Wonderful teachers with decades of experience. They foster sense of curiosity, confidence building…read moreand practice respect and kindness to others. After the visiting several preschools, this one stood out by how happy the kids were and overall great energy of the school. Our child loved going to school since day 1 and is still excited one year later today. Thank you teacher June and teacher Vanessa, looking forward to another year ahead!

It's hard to describe what an amazing school this is. I stumbled upon it almost by chance when my…read moreson had to quickly find a new school due to him not liking the language immersion school I had initially enrolled him in. As a first time parent, I was of course focused on setting up my son for the best academic future possible and was looking at academically focused pre-schools like Stratford. Visiting that school, I had a mixed feeling of hope for the future, and sadness to see pre-schoolers lined up in those tiny desks doing work. The playground was quiet on the day I visited and there was a little girl crying. Was it really necessary to start my baby boy on the Gerbil wheel of life so soon? In contrast, my first impression of Petite Sorbonne was of the crazy noise and sound of laughter. It was a bit overwhelming initially, but it seemed like kids were everywhere. As Teacher June gave me a tour of the grounds (a large Victorian house), she was interrupted every few minutes by a kid giving her a hug or telling her "I love you". The kids just played together and were so happy, the way childhood is supposed to be. I went with my gut. I'm writing this review with the benefit of hindsight. My son is now in 4th grade and at the top of his class academically. He's in the honors class at Russian school of Math. But most importantly, he truly loves learning, has what seems to be a bottomless well of curiosity, and makes friends so easily. Teachers June and Vanessa are the most amazing educators and developers of global citizens. They teach the important things in life--what it means to be a part of a Community, how to treat yourself and others with respect. Your children will have traditions from this school, from the blooming and nurturing of the garden, finding of treasures in the playground sand, to the trouble that leprechauns bring. They will have so much fun doing it! The years that your child will spend at this school are like a gift. They will be filled with laughter, love, play, friendship and happiness.

Absolutely amazing pre-K school with diverse and multicultural environment! Ms. Sophia, Ms. Lynda,…read moreMs. Jenny, and Ms. Marilyn are all amazing teachers. They celebrate different traditions from different cultures. Kids are taught independence and responsibility. It's great! It's great that we had our boy study here for his pre-K. Wish we got him in sooner as he moves to a different school for Kinder. Definitely a treasure in San Mateo that we're lucky enough to discover. Keep up the great work, Kinder Academy!

We have loved our years at Kinder Academy, where both my sons graduated (one in 2021, and one in…read more2025). They have learned so much about how to be friends, have joy in learning, and have had so many special performances, experiences, and memories while there -- all while developing a strong educational foundation that has served them well into elementary school. The teachers are so patient and kind, and the program is incredibly well organized and thoughtful. Teachers, teachers, thanks so much! We will miss you very much! xo

Choosing Highland was the best decision for our family. The teachers are warm, attentive, and truly…read morecare about every child's emotional and social growth. We love receiving photo updates and hearing about the fun activities that are so thoughtfully created everyday. No day is the same, but it follows the same flow and routine so that children find comfort in the familiarity while also experiencing the excitement of learning and doing something new. The school is always clean and secure, and has the absolute best yard and playground of any preschool we've ever seen! 10/10

My wife and I are so grateful for Highland! Our son transitioned to Highland a couple months ago…read moreand even in that short period of time we've seen such growth. He comes home happy and excited for school. We not only appreciate their philosophy in discipline (which is a positive redirecting approach) and teaching but their creative curriculum and the overall love they have for each student. We look forward to their daily and weekly updates in person, on their app and email. The teachers are warm and kind. We highly recommend Highland for any parent looking for an amazing preschool!

Our son started at L'Academy in San Mateo two months ago and he's enjoying his time here! He talks…read moreabout his teachers and friends all the time and looks forward to going to school (Although he still doesn't like saying goodbye to mommy or daddy when he gets dropped off in the morning). I can tell the director Farina really cares about the kids, as she has gone above and beyond to help our son get acclimated to his first experience being at school. She also takes the time at the end of the day to give us updates on how his day went and even asks us (the parents) how we're doing as she knows it's a big transition for the adults too! The center uses a wonderful app that allows the staff to update us with notes about meals and potty, as well as when they went down for nap and photos of what they did throughout the day. We fell in love with it after our tour with the co-founder Helena. She was warm and welcoming, and took the time to answer all our questions. I appreciated the in-person tour and for allowing our son to play in the classroom when other schools only had virtual tour. Just prior to our son's first day, the director also set up a time for us to visit the school with our son again to get him acquainted with the classroom, his classmates and teachers. We appreciate the transparency that these visits provided, which ultimately helped us to decide to send our son here, and we couldn't be happier with our decision! A few other bonus points: + Cleanliness, the school is brand new and only started enrolling students back in October 2021 + The teachers, Teacher Melissa and Teacher Wendy, speak excellent Mandarin, and introduce fun songs in Mandarin that my son remembers and sings all the time when he's at home + Excellent COVID protocol and weekly testing for the staff, children and families + A nut-free school, plus additional adjustments made to the menu to accommodate for our son's multiple food allergies + Nutritious snacks and lunch provided + Flexible full-time/ part-time schedule + Helps with potty training but doesn't require the child to be potty-trained to start In short, if you're looking for a center that provides a stimulating program along with a language immersion experience for your child, I would highly recommend L'Academy!

My kid has been going there for months and just left this place for a better environment. I felt…read morelike it is time for a review. He was getting sick once or twice literally every month. The facility inside is well lit and organized but however has no openable windows for positive airflow and no adequate HVAC system filtering the airs, thus the main suspect of him getting easily sick besides kids being kids! The main concern of this place and the worse was during the months my kid was there 90% of the directors and teachers are replaced and came and gone!!! This placed has gone thru 2 directors within months and all the teachers except the older teacher Fang Fang were either quit or terminated without any notice to us parents!!! If the retention rate is so low and turn over rate of teachers are so ridiculously high, how can our kids adjust mentally and psychologically to the constant changes of teachers!!!Recently, our parents were given 1 day notice of a director leaving this place??? Seriously? If the directors and teachers were not happy, how can our kids be?? The upper management should pay attention on fixing and treating their most valuable assets (directors and teachers)better, otherwise this place is the worst place to send your kids to grow and learn!

My daughter attended Beresford Montessori for over 3 years, and during that time she blossomed…read moreacademically and socially, thanks to the care and dedication of the teachers there. The teachers guided my daughter in every aspect of her growth, including forming friendships, learning to read and write, math skills, learning to speak in front of a group, playing well with other kids, and much more. She developed from a quiet and reserved child, to a notably more confident and socially well-adjusted child. Her experience and growth at Beresford prepared her extremely well for the transition to elementary school. Also, my daughter attended the school during the years surrounding the COVID pandemic, and the dedication that Ms. Karina and all the teachers showed to continue teaching and nurturing the children was incredible. Thanks to the teachers' expertise, my daughter actually learned to start reading during the pandemic through remote teaching sessions, which is amazing! When she returned in person to the classroom, she was able to continue her education as if we had hardly lost any time during the pandemic. We also valued the community of families at the school, and have continued to maintain strong friendships with other families after graduating. Overall, we are extremely pleased with our experience at Beresford, and are deeply grateful for the wonderful teachers and families at the school.

A Truly Special Preschool Beresford Montessori…read more Our family has had a long and wonderful history with Beresford Montessori, specifically the Gum Street location in San Mateo. Ms. Karina, the owner, is an incredible educator and highly trained, kind, and deeply dedicated to creating a nurturing environment for children. One of the most remarkable aspects of this school is its staff; many of the teachers have worked there for decades, which speaks volumes about the positive and supportive community Ms. Karina has built. The classrooms are beautifully maintained, warm, and inviting, making it a place where children feel at home. The staff is not only professional but also incredibly loving and it truly feels like family. My older niece and nephew attended Beresford Montessori years ago, and when my daughter started eight years later, she had the same wonderful teachers. That continuity and experience are invaluable. I can't recommend this school enough to family and friends. Even now, my daughter loves to visit whenever she can and often says she wishes she could still go there! The Montessori method gave her such a strong foundation, fostering independence, confidence, and a love for learning. We are forever grateful for the lasting impact Beresford Montessori has had on her education and development. If you are looking for a preschool that provides a loving, enriching, and stable environment, this is the place.

St. Paul's is like a hidden gem I never knew I needed until I was given the opportunity to be a…read morepart of it. In a competitive high stakes area like the Peninsula it is easy to lose focus and try to seek the best resources/education possible for your child without knowing about the other options beyond that scope. With a play-based age appropriate learning environment I am slowly seeing my son blossom as he navigates the world on his own terms. His speech and social skills have sky rocketed so much so that we no longer need to seek out additional support for his speech development (which was an ongoing concern for a while). I am so thankful for all the wonderful and kind teachers, the engaging activities, and the wide open space that offers endless possibilities for my child to foster curiosity and grow.

This is by far the best preschool in the Bay Area that we have found. The school offers an…read moreincredible variety of activities and art projects, and there are so many toys, learning materials, and thoughtfully designed spaces for children to explore and grow. What truly sets this school apart is the teachers. Every teacher is energetic, engaged, and genuinely passionate about working with children. They are proactive, attentive, and highly experienced--you can tell they truly know what they are doing. I highly recommend this school. Your child will love it here, and you won't be disappointed.

I cannot recommend Safari Kid enough! The care and attention that the staff provide is truly…read moreexceptional. My preschooler adores Miss Lupita (a total fan), and my toddler cannot get enough of Miss Susana. Every morning, my toddler waves goodbye and runs straight into the arms of his beloved teacher, eager to share about his morning ride (with all the 2-3 words he knows!!). His class teachers are so creative in their approach to teaching littles. As for my preschooler, I have never seen him so excited to go to school. Before Safari Kid, at every daycare (all top-rated on Yelp), our mornings were full of crying and tantrums about why he doesn't want to go or stay at home. Now, he comes home each day bubbling over with stories of the fun things he did and the new things he learned. But what really sets this childcare center apart is the incredible progress both of my children have made since they started attending. Their learning has truly taken off under the guidance of the knowledgeable and caring staff. It's amazing to see how far they've come in such a short amount of time. Thank you Ms. Jocelyn, Ms. Emily, Ms. Tessie, Ms. Sheryl, Ms. Eda, Ms. Kanti, Ms. Manisha and Ms. Jennifer!! We sincerely appreciate Miss Shelly for her leadership, partnership, and guidance with so much patience. Her dedication to creating a warm and nurturing environment for the children is truly remarkable. We do wish the center could start a bit earlier in the day to accommodate parents' office hours, but we understand that the staff have their schedules to manage as well. And it would be a dream come true if the center could start providing lunches - talk about a dream list! However, despite this wishlist, we are still extremely grateful for the amazing care and education that our children receive at this center. The staff truly go above and beyond to create a nurturing and enriching environment for the children. I am honestly stress-free for the first time as a parent regarding childcare! Thank you to the entire team at this childcare center for all that you do! We appreciate you more than words can express.

We absolutely love Safari Kid! The teachers do a great job communicating how the kids days have…read morebeen, and are always kind and friendly. I love the curriculum and my son always comes home talking about different things. Most recently his obsession has been about camels and cactuses. I love that he can learn these facts in an education based environment. The location is alway clean, and the communication is great. The teachers send photos every day including little notes about what the kids have been up to. I have seen a significant improvement in my son's behavior and demeanor since we have been enrolled here. My son comes home every day talking about what Ms.Lupita has said and taught him. We look forward to continuing to learn and grow here!

I found this school after an extensive search for a mandarin immersion preschool for my daughter…read more The school and it's teachers are awesome and beyond my expectations. Here are the highlights: 1. Open 7am - 6pm 2. Only closed for the usual public holidays. As a family with both parents working this has been great. Friends who go to other preschools end up taking so much time off for the frequent closures. 3. amazing and energetic teachers (female & male). Another school that I visited had mostly older Asian teachers all female. This school has diversity in its teacher staff. 4. Large playground. There is a large playground which runs the length of the school. It's divided into 2 sections. The smaller section has play structure. The larger is for open play - bikes, balls, games. The kids only go out with their own age group. 5. Snack & Lunch. Lunch is included in the tuition plus morning and afternoon snack. 6. I'm here for the preschool. My friend is here for the after school care for her grade 1 - 3 kids. This school could fill your child care needs for many years. Negatives There is only one. The tiny carpark which can be chaotic during the peak pick up hours. That being said we have been here for over a year and love it. It's been a wonderful and nurturing environment for my daughter.

Our son has been at Genius Learning preschool for the past 2 years. The staff is kind, the hours…read moreare flexible, and our son is learning a lot. They also provide lunch for the students, which is a huge plus! I would highly recommend Genius Learning for any parents interested in a Chinese immersion preschool program.

I have nothing but good things to talk about Mighty Tiger. My daughter graduated last year and my…read moreson has been in the school for a year and a half. Ruth and Geoff who are the owners are such wonderful and kind teachers. My kids thoroughly enjoy their day there and are always so happy at drop off and pickup. All the other teachers are very thoughtful and loving. The activities they come up with are so fun too. One of my favorite part is their social emotional learning. Mighty Tiger has been a family to us and we highly recommend this preschool.

Our daughter recently graduated from Mighty Tiger Preschool, and we couldn't be happier that she…read morehad the opportunity to be part of the Mighty Tiger family. Their play-based approach is exactly what we hoped for. The children learn about interesting topics, expand their curiosity, and develop important social skills while having fun. Most importantly, they learn to be kind and respectful. Ruth and Geoff are truly wonderful. Their passion and dedication are clear in everything they do, and they work incredibly hard to create a special experience for the children. They are also exceptionally organized, attentive, and communicative. Between the weekly newsletters, regular updates, and attention to every detail, we always knew our daughter was in great hands. They are supported by an amazing group of teachers, including Teacher Rachel, Teacher Elizabeth, and Teacher Shin Yi, who all helped make our daughter's experience so positive. We also loved the events organized for children and parents throughout the year. They created a real sense of community and helped families build meaningful relationships. Although our daughter is leaving the school, we are taking friendships with us that we hope will last for many years. We feel incredibly lucky to have found Mighty Tiger, and we already can't wait for our second daughter to join when the time comes!

Our son joined Nueva's Upper School this year as a 9th grader (class of 2021). We like Nueva's…read morerigorous high school curriculum; a number of advanced courses can be deemed college-level. Its math sequence is very well thought out (e.g., one track for pure math and one for applied math) and allows plenty of room for advanced students to progress beyond calculus. We are pleased to see that our son has been spending a good amount of time at the I-Lab before/after school (helped greatly by his new found independence via the bike+Caltrain combination) and loves every minute of it! Nueva's Upper School teachers are helpful and highly qualified; many are practitioners/experts in their field. Our son's Japanese language teacher has a wonderful sense of Japanese humor that makes language learning so much more enjoyable. The Upper School has an advisory system that allows small groups of students to interact with their advisors, who in turn provide feedback to parents (especially new families!) on how their kids are doing at school from time to time. It's a great way to integrate incoming 9th graders (i.e., many new friends were made over a 3-day camping trip before start of school) and build strong ties between school and families from the get-go. Our son has a great start of the year with Nueva. Its Upper School is one we would highly recommend for families looking for a well-rounded STEM education and great teachers in a supportive environment for their kids.

I initially became interested in The Nueva School after subscribing to receive job postings. What…read moreimmediately stood out to me was how frequently new openings were being posted -- sometimes seemingly every week. As an educator, that naturally made me wonder about staff turnover. Eventually, I applied for a position and interviewed with someone who honestly seemed very kind and thoughtful. I left the interview feeling optimistic, especially because I was told I would hear back by the end of the week. In education hiring, timelines usually move quickly because schools want to secure teachers for the upcoming school year before candidates accept other opportunities. Weeks went by with complete silence. No follow-up, no rejection email, nothing. Wanting to close the loop professionally, I eventually emailed to thank the interviewer for her time and wish her and her team the best for the upcoming year. Oddly, the message bounced back, even though I had been communicating through that exact same email thread previously. At that point, I honestly began wondering whether the communication had somehow been compromised or whether I had fallen into some strange scam situation. I even called the school directly to verify that the interviewer actually worked there, and thankfully she did. The school then provided me with another email address associated with their official domain. I forwarded my message there as well, but once again received no response at all. Whether the message reached her or not, the overall experience felt surprisingly unprofessional and dismissive, especially after what had initially seemed like such a warm interaction. After later reading additional reviews and experiences from others, I ultimately realized this probably was not the right fit for me anyway. Still, basic communication and professional courtesy go a long way, particularly in education, where relationships and respect matter.