Children's Happy Day School is possibly the best preschool in the Boston area. They offer a…read moreterrific curriculum, and the head of the school, Ms. Helen, provides hands on guidance and support to children, parents, teachers and families. Founded in 1987, CHDS has a tremendous history of educating young people. The building the program is housed in was built specifically for use as a preschool, and the classrooms are bright and sunny. Their prices are less than other West Roxbury preschools, and they are walking distance from Millenium Park.

From the owner: CHDS is a fully NAEYC accredited school that offers four different programs for children age 2.4 to…read more6 years old. Parents have the option of full day or half day programs and a choice of either 10 months or 12 months. Our literature based curriculum is enriched with a music and movement program, yoga and field trips.

I like the staff they're friendly and care about the children & my son's personality has changed…read moredrastically..

The staff at Little Sprouts in Dedham is fantastic!!…read more Dropping off your 3 month old when you are back to work from maternity leave is very hard and they made the transition much easier on a new mom. The infant teachers are wonderful. They are very loving and take great care of my infant daughter as evidenced by how well she has adjusted there. It's not just a "daycare", it's a school for little ones. My daughter already has art work on our fridge. They make sure she is stimulated in a loving environment. They were really put to the test when an emergency situation arose this winter with a snowy roof that led to an evacuation. The teachers and administrators of this school were stellar. Their response time and ability to keep all the kids safe, warm, and happy was amazing. Now being in their new facility they have the whole package. The new building is bright and cheery and very welcoming. The administrators of this school are also very eager to hear from you and quick to respond to any concerns and they welcome the feedback. Overall we are very happy with our choice to send our daughter to Little Sprouts in Dedham.

I went to high school at Nobles. There are a few things I'd change, but overall, I had a good…read moreexperience. Academics are as rigorous as you'll find anywhere. There's a lot of pressure, and the workload can be overwhelming when combined with mandatory afternoon programs (sports, community service, arts). A lot of AP courses are offered, and as junior year approaches kids feel a lot of pressure to take them. Kids are very, very bright. Around 25% of the class typically receives some form of National Merit commendation, and usually about a third of each graduating class matriculates at an Ivy League university. Nobles prides itself on the close student-faculty relationships. In my four years, I got to know my teachers both in and out of the classroom and even babysat teachers' kids on occasion. Teachers are more than willing to give extra help; if you're struggling in a class, they'll often wonder why you haven't come in yet! Advisors are very supportive, and mine constantly checked up on me to make sure I was doing all right not just in school, but also socially and at home. It meant a lot to know that this whole support system was there. The campus is outstanding. First of all, the Castle (where students eat lunch) is the most unique building and one of the best places on campus. Also, in the past six or so years, the school has added a brand-new science building, athletic center (with two gyms, international squash courts, fitness center, track, snack bar, dance studio, and yoga studio), dormitory, and is about to finish a new performing arts building. It's a little excessive and disgusting when you think about it, but the resources are almost unparalleled at the high school level. The student body is mostly white and affluent and comes from a suburb west of Boston (there are a lot of kids from Wellesley, Weston, and Newton). Popped collars, BMW's parked in the student lot, and summer homes on Nantucket are all commonplace. Despite this stereotype, most people are friendly- at least to your face. Gossip spreads quickly, since it's such a small place, and forget about having any secrets. During my sophomore year, the headmaster instated a "party rule" which stated that any student caught having a party with alcohol would get expelled, no questions asked. The rule has never been enforced, and kids caught having parties usually get suspended. The rule has reduced the number of large parties, but every weekend there are smaller groups of upperclassmen gathering to drink, with a few popular freshmen and sophomores occasionally joining in. Nobles students and recent alums are pretty noteworthy and many stand out at what they do. Sarah Parsons '05 and Helen Resor '04 both competed on the 2006 Olympic women's hockey team. Ayla Brown '06 was one of the top 16 contestants on American Idol in addition to being one of the top basketball scorers in the state. Mark Fayne '06 was recently drafted to the NHL. Rob Owen '07 was selected as a Lacrosse All-American. Andrea Ross '09 was invited to sing at a private music festival at the home of Andrew Lloyd Webber. There's been a stereotype of Nobles as a "jock" school, and based on some of these students you can see why. However, there are many kids who don't play sports. That's not to say there's no truth in the reputation; most kids are reasonably athletic and play at least one or two sports. By junior and senior year, kids begin to drop the sports they aren't excelling at; since there are so many dedicated, talented athletes in the school, and since Nobles kids feel the need to be the best, most kids don't feel that it's "worth it" if they're not standing out on the team. Many kids will get recruited by colleges for different sports; particularly for hockey. The "hockey factory" reputation is not entirely untrue; Nobles currently has kids playing at Brown, Yale, Dartmouth, Princeton, Harvard, Cornell, BU, and a number of other strong programs in the northeast. Most kids getting recruited, however, aren't completely stupid and would be able to go to good colleges minus the athletic factor. Long story short, in my opinion Nobles is like every other prep school, just a little better. Definitely a top-tier school and I loved every minute.

I recently graduated from Nobles this spring. I've been reflecting on what an amazing experience…read moreNobles was. I boarded for all 4 years, and loved being a part of the dorm community. As a boarder, you get access to extra help from some teachers during study hall. I've built some relationships when I was trying one of the many afternoon programs Nobles has to offer, or when I went on the EXCEL trip to India, the EXCEL trip to Cambodia, and the EXCEL trip to Vietnam. The teachers really care about their students and want them to succeed. On a lighter note, the food is really good, which is really important as a boarder since we have breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided. Although the school is a 5-day boarding school, the dorms are flexible in accommodating Saturday games. Nobles encourages students to explore all interests in academics, arts, and athletics. Through exploration, I've made connections with a lot of people. I would highly recommend applying to Nobles.

This center has been amazing for my child's learning and growth. We have been going here for…read moreseveral years now and I cannot recommend it enough!! They make learning math fun and an enjoyable experience. The tutors are great with little kids and the team is always willing to help us. Very flexible with scheduling. Even if your child isn't struggling with math it's a great place for kids to learn to progress with their skills as they grow in their academic careers.

From the owner: Mathnasium of Dedham is a math-only learning center for kids in grades 1-12…read more We are located in Dedham Plaza adjacent to Play It Again Sports and Domino's. Mathnasium helps kids grow and develop in math by teaching fundamental mathematical concepts in a way that makes sense in a fun and engaging setting that positively reinforces effort and achievement. Our formula for teaching kids math, the Mathnasium Method™ has transformed the way kids learn math for over a decade across 900+ centers in the US and Canada. Our assessment pinpoints your child's learning needs. From the assessment, we create a customized learning plan for your student. We meet each student where they are in math and take them where they want to go. Please check out our website to learn more about the program and meet our top notch team of instructors.

I discovered SolBe's social media accounts as a natural extension of our family's involvement in…read moreSolBe's child care program--initially, joining SolBe prompted me to proactively seek out their social pages, and subsequently, I followed Marlo's page (@solbe.mar) within the past year. SolBe's content isn't just about routine announcements, it serves as an educational space for parents and caregivers to learn how to be the best parents for their children. Personally, I appreciate the nutrition-focused content since I enjoy cooking. I love seeing the recipes shared (especially on Marlo's page!). With a packed schedule and limited time for extensive reading on parenting methods, the effective parenting tactics discussed are also valuable. What sets SolBe's content apart is its evident research-backed approach and thoughtful planning. The professionalism showcased in the content, including high-quality videos, distinguishes it from other creators with similar goals. I would highly recommend SolBe's social media platforms to other parents and caregivers. The depth of learning opportunities extends beyond just SolBe-related content, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their parenting skills. As I follow SolBe along in the future, I hope to see more DIY activities for parents to engage in with their children at home, along with information about community & local event recommendations--we're always looking for activities to do with our children when they aren't at SolBe, and would find value in SolBe-recommended activities!

Our toddler started at SolBe on day one of the school opening. We had very high hopes after our…read moreinterview, despite the cost being much higher than the alternatives. For the added expense, we were promised minute by minute updates, a two-to-one ratio of teachers to students, and a focus on education that could be overlooked elsewhere. Unfortunately, despite an excellent experience with the Director and our son's first teacher, a significant change was made after a few months. The Director, along with many more staff members, were replaced, and the focus seemed to shift notably towards higher profits and cost cutting measures. Our son was moved into a much larger room where there were often two teachers for eight babies, even after they showed up late. The stress put on the staff still making an effort meant that the "minute-by-minute" updates through the app were ignored until the afternoon when they played catch up while all the kids were napping. Often, we wouldn't find out if our son had eaten or had a diaper change until hours after he'd been picked up. The high ratio also contributed to clothes being lost or ruined with art materials unsuitable for infants, diaper changes being skipped, brusies and scrapes, and a near weekly changeover of staff who were clearly frustrated with the experience as well. Our son's class shared a changing room with another, and it was very common to hear the teachers there, unaware they were being observed, repeatedly screaming at the toddlers "everyone come here" and "be quiet". Another thing for prospective families to consider is that SolBe considers themselves a school first and a daycare second. On the average month, SolBe closes around three working days for holidays, conferences, and "teacher enrichment", meaning that working parents will suddenly have a child to account for (not even to mention the frequency that they contact you and ask you to bring your child home early because they "seem like they're not feeling so well', with no other symptoms than a low fever and a lack of energy; a very common experience for young kids). Obviously, the monthly cost is the same regardless of how many days they actually care for your child. Ultimately, we found another center that is offering 5 nine-hour days a week for the same price that SolBe was charging for 3 seven-hour visits. The new school doesn't have a fancy app or gourmet lunches, but we feel our child is a lot more than just an income source in their eyes, and we're much happier. (FYI- This review refers to the new location on Sherman Road, which doesn't have its own listing as of this date.)

I'm not sure what Yelp is doing with the other positive reviews on here but, it does make me…read moreconcerned to trust their rating system... After some time on a waiting list, our daughter was enrolled at Parkway Preschool for over a year and half, until we moved to a town too far to continue, unfortunately. The teachers are absolute stars and their compassion and love for the children is undeniable. Patsy, the director, is one of the warmest, most dedicated and wonderful people I have ever met. I always knew my daughter was being cared for in a way that set my mind at ease. She always came up clean (as much as a 3 year old can LOL), fed, talking about what she had done in school that day and in one piece! We've since moved on but, the teachers, both Jens, Mary, Patrice and Patsy, still come up in our family's conversation and we miss them terribly.

I will never be able to adequately express the deep love and gratitude I feel for the lovely and…read moretalented teachers and administration at Parkway Preschool. My son is a very sensitive kid who, since infancy, has been slow to acclimate to new situations and not great with transition. By the time he was 3.5 and needing to enroll into a formal preschool program (from home daycare), I was apprehensive about how it would all unfold. We'd toured/applied to several preschools in the area, and had been ready to take a spot at a very popular school in JP, when, based on a friend's recommendation, I toured Parkway, met Patsy, and instantly sensed a warmth I hadn't felt anywhere else. A few months later, my son started at Parkway, which was, incidentally, two weeks before my daughter was born. Due to some complications, my daughter came early and the morning my husband and I had to rush to the hospital, my anxiety was through the roof. I'll never forget Mary (one of the amazing teachers) making me feel like, even though I barely knew her at that point, that everything would be okay. The ease and kindness with which the teachers coordinated my son's pick-up that day (with our friends who were taking care of him), so my husband could stay with me in the hospital, helped us be able to focus on the labor and not worry that my son would be afraid or confused. This is just one of COUNTLESS moments over the 14 months we were at Parkway, that I felt deep compassion and support. Some more examples: Patsy (the founder/owner/director) worked with my son diligently, at his own pace, for 6+ months to get him to participate in the biweekly Spanish and singing classes; by the end of the year, he was having a blast. My son was also late to potty-train, and Patsy and Patrice (now the K1 teacher) bought him special Star Wars stickers (knowing how much he loves Star Wars) to reward him when he used the potty; that, in addition to all of the teachers' warmth and encouragement, helped him reach that milestone. Jen, my son's teacher (he was in the K1 class there), was beyond amazing. My son really formed a special bond with her, and was always excited about their letter-themed weeks and book- or season-themed projects. In addition to being incredible, salt-of-the-earth people, the teachers are passionate about learning. For instance, I LOVED how, at any given time during free play, there is almost always a teacher or assistant reading a story to the kids, and while the kids can choose to play, many often opted to listen to the story. Academically, Parkway prepared my son very well for K1 in a BPS school. Learning at Parkway feels very natural, and while a specific curriculum is followed, it is integrated into fun. Silliness, imagination, and creativity are highly encouraged. The space itself is clean, well-organized, warm, and conducive to learning. Parkway has a vast library of all kinds of books, available to the kids at any given time. My son would often reference things he read in books there, and ask to buy books read to the kids at circle time. Books we discovered at Parkway (like the Pete the Cat series) have become family favorites. In every moment and interaction we had there, Parkway was an extraordinary experience for both my son and our entire family. The confidence my son gained there, being challenged and encouraged to try new things (and actually executing on these things!), would only have been possible in such a loving and nurturing environment. Leaving Parkway felt like losing family, and it took us ALL awhile to recover. Luckily, we have a second kid and can do it all over again!!

NOT SAFE FOR TODDLERS During the tour in May of 2023,…read moreeverything seemed calm and put together. I witness the toddlers quietly enjoying a snack and they all seemed fairly happy. During the registration process, the director was very slow to respond. A week before our son's first day, I still didn't know who his teachers would be, what he should bring to school (lunch, snacks, bedding, lovey), or which classroom he would be in. This was all very unsettling. When I walked in on his second day, it was complete chaos in the front area. Pre-k children were running all over the place playing while the toddlers (some as young as just 15 mo) were mixed in with Pre-K and looked completely scared. Come to find out that it is illegal to mix those groups together or at the very least, you need a special license. By the third day, I still wasn't told who my son's teachers were so I opted to pick him up early. I was horrified to see that a pre-k teacher (who didn't know my son or my son's name) had given him a twizzler as a snack and was sitting in front of a tv screen watching Finding Nemo. My son was only 17 mo old at the time. Candy is considered a choking hazard and we don't allow screens for him at all. No one asked our permission for him to watch the movie and no one knew of his dietary restrictions because no one had introduced me to his teachers. Not to mention the fact that this goes against all the marketing materials that you're given. The place is a hot mess. The marketing materials that they give you are a complete lie. The turn over for the toddler rooms is higher than average and from what I witness, it's NOT SAFE. The director is extremely disorganized, doesn't know what her teachers do on a day to day basis and provides little to no communication with parents. Needless to say, WE REMOVED OUR SON FROM THEIR CARE AFTER THE THIRD DAY. Of course I reached out to the 1800 number and explained my story. Again, I was given false promises. I was told: -That I could enroll my son at a different location, at the same price as Knoweldge Beginnings, Westwood. That never happend. -I was told that I would be speaking to the district VP about how Knowledge Beginnings was being run. That never happened. Essentially, all promises made to me over the phone by the district manager were never upheld. That pales in comparison to how little Knowledge Beginnings cares for their toddlers and doesn't not offer the care that is described in their marketing materials. From one concerned parent to another, do not take your children there.

I have two children, ages 4.5 and 16mos, who have both attended the Westwood Knowledge Beginnings…read moresince they were 3 months old. It has been a great experience for them overall. Our girls have thrived in that environment, much due to the nurturing staff and just the right balance of academic focus and self-directed play. Our eldest child is quite prepared for kindergarten at this point but still has another year before she starts in public school! The staff is quite experienced, many of them having worked at the center for 5+ years and who also bring their own children to the location. Maryellen and Stacey, the Director and Associate Director respectively, are attentive to the needs of the children and their families while continuously guiding the staff toward excellence; recently demonstrated through achieving National accreditation. Some perceived drawbacks to this center might be: the location - Rt 1 can be quite busy and the parking lot is not huge, but the location was quite convenient for us and we've rarely had a problem with parking. Snacks are provided but lunches are not included in the cost of tuition- this suits our picky eaters! And the center has recently partnered with a company called Smart Lunches to provide meals for purchase. We absolutely recommend this center to families seeking a caring place where their children will blossom and grow.