Our child is mid-way through their second year at Pixie Hill and we're SO thankful for the impact the safe learning/exploring environment the school offers. The teachers really care, the curriculum is diverse and insightful, and the community we've experienced as a result is one that will last. Our kiddo has really grown and I cannot recommend this school enough. OHH, and the t-ball team is dominant. :) read more

I had high hopes for Pixie Hill Preschool. Their mission statement sounded great: "all children are honored for their unique gifts and are supported in developing at their own pace. Pixie Hill offers a joyous learning environment that emphasizes social and academic growth through developmentally appropriate play." My daughter, however, was tolerated for exactly 4 hours before it became clear she was not welcome there. She is 3, she is speech delayed and struggles with transitions and new environments, but she is sweet and friendly and communicative. I genuinely didn't think she would present a unique or insurmountably difficult problem for a facility claiming to "bridge the warmth of home and the excitement of the outside world" for 3-5 year olds. The first day was rough, I was called to pick up an hour into the 4 hour session, but, to be fair, it was my first time leaving her like that ever. On our next scheduled day, she made it 3 out of 4 hours and I was called again. I was optimistic about the improvement between day one and two, but Pixie Hill was not. I was told, point blank, that the only reason she's made it 3 hours was because they had randomly had one extra person on staff that specific day but wouldn't going forward (but, like, why?). Before the third day with Pixie Hill even started, I was told my daughter wouldn't be able to continue without a dedicated educational aide which she'd need to qualify for through the school district, because they wouldn't deal with her otherwise. Coincidentally, I have a number of close family and friends who have worked in (local) preschools before-- I ran this situation by each of them and EVERYONE said the same thing, "how are they possibly making such big judgments about a kid in a totally new environment based on such little time?" To clarify: my daughter is not aggressive or physically violent, she isn't destructive or anti-social or seriously handicapped in any way-- she just needs extra time to become comfortable in a new place and around new people. Yes, she is stubborn and requires extra coaxing to participate in certain activities, but again, nothing I believe to be unusual or inappropriate in a 3 year old. They were nice about it and gave me information for other facilities and resources. Then when I swung by to pick up her spare clothes, they handed me a letter which detailed the reasons why she was no longer able to continue with them, listed here: she didn't transition well with the class, didn't want to eat lunch with the group, and didn't wash her hands on request. The speed with which this facility shrugged their shoulders, assigned a label, and decided she wasn't worth their time is what upsets me the most. There was no effort whatsoever made to try to accommodate or to try to help her adjust, they just went straight to "gtfo". Their mission statement is obviously "feel good" babble they are not prepared to back up at all. All this being said, the facility is nice and conveniently located, super reasonably priced-- only problem is that if your kid isn't a pre-groomed, completely compliant and obedient TODDLER, you're S.o.L. cause they will tell you very quickly that they don't have the bandwidth for any kind of accomodations (that you haven't provided for them). I understand that this preschool has recently undergone a leadership change and a large structural change recently. I didn't realize that the stellar reviews on here are now all 5+ years old, so I figured I should post an honest update! read more

If you are looking for a preschool for your children, I couldn't recommend this school enough! We moved to Mercer Island last year from Hawaii (a place where we had NO seasons and spent a lot of time outside year around) so finding a preschool with an AMAZING OUTDOOR area AND a consistent schedule (Monday-Friday) was VERY important to my husband and I. The 3 teachers (Ms Ashley, Ms Bailey and Ms Rebecca) are AMAZING and the real reason why my son enjoys going to school. Before finding this hidden gem, there was a short time that my son had to go to a different preschool in Bellevue. That school actually created more of a negative impression on him that made school drop offs very difficult and usually full of tears. We are so fortunate that we found Pixie Hill! His transition was seamless and this last year he has really blossomed...he even wished he could have longer days at school. I will be sad to leave Pixie next year as our son will be entering Kinder, but I'm looking forward to the time my 1 1/2 year old daughter will get attend in the next couple of years. BONUS: the LOCATION for the school is so great! For any families who may have to commute from bellevue into Seattle. Or even families who have to work/commute off the island! read more

Pixie has been a delight for our family for the past 3 years. Two of my kids have attended and have loved it! My son and daughter were always so happy to go to school everyday and enjoyed playing on the playground well after school let out. The teachers are warm, friendly and super personable. They have always been available and open to chat about any concern I've had. The Director, Ashley, is a wonderful, caring leader; she really sets such a positive tone for the school and the children. Ashley encouraged us to seek some speech therapy for one of my children and I'm so glad she made that wise recommendation. They are on top of Kindergarten readiness and I felt that my son was prepared for Kinder when he finished Pixie. We are sad to leave this wonderful Pixie community next year as my child will be going to Kindergarten. Highly recommend this preschool! read more

this preschool is a wonderful, nurturing, and caring setting where my daughter has become a confident kid ready for kindergarten! the play-based learning mixed with more structured activities as they get older for kindergarten prep allows the kids to grow. flexible enrollment options allow each family to send their kid as their schedule requires. the teachers are very invested in the school and clearly care about each kid so much. weekly updates, posting of photos throughout the week, and annual conferences are ways they keep the parents updated. finally, community-building events such as monthly playdates, parent coffees, parent date nights and other fundraising events creates a lovely community. would highly recommend!! read more

Pixie Hill has provided a supportive learning community inside the classroom as well as built a strong and confident foundation to prepare our kids for kindergarten. Teachers have a great depth of experience and carry full teaching credentials which is important to us. Our kids learned to be good friends while learning the expectations of behavior and problem solving in the classroom. From the 3's and Pre-K Class to the enrichment program, we have been beyond thrilled with the entire Pixie Program. We have found that Pixie Hill is not just a preschool it is a community of friendship and support that is proving to be long lasting. read more

Pixie Hill Preschool - Elementary Schools Near Me - Mercer Island, Washington

An absolute Gem! New to the Island we looked into multiple preschools and were instantly impressed with Pixie Hill. Our daughter is in her second year and we couldn't be happier. We were charmed by the darling facility and high caliber teachers and loved that the small class sizes afford the teachers the opportunity to interact in-depth with each child. The on-site "field trips" are a huge highlight for my daughter, with monthly music visits from Nancy Stewart, and many other experiences from Kids Quest Children's Museum, Dizzy's Tumblebus, the Bug Guy, puppet shows, and local police and fire departments, among others. My daughter has a monthly calendar showing these events and the daily themes, plus the teachers send out newsletters highlighting the curriculum so you can continue the discussions at home. I also get glimpses of my daughter in action through the pictures teachers post on an internal share site for those that wish to participate. I love seeing the teaching staff playing with the kids at the end of the day at recess and making rounds to check in with the parents. We are so happy to have found this amazing community! read more

Pixie Hill is an exceptional preschool & has cultivated an amazing community for our 2 daughters. This school has made their first learning experiences so positive, nurturing while laying solid social & educational foundations. We moved back to Seattle after being in CA for several years (where we attended a very highly regarded preschool that had multiple year wait lists)- and our experience at Pixie Hill tops any school we have ever been a part of due in part to; 1) The caliber of teachers (the lead teachers all hold teaching credentials and have taught at elementary schools at some of the best public schools in King County), 2) the curriculum, 3) the teacher to student ratio and, 4) the loving community. These components have created an exceptional place to begin a child's educational & social foundations. read more

Pixie is the best "first community" your child could have, outside your family. Teachers are loving, fun and firm, with clear expectations with regards to behavior and transitioning from play to actual learning. Students are equipped with the academic, social and emotional tools to move to Kindergarten with ease. A wonderful and loving environment! read more

After touring a number of pre-schools on Mercer Island and in Bellevue, and we were immediately drawn to Pixie Hill. Sometimes you just know instinctively when you come across something special - the teachers were warm and engaging, and they fostered such a kind and welcoming environment that our daughter felt comfortable there immediately despite entering the 3's class near the end of the school year. During her time in the 3's and then the pre-k class, our daughter thrived, and my husband has referred to the school as a "game-changer" for her. Two years later, we had no doubt about where we would enroll our son for preschool. Both of our children loved going to Pixie Hill and entered kindergarten with confidence and equipped with all the academic and social skills they needed to thrive. The teachers' love of their jobs and their affection for the students are palpable, and during all our time at the school we felt that we were part of a special community. Even now, as our older child prepares to enter middle school, we count many of the families we met through Pixie's community amongst our closest friends. I would highly recommend Pixie Hill to anyone. read more