Atrium School is one of those life-enhancing places. We've had our girls at the school for 6.5…read moreyears - since my oldest was in Kindergarten - and I couldn't ask for more. It's a truly progressive school with strong leadership, small class sizes, warm and wise teachers, and a school culture heavily rooted in kindness and true appreciation for a variety of learning styles. My daughter wouldn't have let us go somewhere else for middle school even if we had wanted to (which we didn't!) Worth a visit if you've ever even had a passing thought of enrolling at an independent school in the Boston area.

My child started at this school in Sept. (2012) and we can't say enough good things about our…read moreexperience. This is a progressive school with thematic studies. It's a very hands on approach with the appropriate support to the child's needs to succeed. The teachers are very aware of the emotional and educational needs of each individual student. They guide the student to think to come up with the answer of whatever challenge is placed in front of the child. I happened to run into an educator who is now in an administrative position of a well known Boston private high school. I asked him about his impressions of Atrium and he said the education these students receive is excellent and his school is always happy to see an applicant from Atrium because they have the tools needed to succeed. This response was in keeping with the high school placement of the Atrium graduates. From a practicle standpoint: In the morning it takes 12 minutes from Beacon Hill to get to the school. Excellent education, good student placement and convenient to those in the city and surrounding neigborhoods. This is a win,win, win for my child and family.

My kids have been attending summer camp at Belmont Day for the last few years. Their program is…read moreamazing. I really appreciate that they swim 2x/day (lesson in the morning, free swim in the afternoon). The counselors are awesome. The staff - led by Zach - is super well organized. They send you all the detailed info that you need to know including theme weeks, what to bring and what not to bring, etc. Pick up and drop off are easy. The facilities are nothing short of amazing - including a huge indoor "barn" which is really an AC space that has multiple bball courts downstairs and art/music upstairs. The camp groups are small so our kids have made good friends and have had a great experience here for multiple years and counting. Be sure to register as soon as registration opens up because spots fill up very fast!

Amazing school. Caring, sensitive, creative...lives up to its stated values and mission statement,…read morewhich is a rare find.

My child attended school here for their Transitional Kindergarten program (i.e. a third year of…read morepreschool if your child misses the cut-off date for that year) and it was a very good experience for my family. The "cooperative" part of the name indicates that each parent spends some time as a teaching assistant. I wasn't sure if I would like this, however the time commitment is minimal (3 hours a semester) and I learned a lot. The teachers and program are excellent and the school truly does foster a sense of community among its members. The T-K program is more structured than the preschool but it's supposed to be and I did not feel that the children were being pressured. It's a 'traditional' pre-school schedule in that it's about 4 hours a day but you can also do after-care for another couple of hours (or maybe more now). It's very flexible and as said everyone seems truly nice. If the location and schedule work for you, I would definitely advise exploring this program and recommend it highly.

My son went to the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program at Bowen. It really prepared him for…read moreKindergarten. TK is quite different than just another year of preschool. It has the structure and the start of a focus on academics found in Kindergarten but in a warm, nurturing environment with a student:teacher ratio of 7:1. The Bowen community was very welcoming as well.

If you are looking for a preschool in the Belmont area - look no further!!! This school has been…read morearound for 78 YEARS and has offered wonderful, exceptional and one of a kind care. The longevity of the caring staff, varied curriculum, bright and sunny classrooms as well as the huge outdoor playground make this school unique and special. The curriculum is play-based with themes based on the children's interests. They also have specialists visit the classrooms - such as music, science and movement! Your child also has an option to stay later for an extended day program - where they are able to learn about fun topics such as art and artists. You should see some of the art they create! Trust me - Your child will be in the best hands if they attend Plymouth Nursery School.

My daughter has had the most ideal preschool experience here. From mimicking Jackson Pollack…read morepaintings to marching in a Chinese New Years parade around Belmont Center, she has gotten to experience creative and challenging activities that have her excited to go to school each day. Most importantly, it is done in a warm, truly nurturing setting. I felt that from day one when I met the teachers on our tour. (It actually brought tears to my eyes.) In addition, being a coop, we parents have gotten to participate and have definitely become a community. We chat outside every morning during drop off and have had multiple school-wide activities and play dates. We truly feel lucky to have found this school.

The Kendall School is a very special community centered preschool in Belmont, MA. Our daughter…read moreattended their preschool and Transitional Kindergarten program, led by the incredibly knowledgable and experienced Ms. Johnson. The environment at Kendall offers a blend of the arts, physical movement and curriculum that appropriately prepared our daughter for Kindergarten. I would highly recommend The Kendall School to anyone looking for a warm, friendly and well-structured preschool experience!

A sad excuse for a school. Back when I went here I was bullied and even spanked by teachers, in…read moreaddition I got locked in a closet for forgetting to put a block away. Not to mention the relentless bullying which included attempted strangling, isolation, physical assault, harassment, etc, and later led to death threats so bad that I had to switch towns and schools, and of course the teachers didn't do anything about it. The sheer lack of supervision also meant that kids (under the age of 10 even) would be making out in the bathrooms, in addition to vaping. And don't even get me started on the faculty, that's a whole other story. In short, I'm for the schools ultimate downfall.

My time at the friends school was mixed. I got a great education but at what cost. I was made fun…read moreof for being different. One kid called me a "stupid ugly fat cow" from 5th to 8th grade. The teacher I reported it to played it off "Oh he just likes you". This school taught me that my feelings didn't matter, made me feel like I didn't matter. This school taught me that no doesn't actually mean no, and that if you apply enough pressure they'll eventually give in. This school caused so much emotional and psychological damaged, that I've been left to fix on my own, because they didn't care to do their job. If the teacher had just done their job when I reported the other student, I would have self-confidence. my self-esteem and the way i see myself wouldn't be absolutely trashed. this school taught me that others can't be trusted and I can only rely on myself to protect myself. I started using self-harm in the 6th grade as a coping mechanism because no one listened to me, because no one cared.

This Montessori school is highly recommended. I had to pull my child out of the public school and…read morethis school has done wonders for him. With the right support and structure provided by the teachers, my son has gained so much academically and socially, in an environment which respects his character and learning style and encourages him to grow at his own pace. I am obliged forever, my son loves his school and so do we.

Our child started at Allium this year. He is absolutely thriving and loves school. In fact, on the…read moredays he isn't at school, he tells us that the least favorite parts of those days are not going to school. The teacher-leaders at Allium are incredible. They pay close attention to our child's strengths and growth areas and very intentionally set the table for him to both succeed but also work hard and struggle through things. In a very short time, we've seen incredible growth in his academic and social skills, as well as his ability to focus and work independently. I recommend Allium without reservations - this school is a true gem and one-of-a-kind.

If you are looking for a great program for both social, emotional and academic development, you…read moreshould look into LNS. They are a co-op, so don't be fooled, you have to contribute time, but what parent wouldn't want to be involved in their children's daily lives? LNS is located at the DeCordova Museum, which helps them incorporate nature and art into the curriculum. Because there is a parent teacher in the classroom every day, you can be confident that your children are in great hands. These teachers are so kind and you can trust that they treat your child as if he/she were their own. To help acclimate your child into the school and classroom they: 1) start with a home visit to every child's home to get to know them in a setting where they feel comfortable. 2) have "lemonade parties" where the kids can go have a snack and lemonade at school for an hour and hang out in the classroom/on campus and with the teachers with their parents around. 3) they start the year off with just half of the class for the first two days so it isn't overwhelming for the kids and they can have more individual time with the teachers. Throughout the year, they conduct parent teacher curriculum nights and events. They have their whole year scheduled and organized. The teachers have an online blog where you can read what they are doing and they post photos for you to be a part of the experience. This School is very advanced for a "day care". They follow some of the practices of some of the private schools in the area. I have been to quite a few day cares and I have 3 children, so I am really impressed by this nursery school. Amazing place! Please feel free to contact me with any questions!

LNS is a magical place for a child to start school. We're incredibly lucky to have found it. The…read moreteachers are so dedicated, respectful, patient, giving, amazing. The classrooms are full of light and fun - inspiring a love of art and nature, and giving children the tools they need to discover their world and develop meaningful friendships. It's a co-op, so a parent is in the classroom each day. There are nature walks, outdoor play, visits to the DeCordova Museum, baking, music, and so much more. I wish I could spend every morning there!