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Foothill Ranch, CA

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Guidepost Montessori at Foothill Ranch

4.5 (53 reviews)
Updated over 3 months ago

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Learning to put their materials back
Diane W.

This is a long overdue review. We enrolled my daughter at GP when she was just 8 months old. We toured several places and after many interviews, we decided GP was the best choice for us. As a first time mama, returning to work was one of the hardest things I had to do. At the time, Jamie and Lan were the heads of school and I had great interactions with both. Ultimately though, Miss Abi, the Nido lead guide, is who truly helped me develop such a trust for the school and the Montessori program. My daughter is now 22 months and I wanted to share my thank you note to the Nido team: "Waaaaah! I am so sorry that this response took so long. It was stuck in my spam AND I think I was in denial with Vivi moving to the toddler class, haha. It seems like it was only yesterday that I dropped her off for her first day when she was 8 months old! I cannot express enough how grateful Jon and I are for you and your team. There's so much anxiety that parents go through when trying to find a daycare/school. Viv not only thrived in your class but she has grown to love each and every one of you. You kept our daughter safe and she developed such a deep connection and trust in your classroom. You and your team cultivated that connection and built upon it. We couldn't have asked for a better first teacher. Thank you for helping us raise a confident infant/toddler - we couldn't have survived the last year without you all. The transition to toddler has been a challenging one but we know that she will be okay. There are bittersweet moments because Vivi still asks for you and/or Ms. Gaby. That's how much of an impact you have on her life Please continue to do the magic you all do - your dedication and compassion for the babies shows and does not go unnoticed." Now, there has been some turnover in management and in my daughter's toddler class but, I do not feel that my child's safety or learning has been compromised because of it. Sure, we prefer consistency but, we adapt. The new heads of school, Ms. Lorine and Ms. Dora have made INCREDIBLE updates to the school: they transformed the lobby area into a cozy and welcoming space! There's light atmospheric music playing when you walk in, an oil diffuser with a clean scent, just little things that make you breathe a sigh of relief upon entering. The classrooms each have a mini bulletin board with updates. They have had technological/app updates that I feel are much better. This year they even offered extracurricular activities: yoga, gymnastics, dance, etc., and that's something I wanted for my child. Not only was she getting a Montessori education, but she had the opportunity to participate in other classes. I wanted to give Ms. Laura and Ms. Monica, the toddler's lead guide, a shoutout for stepping in when the former lead guide unexpectedly left. They have made my daughter's transition truly memorable. I can't wait to see what they have in store for the rest of her toddler journey. Finally, the community engagement has been much more fun and vibrant! The leadership team and staff have also been forthcoming with the changes and have kept the lines of communication open. The toddler teachers have also offered various parenting workshops: toileting, independence, etc. I feel like there is always a school function or workshop, it's truly amazing to see the passion they have for our children's growth and development. Suffice it to say, GP has only gotten better and I look forward to seeing their progress.

Edgar A.

I highly recommend this school. We have 2 little ones here and both have grown and learned so much. They teach everyday skills to help them be independent and we couldn't be happier being here.

Total Citations for Guidepost Montessori Foothill Ranch per California Department of Social Services website

Based on our personal experience of having our child enrolled at Guidepost, I would not recommend this school to any parent. While we are extremely grateful that our child's teachers were outstanding the entire time we were there, we cannot say the same about the corporation that owns all Guidepost schools, Higher Ground Education, Inc. Our child was enrolled for 10.5 months; and during that short period there were a total of 3 Heads of School, several teachers and other administrative staff resigned, and abuse allegations were made against one teacher. On March 9, 2023, we received communication from the Head of School that a teacher's aid was put on administrative leave. The e-mail was very vague and spoke about how the individual needed a break to recharge for an undetermined period to reflect on her journey in education and take some time to herself and her family. Within a week, more information came out through other parents (not the administration) that there were allegations that several children were affected by abuse from this teacher. Trigger warning: Per the police report filed with the Orange County Sheriff's Department (Report DR# 23-008774), "On 3/9/23, [head of school's name redacted] was approached by seven of her employees who were concerned about a teachers aid named [teacher's name redacted]. The employees felt [teacher's name redacted] was being both physically and verbally aggressive towards the students. The employees stated [teacher's name redacted] would verbally abuse the children by calling them "losers" and telling them to "Hit other children because they deserve it". They also alleged [teacher's name redacted] would also slam kids down on their feet hard and slam them on bicycles seats when asked to ride a bicycle." Unfortunately, several teachers reported these allegations to the prior administration sometime at the end of 2022, but due to the administration turnover, these allegations were not taken seriously until March by the new Head of School. This negligent oversight enabled the abuse of children to continue for months after the first allegations were made. We are extremely lucky that our child was not directly affected by this teacher; however, after the abuse allegations came to light, we had severe anxiety dropping off our child to school. Every day we worried that a teacher outside of our child's two teachers would harm our child. There was one day that both the lead and assistant teacher were out, so we did not have our child go to school that day because we did not trust anyone other than our child's teachers. During the 10.5 month period my child was enrolled, the school received 3 citations. One citation was because a child was left out in the play-yard without any supervision from staff (4/10/23). Another parent, who was picking up their own child, had noticed the child was alone on the play-yard without any staff present. Please visit https://www.ccld.dss.ca.gov/carefacilitysearch/FacDetail/304371143 to view citations and reports filed for Guidepost (Type A Citation Total: 1, Type B Citations Total: 6). As for security, there were no working cameras. In fact, there weren't any cameras installed in the front exterior or playground area. We received communication on May 17, 2023, that front exterior cameras were installed and that two exterior cameras would be installed in the playground. It took two months after the abuse allegations to get the cameras installed and working. Also, to enter the school only a short numerical code is required to enter and most of the time, no employees were monitoring who was coming into the school. The lack of monitoring made us fearful about the ease in which someone could gain access to the classrooms. Our child's teachers were outstanding despite all the challenging events that occurred, but it was difficult to see them not being taken care of by the administration. We truly hope Higher Ground Education will provide better benefits for the teachers because they are the heart of the school. The only reason we did not leave after March was because we trusted and loved our child's teachers. They showed better leadership skills than the administration throughout those 10.5 months. The administration has demonstrated a complete and utter disregard for the safety of children. Enticing parents to leave positive reviews in exchange for raffle tickets further demonstrates that the priority of the school is rooted in preserving its reputation, and not in the safety of children. Guidepost knows no parent is going to write a bad review in exchange for a raffle ticket and intentionally uses raffle tickets as a mechanism to garner positive reviews. I am deeply disappointed at the administration for the way they handled the abuse allegations and in the way they have handled the safety of children at the school and the well-being of their teachers.

Foothill Ranch Guidepost!
V P.

Carnival day at school! Thank you team for hosting. Our kids had a blast! Bouncy houses, artwork, painting, popcorn, cotton candy, were all great!

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Ask the Community - Guidepost Montessori at Foothill Ranch

My daughter's birthdate is Feb 9th,2019. We are looking for preschool during 7/29-8/9, is this timeline acceptable?

Hi Bonnie, We can potentially assist with a short term enrollment. Can you please call our office at 949-340-1695 and I would be happy to assist you!… 

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Review Highlights - Guidepost Montessori at Foothill Ranch

“. I'm so grateful to be a part of the Guidepost family and highly recommend those considering it, give it a shot”

Mentioned in 4 reviews

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My son thrived the moment we switched him to Fulbright Academy. After years of struggling in…read moretraditional classrooms, he found what he needed here: teachers who see him as an individual learner, hands-on work that actually holds his attention, and a genuine culture of critical thinking instead of rote performance. Ms. Cherish and the team don't just teach--they coach. My son went from dreading school to running toward the door in the morning. This microschool model isn't flashy, but it's what we should have found years ago. I notice a lot of 1 star looking at some old reviews- there was a change of leadership a couple of years back and the new Director, Ms. Maha is amazing. She is always there in the morning to welcome all the kids with a warm smile and greeting. She is very involved with the community and runs a tight ship. You can tell she genuinely cares about her students and her staff and I think that's what has made a difference with our experience.

My daughter attended here for their elementary program and absolutely thrived. You're not only…read moregoing to get superior education but you are joining a family. A family, spear headed by the lovely Ms. Maha, that will have you and your child's best interest, both in school and out. Ms. Cherish is AMAZING. She knows how to teach in a way where my daughter was confident and wanted to come home and share what she was learning every single day. That speaks volumes in terms of a different montessori she used to attend. She is attentive to your child's specific needs, both educationally and personally, and to be honest I could not have asked for anyone better to help guide my daughter throughout her upper elementary education.

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Scholarshine Lake Forest Montessori - Our students had a blast at the petting zoo and pumpkin patch! A day full of smiles, cuddles, and fall fun!

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Our child was enrolled into Ms Arti and Ms Hasseini's classroom when she was 5. She had moved from…read moreanother Montessori school traumatized by a teachers old school strictness. We had known 2 families from different Montessori's that had moved their older kids 6 years ago because of similar experiences and they thrived here. We had a similar transition, it was seamless and a big relief for us. Both teachers are very nurturing, caring and assertive. She was happy, peaceful,excelled and was excited to go back to school. We couldn't be happier for her. Ms Prerna and Richa ensure a nurturing environment here. Staff takes every feedback seriously with good follow up on issues brought. I loved that they offered - learning the basics of 3 languages as part of their weekly curriculum. (Spanish mandarin and Hindi) - the kinder room got them on working on creative projects and presentations. - they had field trips to the park - their summer program was fun too ! They made smoothies, learnt about bugs, had a carnival, movie day etc - food is offered at a reasonable price. A menu on the offerings are given every month, u can choose what days food could be bought. Most of the food is bought from Costco, rice is made onsite and pizza is ordered from the plaza they are located For extra fees they exposed them to classes that saved us time on car rides! - yoga, teacher is excellent fun and loving - Bollywood dance class! - sports teacher that exposes them to different sports. As an occupational therapist I love their program and their environment. They celebrate the silliness and fun with gentle structured care that fosters both academic and social emotional growth. Inspired by Ms Arti and Ms Hasseini my child wants to be a teacher! That in itself is the highest praise. Highly recommend this school! Grateful for businesses like this that have the heart and skill set! Thank you Scholarshine! We are forever grateful.

We love this school. But what matters most is that our daughter loves this school even more. She…read moreenjoyes coming in to play and learn. This place has been great for her development and growth. Thank you Miss. Geetha and everyone that consistently go out of your way to make this place great

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Scholarshine Lake Forest Montessori - Our students are so excited to share their work with their parents, proudly showing all they've learned and created.

Our students are so excited to share their work with their parents, proudly showing all they've learned and created.

Scholarshine Lake Forest Montessori - Our Mother's Day celebration was filled with smiles today. Moms enjoyed a wonderful time with their children, sharing activities.

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Scholarshine Lake Forest Montessori - Our infant students are ready to recognize and match materials, building early cognitive skills through hands‑on Montessori work.

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Our infant students are ready to recognize and match materials, building early cognitive skills through hands‑on Montessori work.

Heritage Montessori School of Lake Forest - Our son at Summer Camp

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4.2(69 reviews)
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We have had such a wonderful experience with Heritage Montessori daycare and are so grateful for…read morethe care, effort, and thoughtfulness that goes into the program. Ms. Karla is incredibly helpful, organized, and hardworking as the director, and it really shows in the way everything is planned and communicated. The teachers are very involved with the children and are hands-on with activities, which makes the environment feel warm, engaging, and supportive. One of the things we really appreciate is the strong focus on educational activities. The children get to do many crafts and special projects, but what stands out is that the crafts always seem to have an educational touch behind them. We have seen other daycares where crafts are more generic or less focused, so it is very nice to see activities that are both fun and meaningful for the kids. The daycare also offers many great extra options for families, including book club, early drop-off, and afternoon care, which makes the program very convenient and flexible. There are also lots of extra special activities, and we love seeing the creative projects the kids bring home. The facility itself is beautifully decorated and has a charming artistic, homestead feel that gives it a lot of character. Another highlight has been the weekly video recaps. Seeing the kids participate in activities throughout the week is so wonderful and gives parents a special window into their day. We also really appreciate that the daycare advocates for and emphasizes no screen time for the children, which has been such a positive and refreshing part of the program. Overall, this is a caring, creative, and well-run daycare, and we are very thankful for everything they do for the children.

The best decision we ever made to join our little kid to HMS lake forest. He was just two when we…read morestarted and Ms.Tamara was his first teacher, she has that warmth and kindness to her that you cannot ask for a better first teacher to your kid ever. Ms.Maryam was his second teacher and she is the perfect combo of challenge, education and play, my kid started reading letter sounds and words at just 3 years old and makes friends wherever he goes, all thanks to this amazing school. They have introduced every festival there to these little munchkins by celebrating one every month, we loved celebrating and learning so many different cultures.

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My daughter enjoyed coming here. She had a great group of kids she loved to play with, and it was…read moreencouraging to see her make friends where we sent her. My son was miserable. He hated being dropped off and would show an urgency anytime I came to pick him up. This wasn't his first experience with daycare either. At his previous school, he never had an issue with being dropped off. A large part of my frustration with this school and our experience is that many of the staff don't seem well equipped to work with kids or know how to manage age-appropriate behaviors. The school's app allows you to see video footage of your kids throughout the day, and I saw one of the older teachers (Teacher Juielta) in my sons class yank a toddler by the arm. I witnessed that same teacher grab a kid by the face and yell at him. If I'm watching this happen to other kids, using the system they encourage parents to use, it was most likely happening to my son too. From what I gathered from parents who still take their kids there, that teacher is still working in that classroom. This kind of behavior towards toddlers is unacceptable. I couldn't keep my son in that classroom as I watched his peers get manhandled by an older teacher. There was also an very explicit tension between some of the staff that was unprofessional and inappropriate. It was common to hear and witness staff yelling at each other over their walkie-talkies, staff who would blatantly ignores questions or requests from other staff, and at one point an argument occurred in front of kids that forced me and some other parents to bring it up to leadership. We only attended the school for 3 months and we fortunately were able to take our kids somewhere else! I would give this a 1 out of 5 staffs but there were a couple of positive things about the school that I just couldn't ignore. Pros: the kids and families we met; Teachers Jo and JoJo were great to partner with when working with my kids. Cons: accountability for complaints of staff, immature interactions between staff in front of kids, and abusive behaviors towards toddlers.

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Guidepost Montessori at Foothill Ranch - preschools - Updated October 2026

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