I can't say enough great things about Little Sprouts Preschool, Ms Michelle (think Wonder Woman…read moremeets Snow White), and her staff. We have a lot of experience with the daycares/preschools, especially those in Capitola, Aptos, Freedom areas and Little Sprouts is hands down the best in town. Ms Michelle and those she brings in are nurturing, present, creative, and earnestly care about and adjust for the individual child. We made the easy decision to keep our eldest in preschool instead of TK once we found exactly what we were missing in other schools. Thankful to have my youngest also enrolled for another year. Ms. Michelle is thoughtful when planning her classroom. From rotating stations to keep things interesting, bringing in as many lessons regarding the seasons and nature as possible; currently they have tad poles and baby chicks in the classroom, to working and communicating with the kiddos (and their parents) to keep a cohesive group dynamic.

My son attended Little Sprouts for three years and I am so sad to say goodbye! However, he is now…read moreemotionally, physically and academically prepared for kindergarten thanks to Ms. Michelle and her caring, fun learning environment. I especially love how Michelle teaches through talking about and observing nature and the changing of the seasons.

Truly exceptional place! Our son thrived in this environment. There have been some recent problems…read morein selection of school administrators, but they have been corrected. Would STRONGLY recommend this school. Do NOT believe the baloney rumors you may read. What difference does it make if the school administration is of a particular religious bent if the do NOT (and I can absolutely confirm this!) proselytize?

My grandson started the Preschool at Aptos Academy this year and he loves it so much (age 4) that…read morehe's constantly asking, "Go to school tomorrow?" - he wants to go back even on his way home let alone that evening or the next day! Not only is the school in a beautiful setting but all the faculty and other students are friendly, caring and welcoming! Small class sizes, a faculty that is caring, nurturing and fills the needs/requirements of each student individually for educational/physical/mental growth and well being in the beautiful Aptos community...what more could one want for their child? We feel so blessed to have discovered the Aptos Academy!

We adore this school! My daughter has been going to the infant care center for two months and it's…read moreamazing. I couldn't ask for anything more. The teachers are experienced and loving. My daughter, who is 1, is always excited to go to "school." The facility is exceptional and the teachers are wonderful. They speak English and Spanish. They even do art and music with the babies and toddlers. I am so happy that we found them!

My eleven month old granddaughter recently started attending The Giving Tree Academy. After an…read moreextensive search for a school that offered safety, loving care and fun, my daughter and son-in-law found The Giving Tree Academy, which recently opened the infant care area. The teachers in infant care, Miss Ruth and Miss Dolores, are so warm, friendly, knowledgeable and professional. They welcomed my granddaughter, made her feel at home, and gave her new interesting and fun experiences from the first day. The facility itself is clean, safe and attractive. We are all so excited to have found the perfect preschool for our baby.

We are now on our third child at Rose Blossom, and I just can't say enough great things. It's truly…read morea wonderful preschool, and it all starts with Sharon, the owner and head teacher. Sharon has a masters degree in child development, and her approach is highly refined, well tailored to each child. She even helps us be better parents by sharing strategies for reinforcing what they are learning at home, and showing us important points of emphasis. She is incredibly caring, and highly invested in every single child. We were concerned that our second child might have a tough transition to preschool on her first day. Sharon took such great care of her that she had a seamless transition. When she was telling us how well she did on her first day, she actually teared up because she was just so proud of her. It's such a reassuring feeling knowing that you are leaving your child with someone who truly cares about them. Rose Blossom also gave our older two kids an excellent head start on kindergarten. Emphasis on reading was especially helpful, and our kids started kindergarten substantially above the standards. The other teachers are excellent as well, and the staff retention is high. The same two main teachers have been there the entire 4 years that we've been at Rose Blossom. The community is quite welcoming, with friendly parents. Our kids are still friends with some of their Rose Blossom classmates years later. Rose Blossom is actually the only thing around Santa Cruz I recommend to people. This is a small town, and most things are just ok at best, or good for here. Rose Blossom is phenomenal. I have had a couple of people send their kids here on my recommendation, and they loved it too. It's also priced very well. For super high energy, hard to control boys, one of the outdoor focused preschools may be a better fit. But for everyone else, Rose Blossom is the best choice, hands down.

It was the best decision we've made for our son. The teachers are amazing and he looks forward to…read moregoing to school every day.

My child attended Little Learners from the age of three until she entered kindergarten. I…read moreappreciated the play-based curriculum and the variety of imaginative play areas, from the art station to the dress-up corner, where children had the freedom to explore their interests and creativity. The staff was attentive to each child's unique personality, individual needs, and social development. Leah was also accommodating with my work schedule when other preschools were not. I am grateful for the wonderful experiences my child had at Little Learners and for the caring, supportive foundation they provided during those important early years.

We truly couldn't have chosen a better place for our son than Little Learners…read more Every member of the staff is warm, patient, and genuinely invested--their love for the kids shows in everything they do. The environment has helped our son build meaningful friendships, develop a love of learning, excitement to try new things and his confidence has grown tremendously. The sense of community--not just between staff and families, but among the families themselves--is something special! Although we had the opportunity to enroll him in TK last Fall (at our top choice for elementary school) we chose to stay because of how much he's grown here. His learning has truly taken off and continues to do so. We will deeply miss Little Learners when it's time to move on to Kindergarten but will always be grateful they are sending him off ready for it

A wonderful school. My daughter had several delightful years there. Responsible and caring staff.read more

Can't thank this school enough. As a now grown student, I still look back on this schools'…read moreteachings and absolute life lessons that it has taught me. With patience, nurturing, and all around acceptance, Orchard raised me when one person couldn't do it alone. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and I had never felt truer words that befit this schools benefits. It truly helped keep my childhood lively and adventurous, and to this day my thoughts linger on just how grateful I am. If I ever have a kid, I'll do my best to ensure they get to go to a school as fine as Orchard. Only shame is, they used to go from K-8, if I recall. But to know they're focusing their teachings on earlier ages is just as righteous to me.

Our daughter attended the summer camp at Little Garden Patch and loved it so much. Being around…read moreanimals all day, playing outside, and being in nature while learning is such a brilliant combination. She came home so happy and blissed out every day. Personally, I appreciate the super kind and peaceful energy that Linnaea and her family create for the children. They have all sorts of activities, so that each child will find something they enjoy. They can do lots of physical play, or go read a book in a quiet spot in the garden. We will have our daughter go back next school break. I highly recommend this sweet place.

My 5 year old son goes to this cute kids friendly farm every Tuesday for an after school program…read more We drive from Los Gatos for the experience. Linnaea is so calm and experienced. She talks to every child in a calm voice explaining things and teaching them about everything. The experiences are priceless! Growing tomatoes, feeding animals, making art and craft projects, having story time in a mini outdoor theater with popcorn and so much more. Kids climb on a tree to get to a tree house, swing on a rope, play on a play structure and there is a playroom for indoor play time when it rains or just to change the environment. This is a unique place where kids make friends and learn from kind Linnaea!

Tara is a unique and magical educational experience in the redwood forests near Land of Medicine…read moreBuddha. Our daughters attend and are thriving in the elementary and preschool programs. The preschool program is located in the heart of Soquel. The teachers are terrific and the children and community wonderful. While in Soquel proper, they do make weekly trips up to the redwoods to play and explore. It's an excellent program filled with creative activities, traditional Montessori education, and play. The elementary program is located within the Land of Medicine Buddha, nestled amongst the redwoods, where the children hike, play in the stream, and count banana slugs while on their way to the playground. The class sizes are small which allow our daughter to receive more attention and tailored education than in a traditional public school. Montessori-style teaching meets the student at their current level of development for each subject, providing flexibility and ensuring a child is challenged and not left behind or left waiting for their classmates to catch up. The elementary school teachers are wonderful, highly experienced, and a positive influence on our daughter. Lastly, the school ethos of compassion, mindfulness, inclusion, and kindness instill important values in our children and foster a culture of like-minded parents and teachers who share these same values. PS - Refreshingly, there are no screens at Tara. The children learn through their senses and through physical objects, not by the glow of pixels and hum of electricity.

My children have been at Tara since January of 2022 and every year we are grateful to be a part of…read moretheir community. We started at the Village campus and are now at the Redwood campus. Teachers Adela, Bev, and Regina at the Village Campus are so dedicated and passionate about their work. They show up happy to be there every single day. The daily trips to the Redwood campus to be surrounded by the forest, fun field trips, and Montessori teaching approach have been so valuable to my children. Teachers Namasya and Lisa at the Redwood campus have also been wonderful in continuing the Creating Compassionate Cultures curriculum, which at the heart is based on our body's own wisdom. I love the interconnectedness and values they teach at this school: why it's important to be kind and practice gratitude towards plants and animals, how to make a difference in other's lives, the natural elements and how they pertain to us, food sources & cooking in class, how to be a good friend and so SO much more-- these values feel like the true core of what it means to be a happy, healthy & balanced human in the world and I am just so grateful to have my children learn it at such an early age. Grateful to Tara for going on five years of a truly wonderful experience.

Academics and teachers are top notch. Administration is good, can't imagine a school would be run…read moreany better. However, your experience here is very dependent on your situation going into the school. There is a lot of affluence here as you can imagine, and you'll be exposed to that as parents, and your kid will as well. For most of the parents and kids at the school, its a world they are comfortable with. For those not in that circle, you will quickly realize that it's not your circle...and your kid will too. Towards the end of our time here, our daughter was old enough to understand these things, and that was very disappointing to us. It's a private school with all that it entails; that needs to be understood before deciding on sending your child here. While a good school, it's not for everyone.

Dear readers, as an individual who attended this school in the past, I must honestly express that I…read morefind it to be an unsatisfactory investment for your child's education. My time at SCM was quite extensive, but I eventually transferred to another institution due to the persistent issue of bullying, which remained prevalent from 1st to 6th grade without any effective intervention from the school administration. During my time in 6th grade, I endured both physical and mental bullying to such an extent that it necessitated my admission to a Mental Health Hospital for various reasons. Shockingly, the three girls responsible for this reprehensible behavior faced no consequences, resulting in me missing out on my graduation day and celebration due to their actions. This unfortunate reality extended to my friend as well, as he was also targeted and compelled to switch schools. Moreover, it is important to note that I am autistic and suffer from a chronic illness that causes severe pain when walking or running. Regrettably, the school disregarded my condition and failed to provide any support or accommodation during times of autistic meltdowns. I found their indifference towards my physical and emotional struggles disheartening and disconcerting. When I requested alternative activities during physical education classes to alleviate my chronic pain, the school administration threatened to involve my parents, rather than understanding and addressing my health concerns with compassion and empathy. In terms of education, I observed a significant emphasis on the subjects in which students demonstrated proficiency, while minimal effort was made to help students struggling in other areas. This unbalanced approach hindered overall academic growth and development. In conclusion, my personal experience at this school was largely negative, and I believe there are superior educational establishments available. However, it is essential to recognize that individual experiences may vary, and some individuals might find benefit in this environment. Regardless, I urge prospective parents and students to exercise caution and carefully consider their options before making a decision.

I went to Simcha when I was a toddler, and now my own children go there! My two year old has had a…read morewonderful year in the toddler class, and will be in the preschool class next year. My 4 year old will be in the TK/K class this coming year. The teachers are great, the outdoor spaces are wonderful, and the extended hours they offer are so helpful for many families. We've made great friends there, and are so thankful!

I cannot speak highly enough about my experience at Simcha. We've been attending for three years…read morenow - my older daughter attended pre-k and the kinder class, and my younger daughter started in the toddler class when she was two, then the preschool class, is currently in pre-k and will be in the TK/K class next year. Both of my girls have thrived at simcha, and we adore the community. Both our kids and us parents have made many amazing friends. The teachers are incredible, and we've really appreciated the play-based curriculum with tons of outdoor time. In TK/K, teacher Jan blends academic material with so much fun and creativity - the kids hardly know they're learning. My older daughter was extremely prepared for public 1st grade because of Jan's guidance and the small class size - she learned to read and write, gained strong math skills, and made special, lasting friendships. our younger daughter could have attended public TK but with Simcha's extended hours and unique program, it's worth the investment of an extra year. Highly highly recommend!