There truly aren't enough positive words to describe the experience our children have had at…read moreHomestead. Out of convenience, we tried several other schools, but we always ended up re-enrolling our boys at Homestead because nothing else came close to the high standards built into its programs. We started both of them at the Homestead Annex It is abundantly clear that the owners are professionally trained and deeply knowledgeable in early childhood education. Unlike the other schools we tried, Homestead has no teacher attrition. The teachers are career professionals who bring the expertise and consistency every preschool child deserves. While other places were billed as "schools," they felt more like unstructured daycares with a constantly rotating cast of inexperienced teachers. Communication at Homestead is exceptional. At the beginning of each month, we receive a detailed calendar outlining daily activities and snacks. Our children regularly bring home amazing arts and crafts, along with growing knowledge of music and Spanish. Most importantly, our boys are genuinely happy here. They were unhappy at the other schools we tried, but at Homestead they have never cried at drop-off and always leave pick-up with big smiles on their faces. We love Homestead so much that we're keeping our son, who turns five this summer, enrolled for another year instead of starting kindergarten. We truly believe Homestead is the perfect place to prepare children for elementary school. Our first grader thrived in kindergarten after spending three years at Homestead, and that experience says everything. If you're considering a school for your preschool-aged child, we wholeheartedly recommend Homestead.

I cannot say enough positive things about The Homestead Schoolhouse. The teachers are incredibly…read morenice and both of my children who have attended have had such great experiences. They get upset when it is not a school day because they love it so much. They have left with a strong beginning to reading, writing, counting, patterns, etc and they have left with great friends. We love the backyard play area and the fact that there are chickens and that the students get to plant and tend vegetables. Each month has a curriculum focus and each month opens up the world for children (career month, friendship month, etc). I recommend this school with absolutely no hesitation.

I wouldn't say we are picky parents, but the saying "third time's a charm" fits for us. After…read moretrying two other childcare options, we found Childroots and we couldn't be happier. Their philosophy of child led learning and socializing is a perfect fit for our child. The director and teachers are always available and are in regular communications with us about how we can best help our kid overcome problems, enhance his learning, and work through some of this big childhood emotions. We know our kid is growing fast, and when we can't be there, we are so glad that Childroots can be. They are not only helping our now 5 year old build skills for life, they are helping us be better parents.

We adore Child Roots! Our oldest son attended from age three until he went to kindergarten and now…read moreour youngest son is there. The teachers are caring, creative and kind. We were skeptical about the cuisine as we didn't think our boys would like it, but they have become adventurous eaters because fo the wide variety to foods offered. We're so happy to be a Child Roots family.

We can't say enough about the quality of care and education that both of our children received at…read moreChildroots. Our oldest started there around age 2.5 and our youngest started at 6 months, so we've had the chance to see all aspects of teaching and care at the SE location. The preschool program is excellent. Along with plenty of free play, indoors and outdoors, Childroots has the kids participate in small workshops (called ateliers) in which they explore various aspects of art, science, math and reading. Having your child come home every day and tell you about the science experiment they did or, at a young age, talk about the chapter books that were being read to them, was wonderful. One great aspect not to be ignored, is food. Kids start eating at a table with utensils and real cups once they can sit up, and then as they approach the 1 year mark, Childroots starts serving family style vegetarian meals. Our kids have always been good eaters, but it doesn't hurt when they're having quinoa, beans, rice, kale, squash, cabbage etc at school. Knowing that they were getting a healthy morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack definitely took a lot of pressure off of meal planning for us. Entrusting others with your children is never an easy process, but the quality and passion of the teachers as well as the training they receive, should give you no pause if you are thinking of sending your kids here.

I am extremely satisfied with Childroots. Everyone is incredibly knowledgeable, compassionate, and…read morepassionate about caring for children. Their philosophy (the Childroots way) guides everything they do and it's clear that there is a lot of time and attention given to train staff in this philosophy. I have also been very impressed and satisfied with how they have handled the COVID-19 crisis through transparent and thoughtful communication and processes. My child has been attending another Childroots school (Northwest) as the Southeast center closed temporarily and I have been so pleased with how easily my child transitioned into the new setting. I believe it's a testament to their philosophy and staff training which provided a safe and familiar structure for my child during this uncertain time. Overall, I highly recommend Childroots.

This is an amazing community of teachers and families who genuinely want to give children the…read moreopportunity to grow and learn through play. Prior to Mud Pies, we were sending one of our children to a different daycare full-time where our older child did really well, but our younger child was struggling and acting out as a result. I was getting fairly regular phone calls about our younger child's behavior, and it was hard to not feel like I was failing as a parent. We were referred to Mud Pies by a friend and could not be happier. Two weeks in, I tentatively asked the lead teacher how our child was doing. They expressed that our child seemed to be getting the hang of the scene at Mud Pies, and that there was no need for alarm, then summed up their thoughts with, "We're just really glad he's here. He's a great kid." The model is not for everyone. These kids won't be trained to learn how to read before kindergarten and there likely won't be any reports about academic progress. But as far as I'm concerned, WHO CARES? My son is cared for deeply and he wakes up saying he's excited to see his friends. Communication between the leadership/teachers and parents is incredible. It's a beautiful, cozy space with an incredible outdoor area (where kids spend the majority of the day). My son also eats almost EVERYTHING he's served here-- and it's good stuff! We feel so lucky to have found Mud Pies.

I adore the mud pies community! The teachers are zen masters. I don't know how they remain so calm…read moreand levelheaded all. the. time. I really feel like my son is learning how to solve problems, work as a team, be a leader, and work out interpersonal conflicts. To boot, I've had nothing but pleasant interactions with the other families. If you're looking for a play-based program (as opposed to academic) this is the place.

Portland Waldorf School is a truly magical place. Our child has flourished here -- from the…read morenurturing environment of preschool to the thoughtful, inspiring rhythm of the grade school. The teachers are extraordinary: they see and support the whole child -- academically, emotionally, and creatively. Each day feels intentional and full of wonder, and the community is warm, grounded, and deeply connected. We're so grateful to be part of a school that honors childhood while cultivating capable, curious, and confident learners. I hope more families explore the Waldorf philosophy.

We love having our child in kindergarten here! The teachers are incredibly attuned to each child's…read moreneeds while fostering a cohesive, creative, and collaborative community. Our child has grown leaps and bounds in this nurturing school, and we couldn't be happier to have her here.

They left my 2 year old outside in the rain for a half hour because they forgot him during "recess"…read moretime. My son was traumatized for months from it. It wasn't as big of a deal as it should have been, because something could have happened to my son. They are located on a busy street and my son could have easily been kienqpped, gotten hurt on the slippery wet equipment. He was cold and scared and it broke my heart. and the teachers still work there. All they did was have them work in a pair for a while. Endangering a child's life deserves more than just having a buddy to watch over you. There are too many kids for the teachers to look over. Teachers were very nice, but for how expensive they are... I wouldn't go again ever

We started in June for all day daycare, while we were only there for a short time the entire staff…read moremade quite an impact on my child. He continues to ask about his teachers, and he's very much interested in independent play and while as being patient and waiting his turn. I've been able to keep him engaged longer in activities at home than before. I really love the way they have their setup and credit them for potty training my kid. They were incredibly flexible with my needs to bring his own food due to allergies, which was such a relief to me. Always treating you with a smile know matter how chaotic it was inside. We will miss this school very much. Thanks!

ISP creates joy…read more Happy and educated children is what I see at ISP whenever I'm on campus. The combination of language immersion and IB education (inquiry-based) is amazing. These children come out with a global mindset treating others with respect snd care. We looked at a number of schools in Portland and ISP is the best. Seeing 5th graders graduate fully fluent in Spanish, Japanese or Mandarin is amazing. And hearing stories of ISP graduates in college and beyond who use the skills and language they learned at ISP daily, reaffirms why we believe this is the best school in Portland. Additionally, the location makes school accessible to families living all over Portland. Being centrally located (near public transit, bike paths, highways, etc.) means the students learn about city and have easy access to museums, theater, and more for field trips. An ISP education builds a strong foundation to help the next generations follow their dreams.

Where else in Portland can a monolingual household, like ours, send a child to school at age 3 and,…read morewithin a few years, watch her become fluent in another language? Not only does our daughter speak Spanish fluently like a native speaker, she can write proficiently in both English and Spanish. Our now seven-year-old child has achieved something neither of her parents have managed, which has been a huge confidence booster. Before enrolling her, we were concerned about whether she could succeed in learning a foreign language at such a young age and whether she might fall behind in other subjects. However, our fears were unfounded. She, along with her classmates, quickly picked up Spanish. Additionally, attending a diverse school where Spanish, Mandarin, and Japanese are predominantly used has allowed her to appreciate and celebrate different traditions and cultures. If you are looking for true diversity, you will have trouble finding more of it at any other school in the area. Remarkably, she and many of her classmates significantly outperform state averages in reading in English and math as evidenced by standardized test scores, demonstrating that language immersion has not hindered her overall academic progress. The inquiry-based learning process of the school's International Baccalaureate program has fostered her curiosity, creativity, and independent critical thinking. In one of her classes students can volunteer to present "mini-lessons" on topics of interest. Recently, she presented a lesson on DNA, displaying an impressive understanding of a complex subject that I didn't learn about until high school or college. I've also been impressed with the quality of her art classes. Unlike the simple arts and crafts of my childhood, she has learned about art history and various artists. When we visited a Frida Kahlo exhibit, she provided insightful commentary on Kahlo's background and influences. Similarly, she recognized the influence of Vincent Van Gogh in a painting by Edvard Munch, showcasing her knowledge and keen eye for art. The small class sizes not only provides more personalized attention from the teachers, it also fosters a culture of kindness (her class this year had a 12:1 student-teacher ratio, about half of what it is at area public schools). While the school is located in downtown Portland, it's a bit hidden. It's a safe oasis on a quiet dead-end street, easily accessible by bike, streetcar, MAX, bus, and car due to its central location. When we lived in The Pearl District, I could bike my daughter to school on dedicated bike paths for most of the route. If you are looking for a truly differentiated education for your child that will lay a foundation for them to thrive in a shrinking global community & economy I'd encourage you to check out the International School of Portland.

If you are not familiar with Lutheranism it is a very love forward judgement take a back seat form…read moreof Christianity. This school teaches religion in that way, through principles of love, we can pretty much all agree on. That being said even without the church side of things this is a great school. I researched every public and private school, went to many many open houses, chose a charter school with one of the best reputations in town, before abandoning that dumpster fire after a single year. The difference in the quality of education between the charter school and Trinity is stark. This is the sort of A+ education I got in a small town for free when I was a kid, but I am ever so grateful to find in Portland. And for the cherry on top of the cake, it is affordable!!

We never believed we could afford private school. We entered every charter school lottery in town…read moreand got lucky. ....until Covid hit and we were faced with insurmountable challenges in providing any semblance of an education for our 1st grader. The coveted charter school was closed and barely functioning. Months went by. As working parents the situation felt completely chaotic. Enter Trinity, the principal was and is warm and welcoming in every interaction. The virtual learning was far more engaging and enriching the we could have ever imagined. Our daughter is glued to the class even via zoom which still astonishes me 3 months in. The school was able to safely, efficiently, and calmly (yes legally) incorporate in person learning sessions in small groups. They are on point and have quickly and efficiently risen to the occasion of educating during the pandemic. And to my original point, they are the most affordable private school in town and we wouldn't dream of taking our daughter anywhere else.