It's hard to put into words what the school means to me but it would be a disservice to not share…read moremy experience. My son did not have the greatest first year of preschool at a different school so I was a bit nervous before starting his new school year at Apple Montessori in Morris Plains. However, my worries went away immediately once we started the school year. I have always heard great things about this school and it makes sense why. From the start, we were given a very warm and welcoming introduction from the director. Ms. Rathjens, and assistant director Ms. Yun. Both are very involved with interacting with the kids and greeting them throughout the day. They are attentive and responsive, and my kids feel comfortable around them. My son's preschool teacher, Ms. Kellish, and the teacher assistants, Mrs. Morales and Mrs. Ikram, are caring, supportive, and organized. My son loves going to school and always shares how nice his teachers are to him. He has learned so much and has become more independent in class. They encourage him and it shows. My daughter's toddler room teacher, Mrs. Castano, and the teacher assistants, Ms. Ucles, Mrs. Millar, and Mrs. Charles, are all so patient, nurturing, and gentle. They have helped my daughter transition well to school and never hesitate to reach out in case of anything. I also love how they have food tasting every week. My daughter is constantly singing and dancing at home, and I know it's a result from her thriving at school. It feels relieving to know that my kids are in the best care and I don't have to watch the camera like a hawk to see how they are doing. Any time I check in, I see my kids are learning and playing, and are building their independence. The parent teacher communication and level of care are unmatched. The teachers really put forth effort into all that they do and I really appreciate it all. My only regret is not enrolling my son sooner for his first year of school. Do not hesitate to go for a tour and enroll

I enrolled my son at Apple Montessori during their summer camp in 2023 when he was 2.5 years old…read more It has been an year of love, care, learning and so much fun for him! He has built friendships, developed so many skills, learnt to dance, work together and care for younger kids. This has been the best decision we made for him! Ms. Rasdell and Mr Wagner puts so much care and thoughtfulness in building the curriculum, making sure each child is getting the attention they need while also developing and focusing on their strengths. The school conducts so many events to give an opportunity for parents to network, for kids to develop new skills, have outdoor time, learn to work together and lead. I love the observation sessions and parent teacher conferences as well that gives us visibility into their day to day learning patterns and opportunities for growth! Looking forward to his tenure at Apple Morris Plains and all he learns during this time!!

My two daughters attended this school from 2005 to 2010. I agree that the school is better suited…read morefor children with a sense of structure, or this organized becaus they will not spoil the children, and it does require a certain amount of structure in the day and a child who is willing to work on it . However, the amount of care and personal attention that's my daughters got here was amazing, all of that in a very clean, perfectly organized environment that prepared both of my daughters to continue and excel in excellent private schools. We As parents were very happy and I am planning to put my third daughter in when she comes of age. I think the best testimony to the greatness of the school is my oldest daughter memory. Even today, she claims that the real difference in her education was her kindergarten years and she still remembers all teachers dearly.

Is your child is an active explorer? Curious, kind and always in motion? This school is not for…read morethis type for sure. We started out with great hopes but the underlying problem of this school surfaced pretty fast. This is a one-person show and the rest of the teachers and aids are changing very fast. The Montessori method is great but keeping children sitting on the line for an ​extended period​ of time is simply unacceptable. Also,​ each time when they line up for any activity they have to stand motionless otherwise they won't participate in any activity. Her solution - sit back on the line. So what are they doing all day?! Nothing! Young children should never experience such harsh treatment. This woman shows​ no genuine emotions towards the children. Her only way to manage the classroom is by ​screaming and yelling. Harsh verbal discipline (HVD) is scientifically proven to be harmful therefore it is a wrong choice to keep the children under control. The last drop before we pulled out when we realized the water bottle was almost full in the lunch box after a whole day in school. Imagine your child was neglected without drinking for more than 6 hours. Extremely​ disappointing experience! No trust what so ever! Oh,​ and your children's​ vocabulary will pick up a few new expressions such as: "I am overwhelmed with you"; "Shut your mouth!"; "Be quiet" and "It is your​ fault". Isn't that great​!? I am very happy that I could save my child from this bad energy and harmful environment.

We are so grateful we found the Montessori Learning Center (MLC) in Ridgewood - truly the best…read moreMontessori school in the Bergen County! As soon as we met Ms. Effie and toured the school, we knew it was the perfect fit for our toddler. The teachers at MLC are truly special - they genuinely care about each and every child. In one year, our toddler went from hesitant and shy to incredibly confident, independent and social. Most importantly, he developed a true bond with his teachers. Shout out to Ms. T, Ms. Angela and Ms. Ellen, who greeted us with smiles and positive energy at drop-off and pick-up! We also appreciated MLC's flexibility as we figured out the right schedule and cadence for our little guy. They worked with us every step of the way, making us feel like family! We are so thankful for the love, patience and support they've shown our little boy, and us! We look forward to watching our children grow here! We couldn't recommend MLC more highly!

Ridgewood Montessori Learning Center has been everything we hoped for and more. From the moment we…read morewalked through the doors we knew this was the right place for our son. The teachers are exceptional -- warm, attentive, and clearly passionate about the Montessori method. What stands out most is how communicative the staff is. We always feel informed and in the loop, whether it's a quick update at pickup or a note about what our son worked on that day. The consistency in the classroom has been remarkable -- our son has genuinely bonded with his teachers and you can see it in how confidently he walks in every morning. He's learning so much, growing in independence, and most importantly he loves being there. The community here -- both the staff and the other families -- is something we didn't expect but are so grateful for. This school is a hidden gem in Ridgewood and we plan to send all of our children here.

I enrolled my child at Children's Home Montessori School after being presented with a vision that…read moreappeared consistent with traditional Montessori principles. However, our experience did not align with those expectations. One concern was the school's limited parent access. Parents are not permitted in classrooms or the building during the school day, making it difficult to observe the learning environment or interact directly with teachers and staff. During our child's enrollment, communication with the school was primarily through email, and it was often difficult to speak directly with staff regarding concerns. Over several months, our child consistently expressed reluctance to attend school. She reported that teachers and students were hitting her, that teachers frequently raised their voices, and that she felt uncomfortable during nap time. When we brought these concerns to the school's attention, we did not feel the responses adequately addressed them. On another occasion, our child came home with visible marks on her neck and shoulders. We reported the incident and sought clarification, but the explanation provided did not fully resolve our concerns. As time went on, we noticed increased anxiety related to school, including crying when discussing attendance and visible distress in school photos. Ultimately, we decided to withdraw our child. Every family's experience may be different, but based on our experience, the school did not provide the level of transparency, communication, or environment we were expecting. Prospective parents may want to ask detailed questions about parent access, communication policies, and incident-reporting procedures before enrolling.

With utmost gratitude I write this!…read more I am a beyond proud alumnus of this kind and loving school! I graduated from MIT last spring 2025 and I couldn't have aspired so high if it wasn't for my extraordinary teachers who pushed me to excel when I thought I couldn't. I remember most their words of encouragement and how special I felt day after day. I hold you all forever preciously in my heart.

The staff and teachers are so committed, passionate and highly effective with the children in a way…read morethat my child continues to thrive and build their independence rapidly! Lead teachers are Montessori certified and attend PD annually. I don't worry about them being here, knowing the loving and caring environment at Magnolia. The teachers and staff are always smiling and so present and engaging with the children. They have gone above and beyond time and time again and really know our child. We started in the infant room at 4 months and are now settled into the Toddler Room (18 mos-3 yrs). I can't recommend them highly enough. For the parents, it's an intimate community where you feel part of a school as the PTA and more events for the families to connect are offered. Since it follows Readington Twp's school schedule, know that there is a spring break, holiday break, etc. (~ 4 weeks/year and a day here and there) where the school is closed and you'll need to find alternate care. Sending our child there is still well worth this logistical gymnastics we need to do a few times a year to accommodate the weeks off.

Wonderful school! Staff and teachers are terrific! Lead teachers are montessori certified and…read moreattend PD annually. My children have had a great educational experience here. So pleased of the change from first step, what a difference .. from educational and care stand point. My children run into school and ask if they have school on Saturdays! I don't worry about them being here, knowing the loving and caring environment at Magnolia. Teachers / staff are always smiling and look happy. They go above and beyond and really know your child. We started in the infant room and now grew into the toddler and early childhood rooms. From the ABCs, to reading, math and creative play- we love hearing what they learned about everyday:)

I am a current and alumni parent of Westmont who was admittedly clueless about the difference of a…read moreMontessori education when evaluating schools for my children. Westmont educated me while educating my children and now I am an advocate for life. My children, now 7 and 3 have experienced countless benefits from the Westmont environment and I feel so strongly about the community, teachers, administration and leadership that I was driven to action to post my very first YELP review to say as much. Westmont has each and every student's best interest at heart and I have seen that demonstrated over the course of my last 3+ years affiliated with the school. The academics and social/emotional curriculum is second to none. The community we entered has provided lasting friendships for my children and my spouse and I that have become our foundational friends in this community of Chester/Mendham that was new to us. You will not regret giving your children the opportunity to thrive at Westmont. Please reach out with any questions because as a business person I value a balanced and objective perspective but I also have very high standards so when a business exceeds those standards, especially when my children are the benefactors, I had to post a review!

Westmont provides a truly exceptional environment for young minds to learn in. My daughter has…read moreattended since "Little Steps," at two years old. She is and has been nurtured and cared for by a staff that cares for her nearly as much as I do. She also has learned independence, respect and how to deal with emotional situations. In addition to the solid foundation she is learning for bigger concepts, she is learning to become a solid human, as well. I would recommend it for anyone that cares about their child and values education.

We have had an outstanding experience with East Rutherford Montessori. I attended the school myself…read moreand graduated kindergarten here, and years later, we chose the same school for our daughters. Our oldest recently graduated, and although we had the option to move her into public school earlier, we intentionally kept her at Montessori. The combination of small class sizes, individual attention, and the quality of the math and reading curriculum made the decision easy. She left extremely well prepared academically, which was exactly what we hoped for. Our younger daughter is entering Pre-K4 this year, and we're very happy to continue with the school. The Montessori approach and strong curriculum are major advantages, but the consistency of the staff is equally important to us. Teacher turnover is very low, and the staff are experienced educators who focus on learning and development rather than simply providing daycare. I also appreciate that the school continues to add experiences for the kids beyond academics. Dance classes and the annual recital have been great, and this year they added an aquarium field trip as well. It's rare to have the perspective of experiencing a school both as a student and, years later, as a parent. East Rutherford Montessori has continued to deliver the same strong educational foundation. 10/10 from our family, and we have happily recommended it to many others.

Our two girls have had such an amazing experience at Montessori of East Rutherford. They have…read morelearned and grown so much during their time here, both academically and personally. The teachers are incredibly nurturing, caring, and truly invested in each child. Most importantly, our kids genuinely love going to school every day, which says so much about the environment the teachers and staff have created. We are so grateful for the wonderful experience our family has had and would highly recommend Montessori of East Rutherford to other families!

We have sent both of our daughters to this daycare/preschool. The teachers really care about the…read morechildren and their well being. If there are any conflicts among the children they let you know at pick-up. They cater a hot lunch from a local Russian deli, which includes a soup, protein and vegetable. Far easier than sending your own lunch, and far healthier than any other daycare I visited - no chicken fingers and fries here. They are open later than most; follow a classroom environment with lesson plans for even the youngest class; great helping with potty training; get the kids outside every day (weather permitting); plan fun fieldtrips in the summer. The only drawback is the older facility, but there has been updates to A/C units, new flooring, etc., and they do have entrance security. If we had a third, we would not hesitate to send them to AdventureLand.

Heavy Russian spoken. Graduation is basically performed in Russian. So, kids come home and starts…read moreto speak Russian. For parent that wish that their kids speak English, this is something to consider.