Very concerning experience attempting to tour Challenger School in Sandy for preschool…read more We arrived on time for our scheduled tour and were handed a values-based questionnaire that no one had previously explained was mandatory. 10+ min later, the director informed us we couldn't even tour unless it was completed first. When I calmly asked whether we could simply tour before filling out a philosophical questionnaire for a school we knew very little about, I was met with repeated pushback from both the director & headmaster and repeatedly told it was "school policy," despite my inability to locate such a policy online. The director later stated she only had 15-20 minutes before the next tour while simultaneously expecting us to complete the unexpected questionnaire after the school itself had already run late. Neither my spouse nor I, both doctors, have encountered anything remotely similar in educational or professional settings. The interaction ultimately ended with the headmaster abruptly stating, "This is not going to be a good fit," and walked off. Overall, the interaction felt rude, dismissive, and heavily compliance-focused for what should have been a simple preschool tour inquiry.

Challenger has probably been one of the worst schools I've ever gone to. Not only are the teachers…read moretrained poorly, but the blatant favoritism. Firstly, many of the teachers are unqualified for their position. For instance, one of the extended teachers will purposely select students to move seats for no given reason. When someone asks why the student is getting moved, the teacher will just laugh and then tell them to move. She's also highly impatient and has been arrested, which, in my opinion, seems like a valid reason to not hire someone. Next, Mrs, Gourgeon is very fake to parents and puts on a facade to everyone. When someone gets sent to the office, she doesn't let the person explain their side of the story and will get mad at people if they don't answer exactly what she asked. A few teachers very noticeably favor some students over others, asking some students questions more questions than others or only listening to students they like. Overall, Challenger has a lot of discrimination towards to different students - whether it's between actual teaching or after school, there's a lot of prejudice.

I have four children who attend this school. All are in the Lower School, currently, so I can't…read morewrite about personal experience with the Middle or Upper School. We started at Waterford when my 11-year-old started preschool there, after touring and sitting in on classes at many schools around the Salt Lake Valley. After considering the cost in relation to the education offered, there was really nothing that compared to Waterford. I disagree with the previous reviewer about there not being an accelerated program in the Lower School. Where Waterford really shines is in their ability to meet the educational needs of a wide variety of students. They use software from the Waterford Institute for the students' computer time and they move at their own pace. Additionally, I have had some of my children move at an extremely accelerated pace and others who needed real support. One of my sons was allowed to advance individually in math and receive extra support because he was so much more advanced than the rest of the class. Another struggled in reading and was able to take advantage of Waterford's impressive reading tutoring program. In both math and reading, the students are grouped according to level and work with the teacher or a specialist at their level. The facilities are fantastic; instructors and specialists are invested far beyond the average teacher; and problems are resolved quickly by the administration when their involvement is needed. The thing I love the most about Waterford is that there is a huge effort to foster both the love of learning and respect for self and others. The learning environment is ideal because of this.

Waterford was great for us in one way. My daughter became mysteriously ill pretty much for an…read moreamount of time in junior/senior year. It affected her cognitive abilities and she was forced to miss a good amount of school as well as special events of senior year. The kind, discreet response of the teachers and administrative staff blew us all away. They were fiercely protective of her. My daughter is pretty private but the students and their parents who knew were equally as amazing! Character was high with the kids (they didn't gossip much like you might find at another school, held her confidences and, as a result, feel like the school will forever be in my heart. The only issue that holds me back is that I feel it can be very rules heavy, a bit punitive (kids were expelled and punished for little). It lacks a vibrant social scene, can be a bit provincial in its academic and enriching offerings and can tend to mute students from sharing thoughts and expressing themselves. The last thing is that students don't really head committees or initiatives in junior or senior year... they really should and parents should be nowhere to be found. High school is the time to try new things and fail. Prom committee, the school store, a real school newspaper...They really aren't encouraged to as the parent body leads all. This proved tougher when my daughter went off to high school. Other than that, great school with great classes and teachers, special kids and- for the most part- a wonderful, warm parent body. Thank you Waterford!

Mrs. Natalee is truly the most incredible teacher. My son has excelled at writing, number, and…read morealphabet recognition. She has taught him a love for art and comes home with the cutest projects. Mrs. Natalee has the perfect balance of learning and play, I'm truly so grateful I found her this year!

Mrs. Natalee is the most awesome preschool teacher every. I'm so sad that my child only had her for…read moreone year, If I only know that she was going to be so great I would have had my child with her much longer. But with in this year my son has learned so much and his so beyond kindergarten ready. I love the caring and compassion she has for these children and the enthusiasm she gets this kids about learning. It is so great we all need a Mrs. Natalee in our lifes!

The staff is very friendly, and the atmosphere is family oriented. The employees get to know…read morechildren on an individual basis. There is a lot of flexibility around the specific needs of a child. There are minimal "electronic" distractions for the staff, allowing them to focus on the children and their care. My daughter regularly comes back happy and often surprises us with a new milestone.

Love, Love, LOVE this place! I have had two children attend and my oldest still asks to go back on…read more"field trip" days. My youngest is in the 3's class and is learning to write her letters. She loves the teachers and staff as I do. Many of the same teachers my oldest had when he attended are still there. And some that left have come back! That says a lot about the management. My youngest thrives there and loves to go to "school". As working parents, my husband and I know our child is safe and loved at Children's Choice. I would recommend this day care facility to any parent looking for a fun, safe, loving, structured, happy place for their child to spend their days.

We have been through a handful of schools due to our expectations, communication issues, and…read moregeneral standards. From day one, both Ms Jessica and Ms Megan are always welcoming and accommodating. Does not matter the time of day, I get a response to any message I send. The teachers are phenomenal. My 5 year old can name numerous insect body parts, count to 20 in Spanish, doing addition and subtraction on her own, solar systems, and the list goes on and on. She comes home excited about learning and explains in detail what she learned that day. For this age group, I know what a challenge they can be. Ms Mary, our whole family loves her. My daughter asks why she can't come on trips with us. She makes such an effort to love and support the children. She finds their interests and treats every child like they are her own. We have LOVED Montessori. If you are thinking of a school and are unsure, do not hesitate. It will be the best decision you make!

Willow Creek was truly the best decision we made for my little guys. It felt like such a big…read moredecision to choose where to send them - but it was an automatic yes when we took the tour. It has been a safe, loving and nurturing place for my little guys to thrive. We especially love Mrs. Mary and all of the teachers in her class. We have moved since they were first enrolled, but the extra drive is worth knowing they are in such good hands! Thank you for running an amazing school and program - it has been such a special experience!

Absolutely amazing school. It has the perfect balance of cleaniness and exploration. Our son…read morethrived academically and the teachers/ staff were all truly such a blessing.

My children attended and continue to attend Dancing Moose during their preschool and kindergarten…read moreyears, and they have truly thrived there. They enjoy the experience so much that they still ask about the school on a daily basis. The staff is exceptional--consistently attentive, supportive, and engaged. The teachers regularly follow up on my child's progress and well-being, which makes us feel confident and genuinely cared for as a family. We highly recommend Dancing Moose to anyone seeking a nurturing, high-quality early education environment.

To every parent and educator: The state of Hilltop has reached a critical breaking point. What was…read moreonce a thriving institution is being dismantled by a board of unqualified volunteers acting without accountability. ​The situation is dire: ​Leadership Crisis: Two highly qualified directors have been forced out in mere months. ​Exodus of Talent: Educators are leaving in droves as the environment becomes untenable. ​Abuse of Power: The board is currently rewriting bylaws to extend their own terms and insulate themselves from oversight. ​Silence & Censorship: Communication platforms are being deactivated specifically to prevent parents from holding the board accountable for their actions. ​This is no longer the school we chose. The current board's trajectory has turned a community pillar into an environment of instability. Parents are pulling their children, and educators are fleeing. Do not enroll, do not apply, and demand better before the damage becomes irreversible.

I'm so sad to say that due to recent changes there has been a complete cultural change. There is a…read morevery different feeling at the school. Our safe haven now feels chaotic and unglued. Due to recent staffing changing and the boards failure to quickly refill some positions; my son left the building while upset and his absence was unnoticed for 10+ minutes. Teachers who started the year full of energy and optimism are depleted and trying their best while not being given breaks or resources. It breaks my heart how much things changed. We have now had to spend months searching for a new school and nothing can match the special environment that was lost when Hilltop decided to close half the school.

5/5 Stars - The Best Decision We Ever Made…read more Before we found Grace Lutheran, we had a really hard time finding good, consistent care for our son. Even when we did find something promising, frequent staff turnover or class transitions would downgrade an average situation to a below-average one. I can't tell you how many times my son would cry during drop-off and pick-up. He also came home with scratches and bites almost daily--understandable for two-year-olds, but it was excessive. The final straw came when he moved up to a new class and the care quality dropped again. That's when I reached out to friends for advice. Two friends highly recommended Grace--one who had since moved out of state and another who still sends her son there. She told me it was the best move they ever made. Funny enough, my husband also attended Grace in 4th grade and always had amazing things to say every time we drove by. We scheduled a tour and instantly felt like we had found the right place. We moved our son to Grace when he was two. He's now four, and we also started our daughter there this past September when she turned two. It's truly the best decision we've ever made. Neither of our kids has ever cried at drop-off or pick-up. In fact, it's the complete opposite--my son runs into class, thrilled to start his day, and my daughter leaps out of my arms without even saying goodbye. They've never come home with a scratch or bite. Grace is special. It's not just a school--it's a community. The teachers genuinely care about the children and are passionate about early education. My son's preschool teacher has gone above and beyond to prepare him for kindergarten a year ahead of time, using creative and engaging learning activities that not only meet curriculum goals but also support the whole child--nurturing their creativity and emotional development. I truly cannot express how much we appreciate this school. Grace Lutheran is a gift, and we are so grateful to be part of it.

Pastor Macinelli is a wonderful man! I love attending church here, the congregation is very…read morewelcoming, and always willing to assist fellow church goers and community members.