Tara is a unique and magical educational experience in the redwood forests near Land of Medicine…read moreBuddha. Our daughters attend and are thriving in the elementary and preschool programs. The preschool program is located in the heart of Soquel. The teachers are terrific and the children and community wonderful. While in Soquel proper, they do make weekly trips up to the redwoods to play and explore. It's an excellent program filled with creative activities, traditional Montessori education, and play. The elementary program is located within the Land of Medicine Buddha, nestled amongst the redwoods, where the children hike, play in the stream, and count banana slugs while on their way to the playground. The class sizes are small which allow our daughter to receive more attention and tailored education than in a traditional public school. Montessori-style teaching meets the student at their current level of development for each subject, providing flexibility and ensuring a child is challenged and not left behind or left waiting for their classmates to catch up. The elementary school teachers are wonderful, highly experienced, and a positive influence on our daughter. Lastly, the school ethos of compassion, mindfulness, inclusion, and kindness instill important values in our children and foster a culture of like-minded parents and teachers who share these same values. PS - Refreshingly, there are no screens at Tara. The children learn through their senses and through physical objects, not by the glow of pixels and hum of electricity.

nestled among the redwoods, the school offers an education that is both intellectually rigorous and…read moredeeply humane. learning here is not just about absorbing information, but about cultivating attention, kindness, curiosity, and ethical relationship... to oneself, to others, and to the living world. the rhythm of the days feels intentional and spacious. mindfulness, compassion, and inquiry are embodied through routine, ritual, and relationship. children are supported in developing emotional literacy alongside academic skills, learning how to sit with difficulty, resolve conflict, and care for one another with sincerity and respect. the teachers are attentive, thoughtful, and deeply committed... not only to education, but to the inner lives of the students. there is a palpable sense that each child is seen as a whole person, with their own temperament, questions, and unfolding path. the connection to nature is not ornamental; the redwoods, trails, and open air are active participants in the learning process, grounding education in sensory experience and reverence for the natural world. i am grateful to have gone here and if i lived in santa cruz and i had children... they would absolutely go here.

Both of my children have gone to Discovery, and their experiences exceeded my expectations for…read morepreschool. Discovery provided them with community, safety, and connections with educators and with their peers. I especially appreciate the intentionality behind their approach- Discovery works to really understand and value the unique traits and experiences of young children and helps them build their curiosity and social emotional skills. We also chose to keep both of our children at Discovery until kindergarten and felt that they were prepared to transition to public school. Like many early childhood education places, we have experienced some staff turnover and changes, but I feel that that's to be expected in these situations. In general, I think the educators handle any potentially difficult transitions, changes, or challenges intentionally and try to mitigate any impact to the kids.

I cannot recommend Discovery enough! Truly the most experienced and engaging team of teachers! All…read moreof my kids have gone through Discovery schools and are thriving! My favorite part was how much they facilitated community and our whole family has made life long friendships!

I went to Simcha when I was a toddler, and now my own children go there! My two year old has had a…read morewonderful year in the toddler class, and will be in the preschool class next year. My 4 year old will be in the TK/K class this coming year. The teachers are great, the outdoor spaces are wonderful, and the extended hours they offer are so helpful for many families. We've made great friends there, and are so thankful!

I cannot speak highly enough about my experience at Simcha. We've been attending for three years…read morenow - my older daughter attended pre-k and the kinder class, and my younger daughter started in the toddler class when she was two, then the preschool class, is currently in pre-k and will be in the TK/K class next year. Both of my girls have thrived at simcha, and we adore the community. Both our kids and us parents have made many amazing friends. The teachers are incredible, and we've really appreciated the play-based curriculum with tons of outdoor time. In TK/K, teacher Jan blends academic material with so much fun and creativity - the kids hardly know they're learning. My older daughter was extremely prepared for public 1st grade because of Jan's guidance and the small class size - she learned to read and write, gained strong math skills, and made special, lasting friendships. our younger daughter could have attended public TK but with Simcha's extended hours and unique program, it's worth the investment of an extra year. Highly highly recommend!

We've been attending LifeSpring Prechool for a year and a half. The staff has been warm, kind,…read morecompassionate, and accommodating to our daughter. They provide care that is consistent and reliable, and have fun activities like having fire fighter visit the school, holiday events, pizza throwing visitors, picnic days, and provide the kids with fun activities throughout the week. Our daughter discovered her love of painting at LS! It's hard to pick a daycare that you trust to nurture and care for your child, but LS is a great place with teachers that are truly called to the profession. Teachers Jennifer, Michelle, Anna, Cat, Rosa, Jimena, Laura, and Kristie have been outstanding. Thank you all for being a safe place for us!

I honestly liked this Daycare for my daughter until they discriminated her and myself her because…read moreof her special need and the director was willing to work with me and out of nowhere she switched up and kicked her out. And as well, it needs more improvement with the teachers. Some of the teachers just don't know what they're doing meaning they're always on the phone and not paying attention to the kids. And as well one time I went to go drop off stuff for my daughter, and one of the teachers from the other class was yelling at the kids, and I saw her as well, grabbing their arm super hard poor little babies also my daughter would be scared of that certain teacher .. hmm makes me think what did she do to my poor little baby

Our son started at L'Academy when he was 2 years old, and we couldn't have asked for a better place…read moreto support his early development. As an only child, we really wanted him to build social skills and friendships--and L'Academy delivered beautifully. Over his two years there, he formed a close-knit group of little buddies that he still talks about and attends their birthdays! Now that he's enrolled in TK, we can truly see the foundation L'Academy helped build. He's a confident, curious learner and even knows how to say the alphabet in Spanish--something he proudly learned at L'Academy! The staff made all the difference. Director Lanie was always communicative, responsive to any concerns, and incredibly sweet to our little guy. And Teacher Mary holds a special place in his heart--her warmth and care made a lasting impact. We're so grateful to L'Academy for creating such a nurturing and enriching environment. Highly recommend to any parent looking for a daycare that truly supports both learning and love.

Our Best Daycare experience in the Bay Area!…read more We absolutely love L'Academy! Our 2-year-old daughter has been attending for a little over a year and we are constantly impressed. It feels like a school more than just a daycare and that is reflected in our daughter's growth. We were very impressed from the get go with Lanie's (the headmaster) professionalism. While our daughter was in the toddler group we absolutely loved teachers Jessica and Laura. Our daughter seems to learn something new everyday there. It seems like everyday the staff shares a loving anecdote about our daughter at pick up time, which speaks to their attentiveness and care. Daily photo updates and reports keep us connected to our daughter's day. We are always kept apprised of her daily activities, which is reassuring. She is always engaged in creative, play-based learning. She especially loves the outdoor playtime because of their awesome jungle gym. Seeing her engaged via the pictures on the app is the highlight of our day. Most importantly, our daughter is thriving and is so excited to see her teachers and friends every morning. Our daughter is absolutely flourishing and we owe it in large part to l'Academy. Cannot recommend this l'Acadamy enough. It feels like a school more than just a daycare and that is reflected in our daughter's growth.

Children's Enrichment Center (CEC) is a preschool located on the Twin Lakes Church campus. They…read moreserve children ages 2 through transitional kindergarten. CEC is a very academic preschool with a fun-loving and caring staff. Great remodeled facilities and playgrounds. Cannot say enough positive things about CEC.

This is a great school. My brother went there pre-5th. My oldest son goes there now and I plan to…read morehave our youngest boy go as well.

My kiddo started here when he was 2 1/2 and will be there until he starts TK in the fall. He has…read moreloved it there and so have I. The supportive staff are great to work with and I truly feel like my child is the best individual he can be as a result of being there. He is thoughtful and kind, waits his turn, shares, and is a joy to be around. The many works they have are as interesting as they are educational. I can't recommend Midtown highly enough. The teachers and staff here are astounding and I'm forever grateful to them.

I am forever grateful to the teachers at this school. My son thrived. The teachers took the time to…read morediscuss things with parents. The teachers are overwhelmingly patient and kind with the kids. I've never seen anything like it. There is NOTHING you would regret about enrolling your child in this school. The kids learn to garden, fold laundry, clean up messes, make bread and many many other things. They learn manners, hot to greet people and introduce themselves, body safety etc. match, language, all the things. I am forever grateful to have been apart of this school community.

Academics and teachers are top notch. Administration is good, can't imagine a school would be run…read moreany better. However, your experience here is very dependent on your situation going into the school. There is a lot of affluence here as you can imagine, and you'll be exposed to that as parents, and your kid will as well. For most of the parents and kids at the school, its a world they are comfortable with. For those not in that circle, you will quickly realize that it's not your circle...and your kid will too. Towards the end of our time here, our daughter was old enough to understand these things, and that was very disappointing to us. It's a private school with all that it entails; that needs to be understood before deciding on sending your child here. While a good school, it's not for everyone.

Dear readers, as an individual who attended this school in the past, I must honestly express that I…read morefind it to be an unsatisfactory investment for your child's education. My time at SCM was quite extensive, but I eventually transferred to another institution due to the persistent issue of bullying, which remained prevalent from 1st to 6th grade without any effective intervention from the school administration. During my time in 6th grade, I endured both physical and mental bullying to such an extent that it necessitated my admission to a Mental Health Hospital for various reasons. Shockingly, the three girls responsible for this reprehensible behavior faced no consequences, resulting in me missing out on my graduation day and celebration due to their actions. This unfortunate reality extended to my friend as well, as he was also targeted and compelled to switch schools. Moreover, it is important to note that I am autistic and suffer from a chronic illness that causes severe pain when walking or running. Regrettably, the school disregarded my condition and failed to provide any support or accommodation during times of autistic meltdowns. I found their indifference towards my physical and emotional struggles disheartening and disconcerting. When I requested alternative activities during physical education classes to alleviate my chronic pain, the school administration threatened to involve my parents, rather than understanding and addressing my health concerns with compassion and empathy. In terms of education, I observed a significant emphasis on the subjects in which students demonstrated proficiency, while minimal effort was made to help students struggling in other areas. This unbalanced approach hindered overall academic growth and development. In conclusion, my personal experience at this school was largely negative, and I believe there are superior educational establishments available. However, it is essential to recognize that individual experiences may vary, and some individuals might find benefit in this environment. Regardless, I urge prospective parents and students to exercise caution and carefully consider their options before making a decision.

After hearing how difficult it is to get kids in to childcare, we got our son on the waiting list…read moresuper early and paid $2096 for a spot a year in advance. When we were able to get in sooner elsewhere (five months prior to our start date with little acorns), they refused to give us our money back due to the "non-refundable deposit". I guess we should've known or expected this but still it seems like a ridiculous policy. They will have plenty of time to fill his spot and now we are out 2K. Moral of the story... don't give them a deposit

We couldn't speak more highly of the wonderful care we received over the past two years at little…read moreacorns. The teachers are warm, well educated, caring and so fun! The school is clean and bright. We were so impressed with the sweet touches: birthday circles, parent/teacher meetings, graduation ceremony, parenting workshops, options to give parent hours. We felt supported, as an entire family, from billing questions to changes in schedule. We will sincerely miss it!

Great school went there when I was a kid. I had such good teachers and learned a lot. It was my…read morefirst public school after Montessori.

Our daughter just finished 6th. grade at NBMS and It was a very positive experience for her…read more She loved all her teachers and excelled in academics as well as sports. I was able to witness how the principal Craig Broadhurst and the vice principal Andrew Weiss handled several conflicts that arose. They were professional and quick to act with wisdom. I personally saw how their love and compassion for students and their dedication to creating a safe learning environment was a major priority.