Piper Preschool

Most Recent Comments

• October 2022 by Karin C.
  Our toddler absolutely LOVES coming to school 3 mornings a week for the 2s program (Poppies/ Transitional Preschool). The teachers are nurturing and amazing. Our daughter comes home talking about lead teacher Miss Stacy nonstop. The classrooms and outdoor area are top notch and spacious with everything a young child needs to imagine, learn, and play. The outdoor area includes a bubbling stream for littles to play with water, multiple sandboxes, chalkboard, art area and a climbing/play structure. The spacious building includes a parent's lounge on the third floor which is extremely convenient for working parents. All the families we have met are extremely down to earth, fun and wonderful to spend time with which makes the experience even better. The administration is very organized. Helen in admissions has been a dream to work with. When I walk in and out of the building, the director Jen says goodbye to my child by name - she has somehow memorized the names of all the children in the first couple weeks of school! Wow.
• May 2022 by Christian P.
  I would definitely select 0 stars. This preschool is an absolute disappointmen!! do not send your little one to the Orange County location! I was so excited about this school so I registered for the parent toddler class to get a head start to be part of the "piper family" and was so disappointed in every aspect of this class. First off my son is almost 3 and this class is not geared for his age but before signing up I asked if my son would be the right age and they assured me yes to get my $250 locked in. I went to one class which was held at pretend city in a break room that is stuffy, dark, and a dirty room with a fridge and lots of cupboard and drawers. They offered absolutely nothing for the children either. One table with yellow paint and some sponges next to a dirty towel to wipe off with. and some wooden blocks. I never returned to this depressing dirty room and called Piper to get a refund since I wasn't going to continue. RANDY was not willing to do so as she said it's in the policy they never refund. But would give me a credit Of $150 towards preschool (This class was $250). It has been the worst experience. Learn from my experience please!
• March 2022 by Jen M.
  Piper is a magical place. When searching for a preschool- I fell in love with the teachers, admin, esthetic of the school, the yard.... Everything. I'm so glad we found Piper. My son started as a Poppy, so he has spent 4 years at Piper. My daughter is on her 2nd year. I also have done the parenting program, which is wonderful- my kids LOVED music with Mr. Parker and Muck it Up. The bluebell (Pre-K program) is phenomenal. The kids learn about different cultures and countries every month and they actually travel to different classrooms to learn different topics from different teachers. Jen S and the Admin team also work closely with you on the Kindergarten app process, which is invaluable. They were so helpful. My kids beg to go to school in the mornings- what else could you ask for? The love and care that the teachers and admin put into the classrooms and program is beyond compare. As a parent, I have made so many great friends. The families they select are interesting and fun. I can't say enough about Piper.
• March 2022 by Tom H.
  It's been more than four years since our daughter started Parent and Me classes at Piper Preschool in Santa Monica, and we have loved every minute of our time there. We had never heard of the school until my wife attended a preschool fair and met the incredible admissions director, Helen Shoenfeld. After speaking with Helen, my wife was interested in attending the upcoming open house. I was hemming and hawing. I had come up with all sorts of silly reasons why it was a bad choice like it was too far from our home (turned out to be a 12 minute drive), or there would probably be limited parking (almost always find a spot immediately). Begrudgingly, I attended the open house with her. As we entered the campus, I loved what I saw: a small sports field, a garden area with a little stage, and a beautiful, shaded play area with a babbling creek. My furrowed brow relaxed and I started thinking...maybe my wife was on to something. As we continued our tour, I noticed how each classroom felt so homey and comfy. There were lots of books and toys, and great nooks where the kids could curl up if they needed some alone time. The teachers we met were so welcoming. I loved hearing them each speak about the Piper philosophy and the focus of each of the four grade levels. I was getting really excited. Piper was most definitely a special school, and now the petty concerns I had were gone. We signed up for Parent and Me classes and a messy art class. Both were an excellent introduction to the school, and a great way for the school to get to know our family better. It was also a great opportunity to meet other families who might be part of our lives for the next four years. We are so thankful and fortunate to have spent these past years at Piper. Our daughter has had some real behavioral struggles. At one point, we really thought she would be asked to leave the school. Instead, the Piper administration and teachers doubled down on helping our daughter. Rather than tell us she was not welcome, they embraced us and leaned into it. We met with them and they told us, "Let's figure this out as a team." And that's exactly what they did. With their help, we put together an amazing team of professionals who have been able to help our daughter thrive. The teachers have had ongoing conversations with our daughter's therapists, and numerous Zoom calls with me and my wife. Because of this support, our concern two years ago that she might need to be homeschooled, possibly indefinitely, have been replaced with excitement for her next academic adventure...kindergarten!! I can't emphasize enough how instrumental Piper Preschool was in our daughter's 180 degree turn and current success at school. Her time at Piper will end this summer, and I am already having big feelings. I hope every parent is fortunate enough to find a school like Piper. It has changed our lives in such wonderful ways, and we have made friends for life.
• August 2021 by Jen T.
  Let me preface this by saying THE TEACHERS ARE AMAZING. Hands down, excellent teachers. Love them. The admins? Not so much. When Covid hit, we lost everything as all my income was made from in person events. I begged for any kind of refund to no avail. Not only that, we had signed up for after school classes that never got a chance to start so I asked for refund so I could literally pay rent and buy groceries. They ignored all my emails. The extra classes included tumbling, which I said we cannot do because we had a one bedroom apartment. My 3.5 year old son never once logged on to any of the zooms- neither the regular curriculum nor the after school classes. It was the complete disregard that got me. Do better, Piper.
• February 2021 by Susan P.
  Seems clean and nice. The teacher Melissa who gave me a tour was sweet. I like the outdoor area for the kids.
• January 2021 by Annie C.
  Unfortunately, I have to give them 2 stars. I wish someone had warned me about this school before I sent my child there. The school prides themselves on being innovative, child centric and providing the right mix of academics and play. First of all half of the mothers are horrid here. They are stuck up and only talk about how much money their husbands make. They are very clique and will do anything at all costs to guard their status. Even if they weren't the way they are the management does little to accommodate the unique needs of children. They will gladly take your money and then tell you that you are the problem. I've heard from several other families that if your child has any to all personality they will not fit in. It's sad to have to write this review but they fall far from their advisement of being an elite preschool. The staff is not very qualified to be handling pre schoolers.
• December 2020 by Ashley M.
  My daughter is in her second year at Piper, and I must say, it is a magical place! The teachers are dedicated and available at a moment's notice if I have questions or need advice about how to handle challenging toddler behaviors. I enjoy the weekly updates with classroom happenings, and I can see why my daughter loves going to school every day. I mean... how lucky is she to have a creek at the Piper playground? When COVID precipitated the transition to remote learning, the Piper team worked tirelessly to provide the best possible experience for our kids. The teachers spent hours recording videos with fun activities, hosted opening circles each day, prepared care packages with supplies... I was so impressed by their efforts! I also learned a bit along the way, and am grateful for creative ideas that made me a better mom during those challenging weeks of lockdown. My daughter has been back on campus since August, and we feel incredibly safe with the protocols that Piper has in place. I long for the days when we can have in-person gatherings with other families again, as Piper does an exceptional job at fostering community!
• December 2020 by Jeremy D.
  Piper has had a profoundly positive impact on my family, my daughter and my entire introduction into educating my first child. We started in parent development and went all the way through for 3 years. The facility, the staff, the administration has been absolutely incredible including nurturing gifted skills in our daughter above normal classroom work. During the pandemic they were an anchor during a very chaotic period and helped offset and mitigate the impact of the virus. My daughter is back in school, she is learning, thriving and growing. I feel safe and eternally grateful to be a part of this community during such uncertain times. Outside of our home, Piper is the place my daughter loves and looks forward to the most in the world. It is a second home for her and a permanent community for me. Our whole family has built friendships we will surely keep for years to come, if not lifetimes. This is the place to nurture your child, this is the first stepping stone to developing an incredible human.
• March 2018 by Alba Brooks
  My kids went to Piper and still talk about it. We were one of the first families to go there and loved it very much. The teachers are very nice and the whole staff greets the kids with smiles and hugs. It is a great place, my kids talk about all the things they learned, the other day my daughter mentioned the field trip she went on to a museum, and I was surprised to hear all the things she learned, it is hard to believe that it is a preschool because she learned a lot, my son did too. We also met great families and Hellen and everyone is very nice.
• November 2017 by Mon M.
  My daughter attended Piper preschool for about five weeks. I regret sending her to Piper more than anything I have done as a parent to this day. We started having trouble getting her to school everyday. I emailed the teachers and discussed with the teacher at school the problem that she was having with another classmate ( getting bullied). I could not ignore my child when she told me she did not feel safe going school ( things like "I am scared"). My 3 yr old who was ones outgoing and loved going to preschool no longer wanted to go to "that preschool". She is now suddenly withdrawn, fearful and clingy and has nightmares. After I decided to pull her out and ask for my 2,500.00 Deposit back from Chrystal, she refused. She would rather argue about money and her supposed lack of negligence. Moreover, out of the 3 people taking care of my child only one had a college degree. She argued with me extensively, how one was one credit away from a minor and the other one one credit away from a masters. The other teacher was now just "enrolled in school."The fact is that only one person that took care of my kid had bachelor degree --today --right now while I am writing this review. In addition, she blamed me because the Dad was the one who talked to the teachers in person about the bulling and not me. Finally,the school will hit you up from day one with their weird party books and fundraising ( "can you serve wine so that we can make more money at a kid party" ) which is what she cares about most money. Not those children she is paid to protect and take care of. If you have a child at Piper right now ask yourself. Are they having behavior problems? Do they like to go to school? Could it be the school is just no good.
• October 2017 by Alba C.
  My kids went to Piper and still talk about it. We were one of the first families to go there and loved it very much. The teachers are very nice and the whole staff greets the kids with smiles and hugs. It is a great place, my kids talk about all the things they learned, the other day my daughter mentioned the field trip she went on to a museum and I was surprised to hear all the things she learned and it is hard to believe that it is a preschool because she learned a lot, my son did too. We also met great families and Hellen and everyone is very nice.
• March 2016 by Ashley D.
  We love Piper! It has rescued me from parental disillusionment. It has made me a better mom. Because it has made my children happy. My two youngest little girls have been clingy with our bicoastal life. We tried a co-op thinking having me or hubs around would help, but I couldn't keep up with the duties while running a company, and the girls loathed going; the wailing and clutching metal poles kind of loathing. Beloved friends were always singing Piper's praises. Why did I not walk in sooner? It. Is. A. Wonderland. For everyone. The older of my two at Piper, though curious and lovely, has never taken to school or anything intimating traditional learning. She's a homebody. By the end of week one, she was high-fiving the teachers she first flinched away from, and was asking me to teach her to read. What?!! Yes. And. Yes. But there is more. Our dinner table is thick with conversation about their lessons on "habitats", Mr. Chris's latest genius on how to do a more conscientious craft, and ordinances on diffusing conflict, and they don't stop singing Piper-taught songs while doing their mini-chores. They are happy. Whimsical. Kid-kids. Like maybe we were once. It is my favorite new truism: the right preschool can buy domestic joy. If that's not miracle enough, my youngest daughter transitioned in 5 minutes. She was like, bye mommy! See you later! And she never looked back. After my initial paralysis at this impossible ease, I went upstairs for parent preschool--bagels and brew (another fabulous perk)--and cried with relief. I have not stopped feeling this rare, wondrous relief that my kids are safe, more than being watched and aggregated socially, more than wandering about in amorphous free-play. They are being taught. They are being nurtured. They are being creatively ordered. Their very souls are happier and more rooted. And I have FIVE happy hours a day for me: to work, to stare, to sneak off to a movie with my husband, and relish my darlings from afar. I return a new, vigorous human in suspense. What new discovery, brilliant art concoction, world history lesson will they joyfully, feverishly stammer on about today? Yes. We are now those strange proselytizers confirming that Piper lives up to more than artsy hype. The staff. The teachers. All amazing. The love and support give me hope, we can survive beyond Piper. I think. Bottom-line: Piper is a boon for anyone within neighborly range of our family. Happy kids. Happy parents. Happy home. Happy hood. Priceless.
• February 2016 by Serena P.
  I really enjoyed the parenting program class we were a part of in the Spring, it was great support for parents and for kids just at the age where they are learning to socialize. We also really enjoyed the class offerings and I think they are unique and very-well developed and taught (we took messy art). My child did grow from this experience. It was a little too big for our child personally, and I felt that he was on the shy side and might feel overwhelmed there, but that is more about a kid's temperament and needs to be factored into any pre-school decision. It is expensive, but if you look at the facilities you can see why. I can't speak to the quality of pre-school teaching, the parenting program teacher was (in my opinion) ok. I will say we applied to the pre-school program and we got the impression they were not able to accommodate us (or didn't feel we were a fit for them), the only issue being that their decision was never actively communicated to us (after paying an application fee).
• December 2014 by Mom A.
  We absolutely LOVE Piper. We moved our 3.5 yr old from another preschool and the difference is night and day. Crystal, Jesse, the entire administrative staff and all of the teachers are amazing. My son had separation anxiety and all he did at his old school was watch the clock and wait for us, crying on and off. As soon as we got to Piper they came up with a plan and within a few weeks my son was thrilled to go to school. The level of personal attention was incredible. Now he insists on going for early drop off because he loves school so much. What child could resist the outdoor creek, hands-on art studio and music class? It's the perfect mix of structure and free play, emergent curriculum and traditional education. They teach everything from ABC's to manners in a fun and engaging way. Say any word and my 3 year old can sound it out and tell you what letter the word starts with, and he never forgets to say please and thank you. Most importantly he has a huge smile on his face the entire time. The facility is gorgeous and between the welcoming staff and the warm environment, your entire family will feel right at home. We feel so lucky to have found Piper and can't wait to start all over again with our baby in the parenting classes.