Our second kiddo is going into his last year at this preschool. It is such a bitter-sweet time for…read moreus. This preschool has been one of the most amazing things for our young children. Teacher Carolyn (and Teacher Angie while she was here) had such a positive impact on them, and us as a family. If you're looking for a preschool near Beacon Hill, pick this one.

My daughter love this school! Teacher Violetta and Carolyn are amazing with kids! . We also like…read morethe fact that this is Waldorf school. The place is full of wooden toys, materials from nature and silk. Don't expect any plastic toys here. Children eats together by this huge table. The menu is really healthy grains with veggies and fruits. Hot or cold. They are having hot tea and water as well. My daughter have severe peanut and tree nuts allergies and this school make sure she is safe. Children play outside most of the time. They go for walks to Bradner garden and surrounding areas. rain pants and waterproof jacket are must because they go outside even when it's raining which is great. This is really nurturing and welcoming place. I would recommend this Preschool to anyone I know. It's conveniently located with lots of parking. This place is a gem !

Our kids have been attending Jose Marti for the last year, and it has been a great experience. Our…read moreoldest has attended two different Seattle daycares previously, and we are so grateful to have finally found one we are happy with. The teachers all put in a tremendous amount of effort, and they obviously care for the children. It is also worth noting that the lowest paid staff member is now 15$/hr, which is way better than most. They have around 8 different classes, about half in the main building, and another four in portables. One of the portable class rooms is a half day pre-school, and the other three are for full time kids. Both our kids are in the full-time portable class rooms, so my review is mainly regarding those classes. All the teachers speak Spanish as their first language, and most speak English very clearly. The official policy is for the teachers to speak English in the morning and Spanish in the afternoon, although this is a bilingual school so that policy is pretty loose. There is a good mix of kids, some start here speaking only Spanish, and other only English (like our kids). The curriculum is great, I believe all the kids in the oldest class are well prepared for kindergarten. They have a great balance of free play, activities and lessons. They make the food in their own kitchen, and they post the menu for parents to see. It is of course well balanced and nutritious. There was definitely an adjustment period when we started, especially for our oldest, who was 4 and spoke no Spanish. He was a little frustrated at first, as he had never experienced being with people and not being able to understand what they are saying. He was not alone in this, as there are plenty of kids in the same situation, and plenty of kids who spoke little English. After a year, he still doesn't really speak Spanish, but he understands a fair amount, and is very interested in learning more. It is also worth noting that the class seems very well integrated. The teachers encourage the kids to be friends with all the kids in the class, and it seems to be working pretty well. The school is run out of a El Centro de la Raza, so there is a definite social justice flare here. The kids are occasionally taught about immigration and social justice/Latino concerns. This is of course done at a child's level, and I believe only happens in the oldest class, which is mainly 4 and 5 year olds. For example, my son came home talking about how some people have been taken away from their families (deported). This does not happen frequently at all, but just know that if your kids attend here, they will probably help make some big posters telling their politicians what to do. This all makes me love the school even more, but it may be a turn off for some families. Overall, we really like this place! There is nothing like knowing that your children are being well cared for.

We love Denise Louie Education Center. My kids learning knowledge from here. There is a lot of fun.read more

My daughter has been attending since last year during COVID. The staff took precautions to make the…read moreschool a safe environment. I decided to have my daughter attend because she has traveled to most places in the US and to my home land the last couple of years. I wanted COVID to be a positive experience and not coup her up in the house. Since attending DLEC my daughter has learned her basic education her cousins are learning in Kindergarten. My daughter learned so much and worth the experience. I travel from Seatac and sometimes Auburn to drop off and pick her up but it's so worth it. She has even got accepted into her local school without testing to join kindergarten when she turns 4. I'm glad to have her start her education very young. Everyone thinks she's very smart and a fast learner, visually and physically. Also her social skills has improved so much. She's not shy around people and communicate with those when spoken too. Thanks to all the staff for making her beginning education experience so much fun and challenging during these tough time in our lives. I appreciate very single staff!

I love the inclusivity and care shown by the entire community here. So happy we chose them for our…read morefamily.

Giddens School centers the experience on our children- everything they need to learn, explore, and…read moregrow. It is so special to be part of this community. We have been part of the school for three years. Our daughter has grown so much from her time here. Academically, she is challenged by her teachers to think critically (even in kindergarten). The other day she asked if we wanted to make up math story problems at the dinner table, because Giddens encourages students to bring fun, creativity, and exploration into how they learn hard skills. Social and emotional learning is also a major focus for the school. Last week there was a talent show for the k-4th graders, and the amount of love, respect, and excitement the entire school showed to these brave and talented performers was incredibly moving. Giddens works hard to education future leaders, and it shows.

Oh, how I love Sponge! I took my two-year-old for one session of Spanish with Noelia, a native…read morespeaker from Puerto Rico. My son is normally pretty slow to warm up in social situations, and she made sure he was comfortable and could participate. Sometimes it can be hard when he's surrounded by more outgoing peers. He adored her as a result and I saw him open up in ways he hadn't before. The classes are taught 100% in Spanish with a chance to review and ask questions at the end of each class in English. A handout is also provided each week with the lyrics to songs and some key vocab to practice at home. There are lots of props and fun routines that get the kids engrossed in learning. The only thing preventing me from giving a five-star review is the location; I wish something more central were available. Now that we live on the north end, it's not feasible for us to take classes with Sponge anymore. It's also fairly expensive compared to similar programs in town (Polly-glot Tots comes to mind). If it were closer and more affordable, we'd be enrolled again in a heartbeat.

Sponge was voted Seattle's best for offering language classes to children from newborn to 5 years…read moreof age. Spanish, French, Mandarin and Japanese languages are taught in an immersive and interactive environment which includes standard phrases, songs, dance, culture and parental or caregiver involvement. All instructors are native speakers who genuinely enjoy children and their jobs. Tuition is reasonable for 18 class sessions, a summer camp is offered, and one can make up classes if they are missed.

My two children went to BWS. While there were several aspects that were delightful including…read morespecific teachers and the community, as some of the only people of color - it was a very damaging experience. Unfortunately, one of the faculty that was responsible for the most humiliation and damage is still teaching at the school. That is quite unfortunate. I would not recommend the school for BIPOC kiddos.

Bright Water is no ordinary school, so do read up on Waldorf education before submitting your…read moreapplication. It is a philosophy, a special attitude toward education that you need to share in order to appreciate what Bright Water has to offer. This is what got our son going there... and the reason why we did not re-enroll for next year. Our son went to Bright Water for Kindergarten and academically he hardly benefited much, though all the time they spent outdoors (rain or shine!) helped build up his agility and aided his physical development big time. Apart from occasional drawing and small projects, do not expect your kids to learn reading, writing, or counting. It is simply not on the agenda yet (I believe, until they are seven) if you start with K. The pros: 1. Great kids, great families, good teachers. 2. It's a small school where you will know most people and kids, and they will know you (and your child!). 3. Hot lunch on Mondays and Fridays, and overall food is mostly natural, organic, and high-quality. 4. Good after school program. The cons: 1. A ton of breaks and service days when you would have to figure out what to do for childcare (many more than any other school I know!). 2. No academic focus whatsoever in K and first grade 3. Very little expectation - it is okay for kids to pretty much do nothing 4. Awful parking for drop-off & pick up

We showed up for a tour and not a single person knew that we were coming. We have an infant and are…read morepreparing to start daycare when they are 6 months old. This daycare no longer even provides care for infants if they are not at least 15 months old and walking. Why isn't that information clearly available on their website?

What can I say, I leave my most treasured gift here every day and they love and care for her like I…read moredo, only better. She feels so comfortable, with not only her teacher but the entire staff- almost daily, she tells me how much she loves Annette, the director. They have provided a loving, structured environment for her to grow, learn and explore. They offer both full and part time care for kids from birth through 6 with a school- age summer camp in the summer for kids 6-12. I highly recommend this as a great place to trust with your child's care.

We've had a really good experience with La Escualita Columbia City for both our daughters over the…read morepast 3 years. We moved our older daughter to LE at age 2 after having a below average experience at We Are the World in Mt Baker. LE was so much more organized and their curriculum was so much better, the Spanish language program was a plus. Once my other daughter turned 1, we enrolled her as well at LE. Within months, she was learning sign language and Spanish. Agua and mas, were her first words. The teachers are very caring, genuine and loving. Both my daughters love all of the teachers as well and have learned so much. The school is very accommodating and are always asking parents how they can improve and open to suggestions. The location isn't the best, but I definitely recommend La Escualita on everything else.

I can't say enough wonderful things about the teachers and program at La Escuelita. My husband and…read moreI toured ALOT of daycares, tried the nanny thing for a year (daycares never call in sick, which is important for a full-time working Mom like me), and I am so happy we selected this school. My son LOVES his teachers (tells me that all of the time), talks about his friends at school and it has done wonders for setting a structured schedule to our life. Administration has been great too, even working with me to get my son into the same class with his best friend.

My husband and I enrolled our son at PFM when he was five months old, as I was returning to work…read moreafter a long maternity leave. Naturally, I was concerned about this transition; anxious about the adjustment period and a little weepy that he would be under the care of others every day! This feeling of uneasiness quickly subsided. Upon our very first visit, the PFM team jumped into action and together we put a comfortable transition plan into place. The teachers in his classroom (as well as the Director and Assistant Director) were very warm and showed a genuine interest in our sons onboarding, providing personal updates throughout his day as well as advice on naps and feeding. Relationships quickly bloomed. The online portal that is updated by his teachers throughout the day documented sleeping, eating and diaper patterns, giving us full visibility to what his days looked like. All of this provided me with peace of mind, which is what you need as a new parent during this transition. Fast forward four months: we have an extremely happy child who lights up every day at drop off for school and is in no rush to leave at pick up time! Children cannot fake their excitement, so you know that this is genuine. The child-led philosophy of Montessori allows our son freedom in the classroom to "choose his own adventure" every day, while still providing him with a structured curriculum that has enabled him to surpass his milestones. Being a very active child, our son is thriving in this environment and we have seen tremendous growth in him, both socially and developmentally. It is evident that the team here truly cares about the children and love what they do. I would recommend PFM to any families seeking a child care experience that is nurturing, community oriented and child focused. It is so much more than just a school or day care, and has exceeded our expectations.

I can't say enough positive things about Pacific First Montessori and it's staff. We've been…read moreenrolled for a little over 6 months now and it was the best decision we could have made for our little guy. He is learning, developing, and experiencing so much faster and more than he would anywhere else. The staff and curriculum at PFM are top notch and it shines through in my child. Every single day he comes home with new and exciting things to talk to me about. I know my child is getting the BEST experience there is to offer. Not only are the Montessori program and staff 5 star, but so is the classroom environment, meal plan, playground, community, owner and location. I wouldn't hesitate a second to think about enrolling your child in this school.

NannyBoo's is the perfect "in-between" home and kindergarten environment. It's not at all like the…read moreinstitution-feel of a larger school or day care. Toddlers even get the opportunity to care for a garden; they can dig, water, weed and eat as they please. In fact, my 2 year-old considers herself a gardening pro after just a couple of months under teachers Boo and Eric. Only about 30+ families total are enrolled and their photos grace the walls. In fact, many of the comforts you'd expect when dropping kids off with family are present here: you can never be late, every child is seen, valued and respected, snuggles are always welcome and students are taught to be a good friend to others. It's no surprise the owners have adopted three out of four of their daughters; they know what it takes to turn strangers into a family. If you live nearby, these guys are worth contacting for a tour.

My oldest is a graduate here and my youngest is currently attending. I've seen them grow so much…read moresocially and emotionally here and it's all because of the fantastic program taught by Teacher Boo and Teacher Eric. They learning everything from singing, dancing, building, and playing. Most importantly they learn how to be good friends. I couldn't be happier sending both my kids here.