Schools in Belmont, CA

“My daughter has been at Challenge School belmont campus for 2 years. She is having fun at school everyday and loves the school and the teachers there. From day one, it's been clear that the teachers are not only dedicated but also genuinely caring and patient, which has made a world of difference for my daughter who took some time adjusting to a new environment.

The environment at Challenge School is incredibly nurturing, and it's evident that the teachers know each child individually. They go above and beyond to accommodate different needs, which has helped my daughter build confidence and feel comfortable expressing herself. The daily activities are not only fun but also educational, ranging from crafts and role-playing to planting and even making ice cream! They also had short field trips to the post office to mail their first valentine's day letter!

One of the standout features for us has been the bilingual education. In the Blueberry (2yr-old) class, the entire curriculum is in Mandarin, which has been fantastic for my daughter's language development. As she transitioned to the Strawberry (3yr-old) class, she began learning English alongside Chinese, with dedicated teachers for each language.

Beyond language skills, the school places a strong emphasis on social and emotional development. In Blueberry, the focus was on adapting to school routines and learning self-care, while in Strawberry, it shifted to teaching manners, cooperation, and empathy. It's been incredible to see my daughter grow not just academically but also in terms of her social skills and independence.

Overall, our experience with Challenge School has been overwhelmingly positive. We've watched our daughter blossom in ways we couldn't have imagined, and we owe a huge thanks to the wonderful teachers and staff who have been instrumental in her growth. If you're looking for a preschool where your child will be nurtured, challenged, and supported every step of the way, Challenge School is an excellent choice.”

“Holy Cross Preschool is amazing! My daughter loves it there and is excited to attend every day; the preschool space is spotless, the teachers and staff are very welcoming/helpful, and emphasize regular communication/parental engagement in person and via the BrightWheel app. When we met Miss Chris for the initial tour, I immediately noticed she takes her job seriously and takes pride in directing the preschool. This was important to me and one of the top decision factors for us.
Since my daughter has been enrolled, we have noticed advancements in her social, emotional, and language development. I highly recommend Holy Cross for your little one(s)!”

“This is the only co-op I've found that accommodates working parents. So many co-ops only have morning availability but Little Hands has an evening class on Wed nights with Teacher Carol that we could go to after work. I was a little bit nervous about the time commitment needed to complete the co-op requirements, but thankfully it wasn't so bad.We make Wed co-op nights our dedicated "quality family time". Now that we are wrapping up the school year, I reflect on our kid's growth and I am so thankful that we made that plunge to join Little Hands. Our kid was born during quarantine and being in isolation for so long, he was afraid of other people (even grass!). I can now say after almost a year at Little Hands, my kid has THRIVED socially. He's so confident now and approaches other kids. He is always smiling and loves to play. We also appreciate the parenting discussions because it allows us to slow down and take the time to observe our child. We also got to know other parents and realize that other parents are also going through similar struggles. It's nice not feeling like you're alone.We highly recommend this school and already signed up for another year!”

“The classes are very small and my kids enjoy going to school. At this age, the most important thing you can do for young children is to foster a love of learning and this school does just that. Both my kids are testing well above benchmark and never want to miss a day of school! The community is amazing, not pretentious and although there are not a lot of "adult" only socials, I don't mind because everything here is about the kids. This school teaches life lessons and discipline in a way that I have not seen in public schools or larger private schools. With small class sizes, the teachers are able to create learning plans that are unique to each student. They offer competitive sports starting in 4th grade (and training teams for those in K-3) and every child makes a team regardless of skill level. As a school, IHM is still getting their footing post Covid, but your suggestions are always heard. There are a lot of ways to be involved as a parent, but if you don't want to that is fine as well.As 2 of only a handful of African American students, our children have never felt discriminated against and love sharing about their heritage and culture. They are seen for who they are, rather than their race. In the 5+ years since we have attended the school, there have been some administration and staff changes, but given the exceptional community and small class sizes, I could not be happier. Your child will be well rounded and prepared for High School when they leave here in 8th grade. Our kids happiness is our happiness and IHM offers the perfect balance.”

“I have to send a shout out to BCLC. I am enrolling my third child here, and they have always done and continue to do a stellar job. My kids have always loved it here. The teachers are patient, kind, and very experienced in dealing with the children. They have had the same staff for years. The director is very responsive. Their new protocols in light of Covid-19 are quite adequate and make me feel comfortable with having my child attend. They do crafts and projects, and have lots of enrichment activities for the kids. Unfortunately for safety, some of these are on hold for the moment due to Covid-19 but I'm sure they will be back when the time is appropriate. If you're looking for serious academics, perhaps this is not the place. They do story time, and they do projects with letters but they are not going to drill your child. It's preschool, I want my kids to enjoy themselves and interact with other children. They do talk about numbers, letters and phonics but they keep it fun and light, in an age appropriate manner.”

“very nice school program and wonderful teachers.. good classmates.. awesome class environment.. everybody living around want to send their kids here eventhough quite expensive.. very hard to get in”