Before we came to Noah's ark my son was at a Montessori School. I liked the Montessori method but they never moved my son into their primary classroom. The director told me it would be months before she had room to move him. A few weeks before he turned 4 I looked around at his 2 year old classmates and realized I had to move him. Mrs Peg answered my call and met with me that day. Although he had a speech delay she didn't suggest we hold him back. The outdoor space was beautiful and all the kids seemed so kind. I was used to sterile and controlled but this space seemed more imaginative and natural. I was nervous but after he told me he wanted to go to that school we enrolled him. The ways I've been impressed are too many to count but a few stand out. They always have new materials for the kids. They also have toys which was different than what we were used to. And guess what? My son loves it. He gets to practice sharing and turn taking. His imagination has blossomed and he seems calm and mature. His speech delay dramatically began to clear when he finally was with kids his own age (and older). They are very up front about germs going around. Even though I cringe when I see one, they send health alerts letting us know what kids are coming down with. I am so grateful for this. I pick my son up early and I can smell lunch cooking, it always smells so good! I know he's getting exposed to a variety of foods that I wouldn't necessarily make at home. I love all the parents I've met. Birthday parties are often a class event so I've had many opportunities to connect with parents. For the most part I remember our Montessori days fondly but moving him was the best thing I could have done for him. This school is a great fit for my son. I would recommend it to anyone. read more

My daughter and I stopped by here for a tour of the facility as we're looking at a location close to home where her son can attend daycare. First let me tell you that Miss Peggy, the Director, is extremely approachable, very honest and advised us to check out a number of centers before deciding! She even gave us names of other places to look (who does that anymore)??? That in and of itself is impressive! We toured the room and the play area. The children were all very happy and the child to teacher ratio was very acceptable! The Yellow Bees teacher, Miss Diane has been there for 25 years - that says a lot as well, and she STILL looks like she enjoys what she does (we visited on a Friday)! That being said, we are doing as Miss Peggy suggested and looking at other places. We haven't made a decision yet, but this center is definitely a contender! read more

Our one year old has been going here for three months and so far we are very happy with our decision to send her to Noah's ark for daycare. I feel like the employees really care about her and take the time to get to know her. They seem genuinely excited when we drop her off. read more

Noah's ark is amazing! I'm so glad we found this place. After moving my son as an infant to two places, we took another bold move to Noahs Ark after. During the tour my son was happy to be there and excited to play. We didn't think that would persist, but it has. After almost 5 months he is happy to be there. He loves the infant room teachers and loves to play outside. This is the only place in Vista properly set up for infants. They have cribs away from the play area, ample outside space and activities, a good routine built on child independence, adaptability, and set expectations- all very crucial things for me. The staff is warm, thoughtful, knowledgeable and thorough. I could go on for hours on how great this place is; I love the ratios so in all honesty I didn't want to write a review, but I was so lost without Noahs Ark, I hope I help other mamas out there find this helpful. read more

Great faith based environment for all ages and stages of our little ones life's. My daughter has attended for one year now and has made great strength and strides in her development into a preschooler. I as a parent ,& friend to both the church and day care would strongly recommend and encourage interested parties to tour and visit the church and school. Then make a educated choice of there own. We can not please everyone all the time in our life time but if each of us aims to at least be kind, share & love our neighbors this world would be a much safer and happier place for our little ones. So again please take them up on the free tours, open door policies and friendly loving faith based environment. If this is something you are seeking for your little one. read more

Without Miss Debbie and Noah's Ark Preschool, I would not have been able to get through the last two years of life! My son has attended for the last two years during an intense time of transition for our family. His teacher Miss Debbie at Noah's Ark was able to meet both is social-emotional needs and his academic needs, and I know that while I am working, he is being treated with respect and love in a safe environment. From providing healthy, high interest breakfast, snack, lunch, and more snack to using phonics to teach him his letters, Miss Debbie has done an exemplary job meeting all of his needs. I highly recommend this center and Miss Debbie! read more

My daughter has attended Noah's Ark since she was 3 months old, minus one year due to military orders. She is now 4 years old. I would have to say this feels like her home away from home. During the one year we moved away, we tried other schools and none measure up. First, Noah's Ark is NAEYC accredited. Second, the ratios are the lowest in the area you will find. I searched and searched when she was a baby for low student:teacher ratios and no school I found compared to Noah's Ark. There is no turn over rate. The same teachers that were there when we started almost 4 years ago are still there now. Which was a relief when we decided to come back. Mrs. Sue, the toddler teacher, is phenomenal. She is approved by Mira Costa to have one student intern from Mira Costa's child development program a semester. To my understanding, this is a grueling process and quite an accomplishment to achieve. Mrs. Sue is patient, loving, creative, and excellent at keeping the children engaged in age appropriate and mind stimulating activities. All the qualities needed for this age group. Mrs. Christina, the preschool teacher, is patient, creative, energetic, and all of the kids adore her. Mrs. Peg, the preschool/pre-k teacher, is great at using each child's strength to foster their cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Mrs. Diana, the preschool and two year old teacher, is fun, patient, and loving. As a prior preschool teacher, I knew what I wanted for my daughter in quality care. While it would have been cheaper for my daughter to come to work with me, the quality of care and experienced/dedicated staff at Noah's Ark cannot be beat. Therefore, my husband and I chose to spend more money on a better school for our daughter and it has been worth every penny. She loves all of her teachers and friends. read more

My two year old son has been attending Noah's Ark since he was 3mo old. The teachers are great and very knowledgeable when it comes to information inregards to the children in their class. If you're not calling them, their calling you wonder about the child. I knew I found a good school for my family when I was going through financial problems and they still allowed my son to attend and they worked with me. read more

After researching and touring a couple places, Noah's Ark was the place that left us feeling comfortable from the start. This was our first time placing our child in daycare. My child was 15 months old when she started and has now been there 6 months. She is doing great! The staff at Noah's Ark are all so lovely and friendly. It took my daughter several weeks to adjust to drop-offs and staff have always been ready to comfort her as I walked away. She comes home super dirty sometimes from paint, food, sandbox etc. but that's a good thing! I know she was kept busy and occupied which my child needs! She has learned so much since being at Noah's Ark. They encourage their self-help skills like using utensils and drinking from cups (hence the dirty-ness!) I definitely recommend checking this place out! read more

We toured daycares for literally a year before we found one that we were comfortable putting our son in. I've been more than pleased with the staff here. All the teachers are warm and welcoming, and the director Mrs. Peggy is awesome. Their outdoor space is not only large, but full of nature. Just in the short time my son has been attending I've noticed he's taken strides in his verbal communication and has gotten better with using his utensils and open lid cups. Enrolling our son here was the best choice we could have made. read more

What can I say?! We started at Noah's in the infant room and couldn't have been happier. There is consistent care, familiar faces, and loving teachers providing care and respecting individual preferences. Moving up to the toddler room, the same is true - friendly faces, consistent teachers, and lots of hands on exploring! We've been fortunate to also experience the pre-k room and couldn't be happier! There is excitement in learning, hugs, friendships, and individual support, setting kids up for success. Parent communication is great - clear and always up to date. Chapel and fitness classes are favorites, too! We could have chosen a place closer to home, but nothing compares to Noah's Ark and our family highly recommends it! read more

We brought our youngest son to Noah's Ark Learning Center and after six months we made the easy decision to leave this place and seek a better one. My husband and I continually strive for a collaborative and mutually respectful partnership with our children's schools and have so far been very successful. In fact, I come from a family of educators and school administrators so we have a deep understanding of the challenges and high standards expected in a school environment. What caused us to pull our child from this place was our strong dissatisfaction with the the management of this center and the church pastors that clearly endorse them. While the teachers are decent and the facilities ok, we feel that the management of this center does not create a partnership or collaborative environment with us as parents. Rather than building a customer relationship that is based on mutual respect and teamwork, my husband and I felt marginalized due to the management's directive, condescending and confrontational style of working with us. The Director made inappropriate comments to both my husband and I, and a few times she has been downright offensive. Unfortunately, we have learned from other parents that our experience is not unique. Based on our experience, we feel that the management of Noah's Ark Learning Center has failed to create a school-parent partnership and atmosphere of mutual respect. They forced us to increasingly question why we were paying nearly $900 per month to be treated in such a manner. There are many other better places to send your child for daycare or preschool. I would not recommend this place to any of my friends or family. read more

Having taught preschool, I like to think I know what to look for in a loving, caring facility. The teachers and staff are well trained, excellent communicators, and they know my son and what motivates him and builds his confidence. I can go to work knowing he's in a place where his needs are met and he's challenged to learn and be kind to others. They provide a nutritious, kid friendly breakfast and lunch, too. We love it here. read more

After having an ideal preschool experience with Noah's Ark with both of my sons, I was overjoyed that they opened a full-day kindergarten program. I was facing putting my son in an overcrowded public kindergarten (which is only 3 hours per day), and he would have been sitting in mediocre before and after-school programs the rest of the day. I felt total confidence in Noah's Ark and really wanted to keep my son there for another year if there was any way possible. Then they hired an incredible, fully-credentialed kindergarten teacher! I feel like an angel has watched over my son for this last year- he is not the easiest child, but his progress has been amazing. She is exactly the right combination of loving, disciplined, organized and fun. I am a teacher myself, so I know a good teacher and a good situation when I see it. I am very happy with my son's progress- both academic and social. I am a single mom and do not make enough money from my teacher's salary to pay private kindergarten tuition, so I have worked an extra job to pay for it. It has been worth every penny. Seeing my son happy and confident is priceless. He would have been lost in public school. I looked at other private kindergartens all over Carlsbad and Vista, and nothing came close to what we've experienced at Noah's Ark. The small class, individual attention, field trips, secure family atmosphere, and special projects are all things he would have missed. The playground is beautiful and peaceful- with oak trees, grass and beautiful things to play with. My son spends long hours at Noah's Ark, and I have felt peace and confidence every day he has been there. I would also add that, while the school is Lutheran and teaches the children values and respect, the religious aspect of the curriculum is not overbearing. read more