My experience at Parkside was challenging. The admin was changing over and there was little…read morecommunication, and more than a bit of aggressive interactions with admin. We had a new teacher who was enthusiastic when the students were perfect, and utterly overwhelmed and clueless when the students had challenges. My son has ADHD, and despite telling me they has experience with 2E kids, the teacher thought my son had severe emotional problems when my son would self sooth by going in a corner to be alone for a bit. They also did not communicate in any way the depth of the problems my son was having in school. I finally realized the extent of his issues when I began attending daily to see for myself. They were often rude and childish in response to issues or complaints. They had a history of keeping teachers even after multiple complaints of abusive behavior. Their insistence on parent interaction was amazing, and the singalongs were fabu. But it doesn't make up for the severely subpar teaching, the reusing of the same curriculum every year, the nasty admin, and the overall confusion of vision with a high price tag. Do not recommend this school beyond kindergarten at all!

Our daughter is three and a half, and she just finished her first year of preschool (Primary) at…read moreParkside. We couldn't be more pleased to have her attending this special school. From top to bottom, it's an excellent program with marvelous staff and leadership, and a wonderful community. Some of things we love most about Parkside: it's uniquely and authentically Montessori, which was important to us when we were looking at schools. The teachers (called guides) are loving, creative, and thorough in their teaching methods. We were blown away when barely a month in, our daughter came home singing about all the continents of the world! The 12-acre campus is beautiful and well maintained. The kids get lots of outdoor time and often take hikes together as a class. They learn to value and sing about nature, including our new favorite song, "Chlorophyll" written by the founders. Music is a big part of Parkside life, and at least 1-2 events a week are organized around it (parents are invited to participate as well). We've enjoyed all the opportunities for families to get involved at Parkside and we've made some great friends already. Even through the craziness of the pandemic, Parkside staff led the way with through health protocols and regular communication with Austin Public Health to keep the kids safe and allow school to continue. In short, we've found Parkside to be an amazing, friendly, beautiful place that is nurturing our daughter to her full potential. We highly recommend it!

We had a great 4 years with INIC at their Austin Campus. I always had great communication from the…read moreteachers along the ups and downs that come with raising a baby into a little child, and felt that each teacher went out of their way to have a bond with our kiddo. There was lots of hugs and affection, and we never had any concerns around his safety or academic growth. He loved going to school and would run away from me at pickup time because he wanted to keep playing.

My family was part of the INIC community for nearly four years. I sent both of my daughters there…read moreas infants and previously left a 5-star review. I would have enthusiastically recommended this school. Today, I cannot. The issue is not the teachers. The teachers have been exceptional and are the reason so many families choose this school. Despite years of tuition increases and persistent concerns from teachers and families, the school has not made the investments necessary to retain them. In early March alone, at least 7 teachers left or announced their departures--nearly 20% of the teaching staff by parents' count. Both of my daughters experienced unexpected teacher departures in their classrooms during that same period. For young children, teachers are not interchangeable. They are trusted caregivers and a critical source of stability. When teachers leave, children lose important relationships and families are left helping them navigate yet another transition. During enrollment, families are told classrooms are staffed with a lead teacher, an assistant teacher, and additional flex staff available for coverage. In reality, my oldest daughter's classroom frequently operated at the legal minimum ratio of one teacher for fifteen four-year-olds. Multiple current and former teachers described being unable to reliably use sick days, vacation days, or even take basic bathroom breaks because there was often insufficient coverage available. When a school is staffed so leanly that teachers struggle to meet basic human needs during the day, it raises serious questions about how well both teachers and students are being supported. Teachers reported compensation in the $14-$17/hour range despite bilingual education being one of the school's primary differentiators. Comparable non-bilingual childcare positions in Austin often advertise higher wages. The result is predictable: teachers leave. Children lose stability. Families absorb the consequences. Demand for bilingual childcare in Austin far exceeds supply, and many families have few realistic alternatives once enrolled. Given that reality--and given that tuition has continued to increase year after year--I expected a greater commitment to investing in the teachers and staffing stability that families are ultimately paying for. Parents who attempted to ask questions and advocate for improvements--including efforts to reestablish the PTA--often received little to no response. While our family's relationship with the school ultimately ended following disagreements with leadership about these issues, the concerns described here are based on nearly four years of experience and conversations with numerous current and former teachers and families. The teachers are the school's greatest strength. The challenge is whether the school will make the investments necessary to retain them long enough to provide the stability and continuity that young children deserve.

Our family loves it here! Our infant had a terrible experience at another school (daycare) about 3…read moremiles away. ACM has taught us that infant rooms are not chaotic. Babies crying all day is not normal. ACM has natural lighting. They spend a lot of time outside with all ages. They hold and comfort our 9-month-old baby. He has no trouble sleeping at ACM. The guides seem to love the children. Our baby has really started talking and eating more. He is much happier now that he is at ACM! As our the parents! We have learned to trust our intuition and it is all good at Austin Children's Montessori!

ACM was fine for babies but not for toddler boys. The owner is the type to push families out…read moreinstead of relying on early childhood development expertise to help kids with a lot of energy be successful. The final straw for us was when she told me, a first-time mom who at the time didn't know any better, that my 3 year old had caused 2 teachers to leave ACM, including one who left the profession. Really? A 3 year old caused a teacher to leave the profession? What kind of ECD professional says something like that to a parent. And other parents had similar experiences at the time. My son went on to be beloved by the teachers of our next school who supported him to the point where he is recognized as a model student now in elementary school. Ms. T is a bully. Don't let her make you question what you know deep down to be right and wrong. I've noticed that many of the negative reviews have been removed. Not sure if it's an algorithm or what but if you are a new parent considering send you your kid here just know that.

100000 stars!! There aren't enough words to say how AMAZING this school is!!! Athena is a special,…read moremagical gem and we feel so absolutely lucky to have found it. The teachers and the atmosphere just radiate peace and positivity. The quality of education is incredible. My son turned 5 yesterday and is already about to start reading!! The amount of personal attention and care each student receives is incredible. My second child is about to "walk through the gates of life" this May and head to kindergarten.. I am honestly heartbroken to not go there everyday anymore lol! We have had a child there for the past 5 years and if I could keep them there forever, I would! We have had the honor to get to know Ms. Alex, Ms. Jazmin and Ms. Morgan over the years and these women are absolutely INCREDIBLE! They have huge hearts and really LOVE what they do, and it shows!! They have a magic way of connecting, communicating and relating to the kids. We are so THANKFUL for the values and knowledge they have bestowed in our children that will shape who they become forever!! We love each of you so much!! My kids made me promise to always take them back to say hello as they grow...that speaks volumes in my book. Athena is a purely magical place!

We have been blown away by our experience with Athena. The support and caring from the staff has…read morebeen amazing. Our son has flourished at the school. The growth from August until now has been exponential on all fronts. He is more independent, communicating more and becoming a member of his classroom community. The other parents as well have created a lovely community and support system as well. My husband and I didn't realize just how lucky we were to get a spot in the school!

Our first son went to Children's discovery center and we loved it. Years later we sent our second…read moreson and it has been a poor experience with the new school manager Jaya. We have removed him from the school due to the lack of compassion from Jaya to her employees. Shes seems more worried about being in charge then running a solid school. We have emailed her many times about our concerns and they were all quickly dismissed. We emailed her over a week ago that our son would not be retuning and have not received a response about our tuition or deposit. Its a shame as many of the good teachers have since left or been run off but I would avoid the school as long as she is employed.

My kids have been attending CDC South since they were 3 months old. They absolutely love it there…read moreand never want to leave when it's time to go home. The environment is very positive. They really encourage kids to embrace their creativity while also teaching them not only the basic things like counting, colors, etc, but also kindness, compassion and respect for others and for the earth. This place is amazing and I definitely recommend it.

It is hard to know what to expect from a school if you are new to schools. We just assumed the…read moreGoddard School was like all schools...but it is not. We know this now since we quit the Goddard School and started with another one about 3 miles away and have had a totally different experience. Just know that the Goddard School infant room is chaos. One of the ladies was always so flustered. Babies always, always, always crying. Bright florescent lights on constantly. Music playing all of the time. Babies just laying around on the floor. 5 month old babies "holding bottles" and "feeding" themselves. Babies in the cribs crying and not being soothed in any way. Pacifiers overused. Babies sitting looking at a mirror on the wall crying. No one ever looked happy there! Our baby was miserable and always red and swollen and voice was hoarse from crying all day. It was awful. We are so happy now that we are no longer there. My co-worker's baby had the exact same negative experience and I tried to push it out of my mind but...Trust your intuition! The Goddard School did not feel right and it was not right.

We've had nothing but a positive experience sending our two boys to The Goddard School…read more We get along great with the teachers and staff and everyone really seems to care about childhood development. They are professional, warm, and always willing to provide additional guidance and support to us as new parents. The building and facilities feel safe, secure, and clean. This last year of global pandemic has presented the teachers and staff with so many unique challenges and they've navigated each one effectively and with grace. Deep down I know that these wonderful ladies do a much better job of taking care of my children all day than I could ever hope to do on my own. The curriculum always blows my mind and the best part is receiving photos of my kiddos throughout the day. My favorite photo was one of my son laying on the ground and painting a "fresco" onto some butcher paper taped to the bottom of a table. Seeing them learning and engaged always brings a smile to my face. Big thanks and love to all of you ladies for being there and helping us with the big and important job of raising our two sons.

I cannot speak highly enough of Nicole and pint-size playhouse. She gives so much personalized…read moreattention to each kid and knows them so well. Nicole's patience and knowledge helped our little one grow so much and adapt better.

Pint Size Playhouse is a truly special place where kids get to be themselves, learn a lot, and have…read moreFUN. Our daughter thrived at this school. Ms Nicole creates a safe, playful, and dynamic environment with holiday celebrations, special projects, and weekly art, yoga, and music classes. Our daughter was always learning new things and we were constantly amazed by her growth and the things she would come home and tell us. We are so so grateful for Ms Nicole's dedication to her work and the genuine love and care she gives each of the children (and the families!) at her school. The entire PSP community feels like a big family and we were so lucky to be a part of it. We are forever grateful to Ms Nicole for giving our daughter so much care, support, and love during her time at this amazing little school. If you're a parent searching for a warm, enriching, and truly special place for your child to grow, we cannot recommend Pint Size Playhouse enough.

My little girl has been attending ACLC since she was 12 weeks old, and we couldn't be happier. Of…read morethe 8 centers I toured, this one was instantly my favorite. It's bright, clean, and all the kids seem so happy. The teachers are so sweet, and it's clear my girl loves them. She can be fussing all morning, but as soon as she sees Rosalba, it's all smiles and giggles. It was hard getting started with the naps on demand- first she slept too much and now she doesn't sleep enough. She's very social and always on the move. They group 12wk- about 11mo when they're walking which is great. Some centers group 12wk- 18mo, and I worried about her getting stepped on. The staff is very responsive, I highly recommend them.

Amazing and energetic staff. My grandson loves it here. From prek2 to prek 4. They are AISD…read morecurriculum certified for smooth transition towards kindergarten.

Our son attended Kukumi from age 3-7 and absolutely loved all his guides and the school as a whole…read more He worked at his own pace, developed a love for math and reading, and gained confidence through cooking class. He loved dance and especially enjoyed the dance performances held every semester. He taught me a few yoga poses and breathing techniques - he was always excited to share what he learned. The mindfulness and calming techniques he learned there have stayed with him and continue to help him regulate his emotions. We're so grateful for this nurturing Montessori environment.

We are so happy with Kukumi Spanish Immersion Montessori. Our son has flourished there. We're seen…read moregrowth in everything he does, from speech to writing everyday is a surprise. Ms. Daniela is doing an amazing job, the classroom is quaint and clean, really cozy; the kids feel right at home. The Montessori curriculum and its activities are there, the space is well equipped and she makes sure the kids are working and engaged. The outdoor space is wonderful with a place for gardening and also a yard with a playground and bikes. Our son is happy to go to school, he's enjoying his time there and we are thankful as parents that he feels safe and is learning with purpose. Thank you!

I have been sending my kids here since 2021 and love it! In the beginning there was a lot of…read morestaffing changes but now they have the best team. Megan is a wonderful administrator and knows every kid by name. My first son started around 14 months and went all the way through the pre-k class which really helped him be prepared for Kindergarten. My youngest son started at 5 months old and I cannot say enough good things about Ms. Diane and Ms. Karen. They are both the sweetest people and you can tell they love the children they take care of. Dropping your child off at daycare can be scary at any age but when they are so little it's even harder. You just have to hope you can trust the people taking care of them. Diane and Karen went above and beyond in that manner. So much so that my son would often reach for them at drop off and even when I came to pick him up he'd reach back for them. They are the best!

A huge part of our experience at South Park Meadows has been made by Miss Jade! Thankfully, both of…read moreour girls have the experience of being in her classroom. She is incredibly warm, thoughtful, attentive, kind and nurturing. Her communication is also SO appreciated - I never worry about my girls when they're in her care. She has made our girls' transition such a positive one and we are all so thankful for her!