Love hilltop! Our daughter has been here since she was 8 months old. We brought her here after having a terrible experience elsewhere and couldn't be happier. You can tell she loves to go to school and see her teachers and friends. She's learned so much and made great friends here, not to mention I've become very close with other moms and made my own group of friends from here. Everyone is friendly and they have so much fun stuff to do in their playground. I don't even live close by but make the long commute daily because I don't want to move her. read more

We have been here for a while. My child has had the most amazing experience. My child has made some amazing friendships. This is a great place with great staff. HIGHLIGHTS: When my child has had a hard time letting go, our teacher Ms. Jasmine does an amazing job helping build the confidence and excitement to go do activities. + Great staff - my child knows the teachers and they are all super friendly and loving. + fun share day activities + they hold fun events through the year for the kiddos + fun arts and crafts pieces +letters and numbers through song, recognition etc. Great place, highly recommend to take a tour!! read more

I usually do not write many reviews, so writing this is something that is well worth giving. Hilltop Preschool has taken care of 3 of my kids. 2 who are currently in 7th and 5th grade, the 3rd is her last day today. As much as I wanted to keep her there, the drive between 3 different schools was hard trying to do, but let me tell you that taking her out was a tough decision to do! Every single teacher/staff member was caring, kind, and always had a smile on their face. On the days my kids were having a bad morning and didn't want to go, at pickup they would be laughing and smiling. They helped each of our kids with potty training and each class has a small curriculum of what they do each day, so I knew it wasn't always play time, they were also learning. I knew it helped my older kids because they both had higher education level when they entered TK/K. I'm hoping it'll be the same for my youngest when she goes to her new school next week! Thank you Hilltop, Marla, and staff for all you've done for my kids! I will always refer you whenever someone around the area is looking for a place that is safe and fun for their little ones. read more

This school has been an absolute blessing to us and our son. The teachers are always engaged with the kids. They embraced our son and his needs with open arms. They work with us and his IEP as well as the new challenges we all have with Virtual Learning. The owner, Marla, takes pride in this school and her staff which is very apparent with how happy the staff is and how loving they are with the children. Communication is always open and the teachers update us every day on how our son did as well as any struggles he may have had. They worked with us when it came to potty training which helped relieve stress and kept the consistency both at school and home. Most preschools will not help potty train and this was important to us. Before COVID, the school was always clean so going back was never an issue because we knew they were sanitizing daily and cleaning extensively before. read more

My daughter absolutely loves coming here she just started 2 weeks ago, and every time we pick her up she's skipping out of there with the biggest smile on her face it's been so incredibly nice to have a place we feel safe and at peace despite all that is going on around us I love the technology they have in place to check her in and out, I even received some photos of her during her first day that was very thoughtful thank you Hilltop for your efforts to keep us parents sane and at peace. Definitely check them out they have flexible schedules and plenty of options to choose from depending on your child's age and the pricing is very reasonable Happy parents read more

Our daughter has gone here since she was an infant. All we can say is we love all the staff who take care of her, we love how clean the facility always is, and she has thrived, in part, due to the educational experiences she has while at daycare. Being full time working parents is pretty crazy and you can't put a price on knowing your baby girl is safe and happy while you work. Highly recommend hilltop to anyone! read more

We came to hilltop preschool after my three-year-old was forced to be potty trained or leave his previous school. Hiltop has been awesome and welcoming knowing that all children are not potty trained at three and gave us the flexibility we needed they have been awesome even through the whole Covid issue. read more

This was a long time coming but I will post it. First thing I will say is that the facilities are amazing and the teachers are truly the best thing. All of them are licensed and go through a rigorous background. The price is affordable but there are several aggravating things about the administrative staff and head administrator. If you put your child in full time, one thing they will not mention to you is that in the parental agreement that the staff are given several holidays off and that the parent is required to pay for these days off. Thanksgiving? Well that most likely is the week off? Christmas break? The whole week you are paying for. The entirety of the staff are off and even though your child cannot attend that week, you still have to pay for it. I've not seen any business that requires someone to pay for something but they can't take use of it. Not like I could take a vacation and tell my landlord since I'll be gone for two weeks that I can't not pay rent for two weeks because I won't be there. This is something the administrative staff needs to budget more properly. The teachers themselves are very caring and genuinely wish to see the children they see over be taken care of. The facilities are very well taken care of and it is in a relatively safe area. But getting back to the policies. If your child is sick and they are full time, the head administrator will essentially make you eat the cost and that there is no such thing as a makeup day. Children don't choose when they get sick, but to not grant a day for makeup or something is on the far side of ridiculous. Some of the staff made some adjustments so my child could attend because they were sick a few times, but there were times that I had to eat a large amount of the cost because my kid got sick. If you look through the reviews, you will see that the owner/propietor/head administrator airs out the dirty laundry of customers who give negative reviews. She tries to defend in saying don't look at the "Paid/filtered" reviews. Shame on the administrator for airing out a child's personal details about their situation. It's one thing to have a disgruntled customer but when that involves their child? Shame! They will try to claim privacy reasons but still speak about details of the child's circumstances on negative reviews. So all in all, I'll give this place a 3/5. If you can stomach the policies about having to pay even though your child cant attend or the child getting sick. More power to you. The staff are truly amazing except for the head administrator. 90% of the admin staff are truly caring, but definitely consider and weigh your options before parking your child here. And Shame on the head administrator! Don't air out the details of a parent's child. Professionalism and keep it discrete! Shame! read more

Marla the owner is a great person. She loves working with children and has a passion for her business. She does everything in her power to make sure all the children and staff are happy. I know this because I worked their for almost a year. I'm writing a review to recommend this school to anyone. Other schools may have more things than others but hilltop preschool has an awesome director which is important. Miss Kirsten and miss Ana in the baby room care a lot about the babies and strive them to do well. Miss Carla is one of the most amazing teachers ever, she works in the 2-3 year old room. She uses her iPad for learning and allows them to express themselves through creativity and expression. And the p-k class is very structured and independent and the children are best friends. Wondering why I'm writing this if I have left the preschool? Because I had an opportunity to have my own 3 year old classroom at a different preschool closer to my house. I wanted a challenge. Great school :) read more

My daughter has attended Hilltop Preschool for about a year and a half. We have been more than happy with the program, staff and the facility. My daughter is thriving more than I ever expected. Since she is my youngest, I have experienced other preschools in the area and I am actually bummed that I didn't know of Hilltop for my older child. My daughter will be more than ready for kindergarten far before she gets to go, but most importantly she is extremely happy and thriving. read more

I believe that each one of us had a different experience with Hilltop Preschool in Poway, otherwise I don't really understand how this preschool still operates and has full classes. When we looked for a preschool that accepted infants in the area, there were not too many options with affordable prices. We looked at this place when our baby was 3 months old and my husband refused to put her there. Poor infants - most of the day they were in a swinging chair, that's it! Instead, we decided to hire a nanny until our baby turned 12 months. When I visited that place the first time I was not very impressed with how the building looks from outside (just a couple of old trailers on support) and inside (quite dark, old and not particularly clean, nothing reminding the pictures that are listed on the Yelp page). Outside the play area is big and impressive though. However, what was more important for us was how the staff was going to take care of my child. I gave this preschool a chance and I am sorry for that. MY WORTH EXPERINCE EVER! November 2016 - March 2017. In the begging staff sent my babies' pictures showing how happy she was. What I was not happy about was that every day when I picked her up she had a dirty face, a stuffed nose, unbuttoned clothes and a lot of sand in her shoes. We discussed it, but I had to keep reminding them to take better care of her almost every day. Every other week my baby was sent home for 1-3 days because of fever. Nobody called me to notify, a text message with a pic of a thermometer as a proof. I wondered why she was sick so often so I decided to come earlier to pick her up (apparently, the staff is very SMART, they seem to track when parents usually come to pick kids up and get ready). It turned out my baby was undressed during the day, they took off the second layer of cloth, because it had too many buttons (previously they asked me not to wear with a zip as it was not convenient to change her). So, I asked why she was undressed when it's so cold and the staff started making up reasons. I asked them not to do that again. The next day when I came in to pick the baby up she was wearing 3 layers, 2 layers that I asked to keep on and a winter coat with a label "Leave it On". When I asked what was going on and why was my baby wearing a winter coat inside the building, I was told "we wanted to make sure that she was not cold" In my opinion they punished my kid on purpose, let her sweat, be uncomfortable and suffer all day long. From that point I was done! The director eventually intervened and started protecting her staff. Eventually, she asked me what could they do to make me happy... LOL. NOTHING! In the end, the director was OK with us to leave the preschool any day without giving a 30 day notice and told me that she had a long waiting list. My feeling she did not seem to really care about the baby either. After we gave a notice they seemed to give up on her, stopped making any efforts to feed her, returning half of her food every other day. Overall, the running of the infant group felt unprofessional and I am very happy our kid turned 18 months and we could go to a much better place. DO NOT RECOMMEND this preschool, especially for infants. read more

I Love Hilltop Preschool!! The Staff is AMAZING! Very Kind , Caring & Loving! My Son Has Been Going There For A Year Now & He Amazes Me Everyday W/ The New Things He Learns! The Teachers in The Rollie Polie Class Awesome! They Take Care Of Him , Teach Him & Help Him Grow! The Staff in The Other Classrooms Are Awesome As Well & W/ The New Expansion I Am SO Excited To Watch My Son Bloom! If You Are Looking For A Daycare/Preschool I HIGHLY Recommend This One! They Are Super Flexible & Will Work W/ Your Schedule! You Won't Be Disappointed! Thank You Hilltop Preschool Team For Everything You Do For My Son! You Ladies Are AWESOME!! read more

My babies both go here and I love it! Joshy is in the Rollie pollie class and my little Savannah is in the bumblebee class. My babies are happy to go to school which is awesome, they always have fun little arts and crafts that are sent home (makes my heart melt) and the teachers are kind. We have been coming here for years and we are truly satisfied. Ms. Theresa and Ms. Marla are helpful, accommodating and quick to respond. read more

My son attended hilltop preschool for almost a year, He was in the Firefly classroom with Ms. Marlena, and Ms. Gracie! He is now attending TK, he learned so much in that year he was at hilltop! He was well prepared, and ready for TK! His new teacher was also impressed at how much he knew and how prepared he was. They are very flexible, and accommodate all families. The staff are all welcoming, and ready to teach/care for your children. If you're looking for a daycare/preschool check out Poway Hilltop preschool. :) read more

Hilltop Preschool and its staff are truly a wonderful organization. After raising my own children and hoping to enjoy my golden years, at 54 years old I became a grandmother and full time custodian. I love my grandchild but keeping up with a 2 year old makes you realize you need help. Luckily I found Marla Martin and Hilltop. They became my lifesavers. I was nervous about putting my granddaughter in the care of others because of her situation of abandonment. Not only did they ease my concern, they made her experience so comforting and nurturing. They are a kind, caring and loving group of people who always put the children first. They not only were a daycare for me, they were co-parents, educators and my Angels! read more

Such a disappointment; this place is so extremely unprofessional. Marla texted us at 6pm on a Sunday night to let us know she is releasing us from the contract. This was a surprise to us because we had already pre-paid for the upcoming week. Because of such short notice, my husband had to take Monday off to care for the kids while we scrambled to find alternate care for both kids. We wholeheartedly believe she picked the most inconvenient way to dismiss us and to cause the most hardship to our family. In the end, we are relieved to move on. Both kids are in a different daycare and they are thriving. After such a horrible experience with Marla Martin and Hilltop Preschool, we are absolutely so appreciative of our new daycare where they are professional, listen to us as actual human beings, and really respond to our children's needs. Learning from this experience, we will never sacrifice what seemed like "too good of a deal" at the risk of dealing with a situation like this again. I encourage all parents to call the State Licensing Department (619) 767-2300 to inquire about any daycare. I did it after-the-fact, and had I know up front the incidents Hilltop already had on file, I wouldn't have put my kids in it in the first place. Good luck all on your search for a daycare; I do not recommend this one at all. read more

The staff isn't very professional there. On my 4 year old's first day, they weren't embracing and didn't go out of there way to try and welcome her and make her feel comfortable. I picked her up one day and heard a staff member yell at my child aggressively. She didn't know I was standing right there. The moment she seen me, her entire demeanor changed and she apologized. Just made me wonder how the children are treated on a daily basis when parents aren't around. When I gave notice that I was taking my daughter out the director's attitude changed towards me in a negative way. She no longer spoke to me. The place just sucks and it's cheap for a preschool so you get what you pay for. I would not recommend this place. Pay the extra $ if you can and put your child in a better preschool, especially one that focuses on learning because this one doesn't. A bootleg version of a preschool. read more

I am forever grateful for Hilltop Preschool. I started my daughter at Hilltop when she was 3 1/2 and immediately started to see that she was thriving. I took her out of school for a couple of months while I was out of work on maternity leave for my second child. When it came time to go back to work I contacted the owner, Marla, to see if they could take my daughter back and they took her back with open arms. She finished preschool at Hilltop and was ready for Kindergarten. Although she loves her new 'big girl school' she still talks about all of her favorite teachers. So, I'm sending a huge thank you to the wonderful staff at Hilltop Preschool! read more

My son has been at Hilltop for a year and a half now, and we still love it. The curriculum is enriching, the teachers are nurturing, and it is an all-around great and positive environment for learning and play. Our family loves Hilltop and I still highly recommend it. Once again, do not be fooled by the few negative reviews. As someone who has had a long-term relationship with Marla and the school I can absolutely verify that it is an outstanding preschool. read more

I currently have both of my children enrolled at Hilltop Preschool. My daughter in the rollie pollie class and my son in the caterpillar class. My son has been with Marla and her staff since he was three months old and I have never had any issues. The staff is very personable and I enjoy getting sent pictures and updates via text to keep me updated on how their days are going. Marla was more than happy to work out flexible times with my husband and my work schedule for the kids. My son gets so excited when he comes home to tell us all about his new adventures with his friends and all that he is learning. When he starts kindergarden this September, he is going to deeply miss his teachers and classmates. I would recommend this school to anyone looking for quality childcare and teaching. Did I mention- I live and work in Scripps Ranch, but drive both of my kids to Hilltop Preschool everyday to ensure they will get the best and proper care while I am away from them. read more

Hilltop is amazing. All the staff is very friendly. They have been great with my 2 yr old son and it truly feels like a little family. So happy we found them! read more

My two-and-a-half year old son abolutely LOVES the teachers at this school, and the location and facilities are fantastic. My husband and I looked at several other schools before placing our son with Marla and her staff, and no others even came close. The teachers focus on learning, but always in a fun and relaxed way that allows the kids to be kids. This really is my son's second home and he talks about his friends and teachers constantly! read more

I can't understand how anyone gives this school a low rating. Our daughter has been attending since she was 8 weeks old and there hasn't been a day when I worried about her in their care. Everyone is so sweet. Miss Kristen texts me pictures of my daughter during the day and always checks in with me about feeding, illness, medication, or any other issue. Miss Amanda is not even assigned to my daughter's class but comes in early to play with her. Miss Taja and Miss Janet are always attentive. Marla is super knowledgeable. My daughter is always happy to see her teachers and classmates, and she makes such cute holiday projects (maybe my baby spends some time on Pinterest?). Although I wish this preschool was a bit closer to my work (RB), it's worth the extra 20 mins/day driving. Love love love this place (and I hope yelp doesn't go hiding my review). read more

Hilltop Preschool is, by far, the BEST preschool I found within my search of the inland area of Rancho Bernardo/Poway/CMR. I have four-year old twins and an older seven-year old. When I had looked for preschools for my oldest child the search was exhausting and we actually went through three different preschools before we found the best fit a few years ago. I wish Hilltop Preschool would have been around at that time it would have saved me so much heartache. When my twins were ready to move from their in-home daycare to a structured learning based atmosphere I searched this area far and wide. I went on four different preschool tours and two separate daily "try-outs". I actually didn't even need to prescreen Hilltop on a drop-in day I just knew after meeting with the director Marla it was going to be a fantastic fit for my twins. When I toured the facility earlier this year I took notice of the teacher's attentiveness to the children, their pride in their student's class work and their detail to ensuring the students were in a safe environment. The grounds were very well maintained, the playground was full of play structures/ toys and cleanliness was noted in each classroom (I have a tendency to be known as a compulsive cleaner in my own home). What I loved about Hilltop too is the private setting it's in and that it's not just on the side of some busy street. It's nestled in a secure location on a hillside. These were all points of concern for me that within my tour alone I was so impressed and overjoyed that I had found an amazing preschool that exceeded my expectations. It was a few months later in August that we were prepared for the switch. I was very apprehensive and honestly had taken some time to make the switch because of the fact my twins were so comfortable within their prior daycare. But, they were at the age where I knew Kindergarten preparedness was necessary. The first day we attended Marla was there to greet us, took us personally to the classroom and ensured that the twins were settled in and my nerves calmed. She also called me later in the day to update me on their progress. The twins accepted the preschool from day one with no hesitation of entering the classroom and are always coming home smiling. We are now on month five at Hilltop and are thrilled!!! Ms. Rosalie and Ms. Teresa are their current homeroom teachers. My twins have actually formed a special bond with Ms. Rosalie that I have never seen in them before with any other authority figure. Other classroom teachers such as Ms. Tina and Ms. Kristen have shown their attentiveness to all the children and overall joy in their roles as instructors. As a parent if my children love waking up, getting dressed, run into school, come home happy and full of knowledge I know I made the right decision. We are all hard working parents and only want the best for our children, our most treasured gifts, and with Hilltop Preschool it truly is a special place and we have never regretted one day since our children started to attend. It really is where they have exceptionally enhanced the necessary building blocks for their future academic career. read more

My son has been attending Hilltop for about a year and both him and I could not be happier. All of the teachers are loving and attentive. He always has a good time, is well cared for, and is learning a lot. I would highly recommend them! read more

My nephew started at this school when he was just a baby and now, 7 1/2 years later, we are so grateful that they have implemented the after school program as well as the distanced learning program (in response to COVID) so that my crazy ADHD nephew can get the attention he needs to succeed on his educational journey! They are kind, patient (they need to be with my nephew), great at communicating and working with us on special requests. The special events they host throughout the year add a little something extra to the experience and I love watching him sing his heart out every year at the holiday show! Both the director, Marla, and the assistant director, Teresa, have been so wonderful with communicating back and forth with us and the teachers he has had since starting have always gone above and beyond our expectations! If you have a child between the ages of 0-12, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND giving them a call to check on availability!! read more

Our oldest daughter started Hilltop preschool two years ago and is now in Kindergarten. She is now one of the top students in her class and we owe all our thanks to the teachers at Hilltop. They go above and beyond to teach sign language, arts, crafts, sharing, reading, writing and numbers. We currently have a special needs daughter in the Rollie Pollie class. The teachers treat her with kindness and do a great job at integrating her with the other students. The teachers are patient and understand her needs as well as our needs. We also have a third daughter in the Bumble Bee classroom. Our youngest comes home with a smile and the staff always provides a summary of her day (ie what she ate, how may diapers were changed and her mood). The entire staff at Hilltop Preschool are very professional and provide excellent care around the clock. I recommend Hilltop Preschool to any parent truly wanting their child to excel and know they are being cared for at all times. read more

Our son was severely injured here while they had a group of uncoordinated preschool kids running indoors in a circle. Kids should not be running inside. Their account of what happened differed from what our boy told us and everybody knows that 4yr old kids are not good at lying. His broken arm was caused by severe force, and not just falling over while dancing like they claimed. Not a credible place. read more

We love Hilltop Preschool! My son is three and he is really thriving there. He has a great time and talks about all his friends all the time. I love how much he is learning about his letters and colors and I love how many songs he comes home singing. He talks about Miss Kristin, Miss Martha and Miss Theresa all the time. I highly recommend! read more

Our 2 1/2 year old son has been under Marla and her team's care for just over a year now. We feel they strike the right balance of structured learning and free play. Our son loves going to school to be with his friends and teachers. We're pleased with his progress and are always pleasantly surprised with the new skills he brings home -- counting numbers, naming shapes, reciting stories and songs, and good manners. We have full trust our teachers have our son's best interest and safety in mind. Everyone at Hilltop Preschool is friendly and personable. It's a good fit for us! read more

We've been sending our son to Marla and staff for over a year now and could not be more pleased. Our son always looks forward to going to school and has no complaints when dropped off or picked up... to me that pretty much says it all! They have great structure with art, music, and other lessons. Our son is always surprising us with new things he learned at school. read more

We are so grateful to Hilltop Preschool! Our son has attended Hilltop preschool from October 2012 - current (he is in the 4-year-old classroom). The teachers, staff and owner are very dedicated to the children. The owner, Marla, is amazing and runs an exceptional program! She is an integral part of all of the students' success and is involved daily with each classroom and the teachers. The staff genuinely care about the children's development. My son's teacher's, Ms. Theresa and Ms. Suzanne are incredible! I greatly appreciate their collaborative approach to my son's development, Kindergarten preparedness, self-esteem and socialization. They have an open-door policy, and I am always greeted by the staff and other students with a warm welcome. My son has grown so much since attending Hilltop Preschool; he is confident in himself and truly has a love for learning. He comes home from preschool and works on his letters, writing his name and various art work. Ms. Suzanne has encouraged my son to love learning his letters, letter sounds, sight words, and math concepts; she has a special way of making academics intriguing and fun for the students. Each morning the students work on centers (hands-on learning) fine motors skills, i.e, cutting paper, coloring, grasping small objects, sorting, use of scissors, shapes, colors, tracing and much more. Mrs. Theresa is so patient, calm and loving with the students. The children are given lots of outdoor playtime and exercise daily (something I fell is sadly lost at the elementary school level). My son always loves his adventures on the playground with his friends while discovering and nurturing their curiosity. The playground is beautiful and backs to a peaceful park-like setting surrounded by eucalyptus trees. My son's class has recently planted a vegetable garden, which my son loves. They are learning about the life cycle of butterflies and frogs. Hilltop Preschool is a perfect balance of play based learning, structure throughout the children's day, and fun! My son always comes home with many wonderful stories to share about his day at preschool. He loves his teachers and has formed wonderful friendships with the other students. Most importantly, Hilltop Preschool is nurturing, loving and a very safe environment! I have complete confidence and trust when my son is at Hilltop Preschool. It has been such a joy to be apart of such an amazing program, and we are eternally grateful! read more

My son fell and broke his arm there on his first day. It happened indoors during circle time. Marla told my husband when he picked him up that he was running around in a circle and tripped on another kid. Marla told him she didn't think it was broken even though he was screaming at the top of his lungs holding his arm up with the good arm. My husband stated he saw her more focused on making sure her assistant documented the incident than giving our son attention when he was hurting. That night I spent the night at Rady's with my son needing morphine for pain every 2 hours. The surgery was the next day. He had a 2nd degree break according to the surgeon. Marla didn't even call to check on him...she just left a message a couple days later asking when he would be returning. My health insurance is currently trying to sue her for medical expenses but she has not responded to the lawyers. Not a professional or caring organization. read more

This preschool deserves 10+ stars!!! I cannot say enough good things about this school. I currently have (2) children enrolled (Bumblebee & Rolie Polie class), but at one time I had all 3 of my boys attending in each class until my oldest went to Kindergarten. First and foremost, I have ALWAYS felt that my children were loved and safe every single day! I believe Marla and all her staff TRULY love taking care of children! The staff is one of a kind! I can communicate with them and they respond immediately and their communication with me about my children is on point. We have had our boys in other preschools with where we have lived and we drive 40 minutes out of our way just to attend this school because we found it to be the BEST! This school is affordable and offers so many amazing, EXTRA things to my kids such as Field Trips (Caterpillar class), Fall Festival, Christmas Performance, Holiday Parties, Pumpkin Patch, Easter hunt, Graduation ceremony, Soccer Shots and visits from dentists, fireman, radio, zoological people to teach the kids so much great stuff! And not to mention the HUGE playground that doesn't compare to any other preschool! My children have thrived at this school and LOVE to go! Hilltop is AMAZING! read more