Schools near Dana Point, CA

“The teachers are the absolute sweetest and we feel our daughter is well loved and taken care of. She is always playing and never cries when we leave. She jumps in to the teachers arms and the teachers genuinely happy to see her. They are so kind and we love that they speak to her in a very nice and patient way”

“We just had our 2nd daughter’s Pre K graduation and it felt surreal how in a few months our family will no longer have a child there after starting 2019. We started with our oldest at 23 months old and she went to Kindergarten very well prepared academically and emotionally. She is currently thriving in a dual immersion elementary school reading to me like a librarian in Spanish. I love that she learned the tools to read at Bright Horizons but the greatest gift is her ability to make friends and enjoy school with wonderment. That will help her in so many ways. My 2nd child is very different from her big sister and I wouldn’t have it any other way. But it was great to see how the teachers in each class and the director knew how to approach them uniquely so they can feel their happiest while learning there. Kelly Vanta the director, Christi and Karla in admin and all of their amazing teachers feel like family to me. I couldn’t recommend them more! Pics below of the infamous tire swing where many core memories were made ?

- The Dandrea Family”

“My children went here for the last few years. All the teachers at this daycare are very friendly and caring about the kids, my kids had so much fun here and made lots of friends. They do lots of arts, crafts, music, reading, and have events for the parents and kids in their playground every few months. The administrators and teachers went out of their way to accommodate some unusual eating issues for one of my kids. I would recommend this daycare if you want a happy and fun environment for your kids!”

“We are so happy with our decision to enroll our child in the Guidepost Alicia Toddler Classroom under the lead of Ms. Norma, and guides Ms. Natalie and Ms. Zaira. It is a wonderful, clean atmosphere where children can learn and grow in a nurturing yet stimulating environment. The Toddler Classroom team are amazing at fostering independence, curiosity, and respect for themselves as well as others. An aspect that sets Guidepost Alicia apart from other learning establishments is that they provide a rich and immersive Spanish language experience that helps our child develop bilingual skills and cultural awareness. In addition, they welcome and are supportive of the unique cultures and customs of the various toddler's families who wish to share their traditions with others in a safe, educational, caring and respectful manner. We've been able to learn about other cultures through our toddler as well as share pieces of ours with great joy such as fruit or traditional food through the presentations that they hold and post through the parent app. It's pretty dang cool to say the least. Since being enrolled at the Guidepost Alicia community, we have seen our child flourish. We have seen how much our child has grown and thrived in this environment even throughout the not-so-great and difficult toddler behavioral moments. Guidepost Alicia's proactive and on-going feedback comes from a place of care and support; working with parents to help us navigate these times together to help ensure our approaches at-home and at school are aligned (even when it comes to wrapping our minds around potty training). Their insight and guidance is deeply valued. In addition, they listen and follow-up even to the smallest observations that you as a parent make to other members of the Guidepost Alicia family whether it's from Ms. Ariana and/or head of school, Ms. Ivana. Before you know it, they're following up and it's beautiful. Simply said, you feel that both you and your child are both seen and heard with the utmost care and warmth. Another thing we wish to add is the limited days off. As a household of two working parents this is an incredible bonus of not having to rush around to find alternative care choices or having to resort to taking a day off of work. Throughout our time at Guidepost Alicia, we've witnessed our child bring home the skills they've learned. We are confident that our child will continue to acquire the skills and values that will help them succeed in life and make a positive difference in the world. We can't recommend Guidepost Alicia enough to anyone who is looking for a high-quality and holistic education for their child and to be part of this special community.”

“I came to Kristin when I was a little girl. I learned so much in her preschool; Spanish, presidents and all of the states. When I was graduating from high school I came back to work for Kristin and teach. This preschool has always been such a fun learning environment and a great experience for the children to interact with each other. Kristin has such a kind heart and is always coming up with new, fun activities for her preschoolers. I highly recommend Preschool of Aliso Viejo!”

“My son started at this facility and I am now raving about it to all of the Mamas I meet who are looking for childcare! I seriously can’t say enough great things about it. His teacher, Miss Mayra, was born to be a toddler teacher. She is extremely kind, gentle, and has made this transition enjoyable for our family. I rarely trust anyone fully, and she has earned my trust (which is saying a ton!) Miss Katy and the rest of the staff members are awesome as well. I feel so fortunate that we found childcare we feel great about.”

“This review is long overdue! Christ Community Preschool has been one of the biggest blessings for our family over the last few years. This sweet, family-oriented preschool is filled with staff members who love Jesus and exude that Christ-centered love for our children daily. In the past two years, our oldest son has not only grown incredibly academically, but he has grown in emotional and spiritual maturity. He wakes up every morning excited to get ready for school! The directors and teachers are always visible and available, making the communication between the staff and parents exceptional. We are not only able to chat in person if needed at pick-up, but the use of the Playground app and daily picture updates makes it easy to stay in the loop of what is going on each day at school. The closed campus is safe and secure, and because of the smaller nature of CCP, it feels like my son is not only seen and known by his teachers but by the entire preschool staff. Thank you, Christ Community Preschool, for creating a safe, nurturing, and loving environment for our son!”

“The Goddard School in Ladera Ranch has been a great asset in the development and growth of our son. He was very shy and needed speech therapy support to express himself. However since joining the Goddard School, he has become more extrovert and he can talk without any issues. We noticed his blossoming very quickly. The teachers are all great and they have been a very helpful factor in the development of our son. The administration is very helpful and friendly.”

“We love this preschool! They have the most incredible outdoor setup with tons of new play areas out there every day. The teachers are so nurturing to our kiddos, and the families and students are so friendly. I looked at many preschools before enrolling, and we couldn’t be happier with our decision to send our kids here.”

“We highly recommend VanDamme Academy to families who value Classical learning in a child-centric environment.In a world that is increasingly stressful to children in every aspect of their lives, VanDamme Academy offers a safe haven of unplugged, but highly connected learning. Little to no homework, focused daily classroom learning, and an environment of mutual respect, kindness and inspiration – these are the hallmarks of this incredible program.Because the school focuses on eliciting critical and collaborative thinking, students internalize material, rather than memorize and forget it. School time is used efficiently so teachers do not rely on homework (and parents) to bolster learning. How is this done? Simply: classes are small, teachers are passionate about their area of expertise, and the material itself is incredibly interesting and engaging to students. Add to that expectations of mutual respect, politeness, kindness, and excitement for learning and it’s easy to see why the model works.Our daughter looks forward to school each and every day!”

“My son attended this school and we had such a wonderful experience. He loved going. The school is very organic and hands on. They even have animals and birds! We chose it because the curriculum not only focuses on traditional academic learning, but also has a strong emphasis on creativity and character building. I highly recommend Gratitude Garden to everyone I know.”

“We had a rocky start with our twins, but the staff took our concerns seriously, listened to us and made sure we felt safe and comfortable leaving our babies in their care. The staff really makes all the difference and all the teachers were so responsive to the twins and us. We are so grateful to everyone there for being part of our village!”

“We enrolled our 3 year old at SCDC at the start of the year and are extremely happy with the choice. We visited a ton of local options before deciding on SCDC. We specifically wanted a play-based school with lots of outdoor time and SCDC checked all our boxes. The kiddos get a ton of outdoor time, the teachers are amazing, and the administrative staff do an excellent job. Our little guy never wants to leave when we come to pick him up at the end of the day. A huge thanks to all the staff at SCDC for making it such a special place!”

“Niguel children's center provides the best program for preschool. Our son loves going to this school! He talks about his teachers all the time. He learned a lot of things (sharing toys, cleaning up the mess, academic, arts). Our son's teacher is seriously the best, she has years of experience. She is so patient with our son, who can be stubborn at times. I highly recommend this school. And the price is also reasonable compare to others.”

“Little Big Preschool welcomed us in with a warm embrace, at a time when I needed a preschool for my son to transition into. It offered a wholesome environment for my 4-year-old son that offered curriculum to help nurture his eagerness to learn.Miss Sarah was kind enough to take my son in, even when her class was near-capacity. Miss Sarah radiates cheerfulness and fun! Her unwavering love and patience for her students leave something to be admired. I am so grateful to her for being the beacon of light that paved the path to my son’s love for school.We’ve moved on to kindergarten, yet we left Little Big Preschool with long-lasting friendships and forever play dates.I would recommend Miss Sarah’s class to anyone who is looking to socialize their little ones, learn new things, and have fun while doing it.”

“My child has been at Manzanita two years and this is a review of the manzanita campus. This review is based on actual attendance (unlike a few negative reviews that seem to have only gone on a tour). We have loved every minute of her time at school there. Her teachers are amazing and she goes to school excited every day to learn. She has been there for pre-K and Kindergarten. Academically she has been reading above grade level and reads for fun at home. She loves math and is enthusiastic about counting by 5/10/20s, doing addition and subtraction. I had been hesitant initially because I heard through the grapevine that Annaliese students aren't as strong academically but she reads better than her older cousins and with more enthusiasm. She also sings and talks in multiple languages which has given her an enthusiasm and context for learning more about other countries and languages. She also comes home and loves to draw and create things. I love that they don't use electronics (she gets enough of that elsewhere) and the campus is MAGICAL. She spends her time surrounded by greenery which has been shown to lower stress and boost neurological development. On the emotional side, my previously perfectionist child now will say to me "we all make mistakes" and is more process oriented, focusing on working hard and achieving through effort. They learn a lot about working together and contributing to society and this has so many amazing downstream effects at home, including better sharing and improved delayed gratification. Finally the food. My child was a picky eater but has opened up her eating which I attribute so much the Anneliese. They all sit down together and eat, as opposed to having combined recess and lunch time (and not eating at all). She comes home asking for salad and potato leek soup and lots of things I'm not sure she would try otherwise. Plus I don't have to make lunch.Also a note about her teachers - some have been there long enough to have taught two generations we have been so lucky to have them. They are engaged and responsive to parental emails/calls. Mr. John who is the head administrator is a great teacher and incredibly organized and engaged. Would love it if manzanita went through grade 6!!”

“My son is a transfer from a previous Montessori school. If you are busy working mom or a tired stay at home mom you will find drop offs and pick ups convenient and less stressful here. I find everyone at school humble and friendly. My son is more social and content because he is finally getting that stimulation and support from his little peers and teachers. I recommend this school because the overall vibe at this place is warm which is very important for littles. Staff at school is spending time to get to know my son and providing me with feedbacks on his day to day. My son is currently enjoying Summer program and continuing in the Fall here at Kensington. If you are looking for a place to have your child socially and academically grow then this is a perfect place for you. I also find weekly schedules from his teachers very helpful so that I can tell my son what to expect ahead of time. Although it is a bit of a commute for my son and I, we don't regret transferring to this school.”

“My oldest son was having a difficult time adjusting to kindercare but Ms. Ashley would go out of her way time and time again to make him feel comfortable and welcome him. When he would come home, he'd talk about playing with Ms Ashley and how much fun they had. She had a way of making him feel special even when she has a room full of others to watch and take care of. Ms. Ashley even gave him stickers to take home once and that's all he would talk about for a few days. Ms Ashley was truly there because she cares about the kids and their development.”

“We have had a great experience so far enrolling my 2 and 4 year olds here.

Friendly and warm staff; the director Shannon seems engaged and highly competent! Our kids are happy at this early childhood learning center. There is plenty of room to play inside and out. It is reasonably priced.

Edited after being enrolled for coming on two months:

The assistant director will usually greet us when we drop off but doesn’t seem really enthusiastic. Yesterday I tried to bring my daughter in and the assistant director sat there at her desk and watched me struggle to get her into the school, proceeded to check my daughter in the app (as well as my son who wasn’t even there) and then watched us leave in frustration. The director eventually noticed they were not there and checked them out.”

“I did Gymboree 30 years ago with my daughter and wanted to give it a try with my one year-old grandson. After six months, I am so pleased to see the growth in large motor skills, music and socialization. The instructor, Mr Ryan, is wonderful and gives advice to assist with speech, motor development, and confidence. At the end of class there are bubbles and parachute time. Mr Ryan also plays the guitar for a cute song/dance experience.”

“We enrolled our daughter when she was 5.5 month old (3 adjusted) from June 2021, she was there just under a year (left in April 2022) and we couldn't have found a better child care center. Having the app to monitor what she was eating, when she was sleeping and most importantly getting photo updates was amazing! The teachers and directors were amazing and you can tell truly care for the kids. We loved their themed days and activities they did throughout the year. The only reason we left was because we moved from the area but I cannot recommend this location enough. We definitely miss being apart of the KinderCare family!”

“So grateful to be at this school since kindergarten...invested, caring teachers who emphasize 21st century skills and project-based learning. Conscientious members of the community and world, too.”

“Ownership is invested in children and families at Goddard. The facility is cleaned every day and is safe. The curriculum is good. All Early Education goes through challenges since it is a difficult business to operate and we have experienced alternative schools in the past. We came to Goddard because of the key items listed above which I believe has allowed the school to prosper.”