and be a good friend to others. I will forever be grateful for her continual effort to make a difference in each child she encounters. She is incredibly special and has a rare gift of intuitively knowing how to help little ones grow! read more

I've been using first school since 2019 & have loved every second! My oldest son was there before COVID and loved it. Now my middle child goes there & looks forward to it! He's had amazing teachers. Ms. G was his first teacher when he turned 18 months, and still to this day he won't leave there without going and saying goodbye to her & he's now 3. She did an amazing good with him & the love he has for her still makes me so happy! read more

My daughter has been attending for school for 8 months now. She is at preschool level and is 4 years old. She has learned how to write her name, numbers, letters, similarities, differences, and so much more. She comes home everyday with so much knowledge and excitement. She loves each one of her teachers and talks about them constantly, especially Miss Samantha. She tells me Miss Samantha is one of her favorites and she always looks forward to seeing her! Thank you to all the teachers at First School! read more

My son has attended both first school in Palm Desert then Cathedral City and our experience has been great. The staff is wonderful, his teacher Miss Mirian has been fantastic. I appreciate the structure she provides, she is caring and nurturing and all around great ! Thank you Miss Mirian and the rest of Cathedral City First School staff read more

My daughter had Mrs.Vicky as her teacher and she was wonderful! Mrs.Vicky went beyond her way to make my daughter feel comfortable as she would cry everyday and did not want to attend daycare. Very satisfied with all the fun activities she did with the kids and her sweet demeanor. Highly recommend! read more

My daughter just graduated from First School La Quinta and I cannot rave enough about this wonderful school. My daughter learned so much from Room 7, her alphabet, numbers, days of the week, months, colors, shapes...not to mention Spanish as well. My daughter also enjoyed Miss Dena's ballet class on Fridays! We love our First School family and are so happy they well prepared our girl for Kindergarten read more

First School - Our sweet girl at graduation - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - La Quinta, California

Great hours of operations, very friendly and helpful staff. My child had Miss Samantha and Miss Donna as her main teachers. Each have such great quialities in a person you want watching and shaping your child. Miss Samantha is extreamly patient and was always was having fun with the kids. (MUSIC, BOOK, CRAFTS) Thank you! Miss Donna is a very friendly woman, she always made my little one feel special, there was not one day she didn't come home telling me about her day. Communicated with me about my child. She has changes and grown so much there. Excited to aee what her mind can create this year. Thank you all so much. Hope to see you around the desert! read more

We have been at First School on La Quinta for over a year now. After COVID we lost daycare and formalized learning for a toddler just didn't seem possible. I am nothing short of proud of all the staff members and how they've excelled in all areas of health & safety and early childhood development. In the last 6-7 months my son has been in Ms. Vicky's class and he's grown so much. She's so passionate and patient despite the toddler stage of growing pains and tantrums she's never wavered and I'm certain my son is better because of her. She's consistent and caring, the activities and personalized attention my son received has really made the difference in his learning abilities. My son is 3.5 yrs old and is often regarded as very bright and advanced for his age, I wish I could take the ALL the credit but without Ms. Vicky at First School I'm not sure that would be our story. Highly recommend, very happy parent! read more

My daughter really enjoyed her time at first school- La Quinta. She learned so much and her confidence and independence expanded. I am so appreciative of all the care and encouragement she received from Mrs. Maria, her pre- K teacher, who also kept all the kids engaged and essentially ready for kindergarten. I highly recommend this daycare/preschool. read more

I absolutely LOVE First School LQ! Both of my kids have gone there, one when he was younger and one now. Both kids were lucky enough to have Ms. Karen and she is the BEST! Karen goes above and beyond for her students and it's obvious she loves the kids she cares for. I highly recommend First School LQ. read more

First school is the BEST preschool in the desert! If you are looking for a safe, fun and educational environment for your child, this is the place. We have been attending First School, La Quinta for 5 years now. Both of my children have attended and absolutely love it. My son, who is now 8 years old had an incredibly positive experience. He still loves to go back and say "hello" to his past teachers. My daughter is 4yrs old and currently enrolled as a student. Upon arrival, every morning, she can't wait to jump out of the car and give Ms. Rae a hug! Ms. Rae is the Office Manager and she has been there since we started, back in 2011. I have watched her grow her career with First School. There is something to be said about going to a Preschool for 5 years and seeing the same welcoming faces. Ms. Rae is incredibly organized, professional and caring. She consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic, integrity & passion for her job. We couldn't have asked for a better teacher, Ms. Maria. She has an amazing outlook, is patient with her class and a fantastic teacher. Ms. Maria always keeps us abreast of upcoming events, provides a detailed report daily on behavior, what the children learned and are currently working on in class, behavior if she ate all her lunch, and even if she took a nap which I appreciate! My daughter can't wait to give Ms. Maria a hug every morning and she reiterates how "I don't do her hair as good as Ms. Maria does" - which I think is so cute. She has learned songs and words in English and Spanish, colors, letters, shapes, counting by 10's and 20's - I attribute all of that to Ms. Maria. They have a high quality academic and developmental curriculum. At the end of each day, my daughter looks forward to seeing Ms. Nicole at the office and giving her a big hug. Ms. Nicole always seems to have memorized which classroom the kids are in, end of day. (they move kids around, end of day from their primary classroom to keep them active). There isn't one day I haven't seen a welcoming smile on Ms. Nicole's face. She understands the business, is organized and incredibly professional. You will also love the Family night outs, Graduation Program, Christmas Performances, etc.. that is offered at First School. First School Management, please take a moment to recognize Ms. Rae, Ms. Maria and Ms. Nicole to ensure they know that their efforts, consistently going above and beyond do not go unnoticed. You have put together a great team of employees that makes your customers feel respected and valued. Your staff at the La Quinta location is always incredibly attentive, patient and helpful. First School wouldn't be the same without these individuals. Sincerely, Lisa Ryerson read more

Enrolling our son at First School was a great decision for him and our family! I was really nervous and overwhelmed when I began looking for care for our son, especially after a very upsetting experience at an in-home facility, but I was immediately put at ease when I called to inquire about their program. I happened to get the owner of the company, Mark, and he suggested I come in and take a tour. When I asked if I needed to make an appointment he said that wasn't necessary and I could stop in anytime. I felt that if the owner had that much faith in his staff and facility, he must be operating a great school. When I went in to inquire, I was really impressed with their facility and their front office staff was so friendly and welcoming. Miss Nicole showed me their 18-24 month classroom, introduced me to the teachers and answered all of my questions. She took the time to explain everything to me and I never felt like they were trying to get me in and out. I was really impressed with the friendliness and warmth of his teachers, Miss G and Miss Yatsi as well. Every day we were greeted with a warm smile and such positive attitudes. They enjoy their job and it shows! He has been attending for about 7 months and he is definitely thriving there. He is on the shy side, but he loves his friends and seeing him interact with his peers has been wonderful. One of the highlights of his day is when we are leaving and he gets to stop at the front desk to "See Cole" (Miss Nicole). Everyday he asks to talk to her and shows her what's in his lunch box. She always engages with him and acts as if it's the most exciting thing she's ever seen and he just loves it. She always has a smile on her face and genuinely seems happy to be there. Thank you First School for providing not only quality childcare/education, but the events you put on for the kids and their families are so appreciated! read more

For the past 3 1/2 years we have trusted our boys with First School and we have never worried that we're not in great care. Miss. Maria has made our sons Kindergarten experience wonderful. She gives him extra spelling to help keep him stimulated and sits and talks him through his little emotions with great care. He adores his time with Miss. Nancy and Miss Samantha at lunch and in the afternoons. They are always welcoming, attentive, and nurture my boys individual personalities. read more

This is th best school! Our little guy has been coming to school here for over a year! He is in Mrs. Yari and Miss Jessica's class! The ladies are incredible teachers. Jacob is talking so much, listening, loves books, music and developing beautifully. We believe that a lot of his growth and development comes from the gem teachers he has and the environment they create in their classroom. We are so grateful for Mrs. Yari and Miss Jessica. read more

We have been with this preschool for 1.5 years, both my kids started in Ms. G's classroom at 18 months. We are amazed at how much our kids enjoy going to school and how much they've learned. At the time my 18 month old was saying about 5 words since he's been with Ms. G he has become very vocal and social. We are amazed at how much he's grown in the last 6 months. Ms. G has taught him so much, we enjoy watching him sing his ABC's, point out our body parts and count in both Spanish and English. My 18th month old entered school during the pandemic, we were a little scared but Ms. G is great at communicating and made it very easy for us to leave our baby. We highly recommend the 18th month program with Ms. G. The staff is sweet and professional read more

I couldn't be more happy with the decision to enroll my children into First School in LQ. My son started First School when he was 3 years old & continued until he was enrolled into Kindergarten this past August. While attending First School we had the pleasure of being in Miss Cindy (Rm. 7) & Miss Maria's (Rm. 8) class. Both of these teachers are nothing short of amazing. I am so grateful for them taking my son under their wings & pushing him to thrive. I was amazed each & everyday when he came home & shared what he had learned. I have recently enrolled my 22 month old daughter into First School as well. My little firecracker was more difficult than I ever imagined she would be. Luckily, First School was behind us EVERY step of the way. To her teachers (Miss G & Miss Mari) & to the wonderful ladies in the office, (Miss Maria, Miss Rae & ESPECIALLY Miss Nicole) they worked with her each & everyday. Some days more trying than others. Instead of giving up on her they worked harder. The ladies would call throughout the day to give me updates on how she was doing which put my mind at ease. FIRST SCHOOL GOES THAT EXTRA MILE. In my case, that extra ten!! When we are at home, my daughter has now been asking for "Cole" (Miss Nicole). In the past few months the two of them have formed a bond that I will be forever grateful for. First School was the best decision that we could have made. Family-Owned with love & care for each child that walks through their doors. read more

Best decision ever!!! My kids loveeee it!! Miss Samantha is AMAZING.. My daughter wakes up every morning looking forward to see her classmates, play and learn something new everyday. read more

Well, look at that. We've tried working with First School about the many concerns, but we always got the "I'm too busy to care" mentality. YES, First School started out GREAT, this may be why they are too "busy" to listen to their customers! indeed, based on our initial experience with our first two kids, we did write a nice departure letter. However, truth be told, our e-mailed & mailed letter to First School fell upon your STILL DEAF ears! Hence, our delayed and updated review. I'm not sure what went wrong, I suspect they are trying to cut back on spending in the wrong areas. In any event, it's time First School ownership and management sit down and re-think the "reasons" and "purpose" they started the School in the first place. You'll notice, MOST of First School's Yelp "good" reviews are over 12 months old, with NO NEW 5 Star ratings! The only thing I can say is, I HOPE they get back to where they were when our first two children attended and FIX whatever caused them to become careless, understaffed, and inattentive to their facilities cleanliness. read more

My son has been going to first school in la quinta for two years now and I absolutely love it! Just last year he moved up to room 9, Miss Kirstens class and he has grown so much I can't believe it. In this last year alone he has learned how to say all the colors in spanish, all the shapes, the alphabet perfectly and he is now recognizing a lot of words. My son absolutley loves miss Kirsten and I do as well because every day my child comes home and tells me something new he learned that day! He has also grown socially when he started in her class he didn't know how to share and often through tantrums while playing with other kids but she has worked with him and given me ideas on how to improve his attitude and oh my gosh has he improved. When I send him to school I know he is in good hands and is in a class with a teacher who is truly passionate about teaching the kids. read more

We have had our son at First School for almost 2 years and have nothing but positive things to say. There are so many people to praise, but this one is specifically for Ms. Yari who has done so many wonderful things for our son and for our family. When our son first started in her classroom he was very quiet and timid, but she encouraged him and pushed him, in a very supportive way out of his comfort zone. There was such a big change in him that parents of his classmates would tell me how they couldn't believe how much more outgoing he was from the beginning of the year. She was a HUGE help in potty training him, which I can't thank her enough for. She communicated with me that she thought he was definitely ready and she was right! We started a reward program at home and she followed that, so the consistency helped so much. When we had our second child she was in the NICU and then later had to be in the hospital for two weeks. Ms. Yari made sure to give him extra attention and support to help him during an extremely stressful time for our family which meant so much to us as we tried to maintain some normalcy for him. She is very organized in how she manages her classroom, but you can tell she enjoys her job and her kids. She is great at communicating concerns, but she also communicates the good things. Thank you Ms. Yari for everything! read more

My 2 year old son has been going here since he was 20 months old. I was very apprehensive, at first, about sending him to any preschool, but the teachers and staff at First School La Quinta really helped put me at ease. My son loves going to school and is always excited to show me what he did at school each day. They do art, reading, outdoor play, music, and general play. He has progressed so much in such a short amount of time, even only going twice a week. It's easy to see how much the teachers and staff care about each child. I recommend this preschool to anyone! read more

Our daughter has been going here for over 6 months and we've seen such growth in her. They have great teachers and a structured program that includes art, reading, outdoor play, music and dance. I would highly recommend this school/daycare to anyone. It's also extremely affordable! read more

We love First School! Miss Maria in Room 8 is amazing and so patient. She is a great teacher who my son loves and always has a smile on her face. She provides great structure and has fun with the kids I appreciate her so much and how much she truly loves my son. read more

My son is 18 months old and just started attending the toddler class...He loves it! Like the reviewer below, I have also started noticing positive differences in him. He is more patient, especially in his high chair. He is also becoming more independent. They have a full day stocked with fun activities and the teachers are great! It is definitely affordable. I only wish they sold lunches there... and my only regret is that I didn't sign him up for the 5 day program and opted for the 3 days a week... :0) read more

Ms. Mirian at First school of the Desert Cathedral City is Amazing. Our daughter Anahi loves going there. Ms. Mirian is kind, compassionate, caring and a great teacher. Anahi always talks about Ms. Mirian and how much she loves being in her class. Anahi comes home wanting to read, do math and practice her writing. Ms. Mirian definitely knows her students and is very patient with them. Anahi is also learning Spanish while being at first school. Along with Ms. Mirian, Mrs. Linda, Mrs. Brianna and Mrs. Nina have been amazing. Every morning we are greeted with a huge smile, excited for the day and if Anahi is not having a good day she immediately finds comfort in Mrs. Linda. They are all great role models for Anahi and the rest of the students at First School Cathedral City. Anahi has learned and grown so much while attending First School. She will be off to kindergarten in August this year and we feel confident that she is ready and prepared to go. Thank you to Ms. Mirian, Mrs. Linda, Mrs. Brianna, Mrs. Nina and all teachers at first school that have helped her grow and learn so much. :) read more

Took a tour and felt very unwelcomed. Staff gave off negative vibe. Shame bc i took day off and really wanted to enroll my son there

My son went to this school last year and it has traumatized him up to this day. Lately he's been telling me about his experience there how kids are being mean to him and that when it would be nap time he needed to use the restroom and the teacher wouldn't allow him leading him to peeing in the bed and the teacher has the nerve to tell me he had an "accident". This school is disgusting with a bunch of lazy teachers. read more

By far one of the best decisions I made in enrolling my daughter at First School of the Desert in La Quinta. Adrienne was in Mrs. Maria's class, Room 8 and throughout the year I was very pleased. Mrs. Maria was without a doubt so patient, loving and I have realized that she has become one of the most important individuals in my daughter's life. She has been the starting point of her school journey and what she has done and continues to do with her will leave an indelible mark on her that will help shape her perspective of learning for years to come. She is incredibly valued by my family. Mrs. Maria has shown that she's not simply doing her job, she is investing in the future of my child, and for that, I am forever grateful. She has helped Adrienne open up to her classmates, structured her in so many aspects and has made Adriennes learning journey fun. Thank you First School for choosing individual like Mrs. Maria and allowing her to guide our children. To Mrs. Maria, "You provide the soil in which seeds are planted that you may never see blossom. You are the anchor when life is tough at home, the shoulder when there is loss. You are the voice that corrects with love and concern. You are the only person who can play a group of children like an orchestral conductor, allowing each child to play their own instrument, to make their own sound, but do it together as one glorious symphony." -GM By far the best school and teachers in the valley! Thank you for making my daughters and our families experiences amazing. read more

Both of my daughters have gone to this school and we love it! The staff is so friendly and caring. Miss Nicole and Miss Maria in the front office are always a pleasant way to be greeted. My daughter currently has Miss Olivia and Miss Karen and loves going to school every day to learn and see her friends. Keep up the good work First School! read more

Last week we said goodbye to our beloved First School family. Our little boy is off to kindergarten. We have been with First School since our son was 18 months. We decided on First School right away when we toured the center a few years back. Miss Heather, one of the family member, personally showed us around. I was so scared to enroll my son, we had never been apart, but she made me feel so safe, telling me her stories of being a new mom and leaving her daughter at the school for the first time. She has been in the business all her life and she told me she was even crying when she dropped her daughter off! She explained its an emotional experience for us all. That was so comforting. Now 3.5 years later we have graduated. We opted to skip TK and stay at First School for another year. What a difference that was for our son. He is so prepared and so excited for school! He came home yesterday and told me that his new teacher at kindergarten told him that he was SO SMART and such a GREAT listener. It made me smile to see how proud of himself he was. I know that the loving staff at First School helped my child succeed. I am so happy I found them. We will miss you all. We love you and will be back to visit! read more

My child just went to this school for two weeks,after they gave my kid pizza,my kid was very sick,go to ER twice,stayed in hospital for two days,now still need to take medicine for ten days.I called the school why they give my kid pizza without notice me.even my child was sick,they did not call me to pick up her.they always notice parents you need to prepare a health lunch for your kids,but they still give pizza these kind of fast food to kids .they said pizza consider a meal.so funny.and the classroom and the toys are very dirty,I can not let my kid joint this school any more.even they give you everyday notice "to parents notice" said your kids doing very good in school, but in fact they cheat you sometimes.They just need your money every month,did not care anything else because you already signed the agreement. read more

When i first stepped into First School of La Quinta, I loved it! The entire staff is professional and attentive, especially Ms.Karina. She is patient, kind, and cares for the kids in her class as if they were her own. Ms. Karina makes school educational and fun for my 2-year-old son. It is a privilege to leave my son in her care while i maintain a full-time job. I am truly grateful for Ms.Karina at First School of La Quinta. read more

I absolutely love the teachers at First School La Quinta! My first experience was with Miss Gee 3 years ago with my first son who attended when he turned 18 months. Her caring and nurturing qualities made for an easier transition for both us the parents and my son. She is organized and engaged with each child's needs. They play games, do table activities and story time. Now with my second son, I thought about closer and more local daycare facilities to my home but always knew that there is no other comparison. I wanted him also to attend First School and be in Miss Gee's class where I knew he would be in a safe and caring environment. I appreciate her as she always informs us about his daily activities and progress. I also appreciate Miss Marri and all her wonderful care for my son. She is so sweet and loving. These two teachers have truly become like family ! Thank you First School, and especially Miss Gee and Miss Marri for all you do!! read more

My son went to First School for 3 years. Ms. Olivia gave us the tour and she explained everything to us in detail. She made us feel that leaving our son at First School, he'd be happy and safe. Ms. Nancy and Ms Rosie were great. He then went to Ms Rae's class, he started having some behavior issues, not sharing and banging his head to get what he wanted and would refuse to potty train. There were some very challenging days. My husband and I would drop by the school to check on him and see how his day was going. All along Ms. Rae had so much patience with our son. Helping with our treat rewards program at home, taking him aside to explain if he'd behave he'd get a treat at home and pulling him aside to talk to him and calm him when he'd have a temper tantrum. She was extremely patient with him. He made her job very difficult for about a year. All along she taught her class while taking the time to help our son. I can't say how great of a teacher Ms Rae was. My husband and I will forever be grateful for her influence with our son. Ms. Olivia would walk in and help Ms. Rae with him as well. His last teacher was Ms. Kristen, my son's behavior had improved and she was great and so sweet to him. Enrolling our son in First School was the best decision we've made for him. This is a great school with a caring staff. I highly recommend the school. read more