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    First Steps

    5.0 (3 reviews)
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    California Montessori Project

    California Montessori Project

    3.2(9 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    We have attended CMP Capitol for 3 years and have been so impressed with the school. The teachers…read moreare smart and friendly. The staff is helpful and professional. If I have a concern it is addressed and handled well. We love how emotionally informed everyone is. I highly recommend this school!

    An administrator at the Capitol Campus forced my daughter to sit on a stool in her office for…read morehours. Ms. O said she forgot my daughter was in there. Forgot. My child. She left her and went outside. She left one voicemail message for me stating that my daughter was in trouble and I needed to call the office. No other attempts to reach me were made, even though I have 5 different emergency contacts available and the school readily called them all if one of my children was ill. I showed up to the school for an event and saw my daughter sitting, on display, in the administrator's office. She was alone and I had no idea she was in there and almost walked past. She immediately burst into tears BECAUSE SHE NEEDED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM BUT WAS TOLD NOT TO MOVE. Ms. O was told to apologize the next day but "forgot". I'm not even kidding. She finally did apologize (guess what- my daughter hadn't even done what they accused her off, which really doesn't matter because even if she did this was child abuse). CMP's response was to promote Ms. O to Principal of her own campus. I would never trust this administration. They can keep deleting my reviews all they want but I will keep returning. Parents deserve to know.

    Building Blocks Daycare

    Building Blocks Daycare

    5.0(2 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    My wife and I are thrilled with the care and overall development our two children received during…read moretheir three years at Building Blocks. We were especially impressed with our son's readiness for pre-kindergarten as he entered this next level of education. He is currently in the top 3% of his class, which we strongly believe is a result of the strong educational foundation and overall development he gained at Building Blocks. After being tested to assess his academic levels, he showed a high level of acumen in vocabulary, spelling, and reading comprehension. In addition to his academic growth, we have also noticed significant development in his social and emotional skills, particularly in how he interacts with other students in his class. We are extremely grateful to have had Building Blocks play such an important role in our children's early years, and we feel very fortunate to have been part of such a supportive and nurturing environment. Sincerely, Kenny & Rea McDaniel

    Building Blocks Daycare has been incredible! As a nervous first time mom, it can be scary trusting…read moreanother individual with your baby. But Sandra and her staff have been so caring, helpful and communicative in my daughter's care. At the end of the day when I pick her up she is always happy! I love seeing her report card for the day detailing her eating and sleeping habits (it's such a bonus that she sleeps so well there!). Her prices for care are very reasonable and I also just prefer supporting a small business over those huge daycare centers. Although it's a daycare, Sandra operates just like a preschool with great crafts, lessons and social emotional learning that makes all the kids so engaged. Simply said, we're big fans!

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    Building Blocks Daycare
    Building Blocks Daycare
    Building Blocks Daycare

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    Vineyard Montessori - Flowers are grown in the cutting garden to bring into the classroom.

    Vineyard Montessori

    4.1(30 reviews)
    3.3 mi

    My son attended Vineyard Montessori from 9/3/2024 to 8/29/2025 between the ages of 2.5-3.5. I've…read moretaken several months to process what our family experienced there, and I'm now ready to share our story. Like many families, we waited months just to tour this school. It came highly recommended within the Sacramento/Elk Grove parent community, and we were initially very impressed. Our son has a slight speech delay, which I disclosed from the beginning. The staff assured us it would not be an issue and that they would nurture and support him. We believed he would thrive here. After a couple of months, the school moved him into the transition classroom where they begin potty training and encourage more independence. My husband and I expressed multiple concerns that he was not ready. He had just gotten comfortable with the toddler classroom routine and was happy there. The staff insisted he had to move because he had "aged out" and was "too big" to stay. (He is in the 99th percentile for height and weight.) They said it was unsafe for him to remain with smaller toddlers--even though there had never been a single incident involving our child. He played well with others and was loved by his teachers. We trusted the school's recommendation and agreed to the move. Looking back, this was our first red flag. From April through August, the transition class attempted to potty train him--unsuccessfully. As we had explained several times, he simply was not developmentally ready. He could not yet communicate when he needed to go, which is one of the most basic signs of readiness. At the end of August, we were called in for a parent-teacher conference. This is where everything changed. We were told that because of his size, he needed to move into the Pre-K classroom. However, they also admitted they did not believe he was ready for that environment because the teacher-to-child ratio is larger and he requires more redirection and attention throughout the day--something that is completely normal for toddlers. When I asked if he could remain in the transition class, even if it meant repeating the year, I was told no. Again, the reason given was that he was "too big" for the classroom. Instead, we were given 30 days to find a new childcare provider because our son did not meet their expectations. Anyone who has searched for childcare knows how unrealistic this is. Most centers have long waitlists just to tour and even longer waitlists to enroll. During the meeting, Ms. Julie casually said it should be easy for us to find another provider because there were "plenty of options." That statement alone showed how disconnected the leadership is from the reality parents face. My child was essentially judged for his size and his speech delay. Ms. Julie and Ms. Jenny made us feel like there was something seriously wrong with our son and even suggested he might need one-on-one care or homeschooling. What made this even more shocking is that none of these behavioral concerns had ever been brought to our attention before this meeting. Suddenly we were told he wasn't listening, was aggressive, and had trouble paying attention. Fast forward to today: our son is thriving at another daycare. Within the first month, he began speaking more words than he did during his entire year at Vineyard Montessori. This experience was incredibly disappointing and emotionally draining for our family. We felt judged, dismissed, and pushed out rather than supported. For a school that markets itself as nurturing and child-centered, our experience told a very different story. After speaking with other families, we learned that this situation is not unique to us. When several families share the same experience, it stops being an isolated incident and starts looking like a pattern. To be fair, I do want to acknowledge that the teachers themselves were kind and caring. Ms. Casey even cried during the meeting because she genuinely cared about my son and was sad to see him leave. I don't blame the teachers--it seemed clear they were simply following the decisions of the directors. I'm sharing our experience so other parents can make an informed decision before enrolling their children here.

    My son attended Vineyard Montessori from July 2023 to June 2024, between the ages of 1.5 and 2.5…read moreyears old. I've sat with our experience for more than a year now, unsure if I should speak up. But I believe it's important for other families to hear what we went through. As first-time parents, we were thrilled to enroll our son. The environment appeared nurturing, the routine structured, and after a period of adjustment, he seemed happy. He was excited to go to school each day and formed friendships. We truly believed things were going well. That changed when we were called in for a meeting in April 2024 and told our son was struggling with listening, emotional regulation, and understanding personal space -- concerns that are extremely common at this age. We were advised by his teacher Miss Casey to take him to the pediatrician to be "tested for other things." We followed through, even bringing the teacher's written observation reports. Our pediatrician, who has known our son since birth, reassured us that the behaviors described were developmentally typical for a toddler. He felt the school was being excessive, but recommended an occupational therapy referral just to explore whether some sensory needs might be present. We immediately pursued that referral, even though appointments were months out. Throughout this process, we communicated openly and made it clear we were eager to be strong partners in supporting our son. We worked hard on the skills they identified and saw real improvements. Yet despite our efforts, we increasingly felt that the school saw our son -- and us -- as a problem to be removed rather than a family to support. Their expectations left very little room for normal developmental variance, learning curves, or grace. Ultimately, we were given a one-month deadline to meet their expectations before being told he would not be allowed to transition to the next class and would need to leave the school within the next month. We were devastated. In our final meeting with his teacher, Miss Casey, and the directors, Julie and Jenny, he was described as "aggressive" and "likely not able to function in a regular daycare setting." When we asked for specific examples, those claims were backtracked and they admitted that "aggressive" may not have been the right word, could not provide specifics, which further called into question the accuracy and fairness of their assessments. Fast forward to today: our son is thriving at a different daycare. The staff there is compassionate, communicative, and solution-oriented. They have embraced supporting his sensory needs (he was later diagnosed with proprioceptive dysfunction, which affects how he perceives movement, pressure, and personal space) and they partner with us to help him succeed. He has smoothly transitioned through multiple classrooms as he grows older, participates in group activities and field trips, and is thriving socially and emotionally. That contrast has put everything into perspective. At Vineyard Montessori, it became clear that they only wanted a certain type of child - one who fit into their mold - and they were not equipped or willing to support a child who learns differently or needs a bit more flexibility or support. While I understand that not every program is the right fit for every child, the way Vineyard Montessori handled the situation felt abrupt, clinical, judgmental, and lacking in empathy. We were made to feel that something was wrong with our son, when in reality he simply needed patience, understanding, and support. I hope the school takes this feedback as an opportunity to reflect - on how they support children who don't fit the mold, how they embrace neurodiversity, and how they partner with families.

    Photos
    Vineyard Montessori - The school garden is a place for even the youngest students to learn about the life cycle of plants and the joy of the harvest.

    The school garden is a place for even the youngest students to learn about the life cycle of plants and the joy of the harvest.

    Vineyard Montessori
    Vineyard Montessori

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    Little Magpies Preschool

    Little Magpies Preschool

    4.8(17 reviews)
    3.2 mi

    We are so grateful that our son has been at LMP for the last 3 years. The staff is simply…read moreincredible. They are caring, invested, and communicate very well. We experienced a lot of turnover at a previous school while our son was on the LMP waitlist, but now we know exactly who will be there and that he'll be well cared for and loved each day. It's not uncommon during a weekend adventure for our son to ask to share something he's doing with a teacher. He looks at his teachers like family and is always excited to get back to school each Monday. The activities and curriculum are great as well. Weekly themes tie the art, science, and dramatic play together. The activities are creative and exciting for the kids, and he always comes home wanting to learn more. Covid has presented many childcare challenges, and LMP has navigated the pandemic incredibly well. They have been clear on protocols, communicated well, and we've always felt that our son will be as safe as he possibly could be at a preschool. We appreciate how seriously they have handled the health and safety of our child over the past 2 years. We can't recommend LMP enough and will miss it when he moves to Kindergarten this summer. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Haley and her wonderful staff!

    My wife and I absolutely love LMP! Ms. Haley and all of the teachers are wonderful with the…read morechildren. Great for learning, development, healthy atmosphere, outdoor activities, etc. We have our second child at LMP and 100% recommend!

    Photos
    Little Magpies Preschool
    Little Magpies Preschool
    Little Magpies Preschool

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    Discovery Montessori

    Discovery Montessori

    5.0(10 reviews)
    3.7 miEast Sacramento, River Park

    Discover Montessori, where my daughter currently attends, has a few openings (2-3 spots for…read morethree-day programs). As a self-proclaimed picky mom with high standards, I can honestly say this school has exceeded my expectations. When I drop my daughter off, it doesn't feel like I'm leaving her at a daycare--it feels more like she's spending the day at a loving grandma's house. The teachers are incredibly kind, diverse, and attentive. Every week they create enriching activities like gym, science, music, Spanish, art, and crafts. They celebrate holidays, embrace diversity and inclusion, and bring so much creativity into the classroom. The spacious backyard is another highlight--kids spend plenty of time outdoors, playing, exploring, and enjoying fresh air every day. What I love most is the sense of community--parents are engaged, educated, and involved in participation programs. We felt so supported that even though my daughter was accepted into two TK programs, we chose to keep her here for another year. If you're looking for a nurturing, joyful, and inspiring place for your little one, I can't recommend Discover Montessori enough!

    Our 3.5 year old has been going here since October 2023 and he's doing amazing! We were sold on DM…read moreafter being introduced to the teachers and shown the outdoor classroom. The teachers are kind, proficient in Montessori education and easy to talk to. The outdoor classroom provides lots of space for kids to run around and even features a new beautiful mural care of the 2024 graduates! The indoor classroom was also recently renovated and is bright and clean. DM requires 20 parent involvement program (PIP) hours per family each year. The PIP hours encourage community at DM and I've gotten to know other families at the school as a result. There are opportunities to earn PIP hours by serving on the board, cleaning the yard & school, baking, sewing, laundry, arts/crafts, or even showing up to events!

    Photos
    Discovery Montessori - Ladybug Writing Activity

    Ladybug Writing Activity

    Discovery Montessori - Letter of the Week Board. Children enjoy placing items on the board and discussing the letter sound.

    Letter of the Week Board. Children enjoy placing items on the board and discussing the letter sound.

    Discovery Montessori - Hanging Bead stair

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    Hanging Bead stair

    Creative Spaces Preschool

    Creative Spaces Preschool

    4.6(20 reviews)
    3.9 miEast Sacramento

    My child started at CSP around age 3, after starting at another preschool in the area, and was here…read moreuntil moving to Kindergarten. My child thrived at CSP, because of the loving, attentive, supportive, well-trained and vetted teachers here. I cannot speak highly enough of the school. I received thoughtful feedback from the teachers and program director during my child's time there. My child was more prepared than others entering Kindergarten, both academically and socially, because of the special environment here. This is also a place that is incredibly accommodating and helpful for working parents - they have great hours and limited closures during the year. I knew my child was always safe and getting the best care!

    Great preschool in East sac. We've loved having our child attend the past 2+ years and have been so…read morefortunate to find a place we feel comfortable and safe leaving our child. The teachers are kind and caring and our child has thrived in this very supportive environment. We love that it has a smaller feel compared to some of the larger programs where your child gets lost in the mix. We wish there was more outdoor space but feel they've maximized play space with what they have and our child has never complained. We started our child here when she'd just turned 2 and they created such a safe supportive place for her - we look forward to enrolling our next child when they are of age!

    First Steps - preschools - Updated May 2026

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