Schools in Mercer Island, WA

“We moved to Washington from Hawaii in 2022 while I was 20 weeks pregnant with my third child. The first preschool that we chose for our then 3 year old was not a pleasant experience. I learned that I had to do more of my own due diligence before choosing the next school.Let me just say that I really felt like we struck gold with Pixie Hill. I am VERY grateful for the wonderful teachers (Ms Ashley, Ms Rebecca and Ms Bailey) at Pixie. It is because of them that my son has had such an enjoyable experience this last year. He asks us every day at pick up if he can stay at school longer, and even on the weekends - he looks forward to Mondays (cant say I feel the same haha).One thing that really sold me before we ever got to visit the school was the large back yard/play area, and knowing that the kiddos would be spending time outside everyday (rain or shine). The extra bonus is the location--not only is it accessible to Mercer Island families, but also convenient for families in Seattle and Bellevue.Wish we had more time at Pixie, but looking forward to when my youngest will be able to attend.”

“We have enjoyed seeing the progress our child has made from Twos to now preschool. Class size is small, so kiddos get a lot of personal attention. Currently, we like the art focus in Ms. Tammy’s room. All the teachers have been great and teachers and helpers not in class still make an effort to get to know kids in other rooms. Mercer has great community.”

“We absolutely love Little Acorn Sprouts. As first-time parents, it was incredibly difficult for us to find teachers we trusted to watch our baby girl at 12mo, especially during COVID times. But we both work and eventually decided that our daughter was too social to stay home w/ just a nanny or au pair. Fast forward one year (she's almost 2yo now), and I literally cannot say enough good things about this center.Gianna is the director and goes above and beyond for the kids in both classrooms. Natalie is the lead for Little Acorn Sprouts and as a mom herself, treats the kids like extensions of her own family. Emily is the lead for the older classroom, but has an incredibly special bond w/ our daughter and sometimes babysits for us as well. Honestly, all off the staff (Rose, Lauren, Daisy, Cheska, Nina, Alex...) from each classroom are amazing and we feel so fortunate to have found them.All of the teachers at Little Acorns (both Sprouts and the Dayschool) are communicative, professional, and go the extra mile in sharing highlights from each day at pickups. They send photos and videos throughout the day as well, which I adore (and rewatch over and over again). They teach our little ones great habits, too (sign language, to put away toys, throw away trash, wash hands before eating, etc.) and are also very diligent about filing incident reports, even when the incident is minor.During the summers, they are extremely good about applying sunscreen and making sure all of the kids are hydrated. And above all, I have to give major kudos to the teachers for helping us potty train our toddler. It would NOT have been possible to potty train our little girl before she turned 2yo w/o their commitment, patience, and encouragement!We've only had experience w/ one other daycare, but based on what my friends say living all across the country, Little Acorn Sprouts' staff really do a lot more than what most daycares provide/offer. They are intentional about bringing the kids outdoors, think of the most creative activities, and the teacher:child ratio is ~1:4 (even though the state requires 1:7 for children under 2.5yo). I think the biggest example of how they're better than your typical daycare is around potty training: they honestly guided us through the process and made it happen!I love all of the staff, but I really have to give special recognition to Gianna, Emily, and Natalie. I have come to see them as real friends and I sincerely hope they stay in our lives long after our kid(s) grow out of Little Acorn Sprouts/Dayschool!”