This is a small 1 class per grade country school. They teach growth mindset, toolbox, kindness,…read more and empathy. My children have loved this school and the family that they have created. The active pto helps pay for the garden, drama, and music enrichment programs. The teachers and staff are able to really meet each child that their level so that no one gets left behind and get the children excited about learning. So grateful that we found this amazing school!

After attending Dunham for five years (we moved or we would have been their longer) we have nothing…read morebut good things to say. The staff was supportive through the years when my son was behind in reading. Because of their help he is now up to grade level and excels in math. My daughter is also excelling. Those formative years at Dunham have really created a love of learning in our kids. The teachers, administration, and parents collaborate effectively to run the school in such a way that funds are well allocated to additional curriculum that are fun and educational for the kids. The garden is by far a wonderful addition to the school and really created a community connection between the families and the local agriculture of Sonoma County. Things like apple pressing, seasonal "plant start" sales, and the pumpkin patch where each child gets a pumpkin...these are things that kids remember for the rest of their lives. The end of year carnival is always a blast! It's a close knit community. As a small school, be prepared to face the challenges of kids getting sick of one another. There is only one class per grade so kids stay together. That results in bickering and splitting off eventually with their people. They are like siblings by the time they leave the school. Some kids get along better than others. But the variation of personality types and the inclusion of all demographics really gives these kids a sense of how to treat many types of people in and out of school. in my opinion, this small country school is one of the best in Sonoma County. It's a secret gem.

I would not recommend this school to my worst enemy. The staff and administration seem FAR more…read moreconcerned with potential liability than the overall well-being of the students. And quite frankly, many seem under-qualified for the positions they hold. This school is incredibly understaffed and underfunded - and it shows. To start - my first grader was allowed to walk away with a stranger on the FIRST day of school because his teacher "assumed" the adult he left with was a parent. When I spoke to the principal the next day, she asked me if my six-year-old "knew where he was supposed to go" and stated she did not have a full understanding of the transition process because she was new. She then attempted to place blame on the Boys & Girls Club and my child. When another student's family member mentioned to the teacher how chaotic the first grade classrooms were due to a lack of staffing/support, parents were swiftly sent a notice that they would not be allowing family volunteers back into the classroom until the "behaviors" were under control. Seems counterproductive. When my son's behavior was in question and I had asked to observe in the classroom, I was quickly limited to 45 minutes and had to be accompanied by an administrator. I was told this was standard policy. My son showed no behaviors during my observation time. When I mentioned this, his teacher stated she "didn't think he would show behaviors while I was in the classroom". I brought this up during a meeting with the superintendent, he seemed to question the limitations placed by the school and stated they should be welcoming me to observe if there is such concern. Mind you, he had previously been principal at McKinley Elementary. When my son was sick and asked to call me during school hours, he was told he could not contact me because he did not have a fever. When I questioned this with the teacher/administrators, I was told that the school typically does not let students contact their family members for illness related matters unless a fever is present. A family member of another student had witnessed an adult in the cafeteria yelling at my son for kicking a milk carton and was so bothered by it that she felt the need to intervene by telling the staff member that she was being inappropriate. Though my son's teacher was made aware, she was not the one who informed me about what had happened. I was notified by the family member who was witness to the incident days later. I was also told by my child's teacher that administration had prevented her from speaking to me about certain matters regarding my child and my concerns. We only saw results/change when we went above school administration by notifying the district office and superintendent about our experience. The current principal's exit was announced less than a year into her new position and it's clear to see why. These are just a handful of examples. I have spoken with many families who have shared similar experiences. In my opinion - there are MUCH better elementary school options within the PCS district and within our community. I encourage any family considering McKinley Elementary for their young ones to do their research beforehand, tour other schools, and talk to family/friends who are familiar with McKinley Elementary. We felt comfortable having our child attend McKinley due to their "stellar" reputation and it was a huge mistake. Don't let the awards plastered all over the school fool you. I hope this review helps to inform other families.

If you value your child's emotional wellbeing and overall development this is not the school. The…read morecurrent principal gaslights parents instead of taking accountability for the rampant bullying and lack of structure and fulfillment for the children. Teachers encouraging parents not to speak to other parents about each other's children and experience at the school is verbally discouraged by educators. The school is also blocking transfers to other districts. There is no way this school has 5 stars. Overall traumatic. Ask the parents of students. Not the administrators.

After the sudden passing of my daughter, my son-in-law and I decided it was time to find a…read morereputable and nurturing daycare/preschool for my grandson. Just by luck, we found Petaluma Village Preschool and quickly learned that this IS the absolute best preschool/daycare in Petaluma and quite frankly, the Bay Area!!! I know this for certain because my son attended You and Me in the 90's and they don't pale in comparison to Petaluma Village Preschool! Every morning without fail, my grandson cannot wait to go to school, he even cry's if we drive anywhere near the school on his days off because he wants to be there with his friends! The staff shares pictures and videos throughout the day (every day!) via an app...which is like having a second set of eyes inside of the facility!!! I just cannot say enough good things about this school and I am SOOOOOO thrilled to have my grandson in such a nurturing, supportive and caring environment. Thank You, Thank You

My daughter (and my son before he entered Kindergarten) attends Petaluma Village Preschool. We…read morehave been very happy there. The preschool is child centered and play based, which were both important to me. It is also very community oriented, sending home weekly emails, having monthly PAC (like PTA) meetings, and arranging social events for families. I also love that they serve a family style organic lunch.

I have been meaning to write a review for Rainbow Bridge Montessori Preschool for a while now. It…read moreis long overdue! My two and a half year old son started about four months ago in the Preparatory class, and words truly cannot express how grateful I am that a preschool like this exists. The school is very diverse. They teach through the Montessori Method, which seems to work well for my son. The curriculum is very practical, and they teach many life skills. My son has blossomed mentally and socially in such a short time span. He has learned "please", "thank you", "excuse me", "no thank you", "more please", etc. and uses these words in the appropriate context. He can also all of a sudden name all of the colors, numbers, shapes, and is starting to recognize letters! The teachers and staff there are beyond caring and concerned with EVERY one of their students (as well as the parents). If I have a question or concern, the teachers are always available and will address me, distraction free. They are always very organized in the lesson plan and have a clear understanding of my son and his progress. All of the teachers obviously love children and love teaching them; so it is not hard to understand why our son cannot wait to go to school. It is also a VERY clean facility. It NEVER smells like some of those other enclosed preschools with indoor diaper changing areas. It offers a safe and nurturing atmosphere perfect for the curious child. There is a great emphasis on cleanliness. The classroom is always spotless and kids are told to help clean. The Montessori equipment, which teaches fine motor skills, is always neatly put away on the shelves indoors. They also have a fabulous shaded play yard with a sand pit, water table and many other tools to enhance gross motor skills. I would highly recommend this school to anyone. We visited two other schools in our search for the right one and this school is hands down the best option! This school provides an excellent education and the child also gets the opportunity to be a kid. *** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED *** Nurturing, Educational, and FUN!

We absolutely love Rainbow Bridge Montessori! My son started here right after his 2nd birthday, and…read morethe positive effects were almost immediate. His manners, his helpfulness, his patience, his independent play, his friendly sociability - all blossomed with the help and gentle guidance of his wonderful teachers! After keeping my son at home with me for the first two years of his life, I was concerned he would have trouble adjusting to a group environment, but he has absolutely flourished and is excited about school and seeing his friends and teachers every morning. We cherish the photo updates we receive throughout the week of whatever the outdoor seasonal activities the kids are doing, along with their regular engaging classroom work. We love this school so much.

Our family has been very happy with our experience at CCLS. We moved to RP from out of town, had a…read morebaby, and enrolled our oldest son (3) at the school all in the course of a few weeks last summer. It was a crazy time full of major changes and everyone at CCLS from the pre-school director, principal, teachers, and staff were welcoming in every way. While there was the normal adjustment period, we have been so pleased with how well-adjusted our son now is to his routine and just how much he loves going to school here. We appreciate the values instilled, but most especially the caring and loving teachers, who have helped us so much with the transition over the past school year. Our son has made new friends, he takes naps (mostly!), is now fully potty trained, and every day he comes home exhibiting something new that he has learned. It is so impressive to see his mind at work and all that he is learning and absorbing through his weekly lessons. The staff is also very nice to work with; we made some changes to our son's schedule and they were able to accommodate us. Their schedule offerings are also very flexible for working parents. We highly recommend Cross and Crown for your child's early education.

We transferred my 6th grader from public school to CCLS during the pandemic so she could do…read morein-person learning (IEP wasn't being met with public school distance learning). She ADORES her teacher and is thriving at this school. She loves it so much we also registered our 2nd grader for next year & will continue to drive from Windsor for another year. The older kids do cooking & gardening, which she loves & I love how happy she is there. Class sizes are very small, so each kid can get the individual attention they may need.

Best decision my husband and I made!! We were looking for a place with traditional values and…read morestructure with a strong academic curriculum. When we came to St Vincent's it was all of that along with one big community of like minded, kind people. The schools organization and amazing teachers made my kids feel happier and calmer while at school. What a breath of fresh air! Highly recommend!!

It was a simple decision to enroll our children in SVES over seven years ago. Since Kindergarten,…read morethe faculty and administrators have been unwavering in their commitment to teaching to rigorous academic standards, inspiring a love of learning, and providing a compassionate yet disciplined approach to educating the whole child -- from academic, social, emotional, and safety perspectives. My children absolutely love their school and their teachers and the parent community has been just as wonderful for our family. We are grateful to have such a gem of a school with a rich history in our community.

Still the preeminent pre-K in Petaluma. Some others have come and gone over the years, but Little…read moreShepherd, as sponsored by Elim Lutheran has an enduring program for many, many years. They offer excellent (and safe) premises, with full kitchen and restrooms and many classrooms. They attract and retain a staff of caring and qualified teachers. Easy parking, and the have their act together administratively. Little Shepherd is a great entryway school to the public elementary system.

We now have 2 children enrolled at Little Shepherd. I have really enjoyed working with their…read moreentire staff. They are always pleasant and it's clear that they care about the children and their families. I am very confident that Little Shepherd was the right choice for our children's first educational setting outside of our home.

This is a beautiful preschool with wonderful instruction, potty-training bathrooms and large…read moreoutdoor space with a playground for growing littles. Cherie the own is a wonderful person as are the teachers. However, this is not a Montessori preschool. My daughter loved Willow Tree when it was a Montessori preschool, but when my son attended years later, it was not the same and that's when I learned it was no longer Montessori. The website is from 2008 and the sign is from the previous ownership when it was a Montessori school. So while I am sure this is still a good preschool for many reasons, it is very misleading to continue using the word "Montessori" in the marketing materials.

I can begin to express my love for this school. Cherie has made such an program for the children…read morehere and my son is thriving. He comes home at three years old knowing how to spell his name knows almost basic math (almost) and plays so well with other children, parents at the park comment on it. I was lucky enough to have a good egg anyway but my god he loves going here and I love every teacher they have because of the love they have for these kids. Hands down the best little secret in town as far as daycares go.