This place is 4.5* for me. I attended a kid's birthday party here. Oh boy, kids really had fun…read more Emily the owner is a very skilled puppeteer. She is phenomenal with kids. Kids were engaged with her story telling, fun props and various costumes. As parents we loved it too. For my young toddler though her voice was bit loud in some moments but elder kids were loving it. All the rooms were open for kids and she switched on the music and dance lights. Kids had more fun wearing tonnes of masks, coloring handmade elephants and running around. I felt the food space is too cramped and it was bit inconvenient for large gathering. Apart from that this place is a stellar! Each wall is adorned with some wall art. A beautiful cherry blossom Tree in one toy room. I liked this place and the owner. She was there through out to support in any way possible. This is a very personalized place and it has tonnes of things to keep the kids busy:). She rents it too for birthday parties. I will highly recommend this place and will be going there again with my toddler.

I can't say enough wonderful things about this preschool. Kindness and creativity are at the…read moreforefront of every day's activities. They resolve conflicts between kids by teaching direct communication and empathy. The art my kid made with them we will treasure forever and now that we are moving on to Kindergarten I feel like my child has the tools to navigate social situations with love and awareness. Just can't give enough stars! It is staffed by stars!

Our family has absolutely loved SMMS! My daughter has really thrived as a student here and I can…read moresee amazing growth in her both socially and academically. The school is sweet, simple, affordable, and safe. It's such a nice feeling to drop my daughter off in the morning knowing that she is in the care of such amazing teachers. Teachers Denee and Eric are caring and passionate and I can tell my daughter is comfortable with them. SMMS takes health and safety seriously, communicates well with parents, and fosters a great sense of community. I highly recommend SMMS!

I remember our preschool search being quite daunting. Lots of options, uncertainty, and ultimately…read moreit's just a leap of faith hoping to select the right one. And we did! I'm so glad my daughter attends Sunnyside. Last year was positive for her is so many ways for her (and for us seeing her grow and learn from such wonderful instructors). There is nowhere in Portland I'd rather take her to for year two. Denee and Eric are phenomenal teachers, and I recommend them and this school wholeheartedly. If I could give six stars instead of five I would. Maybe even seven. Hooray SMMS!

We love HFP! My son looks forward to his school days with excitement and joy. Coming back from…read moreschool, we always get a hardy "thumbs up" and "it was great, dad!" He loves Teacher Susan and enjoys HFP's focus on play. Watching him mature over the last 2 years at HFP, I can see a huge difference in his conflict resolution skills and overall emotional stability. He knows how to be kind to strangers, understands how to attempt to play well with others and even suggests conflict resolution strategies to us. We also love HFP's parent community, it definitely doesn't feel like "just" daycare. I find it easy to believe that HFP as an institution will be in Portland for years to come.

We recently moved to Portland and were looking for a school for my 4-year old to finish out the…read moreyear. Hawthorne Family Playschool immediately stood out not only through their focus on anti-bias education, but also that it is more of a community of people working together to raise responsible, self-aware and engaged children. You can tell that Teacher Susan loves what she does and it is evident by seeing how the kids respond to her and the environment she creates. It is not just a daycare/school to drop off your child and pick them up. Often parents linger after pick up for "lunch bunch," where you can connect with other parents while your children play in a natural playscape letting their creativity soar.

Our family has had the most wonderful experience at Little Hands Garden School. My older son…read morestarted in 2022 and will soon be heading off to kindergarten with so many beautiful memories and a strong foundation, thanks to the nurturing environment at this school. My younger son joined this past year, and we are so grateful that he, too, gets to grow and learn in such a special place. The teachers at Little Hands are truly exceptional--kind, conscientious, warm, and confident. They approach each child with genuine care and respect, creating a safe space where kids are not only encouraged to explore and express themselves, but also gently guided to be thoughtful, kind, and responsible members of their community. It's clear that the staff is deeply committed to teaching children how to be good humans in our complex world. We especially love the play-based learning approach, which allows the children to learn through curiosity, imagination, and joyful discovery. The time they spend outside in the beautiful garden is a highlight--planting, playing, and connecting with nature in meaningful ways. It's the kind of early childhood experience every parent hopes for. Little Hands has been such a gift to our family. We're constantly in awe of the heart and intention that goes into everything they do. Thank you to all the amazing teachers for helping our boys grow with confidence, kindness, and joy!

Staff falsely reported me to DHS for sexually abusing my daughter over TOTALLY NORMAL BEHAVIOR,…read moresuch as grabbing her crotch. They proceeded to inform my coparent of this when she was the one who had dropped my daughter off! Resulted in a massive problem with my coparent wherein I did not see my daughter for over a week while the investigation was conducted. The staff was totally unresponsive and irresponsible. DO NOT LET YOUR CHILD GO HERE! THEY ARE UNTRAINED!

My child has gone to Atlas Hawthorne for over three years. Tomorrow is his last day, and we'll miss…read moreeveryone there dearly. Atlas is a wonderful school, with incredible teachers and a caring community. It may be less formal than other day cares, and less "by the numbers" than the larger daycare centers, but we appreciate it all the more for that. A special place!

There are some very caring teachers at Atlas Hawthorne (chez les petits). However, the…read moreadministration and owners do not ensure the use of best practices for early childhood and do not communicate well with parents regarding polices and staffing changes. We were treated with a lack of compassion, honesty, and skill. It will take time to heal from the negative impacts on our toddler.

Sharing our response to the denied acceptance email received pertaining to our son. Our daughter…read morewas accepted. We are completely caught off guard and very disappointed to hear you have decided not to accept Henri. After reading through the numerous emails from TPMS there was NEVER any information that his acceptance was pending a school tour. In addition to the emails, we specifically discussed our situation with Jessica during the tour and I followed up with telephone calls after. Jessica reassured us TPMS had children similar to Henri. We were worried about disappointing him and told her we did not want him to tour the classroom if there was a chance he would not be accepted. She assured us that it doesn't work that way and the tour was just for him to get familiar with the classroom and meet his teachers. I specifically told her I do not want to even apply if there was not room for both children. We had a secured/accepted a spot for Lillian at another Montessori school and had Henri on the waiting list, which we have turned down since receiving your "acceptance letter." It is too late in the school year to secure a spot for our children at another school. This decision is INCREDIBLY disruptive to our family and completely irresponsible per TPMS admissions staff. It is pathetic I had to email Braden to find out why we had not had any follow up after Henri's visit. It is also misleading Elisabeth did not indicate anything went wrong with his behavior during that visit. Her communication & demeanor with children and adults is lacking. Judging a 6 year old boy with special needs after observing him for 2 hours in a completely new environment full of strangers is unbelievable and inaccurate, and speaks volumes per your internal practices verses the montessori educational platform. Your policies should be clear that you don't accept children with an IEP or ADHD, to avoid wasting families time Lillian will not be attending TPMS. I HIGHLY suggest you take a look at your admission process and the way TPMS communicates with families. Because of your poor communication and decision our children will not be able to attend Montessori school in the fall. Considering our situation after much homework and clear communication on our part, we suggest TPMS advertises correctly and does't mislead people in the future as it's been a very disingenuous and incompetent experience that will greatly affect our family and our child's developmental plans. Parents are always going to be their children's biggest advocate and TPMS should be ashamed as your mission statement and admission process is severely flawed, and its obvious people should know the truth! In closing, I'm not looking forward to explaining to my son that he will not be attending the school we've been building up to be a great experience. He was greatly looking forward to the school & "new friends" and going to school with his little sister, both of which will not happen now.

After researching and visiting several Montessori schools in the city for a few years, we decided…read morein 2009 to send our daughter (at age 3) to Providence Montessori School. We love the guides, support staff and other families at the school for their genuine care and interest in children and for the overall school community. We live closer to another Montessori school on the West side but decided the commute was worth the reward of great care, education and community of Providence Montessori School. What I love about the school: *Low turnover rate of the school staff After having a daughter at another Montessori school where the staff turnover rate was high, it's wonderful to have the stability of having the same faces in the school and classroom for my kids. The staff are happy to be part of the school, and that shows through as an overall positive energy and focus in the kids. *Elementary Classes-availability and opportunity to continue the wonderful Montessori method of learning *Enrichment Programs & Holiday Camps Unlike some of the other schools in town, they have before and after school care on site with some of the same staff kids see during the day. Oh, and they have a dedicated Enrichment Director who constantly comes up with great ways to engage and entertain the students. I'm amazed at the creativity in projects and activities to keep kids' interest and the artistic, fun results contributed by the kids. *Involved Parent Community We have lots of opportunities to meet and get to know other families at the school: Parent night out, picnics at the playground, potlucks, Coffee Fridays (for parents to drink coffee, snack and chat), etc. The school has a Parent Advisory Board where families can come learn about what's going on with the school administration and have input in the operations and programs. *Large open green space as playground They have an amazing, large secure play area for the kids with a boat, a tree house, a garden and plenty of are to play games and run around. My daughter loves to lift up all the big rocks to look for insects and worms and climb on the tree house. *Indoor Gym space When the weather doesn't permit outdoor time, the kids have an indoor gym they can still play games and burn off some energy in an indoor gymnasium next door. *On-site after school programs Rotating classes of Spanish, Yoga, Soccer, Cooking, Violin to name a few *Cultural and Socioeconomic Diversity The school gives scholarship to about 12-15% of families throughout the year (fund raised through school auction) and tries very hard offer great education to as many types of families as possible. This was one of our main reasons for choosing Providence Montessori School. We wanted our children to have a diverse peer group as it is in the real world. These are some of my quick thoughts. I can't type as fast as I think or talk and believe this is enough info for families who are researching and thinking of schools for their precious little ones. Sincerely, Current Happy Providence Montessori Family

This is a great daycare operation. The kids are well cared for, the staff provides structure and…read moreeducational activities, and the director (Rose) is an incredible human being.

We are so grateful for Belmont Academy! They are a wonderful neighborhood school with a lovely…read morecommunity of parents, kids, and teachers. The class sizes are small, the teachers are consistent, and the parent communication is outstanding. Every teacher knows and loves our daughter, and they bring such care to the small details of her life. I've noticed all the little things like helping her take off a sweatshirt when it's warm outside (vs letting her overheat!), fixing her hair to be out of her face, and remembering to ask about something she said she was going to do over the weekend. The preschool learning is exactly our speed - this Fall has included About Me, Feelings, My Family, calendar, weather, a letter each week, etc. We get lots of photos on the app so I feel included in what's going on and can talk with my daughter about her day. Snacks and lunches are great too, and the kids eat outside when the weather is nice. The long hours are awesome too - 7:00-6:00. We rarely need such long hours, but it's so much less stressful to not race the clock to avoid late pickup at 5:05 or not having to wait in the parking lot if we arrive a little early. After the pandemic, it's a hard transition to having my daughter away from home during the day, but Belmont has made it really easy. It feels small and cozy, not like a giant facility where my kid is just one in a big group. I can't say enough wonderful things!

Update January 2026:…read more Perhaps the biggest and most surprising benefit of sending our children to The Treehouse is the village and community we've found there. We've been incredibly fortunate to have stitched a strong support system from the friendships our children have made at The Treehouse. We have vacationed and camped together. Held and comforted each others' second babies. We've helped each other through losing our parents, fed each other, and helped provide care when working parents are out of town or needed at work when daycare was closed. We've cried together, protested together, organized for political candidates together, and volunteered together. We've read books together, have gone to bingo together, and throw whimsical parties and celebrations together. This has taken work but The Treehouse brings together families with very similar values. All we had to do was trust our children's instincts on who their friends were and foster those same friendships with their parents. If you're the parent of young children in 2026 and wondering where your village is, it's right here. Lastly, daycare is expensive. As a 501(c)3, The Treehouse is transparent about their financials. You can pull their 990 and see what staff make in addition to their income, expenses, and assets. I take a lot of comfort knowing our money is staying in our community instead of lining the pockets of private equity firms.

The Treehouse is such a gem! Both our kids have gone here over the past couple of years, and it's…read morehonestly been the perfect fit--especially for our toddler, who's usually grinning ear to ear and ready to tell us all about her day at pickup. The morning tea and circle time are such a sweet way to kick things off. The teachers and staff are amazing. Super kind, attentive, and you can tell they really love what they do. There's always something fun going on, and the garden is incredible. The kids get to explore, play, and even taste what's growing. The Acorn classroom (for the littlest ones) is cozy and so welcoming. Definitely invest in good outdoor gear...it's worth it. The outdoor-first setup has helped our toddler get stronger, more creative, and more confident. We feel really lucky to have a preschool like this nearby.

I was searching for a co-op for my 4 year old son after some Covid limitations had lifted. My…read moredaughter was in a different co-op but it closed down at the beginning of the pandemic and unfortunately never opened back up. I wanted to find a co-op because I love the fact that I can ease my child into learning. You get to be a part of the class and get to know the kids, families and the fabulous teacher Amy! There was actual information about how they are CONTINUING to keep our kids safe and masking. It's so helpful for keeping those little fingers out of noses and mouths I love that the school is so inclusive and has so much information available on their site. Teacher Amy is so kind and gentle with the kids, you can tell it's her passion to teach kids! She rotates the activities for the kids to do so that there little minds are constantly inspired. I am so so thankful to have found the school. My son can't WAIT to go to school and see his friends, it brings such a beautiful sense of normalcy that I cannot express enough how big of a difference it makes for our family! If you're looking for a school for a few days a week to help prepare your little one and socialize them and for countless other reasons too I highly HIGHLY recommend Mt tabor preschool!!

It is with bittersweet joy that we are soon to be graduates of Mt Tabor Preschool! My daughter is a…read morestage 5 clinger and had a very difficult transition to preschool after being at home with me full-time. While other schools treated this as a problem to be quickly solved with many tears and quick drop offs, Teacher Amy had a different approach - work with the child on their time table, meet them where they are at. I spent months sitting and staying in the classroom until my kiddo was comfortable and now she has absolutely no issues and adores school! The space is lovely and bright, the other parents are kind and supportive and form a loving community, and my daughter is more than prepared for kindergarten, already reading and writing! The play-based philosophy and emphasis on building personal and interpersonal skills was just perfect for us and I wish I had more kids to sent to MTP!

Wonderful school! The teachers are so caring and involved. Lots of great programs and location is…read morebeautiful.

Great playground, awesome classroom. My son LOVED his time…read moreat summer camp here. The teachers were all super sweet.