We couldn't be happier with our experience at the Montessori School of Novato. Our older child, now…read morein 3rd grade, has absolutely thrived since he graduated from there. His reading skills are well beyond what we expected for his age, and it's clear the individualized approach and the thoughtful guidance from the teachers made all the difference. The teachers really take the time to get to know each child, not just academically, but as whole individuals, which helped our son build confidence and stay engaged. Our younger child, who is 3, has also had a wonderful start at Montessori. It only took her a few days to settle in, and after just a week of teary drop-offs, she now runs into the school with a smile. She constantly surprises us with new skills she's learned, especially how independently she can work through an entire project from start to finish. She often tells us how much she loves her teachers, and we can see how much she's growing and learning. The teachers also take pictures of the kids every day and post them so we can see what they are working on. Montessori School of Novato has created a warm, supportive, and stimulating environment for both of our kids. We are grateful to be part of this community and highly recommend it to any family looking for a thoughtful and enriching early education.

I recommend all teachers except Amanda. She is unprofessional and hold grudges against children…read more Tells other parents personal information about other parents both economic status and personal at home life. Parents, staff and children find her cold, hard to read, and cruel. If your child craves connection and safety her class is not the place to be. We loved all other staff and teachers.

MFT has been an outstanding experience for our son throughout his time there. Terese, Lori, and the…read morerest of the staff are deeply attuned to the needs of young children and have created an extraordinary early education and social experience. We couldn't have asked for a better learning environment for our son to grow up in. Highly recommended!!

Both my kids went to Terese Montessori and they both are thriving at their schools. The…read morefundamentals they learn are the best in Novato. They approach each kid different and it is an individualized approach. It is a strict program but my kids have learned to be confident and independent. My son has a lot of energy but has learned to focus in the classroom where now at his elementary school he is one of the best behaved kids in the classroom and releases his energy outside. Highly recommend this school and by far one of the best in Novato. My only thing it is small so great for ages 2-3.5 or a kids that needs that small class.

My daughter was under Magali's care for 2 years, and I can't believe the way she has blossomed!…read moreIt's been beautiful to watch. She has gained an understanding of what it means to be a good friend. I see her acting with patience and kindness. She can work independently with focus and care, and I see the pride she takes in her work. And for me, San Marin Montessori was the perfect situation. The hours are convenient, drop-off and pick-up were super easy, and I loved the way Magali would personally greet each student as they came in the door with conversation and attention. When I had parenting difficulties that I wanted help with (Ex. my daughter not wanting to get dressed in the morning), Magali was always available to talk about the specifics of the situation and she gave me great advice. Magali and her assistant Jesse won my complete trust. I studied Maria Montessori's work when I was pregnant, and I can see that Magali is truly using the philosophy and the tools. Most schools only use the name. I feel very lucky that I found this small school. My daughter benefited from so much love and personal attention!

My husband and I couldn't be happier with our choice of having our son in the care of Magali and…read moreJesse. We looked into many schools in the area and fell head over heels in love with the atmosphere provided. A very clean, organized, happy place my son looks forward to going everyday. They have routines that make the children feel comfortable and classroom changes monthly to keep the children from getting bored. Our son comes home daily with art projects and a smile. All of the children respect each other and love one another. The teachings of Magali are one in a million. I never thought we would start our school experiences with such an exquisite person, we are lucky and grateful. It will be hard to move on next year. Luckily our daughter will get a chance to spend her preschool days at San Marin Montessori.

We are forever grateful that both of our kids had their first school experiences at HMS. Both kids…read morestarted elementary school with a strong foundation both academically and socially thanks to their preschool teachers, especially Ms. Catherine.

This school is a joke! I would not recommend it at all. It has a high teacher turnover rate, and…read morewhat is on the website for the staff is a lie. All the teachers have left except one, but they only removed one teacher-- what a joke. Cindy "the director" is awful to engage with; she needs to retire and let someone else take over because she is very condescending and narcissistic. I am not sure why the preschool teacher is still there; she needs to leave ASAP. One of the former parents mentioned that she is being forced to stay, but I am a lawyer, and I will help her if that is the case. No one should be forced to stay in a work environment that is unethical and unpleasant. I would not recommend Hamilton based on my experience. While the school may have positive intentions, there were consistent issues with communication, organization, and overall support for both staff and families. Expectations were often unclear, and there was a noticeable lack of consistency in leadership and decision-making. A strong educational environment relies on transparency, collaboration, and trust, and unfortunately, those elements did not feel fully present. This made it challenging to maintain a stable and positive experience. To top it off, the "director" cannot be left alone with the children because she has no units-- that is something that is unheard of. The school needs to have a director that is ready to step in when needed. For families or educators seeking a well-structured, supportive, and communicative environment, I would encourage exploring other options.

Honestly, if I could give this place a zero I would. My…read moredaughter attended this daycare for nearly a year as an infant (completed in July 2025). Since that time, I have been trying to get the $2,000 deposit I paid before she started returned to me - which it hasn't been. It's been 8 months now. I can't encourage parents to look elsewhere enough. The leadership team is unprofessional and unaccountable. I wish I didn't need to share this review but at this point it feels like the only thing I can do is warn other parents.

My son goes to Guidepost Montessori at San Rafael and we really love it! The teachers are warm and…read morecaring, and he's learning so much. It's a happy and safe place for kids.

My kid went here for a year and a half the staff there are great! They are caring and have patience…read morewith the kids. She learned so much while in their care and made so many great friends! I would definitely recommend them to any family in search of child care!

My daughters love coming here! The teachers are great and my girls come home and are excited to go…read moreback to school the next! Can't thank Marcie, Katie, Jennifer, and Rosa enough for caring for my 2 girls!! I'm so glad I found this place!

We've been part of the Montessori of Central Marin community for over three years, and it has…read moregenuinely transformed our family. From the moment our children walked through the doors, the warmth and intentionality of this school was unmistakable. The teachers here are exceptional -- deeply committed, observant, and passionate about the Montessori philosophy. They know every child individually and meet them exactly where they are. We're especially grateful to Mr. Chris, who has shown extraordinary patience and insight. Watching him guide our child through challenges with such care has been nothing short of inspiring. The curriculum is thoughtfully designed and truly works. Our children have grown into confident, curious, self-directed learners -- qualities we see every single day at home. In fact, our older son just completed his transition to kindergarten last year and is now heading into first grade. The transition was completely seamless -- he stepped in with confidence and ease, and we credit that entirely to Montessori of Central Marin and the incredible teachers who shaped him. The environment is beautiful, calm, and purposeful -- exactly what children need to thrive. And the parent community is one of the most supportive and engaged we've ever been part of. We can't recommend this school highly enough. It hasn't just been great for our children -- it's brought our whole family closer together and shaped how we think about learning, growth, and community.

Wonderful teachers in a cute school. Full Curriculum is rotated monthly and teachers are friendly…read moreand caring. Spanish is also taught

Wonderful clothes and store and owner! I love the purple…read moresignage. Happy holidays! I wish you strong sales during the holidays!

Just left a really cute children's store in downtown Novato. Plenty of choices and quality…read moremerchandise. Great customer service, you feel like you're going to your friend's house. I love shopping local, it always leaves me happier than just ordering on Amazon. Please check it out.

Ms. Carolynn and Laura have been such a huge and wonderful part of our lives. When we first moved…read moreto Petaluma we searched all over town for an in-home daycare that would offer quality care at an affordable price for the times that we needed. That narrowed the field quite a bit immediately. With a little more research it was quickly evident that Carolynn's stands apart from the rest. Here's how: While Carolynn runs a small operation, she is professional and offers many things that come with the bigger organizations. She is priced competitively. She offers extended care, before and after the normal school day at a small additional rate. (Extended care was HUGE for our family.) She helps to build community by offering several annual and monthly events including drum class, wood shop class, parent nights, and potlucks. Carolynn offers breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack to the kids. She serves organic foods for the most part. She also has a beautiful garden and nearly everyday she serves produce from her garden to the kids (which the kids often helped to plant and harvest). The kids learn so much about taking care of plants and really enjoy eating all the veggies. Aside from the garden, Carolynn has a small above ground fish pond (not in the school area), small colorful birds, chickens, and many play areas in the school yard. She is a huge animal lover and her beloved dogs and cat mingle with the students throughout the day. Her love of and respect for animals is shared with the kids. In the classroom, Carolynn and Laura work as a united team. They are consistent, kind, fun, and firm. They use a positive discipline approach to correcting misbehaviors. The kids learn many important life skills like putting their things away, hanging their coat, washing their hands before eating, meditation and giving thanks. Students learn through themes (ex: rainforest) and practice all sorts of skills through independent work. They focus on one letter and number each day and the hand sign that goes with it. Both Carolynn and Laura communicate easily and often with parents. We don't go more than a couple days without a picture or a story in text-form. It always brightens our day. When they have successes or concerns with our son they share them immediately. Carolynn seeks solutions to any problems in a loving and persistent manner, often seeking parent participation in the solution. Carolynn and Laura know our son. They really know him. He is VERY energetic, opinionated, caring, and intelligent. So, in short, he's a handful. We couldn't imagine any place better for him. He goes to a daycare (school) where the adults care for him. They are consistent in their expectations of him. And he is challenged by them. We are very thankful we enrolled our son in Carolynn's Montessori and had 3 wonderful years there! We can not wait until our younger son starts there! (Many families send multiple kids through her program!)

Our son loves going to Carolynn's. When I say we are visiting Carolynn's, he runs to the door…read moreyelling, "Visit Carolynn's! Visit Carolynn's!" We can't get out the door fast enough. And he always comes home with new phrases or idea about what is going on around him. He's not even two, yet, and we see his mind is open a little bit more each time he comes home. It is run out of her home, but it is a separate, good-size, room. In addition, the children go out back and play in an amazing play-yard. They also help garden and feed the chickens and clean up. Carolynn is wonderful with the children. She really understands them, since she has been working with kids for many years. Her experience shows and helps us, since this is our first child. Her two assistants, Joanie and Geneva are also fabulous. They are all so patient and understanding with the kids. We couldn't be happier with where we send our son.