Schools in Millburn, NJ

“Alpine Montessori school is full of wonderful and genuine people who happen to be great teachers too! I now have two kids attending Alpine and my youngest will go there as well, I highly recommend Alpine! Here is why.Three years ago I chose Alpine Montessori for my oldest daughter for several reasons; it has a diverse student body, the staff is warm, friendly and knowledgable, the school is in a home and is very inviting, and the classrooms are clean and well organized. Alpine also has good security and I love the Montessori system and the curriculum/program that the school has developed.I could not be happier with my decision to send my oldest daughter to Alpine. She is now in the Kindergarten program and has grown so much over the last three years. My daughter is doing things in her class that I would not have thought possible three years ago (example: introduction to concepts such as fractions!).My daughter has loved all of her teachers at Alpine and I believe that those strong personal connections are what has allowed her to flourish so much.The school has been very good about moving my oldest daughter around between classes when she was ready for new challenges. She has SO much fun at school and comes home completely exhausted that she’s usually asleep by 7 pm.Alpine offers extracurricular activities (dance, music, science) which I take advantage of. This has been wonderful since driving around on the weekdays is a challenge (she has two younger sisters),I appreciate that at Alpine there are always opportunities for parents to volunteer and be involved. To sum it up, I could not be happier with our experience at Alpine. There was one moment this past fall when my daughter needed a small medical procedure and we couldn’t get her in to surgery for almost two months. Knowing that her teacher at Alpine assured me “I will take care of her as if she were my own”. I cried. I know that my daughter’s teacher meant what she said as I have seen her take care of all the kids in this manner.The owner of Alpine is also very nice and has three kids himself (they are older) so he is very easy to talk to and is always available to parents.Alpine is a wonderful school for my children and I hope you give it serious consideration for the educational and developmental needs of your child as well.”

“This school is very unique and special. The parents are encouraged to be involved so everyone benefits from a warm and inviting community. The teachers often visit schools in the city to gather ideas for the school that support their philosophy - the curriculum and style reflect inspiration from Reggio Emilia, Montessori and others. Socialization and independence are a primary focus. Each child is treated with respect as a unique person with unique strengths and weaknesses. My son just turned four and has blossomed in many ways in his first year at the co-op. He zips his own coat, puts on his own shoes, uses the potty (FINALLY) - is much more comfortable and confident around other kids and on the playground. You can schedule a visit to the school to sit-in and see the classroom in action. You should do this... you'll see what makes the school so special.”

“We love Open Door Nursery School! Our child is so happy there and so are we. The teachers are wonderful and the community is exactly what we were looking for when we moved here. So happy with our decision to join Open Door!”

“This preschool is a absolute gem; we feel so lucky to have found it! My son is currently in the 4's class (his 2nd year here) and his older sister attended as well 3 years ago. The school (which has been open in Millburn for over ONE HUNDRED years) is still set in the original Victorian house on Taylor Street. There are only 2 classes--3's and 4's--so it is super small and intimate, and because of this, a very close-knit and friendly parent community. They have an amazing playground which backs up to the Millburn community garden. The school owns 3 large plots in the garden and they include it in the curriculum. So the kids get to plant seeds (which they also use for counting & math), watch & learn about the different stages of growth throughout the seasons (science/STEM), and best of all, harvest & eat the fruits & veggies they grow! The school is very tied in with the town, including field trips to the local fire station, the local farmers market (goes with the garden curriculum), and Paper Mill Playhouse.The head teachers and assistant teachers have all been there for 15-25 years I believe, which speaks volumes about the school. They are nurturing, kind, fun, and truly great at what they do. They also make good company at the school happy hours :) The other major selling point of the school for us was the flexible hours. Kids can attend half day, half day + lunch, or full day, anywhere from once a week to 5 days- you customize the schedule. I have never seen another school offer this. This year for the first time they also offered aftercare as yet another option. And of course they have summer camp too.Between my 2 kids we have attended 4 different schools/daycares in the area, including a similar Montessori school down the street, but Neighborhood House is our absolute favorite, hands down.”

“Very well run school with great administrators and teachers. Trilingual program which is very unique. My kids have been with them since 1yr and 18M, respectively (and they’re now 2 and 4.5), and they love it. Based on what I’ve seen, the teachers put a lot of thoughts into the lesson planning even for the younger toddlers.”

“I have been working at this center for about two years and I can honestly say my experience has been amazing! Ms. Elizabeth goes above and beyond not only for us staff but for the children as well. Her open door policy makes is so much easier to go to her with any of my questions and concerns!”