We love BMS. My kid has been attending Montessori school for 2 years and I'm so impressed and proud…read moreof her progress. She has learned so much and she is always happy and excited for new challenges. The teachers are constantly rotating subjects in a seamless manner which keeps the children engaged. The blended age learning style really works for our child because she learns not only from the teacher but from the older children in class, it also helps her practice her kindness and patience by helping the youngest kids. Some of the things they teach them are practical life skills, so she is always eager to help around the house with cleaning, food prep, gardening, etc. She is in the Sweetgum classroom with the lead teacher April and we are very pleased with her leadership and with the kindness and professionalism of the other teachers (Terri, Nancy and Lindsey). You can walk your kid to their classroom so you get to see the class and how the students are working independently in such a calm and nice space. I always get quick responses from the teachers whenever I need help with anything. She gets to stay with the same teachers and the same classroom for 3 years which I think is unique from other schools. It is a community, our kid is constantly invited to birthday parties, play dates and the parents association is always planning fun events for the parents and students to come together. They also have a Spanish program and the teacher Paola is very fun and knowledgeable. The director Quinn and subdirector Jess, are very accesible and they are always there in the front office as soon as you come in, so you can always talk to them. Mc Kenzie at the front office is very attentive and quick to help with anything. One of my concerns about my kid starting prek so soon was the food but I'm so pleased with their food. Emily preps fresh and healthy food for them everyday, my kid now likes to eat curry, pea soup and all of the variety of food they prepare for them. They don't get any processed foods or snacks and that is very important for us. We have nothing but positive experiences with the school.

If I had to rate it based on our experience in the Pre-K classroom, it would be higher, but we went…read moreto Bloomington Montessori because we hoped to have a continuity in our children's educational experience until grade 6. Unfortunately, your experience is very dependent on the teacher you get. While the Montessori philosophy promises a child-led education, the 6-9 classroom regularly employed punitive punishments like taking away recess if the child "fell behind" in their "child-led curriculum". There was poor communication with the parents; parents at the beginning of one school year were told about certain curriculum changes, and those were later modified without further communication with the parents. The lead teacher (now Director) in the 6-9 classroom had a history of difficult interactions with one of our children (it was bad enough that another teacher at the school approached us with their concerns about it!), so we attempted to work constructively with her to help her navigate the child's (extremely mild) anxiety issues. This teacher had at times paired this daughter with children that were bullying her in the classroom, dismissing our concerns about the classmate, laughing that "well, they may be fighting but it makes her vocal; sure, she's screaming, but that's a good thing, because she's coming out of her shell." This teacher treated our child's anxiety like it was a disciplinary or tough love issue and responded angrily as if the effort to work constructively with her on the issue was an attack. The classroom regularly discusses issues related to peace and community, but the leadership doesn't appear to live up to it. They reacted defensively and dismissively when several parents attempted to provide constructive feedback about certain policies that were not inclusive. Honest effort to work together as a community was dismissed as "negativity." "My way or the highway" appears to be the rule, which doesn't demonstrate much dedication to the community. We were quite happy with the other teachers in the classroom, and with the community of parents, the aftercare program, and our Pre-K experience. The quality of your BMS experience is very teacher dependent, and it is likely the parents giving five star reviews here simply had a different teacher. Though a lot of these reviews appear to be from teachers. Unfortunately, the school has high turnover with its teachers and aides, so I can't recommend it, in its current state, as at this point it's like gambling with your children's education. We are now getting a more child-led education in a multi-age classroom (a major part of what attracted us to BMS) in the public school system, saving $10K a year per child. Of course, they are missing the peace curriculum, but the current BMS leadership fails to live up to it, and their new school is a much better model for social justice and inclusiveness.

The Prep School is wonderful. My daughter has been a Prep School'er for her 3's, 4's and soon to…read morebe 5's. The staff is caring, talented, professional, and flat out rock when it comes to education. Lia and her fine team keep the children busy, fed well, challenged, and most importantly at ease. A comfortable child has the brain radar in full motion picking up every little life detail. I am convinced that there is no better pre-school in Bloomington/Monroe County. I suspect that my daughter will be so advanced in her learning that adjusting to 1st grade will be a breeze.

My son loves this preschool! He has learned so much, so fast! His handwriting has improved a…read moregreat deal, he knows his alphabet and is beginning to read short words, and I've been really impressed by how fast he's picking up Spanish! (Plus, they have the best playground.) We'll miss Mr. Tim and Ms. Nina when he moves on to kindergarten next year!

I am so impressed with this school. Lots of love, fun and learning. They teach Spanish as well…read more Experienced teachers and equal playtime. All a child needs to be ready for Kindergarten!

My child went to BCGC from about 6 weeks old until we moved away, and we absolutely loved it there…read more They do Spanish immersion up until preschool so all the teachers speak Spanish to the kids during the day. The owners and teachers really care about child development, and it shows in the way they interact with the kids. They also focus on serving a wide variety of nutritious and mostly organic food. It is a daycare I trust and whose mission I believe in. They have also created a strong community of parents, teachers, and kids with picnics, fundraisers, a garage sale, and the like. The location just north of downtown is really convenient. I highly recommend them.

This review is specifically for kindergarten, the year our child attended St. Mark's. They offer…read morecare for very young children through kindergarten. We were unsure how our child would handle a full day kindergarten, and this was an alternative that fit in our budget. The short review is that the kindergarten program is FANTASTIC. Parental involvement is encouraged, and was very enriching. The playground has quite a few choices for play, and kids can go at their own pace. The staff were all friendly, informative, and helpful at all times. The culture is positive and uplifting, and sometimes some parents will stay after school so their kids can get in some more play time. It's a great way to get to know other parents and families as well as letting your kid make a new best friend. Academically, they check all of the boxes. They offer play based learning, and did a great job of teaching basic math skills, writing, and reading. Our kid just absolutely loved reading as soon as they started working on that more. I was very hesitant going in, but they won me over very quickly. This is a fantastic program, and one worth considering if you would prefer to have your child in a half day program. It's not uncommon for kids to attend here for several years starting from pre-school from what I could tell. If you are even considering a program like this, please contact them. The staff is helpful, they offer tours, and they absolutely love the kids.

Affordable Faith Based Preschool Get your preschooler ready…read morefor kindergarten, establish social skills, make friends, all while having fun!

I can only review based on the baby room, so I'm unfamiliar with what the previous reviewer was…read moretalking about. But as far as baby rooms go, this one is pretty great. My daughter previously went to one of the "best" daycares in Bloomington (and most expensive!!). But, only the best for her, as they say. Anyway, at the end of the day she seemed ready to go. Like she'd had a nice, full day but that was that... Here I have to practically drag her away kicking and screaming! She just can't get enough. I really love that Mandy and Jess are completely child led. The day's activities are based on what the kids feel like doing, and everyday is an adventure. Lots of times the babies will mingle with the ECP classroom, or even bigger kids than that on the playground. Ani LOVES school. I will say that it is still fairly expensive (and in fact if she were to go for the same number of hours that she went to her previous school, it would actually be more expensive). However, we live in the US and that's the current state of affairs. I do really appreciate that they charge by the hour, so you can monitor what you'll end up paying each month and make it fit what you need. Mandy and Jess really do adore the kids and I am so happy to be able to send my girl there!

I'm in 7th grade, and I go to this school, and it's probably the best school I've ever been to…read more They educate you for life, along with traditional academics. Some of the smartest and nicest people I know go here. Harmony is truly a community, and I know almost everyone here. Everyone here is welcoming and thoughtful. Unfortunately not everyone who applies can get in to this wonderful place, because it's such a small school. However the community is large, and welcomes any one who joins. I can't tell you how many stars I would this place, but since 5 is the most, I'll give it that.

We have been at BDLC for several months now and have loved it! Our 18 month old (who has the worst…read morekind of stranger danger instincts) absolutely loves his teachers and always comes home clean and happy. The teachers keep open communication with us, and always inform us if anything seems out of the ordinary about his behavior --- this has always proceeded mild sickness, so it was nice having the head's up! I also really appreciate the vegetarian menu provided for the kids. It has a wide variety of foods that include plenty of protein sources, fresh fruits/veggies, and grains. We're not vegetarian at home, so I am glad that he is exposed to this approach to food at school. He's also healthier than ever and growing perfectly according to our pediatrician, so it's obvious he's getting all the nutrition he needs :) Another thing I am particularly impressed with is the lesson plans provided by the teachers each month. They look creative and fun, but the best part is that I can tell that my kiddo actually learns from their activities! He always comes home having learned new skills, words, and games - he's even trying to count already! As much as I wish I could be at home 24/7 teaching him all these things, I am so comforted to know that he is in good hands at BDLC.

Our son has been coming to BDLC for several months now and we have been happy with their care. His…read moreteachers are calm and responsible and their outdoor space is really idyllic, the nicest outdoor space I've seen at a daycare in Bloomington. Even though our son is at the age where separation anxiety is strong, he has been happy there, and we are grateful for that. Our previous daycare experience was with a kind of "boutique" place (very expensive), and they were great, however we personally appreciate that at BDLC they're a little more relaxed--a little more of a family vibe. We also like the other families in the room and it was so cute how they had an open house for all of us to get to meet each other since our kids will be growing up together.

My kiddo went there years ago. They had a lot problems. The baby to stuff ratio is too high, most…read moretime with shortage of stuff. They also have high Stuff turnover issue. Will not recoupment to anyone who are pursuing a good daycare.

I was assigning house responsibilities for my kids (clean litter, feed cat, take out trash, etc.)…read moreand as I was giving each kid their assigned job my daughter who has been with Kid Angles for several years now yells "WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TEAMWORK!". I'd like to take credit for my parenting skills but Katie Smith and the rest of the teachers at her school deserve most of it. I love the life lessons and importance of taking care of self and others she learns daily and brings home with her.