I was looking for a new private school for my four-year-old daughter. After having her in a local…read moreMontessori in Laguna Niguel for two years, we decided that she would receive a superior experience and education with a school that was more aligned with our values, beliefs, and educational goals. We were seeking a school that offers a progressive, challenging, yet enjoyable curriculum in math, language, writing, social, emotional learning, good citizenship, meditation, foreign language, science, and the arts. Also, we learned how vital play is for preschoolers and kindergarteners and their brain development, thus wanted to find a school that had a unique and beautiful play area for her to explore, imagine and foster creativity with new friends. Two friends that my daughter attends Ballet with at the Pacific Conservatory shared accolades about their experience and suggested that I explore the Anneliese Schools. When I first considered a preschool program two and a half years ago, I was working full time and attending USC for my masters in Social Entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to research the best private schools in the area. Now compelled to find an ideal educational experience for my daughter, I spent time evaluating several schools. I have concluded that the Aliso campus is the best fit for our family and daughter because of its administrators Wendy and Amy, and teachers such as Ms. Yasuko. Furthermore, Anneliese Schimmelpfennig's background is inspiring, impressive, and philanthropic. We were particularly impressed with the school system's unique knowledge and experience in early childhood education, progressive curriculum, and philosophy, which most resonates with our family. Ms. Yasuko is also certified in Montessori teaching from previous experience, and we feel it will be more seamless to transition into her class. Finally, every person we have come in contact with has been kind, answered our questions, and provided us with multiple tours, which we graciously appreciated. Other parents, we speak with share accolades about their experience as well. We look forward to the three day trial period which will give us all a chance to further explore and much appreciate it. During your quest for investigating the ideal private school I highly recommend considering the Anneliese schools and the charming Aliso campus in south Laguna Beach.

The school was once a wonderful place under the original owner and their family, who genuinely…read morecared about the children and the quality of the environment. Unfortunately, since the change in management, things have gone downhill tremendously. The cleanliness and overall upkeep of the school are extremely disappointing, and the facility has become filthy. It is upsetting to see such a decline in a place that was once so well cared for. The original owner and family deserve recognition for the great work they did, but the current management has not maintained those same standards. A school should be a clean, safe, and well-maintained environment for children. The current condition of the school is unacceptable, and serious improvements in cleanliness, management, and overall care are needed especially in the Aliso Campus.

My daughter loved pre-K at manzanita and just started kindergarten at south Laguna campus. It's…read morevery creative, calm, and welcoming. We've really enjoyed our experience. Miss Shannon, Mr. John and the entire Manzanuta team made our daughter feel safe and welcomed. South Laguna has also been a great start with Ms. Lisa being a class favorite and Ms. Katherine is so helpful. We haven't gotten to know everyone yet, and we are excited to.

Our daughter attended Kindergarden at the Manzanita campus and boy do I wish we could have packed…read moreup this delightful school and brought it with us when we moved to the east coast. Intimate and beautiful, the campus is a gem. Our daughter was instantly enchanted by all the stained glass, trees, flowers and chickens. Every classroom has its own outdoor space where home cooked family style lunches (often featuring food grown on Miss Anneliese's ranch) are served. The staff is equally nurturing and professional. The academics are solid: phonics based reading, Singapore math and handwriting without tears. My daughter started kindergarten not knowing how to read and tested into her new school one year above grade level. Weekly (or more) French, Spanish, German, American Sign Language, Music, Handcrafts and PE lessons are taught by specialty teachers. The school also hosts numerous social events throughout the year that help to foster a fun and active parent community. We remember our daughter's year at the Anneliese Manzanita campus with great fondness and wholeheartedly recommend it to any family looking for an enriching school experience.

We've been waiting a couple of years to leave this review, now that our son has graduated from this…read morepreschool. Marina View Preschool has been a home away from home for our son, who was there for 2.5 years. In his time there, he flourished not only academically but also in his social-emotional skills. Our son made deep connections with his teachers and classmates. The school runs a tight ship in their policies and practices which ensures the school is properly staffed and the children are safe and properly attended to. We toured many different schools in the area and Marina View stood out for the location/safety of the campus, their open door policy and how happy the children looked when we visited! Our son loved his experience there and misses it so much! It was a school where he felt accepted and safe to be himself. The school has cool events and activities throughout the year. It's just the BEST! We are looking forward to bringing our newborn when the time comes. Thank you Marina View for your wonderful, nurturing and loving staff and for always providing a safe environment for the children to learn, be themselves and have fun!

I toured a few schools/daycares in LN and this school by far felt right for my son. I looked for…read moresafety, attentiveness from staff, reasonable pricing, and a clean facility, and this school met all my needs and more. My son loved his time at this school! The teachers (my son was placed with Ms. Sharlene, Ms. Mayra, Ms. Maria, and Ms. Pari across his 2 years here) are attentive, caring, and all around AMAZING people! My son's excitement every day to go to school speaks to the kind of rapport the teachers built with him. The facility is also well maintained. I feel my son has been prepped well for Kindergarten because of the guidance and environment this school provided for him.

We love Mrs. Fitches and the community here. The church is so special, the moms group is too and my…read morelittle one loves his teacher here at preschool,

We've loved bring our sons here for three years now. It's as close to perfect as we could find…read morewhen researching the different options around Laguna. We've even had a couple conflicts or areas of concern, that we brought up to the teachers and staff. They handled both in a very professional way. I feel very very comfortable dropping my kids off at this preschool knowing they are in great care.

We joined Miss Anna's school this month and it was the best decision we have made. She is kind,…read morecaring, intelligent and made with magic. Our son goes three days a week and when he isn there he asks when he can go back to school to see Miss. Anna and his school friends. The best environment I could have ever dreamed of. Thank you to the magical Miss. Anna

Would recommend Anna Maria Montessori to any parent seeking a nurturing and high-quality experience…read morefor their child. I stumbled upon the school from a referral and it was the best decision for our son. Ms. Anna and her staff create a warm, engaging and peaceful environment that supports both academic and personal growth. The small teacher-to-student ratio ensures the kids get the attention they need at this milestone age. The school is thoughtfully designed with spacious outdoor exploration space, a garden, a mascot tortoise and classrooms that inspire curiosity and independence. Ms. Anna has a gift for understanding and guiding children. She combines loving kindness with a calm, firm presence that fosters respect and cooperation. Under her care, my son is already learning valuable skills such as independence and confidence in his abilities--all within the framework of Montessori philosophy.

I really think that finding an amazing school for your kids feels like one of the holy grails of…read moreparenting. And MBMA truly is it. Hear me out -- I feel extra qualified to make this bold statement Bc we've tried it all. I read all the books and blogs about how to best support my firstborn when I had to go back to work full time (and you've probably felt the same agony about nannies vs au pairs vs daycares). We did the nann(ies) route for a while but it's honestly just hard to find the perfect person. We then decided to look for a daycare and I feel like I toured all the ones possible to find in laguna beach (where we lived at that time). Again, I felt like I had to compromise on kind of major issues (one place tried to sell me on how important playing in literal dirt is for kids and others had frazzled teachers) but I was getting desperate. We decided on a place but after weeks of my son coming home covered in all that dirt, I realized that I was paying way too much money to be this disgruntled. I spread out my search and found MBMA a decade ago. And it is perfect for us. The teachers truly love my kids (and it's not just lip service; we can all can feel it). The space is a Montessori (and IG) dream in its simplicity, airiness, cleanliness, and peace. They have a perfect mixture of independence and loving nurturing. And it feels safer than a lot of other schools bc of their security systems/fence. We've had all 3 of our boys attend and couldn't be happier. I rave about this place to pretty much everyone I meet:). Let's face it -- it's not easy to find a place you can recommend this highly and all parents who need help with childcare realize that who you are entrusting your child's day/education/upbringing (they see them almost as often as us!) too is critically important. They're amazing and have all my gratitude bc I can go to work and know my children are in the best hands.

Great teachers and staff. So happy with my daughter's progress and experiences. Miss Mariam and…read moreMiss Anna are helping to create a new class of future leaders and achievers.

Choosing a preschool is one of the biggest decisions you'll make as a parent, and after having two…read morechildren attend Pacific Preschool's San Elijo Hills campus, I can honestly say it has been one of the best decisions we've made. Our oldest started at Pacific during COVID, which was an especially stressful time to be a new parent. I was also pregnant with our second son, so finding a preschool where we felt completely comfortable and supported meant everything. Even during such an uncertain season, the staff created a warm, consistent, and loving environment that gave us so much peace of mind. We always felt that our son was safe, cared for, and genuinely known by his teachers. Fast forward a few years, and now our youngest is enrolled at the same school. It's been so special returning as a family and seeing familiar faces. There's something incredibly comforting about a school where the teachers remember your family and truly invest in your children's growth over the years. One thing I've always appreciated is how closely the teachers partner with parents. They've helped us navigate everything from separation anxiety to developmental milestones with kindness, patience, and great communication. As working parents, having dependable childcare is important, but what we've found at Pacific Preschool is so much more than that. It's a place where our boys have been encouraged, celebrated, and loved. I'd also like to give a special thank you to Jessica, the director. Her leadership has helped create a culture that feels welcoming, organized, and genuinely family-centered. You can tell she cares deeply about both the children and the staff, and it shows in the positive atmosphere throughout the school. Watching our oldest successfully transition into elementary school with confidence, and now seeing our youngest thrive in the same nurturing environment, has only reinforced how grateful we are that we chose Pacific Preschool. If you're looking for a preschool where your child will be cared for by people who truly love what they do, I highly recommend the San Elijo Hills location.

10/10! We had the best experience at Pacific Prep- referred by our Pediatrician since his kids come…read morehere and if it's good enough for our doctor, good enough for us right?! Our daughter learned so much here in Mrs. Christy and Mrs. Nancy's class room 3. The facilities are clean, warm, welcoming, and addressed concerns promptly. Ms. Lindsey principal is also fantastic. My daughter starts TK this year and is so prepared and LOVES school. Can't thank you again for making our girls 1st school experience a success!!

This was an excellent experience so far. We just went for our tour. They were honest and upfront…read morewhen we scheduled the tour that it would be a group tour and to arrive on time. I appreciated that bc I would have been annoyed if I showed up on time and waited around for people who are late. Wendy gave us our tour and it was a full hour with carful explanation of how kids thrive and how they achieve that at Anneliese. At the end of the tour they also set realistic expectations of the next steps. We have applied to be on the waitlist and can't wait to start if we have the opportunity to do so.

I really wanted to love this school, but our overall experience was very disappointing…read more In my opinion, the school maintains a narrow model of 'ideal' student behavior. From what I observed, they are quick to flag children who do not fit this specific mold, often suggesting professional assessments as the primary solution for behavioral differences. I also had concerns regarding supervision. I would receive incident reports that lacked any true insight into what actually happened--situations that likely could have been prevented with better oversight and supervision. For a full year, my child was miserable and would cry every morning, dreading school. After changing his school, the transformation was immediate. Seeing my child thrive in a new environment made me realize the issue was the school. Another major concern was how feedback was communicated. On multiple occasions, teachers raised negative comments about my child directly in front of him, which is entirely inappropriate and not how concerns should be addressed. These conversations should be handled privately with parents--not in a way that can embarrass or impact a child's confidence. What was even more troubling was hearing my son's peers repeat the same language to describe him--terms I had previously heard used by his teachers. That was very telling. It strongly suggests that the language modeled by staff was being picked up and repeated by other children. Therefore, I would have to agree with the shaming and scolding reviews left by others. On a practical note for parents: avoid sending your children in any nice clothing or shoes. In our experience, new items were constantly ruined by the dirt on the playground. Overall I would not recommend this school and I recommend not to be fooled by the pretty magical environment.

My son started last year (mid year), they were so accommodating and welcoming, as we were coming…read morefrom Anneliese and seeking a better fit. Not only has received wonderful support developmentally but he / we have gained friends and community. The low star ratings are outdated and it's worthwhile to consider this deeply nurturing environment.

Laguna Beach Montessori is truly a gem. The teachers, parents, and students have all become our…read morefamily. My daughter has learned so much within the past 3 years. She has made so many new friends. And she has thrived! It truly feels like home.