We cannot say enough good things about the community at Woodland School. From the moment we began…read morethe admissions process, we felt like more than just another application. The Admissions Director, Melanie, is truly exceptional. She went above and beyond to support our family, showing incredible flexibility and genuine care throughout the process. Beyond the administration, the school itself is impressive. We fell in love with the beautiful, sprawling outdoor campus--it's such a rare and refreshing environment for kids to learn in. One of the most striking things we noticed was how confident and articulate the students are; their comfort with public speaking is clearly a testament to the school's curriculum. We also spent a lot of time admiring the Maker Lab, which is easily one of the best we've seen. While our family's personal circumstances shifted and we couldn't enroll this year, Woodland remains at the top of our list for any family looking for a balanced, high-achieving, and supportive environment

Absolutely terrible terrible school. If I could give it 0 I would. The years I spent here were the…read moreworst in my entire life. None of the teachers want to be here they are all underpaid and regularly complain about their salary. While I was there I would consistently hear teachers say "I can't answer that that's above my pay grade" or joke about how they can't afford to pay for anything. Many of them were just bullies and put no effort into teaching us. The teachers also have no control over the students with classes being so hectic that lesson plans would get put on pause. If you are a smart student you won't be challenged here, if your a student with learning disabilities you will get NO support. The campus is laughably small and unclean. The buildings are in horrible condition with middle schoolers learning in portable classrooms. In my opinion it kind of feels like they just added the middle school on in the 80's to make more money. The food is horrible but the kids are even worse.

We love Open Gate! When we began touring preschools with our first child, I was very hesitant and…read moredidn't feel comfortable with the thought of leaving him somewhere with strangers. From the moment we toured Open Gate though, it felt like home. Teacher Kristi knows just how to meet the needs of each child (and parent) that walk through the door. The other parents quickly become friends and valued sources of support. We're now back at Open Gate with our second child and we are so happy to be back in the Open Gate community again. My oldest son wishes he could go back too and often talks about "the good old days when I got to play at Open Gate". We are so thankful that we found such a fun and supportive preschool for our kids!

Absolutely LOVE Open Gate! We have been attending since last school year and my son and I just love…read morethe time we spend here. We both have so many new friends and have truly created a community for ourselves. The Teachers are creative, kind and intentional with the way they are educating my son. I also really enjoy volunteering in his class, feeling included in his day and getting to know the other parents. If you have the chance to come and take a tour contact the School ASAP!

Our daughter has had a wonderful experience at Little Oak Preschool, and we couldn't be more…read moregrateful for the impact that it's had on her growth. When she started, she was pretty shy and reserved. The teachers here drew her out of her shell. They made learning genuinely fun, and she became excited about all kinds of new things. Ms. Pam, Ms. Lisete, and Ms. Jozann get talked about constantly at our house. Our daughter comes home lit up about something new they did together almost every day. The staff also supported her through a big life transition: the arrival of her new sibling. They were incredibly attentive to the big emotions that came with that change, giving her patience, reassurance, and tools to navigate her feelings. We've also been impressed watching Ms. Linda lead the school since taking over from the previous owners last year. She's brought in wonderful teachers, built a genuinely engaging curriculum, and kept parents consistently informed -- it's clear she cares deeply about getting the details right. If you're looking for a preschool that combines real educational enthusiasm with this level of emotional attunement and strong leadership, I can't recommend Little Oak enough.

Little Oaks is a fantastic preschool. Bright and flower filled outdoor spaces, with clean and…read morebrightly lit indoor classrooms and very clean toilets for the little ones. The school management led by Ms. Linda Friedman is beyond excellent- she has a warm and welcoming vibe and truly listens to her customers' (read Parent's) needs. I love all the opportunities that the little ones are exposed to academically or in play. Weekly music and movement gives kids the opportunity to dabble in music from all over the world and helps broaden their (and my:)) cultural experiences. There's online food ordering services and even bubbles in the air (literally!) on a good outdoor day! The weekly newsletters are a great place to find out about all the goings-on at school and offer a peek into what's to come in the next month. I have to say, I'm so happy with my daughter's teachers here (we've tried several preschools before this one). They're extremely kind, patient and empathetic. My daughter looks forward to going to school because she likes to play with Ms.Jozann and Ms.Rosie (yea!:)) I'm very grateful to my daughter's teachers for all the time and opportunity they're able to give her as I've seen her blossom at Little Oaks. I highly recommend it.

I truly loved my experience at the JCC Preschool. I'm the mom that tours every single school prior…read moreto making a choice. I'm extremely picky when it comes to the care of my children. I'm taking the time to write this review because we've recently moved around in the area and have experienced other schools. Solidifying even more what a magical experience being at the JCC was for us. We were at the JCC for a total of 4 years with both my son and my daughter from the time they were 12 months old (in the mommy and me program they call the Yad-B-Yad with teacher Shuly). In our experience, the teachers are loving, caring and they were truly invested in the development of our kids. The Director Lauren Berman is amazing. The amount of care she leads the school with is incredible. I was part of the school parent committee where we worked first hand with Lauren to help make key decisions about the school, so I saw first hand the amount of strategy, planning, and thoughtfulness that went into running the school. We were also at the JCC during Covid. And I truly believe our kids excelled during this time because of the strategy and execution of how they handled the school. Lauren would call her strategy (the Swiss cheese effect). Creating multiple layers of protection for the kids safety while ensuring and maintaining a loving environment. I know first hand, other schools did not handle this time nearly as well. Our son was at Phillips Brooks (when he aged out of JCC) while our daughter was still at the JCC. And our experience was sub-par there compared to the JCC. I would do it all over again. Sending my kids here. I miss the warm staff, the community of parents, and being in the classroom for Shabbat singing songs with my kids and their classmates. I miss seeing my kids garden, picking tomatoes and kale with teacher Debbie. I miss seeing my kids run around on the giant grassy field playing games in the sun. I miss seeing them dance and sing during their music class. I miss the care that went into planning activities for the day. I am truly grateful to all their teachers who planned a day packed full of activities to instill ability of freedom of choice and asked thought provoking questions to instill a curious and creative mindset in my children. I love our memories from the JCC, they have a very special place in my heart. I often look back fondly at our school year book filled with images of celebration, warmth and smiles. The thing I know from being at other schools is this, in my experience the JCC is a special place, special place, being led by amazing leadership that truly love and care for their families and students. This combination is hard to come by.

Hi, fellow parents! You're trying to pick the best preschool for your kid in an area with so many…read moreexcellent options. Other parents you know have impossibly high standards and even if, when you started your search, you weren't feeling so opinionated on the color of the sheets used during nap time, here you are - at 11:55 PM on Yelp - trying to find some breadcrumb clues to help you make THE BIGGEST DECISION OF YOUR LIVES!!! AHHH! Well. First of all, there are some funky reviews on here. *Note the date.* If they are from pre-2019, there is a new director who is going to set the bar so high that you're going to hate the head of the Ivy League university your child will surely one day attend because Lauren Berman is the most personable, accountable, reliable, responsible, and forward thinking preschool director in town. Whomever was here before, fuggedaboutit. This legend of a director just pulled the school through COVID and fires and mass exodus of educators from the Bay Area and the preschool, which my oldest son just graduated from, is sparkling in the Palo Alto sun. Secondly, parents are busy. SO MANY PARENTS LOVE THIS SCHOOL and will never have the time to write a Yelp review because they should be making lunches instead. So, know that a glowing review like mine is backed up by about 100 more that will simply never get written. Why is this school so great? Your kids will be enveloped in love, in the cutest little classrooms - YES THE TOYS ARE WOODEN AND YES THEY USE LOOSE PARTS, I promise - with an edible schoolyard garden - YES YOUR KIDS WILL EAT KALE AND HOLD WORMS AND YOU WILL SEE PICTURES OF THIS THROUGHOUT THE DAY - and a dynamic duo of music teachers to bless their days. Bless. Loaded word? They learn songs and blessings and it's not going to turn your kid into a bible thumper but instead is just going to give them a routine, which kids and religions both love, so chill. ;) [respectfully, chill] - In a non-COVID year, your kids get to take swim lessons while at school because you are on the JCC campus and there is a full service pool steps away from the preschool gates! And because according to Jewish texts, it is more important for a child to learn to swim than to study the Torah. So you get to have your kid learn to swim while they're at school anyway. Amazing. - Your kids will run on a track field or play with hula hoops in the basketball gym for their PE class, passing by senior citizens who live in the apartments overlooking the plaza and are part of our community! Yes, children still see old people and haven't yet learned to ignore them! This is educational, my people. - Your kids will celebrate double the holidays they would if they weren't at a Jewish school because there is a Jewish holiday for everything, and every month practically. AND let's not underestimate the weekly holiday of Shabbat which means baking and breaking fresh bread together, offering our little humans the opportunity to sing together, to have their weekly turn in the spotlight as the Shabbat Helper and to be part of a Friday ritual that reminds us how important it is to rest and be in a community. This year, the school started doing zoom shabbats on Friday evenings and your relatives from far away can sign in and forget to mute themselves and gush over your cute child on the screen. - Your kids will be exposed to different cultures, most notably Israeli culture and, with that, Hebrew because that is interwoven in the curriculum, but also be in an environment that embraces different languages and cultures: students and staff alike come from many different backgrounds, and are not exclusively Jewish. Like Hebrew a lot? The Ulpanon immersion program is like a year abroad program but without the travel. Highly recommended (and Lital the director there is also phenomenal). - Now that I've done some name dropping, there are some legendary teachers who have been teaching for more than 9 years (some more than 20 years) so put a pause on those rumors about teacher turnover: this staff is educated, dedicated, and for the most part sticks around. New educators in the area also get a chance to work here, paired with veteran team teachers and my impression is that the administration is very supportive of staff. How do I have the credentials to even write this review? Between my two sons who are both under 5, we have been to 6 different preschools. Lemme tell you: The JCC preschool is outstanding. OUTSTANDING.

Redwood Parents Nursery School has been an absolute treasure for our family! The moment you walk…read moreonto the property, you're greeted by the most adorable, thoughtfully designed grounds--it feels like a warm, inviting environment where kids can truly play, explore, and let their imaginations run free. What truly sets the school apart, though, is the incredible staff. The teachers are nothing short of exceptional. They bring so much heart, patience, and creativity to the classroom every single day, making sure each child feels seen, valued, and encouraged. I have learned countless things from them and I am a better parent because of knowing them. Beyond the fantastic dynamic in the classroom, the sense of community here is unmatched. It's rare to find a place where parents, teachers, and staff come together so seamlessly to support one another and build lasting connections. We couldn't ask for a more nurturing, wonderful place for our children grow.

Such a warm nurturing place to be a part of and see your little one flourish. Definitely couldn't…read morebe happier to be part of the RPNS community.

As an Educational Consultant I have great confidence in Bowman School. The academics are strong…read morebut without pressure. Bowman provides such a level of individualized attention it is an excellent school for many kinds of learners. The faculty turnover is low, leading to consistency and strong relationships. The Montessori philosophy promotes learning how to learn and a passion for lifelong learning. Graduates of Bowman have a long history of success as they continue their educational journies. The year round schedule and flexibility of hours make it an ideal school for working parents.

Parents need to be prepare: this school has been expand from one campus into 4 in past few years,…read morewhich explains why tuition raised 6% - 7% each year. There will be a plan for high school expanding and ask for high donation on top of tuition raise. Good luck.

We have our 4 year old allergic son here. He has several food allergies, so we are very cautious…read moreabout leaving him with others. This is our first experience with care and we are very pleased with it. It has been two months and my son is enjoying his time here, and the teachers are communicative of events related to food. They have done special training regarding Epi pen and food allergies to ensure everyone is trained.

How can I even begin expressing my gratitude for this school? We were lucky enough to find it for…read moremy older son (pre-pandemic) and now my younger son is set to graduate from here too! It is a gem and has been in the community for generations. It's a play-based school centered around social and emotional development. Having been a part of this community for 5 years, I've seen such growth in all the kids that come through here and prepared for Kinder. I've noticed that the kids graduate here with their creativity in tact, with an insatiable appetite to learn new concepts and ideas. The teachers are nurturing and kind, but most importantly focus on conflict resolution rooted in communication and open dialogue. The kids go into the 3s and 4s every day with new projects and discover new ways to collaborate and creatively play. Lastly, it is a Co-Op which doesn't suit everyone, but I often found that as parents we set examples. And being in a Co-Op gives an opportunity to show service and volunteering to our children. I will be forever indebted.

Lack of responses for on any feedback from parents. Often have unreasonable rules and promises…read moreimprovements that never happens. There are some experienced teachers. But there are also a lot of new teachers who seemingly have no experience with childcare and don't take feedback.

The good: Location…read morein Burgess Park. Kids are regularly taken out to play in the park, or to the library for story time. Buildings are new and in good condition. Teachers are excellent and really care about kids. Reduced rates for Menlo Park residents (although this may be stopped owing to city budget constraints). The not-so-good. Because of space constraints, 3-5 year olds are all put together in one classroom. This holds back the pre-kindergarten children and stops the program from being a better preparation for kindergarten. When my 4-year-old went to another preschool she was given a much more challenging and age-appropriate curriculum. The school should try to give parents more advance notice of closures etc.