A common theme you will notice is "suddenly removed". They have 0 accountability and the solution…read moreis to always kick kids out with no notice, no conversation, no effort to have due process. This is not for extreme behavior, it's for developmentally appropriate struggles.

I highly do not recommend Montessori Center School under the new ownership of Ms. Li and her…read morehusband, John. Positive reviews are from years ago before Ms. Li and her husband John bought the school. If you notice all parents sharing having a similar experiences. And please read Ms. Li's responses, pointing the finger back at the parents. The gaslighting and lack of accountability by Ms. Li and her husband are not acceptable. There's a reason they always have openings. We had ongoing issues, and every time my wife or I tried to bring something up, it felt like we were met with defensiveness instead of a real conversation. We often left those discussions feeling dismissed and blamed rather than heard. There was no genuine engagement with parents. We were asked what we could contribute to the "community," but we never experienced any real sense of one. Communication felt controlled and one-sided. After we set boundaries around comments we felt were inappropriate, our child was removed from the program without notice. As far as we know, our child had done nothing wrong. It was abrupt, upsetting, and incredibly disruptive for our family. This was not the supportive, respectful Montessori environment we were expecting.

What a hidden GEM! I was a former teacher in SUSD- my oldest daughter whom is in 4th grade is…read morehaving trouble In math- we learned about AL&L from a friend- when we walked through the doors it felt like another home - they have made my daughter beg to go back daily- show support and have given confidence to my 9 year old who felt she wasn't doing well in school! No we have been there just a few weeks - and she already is improving greatly in her math and confidence / organization in all subjects- rose is my daughter favorite this far- she says she makes her laugh and enjoy learning - the owner Sydney is a warm- kind soul who truly wants the best for our daughter and family. THANK you Arcadia literacy and learning center - for giving hope and joy in our daughter again! Much lindsey M.

From the owner: We are currently enrolling for our Summer Intensive programs for Dyslexia and ADHD. With over 10…read moreyears of experience, we are here to help you and your child during this time.

A true hidden gem for the community! We found this school for our daughter three years ago and…read morechanged our lives forever! She is flourishing where in public schools was left out and behind. I vouch for this school and, if you're struggling finding the right place for your child, give them a try! Don't just submit the application when you apply - go and meet the people, do a "shadow day", and engage.

This school is doing the Lords work. I am so thankful and…read moregrateful to have my son be enrolled at New Way Academy. The entire staff is phenomenal from The teachers all way down to the security guard. Most importantly my son loves it. He said so the other day when I picked him up from school. He said that he is so happy that he gets to go to New Way Academy because it's the best school that he's ever been to. We haven't had one bad experience since we've been here. GOD bless New Way Academy.

Everything my son and I have experienced at Creative Bridges has reflected a warm, nurturing…read moreenvironment where children are encouraged to learn through creativity, exploration, and play. The owner, who has since become a personal friend, is deeply passionate about early childhood education and is dedicated to creating a safe, engaging, and supportive space for every child. My experience with Creative Bridges, confidence in the owner's character, the dedication of the staff, and the thoughtful environment they have created, I highly recommend Creative Bridges to families seeking a preschool with a strong focus on children's growth, development, and well-being all while having fun in the process.

This 32 year old school is a phenomenon and a rarity. It's a Cooperative School - meaning it's set…read moreup for high parental involvement, family support/education, and daily opportunities to interact with the kids, parents, teachers, the owner/administrator, the on campus Speech & Occupational Therapists, and even the PE Coach! The teachers are wohighly trained, warm, & friendlyThe school has had to make adjustments for Covid, of course. My grandson was in a public developmental preschool for a speech delay. It was only 6 hours a week and I was shocked at how little parental involvement, communication, and education existed. I placed him in Creative Bridges the remaining two days a week. Long story short, I ended up placing him in Creative Bridges full time, which was a wonderful decision I learned my grandson was way behind with both his fine & gross motor skills, and had numerous other issues needing investigation. His speech and confidence absolutely blossomed at Creative Bridges. Long story short, he was just diagnosed with autism at age 4 & 1/2 years old, but is still thriving at Creative Bridges.

We discovered Gateway this year. Upon our "trial day" my son greeted me with both fists in the airs…read moreexclaiming, "Finally, we found a great school!" and he was right. After 2 years in the Chandler school district, my son had deteriorated by every measurable standard. The second year I ended up needing to pull him out and homeschool him while he went to therapy to deal with the stress that was seemingly caused on purpose by the staff at the public school. My son had done well generally in a public school setting before moving to Arizona, but the local school here had teachers unaware or unwilling to meet the needs of a high functioning, never aggressive autistic child. Gateway's amazing teachers, therapy programs, and constant communication with the parents allowed my son to recover and begin to thrive. It is no wonder the school received the highest level of accreditation. I have an hour and a half commute (one way), but that is a small price to pay to have my child begin to work independently, to become comfortable around others, to learn to self-advocate for his needs, and to learn to self-regulate. When I asked my son this year why he loves Gateway he said, "Because I just be myself." If you have an autistic child, you know what that meant to me. He can now focus on the business of learning because he is not panicked and overwhelmed by the class itself. The staff are professional, knowledgable, and genuinely care about each child. They create groups of students with similar abilities so the group to work together. They foster independence, confidence, and teach the child how to manage their autism. They empower each student with successful experts in all walks of life on the spectrum, and bring therapy to the group where the teachers can model and encourage what is learned throughout the week. No more driving from one therapist and then another--the school creates a holistic approach to the child's life. The horse therapy has been the best addition to my boy's regimen. He has discovered a passion for animals and now has new friends in the neighborhood because of that passion. But one of the most important gifts has been to learn from the modeling of the staff and the other students how I can do better at meeting my child's needs. When you are surrounded by other high functioning children on the spectrum, it is easy to see the attributes that common among children on the spectrum and I have become a lot more patient with my working with him. I consider this school a godsend for our family. Thank you Robin, Max, and Matt. You have changed our family for the better.

Warning to Teachers and Parents: Avoid Gateway Academy in Phoenix…read moreIf you're a licensed educator considering employment at Gateway Academy in Phoenix, Arizona, or a parent considering enrollment, STAY AWAY! Save yourself your mental health, your finances, and your career--don't apply here, and don't entrust your child's education to this institution. Without hyperbole, this is the most toxic, dysfunctional, and soul-crushing environment I've ever experienced in education. To help prospective teachers and families see past the marketing facade, here's an unvarnished breakdown of what's actually happening behind closed doors. (Note: Be aware that many of the glowing 5-star reviews online are completely fake, and Google reviews were ultimately turned off entirely due to the overwhelming volume of negative feedback from real families and staff.) Management and Leadership: Narcissistic and Incompetent The school's run by an owner named Robin, who embodies the textbook traits of a narcissistic authoritarian: The "Mind-Reader" Expectation: There's a complete lack of communication regarding expectations, curriculum, or standard operating procedures. You're expected to magically know what to do without training, yet you'll're constantly criticized for missing invisible marks. Micromanagement vs. Zero Support: Robin and her underling, Anthony (widely considered one of the least capable people on the planet, kept around precisely because he's weak and won't challenge her), demand absolute control while offering zero administrative backing. If you call on the walkie-talkie for help with a student or send an email with an urgent question, expect complete radio silence. Petty Retaliation & Guilt-Tripping: If a teacher falls ill and takes a sick day, they're met with palpable hostility and negative expressions the next day. Staff are treated as adversaries rather than professionals. Profits Over People: Robin doesn't care about the students or the staff; her sole focus is making money. She cares nothing about proper instruction, opting instead to force students through endless superficial activities strictly to stage photo opportunities that trick new families into enrolling. Administrative Chaos and Roster Nightmares Shifting Rosters: For the first four weeks of school, class schedules and rosters constantly change. Teachers haven't any idea what they're teaching, and students're shuffled around so frequently that keeping an accurate attendance roster's mathematically impossible. Blamed for the Impossible: Despite the endless roster chaos, administration aggressively threatens teachers for not knowing the exact whereabouts of every student or who technically belongs in the room. You'll regularly have students sitting in your class who aren't even on your roster. Total Confusion: Both teachers and students are left completely lost and bewildered about who's supposed to be in what class from day to day. Zero Infrastructure and Basic Human Respect No Lunch, No Break, No Restroom Access: Teachers don't get a real lunch break; you're required to work straight through lunch while supervising students in your room. Because there're no passing periods and classes back right up against one another (classes let out at the exact moment the next one begins), teachers can't even use the restroom unless they radio someone to frantically come cover their room. The "Gym Trek": There's no break room in the main building, nor is there a refrigerator or microwave anywhere near where you teach. Your only option to heat food is to sprint over to the gymnasium building during a mythical "five-minute window" between classes--which doesn't actually exist due to student traffic. You're effectively trapped on campus all day with no way to access food or basic comforts. Out-of-Pocket Expenses: The school refuses to buy even the most fundamental supplies for the classrooms. They expect teachers to fully fund their own instructional materials out of pocket while simultaneously demanding high-level performance. They won't even provide basic necessities like paperclips or push pins--nothing. You're left paying for everyday essentials out of your own paycheck just to keep a classroom running, and it's completely surreal. Academic Integrity and College Prep are Non-Existent Failing the Students: Students are entirely unprepared for higher education. Most aren't on track for college, and those who try receive zero real guidance on what classes they actually need. The Dual-Enrollment Cheat: The school boasts a dual-enrollment program with ASU for college credits, but it's a complete sham. Because there's zero academic oversight, students simply cheat their way through online college courses by using dual windows and AI to harvest quiz answers, learning absolutely nothing in the process. The Bottom Line The staggering turnover rate tells the whole story: out of only 21 teachers on staff, there were 15 new teachers this year alone.

My husband and I are incredibly grateful for CMS, where our daughter has attended for the past…read moreyear. As this was our first time searching for a school, we researched and toured nearly 10 preschools in our area (mainly Montessori, but also some more traditional ones). As a stay-at-home mom, I was also apprehensive about starting our daughter at 2 1/2 years old and even considered waiting longer. If it weren't for CMS, we probably would have waited, because I truly believe no other school offered the environment that was most important to us--especially with her starting so young. The Montessori approach is clearly implemented in every aspect of CMS, both academically and socially. For us--and for our daughter's personality--the nurturing and respectful environment were the most important values in our search. Most of the teachers have been at CMS for over a decade, which was not the case at any of the other schools we toured. I love that our daughter can build a relationship with her teachers over the years, rather than changing to a new teacher every year. I believe this consistency provides a strong foundation for her academic and emotional development. The first thing I always tell people when they ask about CMS is this: At all the other schools, yes, I connected with the director or whoever was giving the tour on some level--but I'd only get maybe five minutes or less of face time with a teacher, and I always left feeling unimpressed with their classroom presence and curriculum. I'm truly impressed with the CMS curriculum and culture. On other school tours, I received more papers and booklets, but honestly, I felt a disconnect between what was written and what I saw. As a family, we follow Montessori values, and I began to research Montessori education on my own. From our first conversations with the Lead Teacher, Miss Jocelyn, I could see those values clearly reflected at CMS. After attending for over a year, I'm even more astounded by the depth and thoughtfulness of the lessons offered for early childhood development. As someone who struggled with math in school, I wish I'd had the opportunity to learn numbers the way CMS teaches them. On your tour, please ask to see the math beads and the related lessons--they are a perfect example of how CMS teaches the concept with real understanding, not rote memorization. The lessons are intentional, and the freedom my daughter has in choosing her work has developed her concentration and self-discipline. I have so much trust in this school--it's not the kind of place where your child comes home with 10+ generic worksheets a day. To get an overview of CMS's culture, I highly recommend reading The Family Virtues Guide: Simple Ways to Bring Out the Best in Our Children and Ourselves. CMS focuses on one virtue per week, based on this humanity program (such as respect, empathy, patience, etc.). To me, this is a clear example of how CMS goes beyond academics and truly teaches life skills and character development. When observing the classroom, you can clearly see how these virtue lessons provide a foundation of calmness that, in turn, allows each child to develop their concentration to achieve their highest potential and practical life skills at an incredible level. We are truly grateful for the foundation CMS is providing for our daughter!

Community Montessori has been a great experience, Zia started there when she was 2, she has grown…read moreso much being in a constant learning environment that consisted of different aged children. The staff at Montessori are invested in and care deeply about the kids and parents. Thank you Montessori!!

Kelley and the staff at My Myo are knowledgeable and compassionate…read more I learned so much that has helped me alleviate jaw pain and improve my quality of life!

Kelly is amazing! Myofunctional therapy was the best thing I ever did for my teeth, mouth, and…read morebreathing. I had braces a few times and my teeth shifted right after each treatment due to poor tongue posture. After a few months of treatment with Kelly my smile realigned and my jaw rests comfortably now. No more braces needed. In addition, I can breathe so much better!