Schools near Lake Balboa, CA

“Both my girls graduated from Harmon Oaks after each having attended the full 4 years. We could not have asked for a better preschool expereince. Not only were my girls extremely well prepared for kindergarten, they approach learning with such enthusiasm. They are kind and empathetic little people and going to Harmon Oaks had a trememdous positive impact on their development. We were so sad to leave, my youngest asked just today to write a letter to her last teacher which is why I was reminded to write this review. Harmon Oaks will always have a special place in our hearts.”

“Quality daycare in the Valley! Every time I pick up my child it is clear they had an amazing time. We enjoy the pictures and updates throughout the day. I feel very comfortable with the staff. There is a sense of community and the birthday parties, picture days, and art projects make it feel special”

“Our son attended My Lastochka for almost 2.5 years, and we could not be happier with this experience. This daycare center is truly wonderful — the teachers are caring, attentive, and very professional. Every child is surrounded by love and thoughtful guidance, creating safe and nurturing environment.
We always knew that our son was in good hands, not only learning and developing new skills, but also growing up in an atmosphere of kindness and respect. We are deeply grateful to the whole team at My Lastochka for their dedication and heartfelt work - Anna, Irina, Alina, Amuna and others. It has been an important and beautiful chapter in our child’s life!
Amazing daycare! Highly recommend!”

“The staff at The Boulevard is so warm and welcoming. They helped this anxious mom transition my 2 year old boy to start school smoothly with very little tears from both of us! He loves showing off his art work when I pick him up from school. His language and social skills have improved so much since the start of the year. I’m so proud of him and so happy for him to attend The Boulevard!”

“I can’t thank enough for the programs that has offered by the preschool. My 2 children had attended over 20 years ago, and everything that they had learned was Worth it! God bless their staffs!!”

“We Love Love Love Little Treehouse Academy! My daughter started in May 2024 and at first was very shy and scared. The staff did the absolute best to reassure her and myself she was safe and taken care of. A year later, she now looks forward to school everyday and come home to tell me all about it!
Every morning when I drop off my daughter, every single staff has a smile on their face and even at the end of the day, which lets me know they really do love their job.
Ms. Anna is the best at organizing activities for the kids including a petting Zoo, water play in the summer, music classes, yoga, and other very fun activities that my daughter loves to participate in.
Ms. Nadia goes above and beyond for her students and I know this because when my daughter was having trouble at nap time, she came home to tell me that Ms. Nadia sat next to her and rubbed her back to help her go to sleep.
We love the healthy foods they provide at breakfast, lunch and early dinner. I think the best thing about LTA is that it’s a multicultural school which exposes the kids to different ethnicities and languages to start them early at navigating the world around them. We will be very sad when it is graduation time but very very grateful for the time and bonds that took place. Thank you Little Treehouse Academy!”

“Great school! Teachers and the entire faculty show their commitment and passion in providing a supportive, and engaging learning environment for all the students. The school community makes us feel valued, and supported as members of the Our Lady of Peace family! Thank you for all you do!”

“My son started at 2 years old and he LOVES it. The teachers and all the staff are so gentle, fun, and overall incredible teachers. The daily activities are so fun and educational. My son is almost 4, going into a new class there and we can't wait. He asks to go to school on the weekends he loves his teachers and friends so much. It's great having a school where I can send my son and have complete peace of mind. Also to mention, the parents here are also incredible! The fundraising events are absolutely stellar and fun for both the parents and kids while raising money for the school. Can't beat this community! So grateful for SOPNS!”

“Crestwood is SPECIAL! In a city full of pre schools, most of which are great, non stood out to us like Crestwood. Our now 9-year-old daughter started there just before Covid. Her experience was not typical because of the pandemic but the teachers and director took the initiative to make it work and work well. The school went digital for just a few weeks and then had a plan to bring everyone back. Most of Crestwood is outdoors, which was such a advantage to us while all of this was happening (and really at all other times).
Kids and teachers went back with masks, and it was like any other time at Crestwood, just amazing! The kids didn’t mind the masks, and it was just the new norm for the next year+.
Crestwood is a Co-op where parents volunteer once a month and I have to admit was not sure I would be able to do at first but by the time our daughter graduated I could get enough, so much that I was concerned at her next school I would not be allowed to volunteer as much as I wanted to, which turned out to not be the case…
Once we had our son (who is there now), we had our daughter enrolled at her current school in the complete opposite direction, but knew we wanted him to have the same experience she did at Crestwood. Convince was never part of our consideration, it just had to be Crestwood!
He loves it there as much as our daughter did and now we are back at what we feel is our second home and our community.
The teachers and director are truly the best of the best at their careers, and they love these children as if they are their own.
Any opportunity that our 9 year old has to go back to Crestwood when she is off of school she jumps at, and still can’t get enough.
I truly believe there is no better pre-school, and no better teachers or school director anywhere on earth. It’s just amazing!”

“Both of my kiddos attended this preschool for two years each, and we always felt they were safe and cared for. The director and teachers were attentive and responsive to the kiddos and their needs. Both kids learned to write their names at just 3 years old, had homework that prepared them well for elementary school, and even got to help with a garden project that is still going strong! It was also reasonably priced, and overall we had a positive experience with the nurturing environment.”

“A wonderful experience for my children and I. The Director and teachers are all warm and open to communication. It feels safe, friendly, educational and my kids still ask to go back. The summer program was full of fun activities and we still have some keepsake crafts from that summer. Love this school and highly recommend it!”

“My daughter has been attending this school for 2 years now. The teachers there aren't your average teachers they are truly passionate in educating and caring for these young minds. My daughter loves the school and her teachers!
Thank you Kids Town!!”

“We couldn't be happier with our experience at Beginnings Learning Center! From the very beginning, the teachers and staff have been incredibly kind, patient, and nurturing. Our son has come to love it and looks forward to going everyday.

The environment is safe, clean, and welcoming, with a perfect balance of play and structured learning. We've seen so much growth in our son's social skills, confidence, and creativity. Furthermore, we appreciate the regular updates and photos as well as all the fun activities the school plans for the kids!

What we love most is the genuine care the staff shows for each child--they treat them like family. We have had the pleasure of having him in Ms. Azo and Ms. Evelyn's class last year and now in Ms. Lina and Ms. Fabi's. It's comforting to know our child is in such capable and loving hands and we love seeing the growth in our son daily. We highly recommend Beginnings Learning Center to any parent looking for a positive and enriching early education experience!”

“I just want to say how incredibly grateful we are for St. Mary School and their amazing summer camp. My kids absolutely loved it—they enjoyed every moment and came home happy and excited each day. It was clear they were not only having fun but also learning and growing in a positive, faith-based environment.

We truly feel blessed to be part of a school that follows God’s guidance in everything they do. The values, care, and love shown by the staff made a big impact on our family.

We will definitely be bringing our kids back every summer, and I wholeheartedly recommend this camp to any parent looking for a joyful, meaningful, and well-run summer experience for their children.

Thank you, St. Mary School, for everything!”

“Our granddaughter has attended A Mother Goose Academy for 2.5 years and we’ve been quite impressed with the school. The teachers and staff are warm, caring, and talented. They have nurtured our student to be excited about learning and her academic development is thrilling to observe. Both campuses are stimulating and safe. The curriculum is creative and engaging. Our family has been quite pleased by this school and highly recommend A Mother Goose Academy to prospective families.”

“A lot has changed since my daughter went here. I'm hoping the new Assistant principal Mr. P kicks things into gear. Just not the same. The school has a different vibe. Seems like the school is losing a lot of programs I'm glad Mr. Harwell is there to keep the kids in line. Educators are well prepared for the most part. In my opinion, the archdiocese should save its money and put it towards the school for renovations and other programs instead of wasting it on a president...Why would the school need a President if they have a principal? School dances are almost non existent! Hopefully things will begin to turn around.”

“Weekday Preschool is one of kind! Our son and daughter are always so excited to attend school. Both of our children loved their teachers.

Our son attended the Orange door with Mrs. Rachna and Mrs. Melissa. The teachers nurtured his interests, cared about his development, and engaged him in learning through play. Both his teachers are great at what they do.

Our daughter attended the Hand and Hand program with Mrs. Erin. Her teacher taught the students how to follow a routine that in my opinion gets them ready for preschool. They played yet also learned to sit through circle time, and do little art projects. Our little one learned so much this past school year.”

“My daughter went to Fountain Day School for one year when she was 3 years old, and I highly recommend this school. The teachers and staff were fun and caring, and my daughter learned a lot including starting phonics exercises and her alphabets. Their full-day curriculum includes great quality hot lunch for the kids, which made our lives as working parents so much more manageable. They have an enclosed pool in which the kids learn water safety and swimming year-round (to my knowledge, no other pre-school in the area offers this). By the end of the school year, my 3 year old daughter was swimming across the entire pool without help. The parent community was also great and I still stay in touch with many after moving onto a different school.”

“Little Learners deserves more than 5 stars! My 2 year old son loves to come to school here, he happily knocks on the front door every morning! They provide lunch & snacks as well as dance class every Wednesday & fun activities fridays!

I love how my son has learned to communicate more since coming here!

The facility is very clean & organized!

Teachers are amazing & you can tell they love what they do :)

As for ms.shazna she is for the children! She makes fun activities for the children and makes sure there learning & having fun while they do it!”

“We spent a total of 2 years at Inspire learning center. Overall it was a great experience we really loved and appreciated the teachers! Safety was a priority and when incidents occurred we were contacted via phone or through the app. Some challenges for us a parents were the hours and the frequent days off from school.”

“Choosing the right school for your child is like throwing a stone into a pond; the effects will “ripple” through the rest of their lifetime. That’s why it’s important to make a good decision for elementary school, as it will affect their choices for middle school, high school, and college.

When we visited the Kirk School in Reseda for the first time, we knew we had found the right place for our daughter to spend her formative years. Now, with our daughter on the cusp of graduation, she is well-prepared and ready to take on middle school and beyond.

Kirk is not your average elementary school. From our very first one-on-one tour with the principal, we could see that Kirk provided a safe and nurturing environment for kids, with teachers who were invested in the total well-being and growth of the students. We were especially taken with the Kindergarten class that had four teachers and vibrant, engaged kids who were hanging on to the teachers’ every word.

From the first class bell to the end-of-day dismissal, kids have classes in a variety of subjects, including math, science, English, art, tech, and music, led by caring, committed teachers who go above and beyond to give kids a special experience. Our daughter loves learning and has thrived at Kirk, and we have the Kirk teachers to thank for instilling that in her.

The positive experiences are not just limited to the classrooms. With special school-wide holiday events, after-school extracurriculars, and monthly award assemblies, kids thrive here and exceed expectations with their growth mindset. As our daughter prepares to move on to middle school, we are beyond thrilled with her growth and thankful that we made this decision way back before Kindergarten.

Definitely take the tour yourself and see why Kirk is such a special place. Kirk has so much to offer, and you will be setting up your child well for the rest of their life.”

“I have three sons, all whom attended Devonshire preschool and infant care through the last seven years. My youngest is about to complete his preschool work and set to start kindergarten soon. The staff have been incredibly helpful in his development like they did for my older kids. The staff is open and trustworthy and open working with each kid. We're going to miss them all especially Ms. Cynthia. She has been great preschool teacher to my youngest and has helped build a solid foundation for my kids to start kindergarten. We are very grateful for all of their help with our kids.”

“I can’t say enough positive things about Petite School House! The staff, teachers, everyone made my child’s transition to preschool so much easier from day one. As a parent, I was nervous as my kid was spreading her wings. But once I saw how the teachers accepted my daughter with open arms, I was relived. Every single teacher in the school was deeply invested in my child’s growth and well-being. My daughter came home everyday learning something new. The Director, Mrs. Salmeena, creates an environment for every kid to feel safe and thrive. She genuinely loves each and every one of the kids. And not to mention the food served to the kids is healthy and a great variety. Takes yet another burden off the mom’s plate to prepare lunches, and my kid came home full and satisfied. Overall, this school was an important and great step is starting my daughter’s schooling journey.”

“Inspiring and dynamic clergy, warm and devoted members, fabulous religious and Hebrew school that the kids love, excellent adult education programming, and I appreciate their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and welcoming everyone.”

“Had my daughter here for almost a year, and honestly, it’s def a great school. My daughter is 3, and they challenged her and put her in a 4 year old program, which was amazing because she’s so advanced now in comparison to her friends her age. I’m so proud at how patient the teachers are, the only thing i didn’t like is the cash payments for food but everything was was great!”

“Beautiful, nurturing, magical little school! My son has been here for 2 years. The teachers are all excellent and dedicated to every aspect of a child’s education, growth and social progress. I have spent a lot of time volunteering during the school day and have personally witnessed all aspects of this wonderful little school. The lessons range from geography, science and world cultures to just to mention a few. Everything is hands on teaching and experiences. Math and language are taught through Montessori materials that make these important concepts visual and concrete. The school Director, Vanessa, is also the Art teacher and wow! Your children will be creating some incredible, beautiful projects to treasure forever. My son starts Kindergarten in the fall. We will miss this school so much! I’m so happy he experienced pre-school at Greenleaf. It was the best decision we made for this tender chapter of his life. We will always cherish this time. Do not hesitate with this school. Schedule a tour and get to know Greenleaf!”

“Our two kids have attended Achievers for over a year, and we couldn't be happier. I was a preschool teacher in LA for years and know a good program when I see one. The teachers are patient and kind but know how to challenge kids. An on-site chef makes a hot breakfast and lunch daily, and they get healthy snacks. The director, Priscilla, is organized, attentive, and calm under pressure. There are always floater teachers who can offer extra support. Every class has its own enclosed and shaded playground with like-new apparatus and equipment. They have a dedicated parking lot! I could go on.

It's more than full-time care at an affordable price; it's a supportive environment where your kid can grow and make friends.”

“Both my children began WeVillage from the time they were babies. My youngest started at 9 weeks and now she is 20 months! I always felt like my kids were safe, cared for, and adored. The people who cared for them always felt like a second family and I looked forward to chatting with them at drop off and pick up. My kids loved going here and there was never a tear when dropping off. If anything, they were like "bye mom! I need to go play now, go!" They were given opportunities to thrive and be their silly selves. We are going to miss WeVillage when we move! Thank you for caring for our babies during this special time.”

“There are no words to describe how much we have come to love The Language Grove preschool. The dreaded tearful day has finally arrived where we must leave this warmth and nurturing environment into the real world of kinder. This has been the best decision we have ever made for our son. We wish that every family could experience the genuine passion each staff member has in celebrating each students unique personality and allowing them to explore and build on their young curiosity, individuality, and desire. This preschool not only fosters strong relationships between children and teachers but among families. The community events, farmers markets, and newsletter posting allows the parents to be active members in this energetic and warm community. The school has a clear mission to raise confident socially aware bilingual children, while preparing them to be joyful learners of the next generation. This haven of learning establishment is made possible starting with the passion of the head of the table Director, Ms. Yessy.
Ms Yessy is deeply receptive and attentive to the need of each child in relation to their growth and development. It is with no surprise that these wonderful attributes reflect in every words and action of the caring teachers of the school.
Our son cherishes his teacher Ms. Andrea, and talks about how much they laugh together. This has been such a joyful, enriching experience for our family and we’re just so grateful to have been a part of this special community. Even though life goes on and our little one has to move forward with his learning experience, we will without doubt carry in our hearts the memories of each one of them. Starting with Ms Yessy, Ms Andrea and all the other members of the school included. From the bottom of heart thank you Language Grove.”

“I have a total of 3 children. They range in ages from 11, 7 and lastly 3 years old. My children have attended a home day care connected to Kids 1st Learning Center or gone to the Kids 1st Learning Center in Pacoima or San Fernando. Throughout the 10 years of being with Kids 1st Learning Center I have loved the quality of care they provide. The teachers are so loving and patient. That's what keeps me coming back to them!They make the enrollment process easy. They give you plenty of notice for the recertification period. If a document is missing they are understanding and give you a reasonable time to turn in documents. I love the office staff in Pacoima and San Fernando. Special shout out to Mrs. Gloria for always being so friendly and knowledgeable!Shout out to Mrs. Patricia D. and Mrs. Rhonda R.! Mrs. Patricia took great care of my son JC back in 2016-2018. Mrs. Rhonda takes great care of my son Mikey. I love them both dearly and I am so grateful for their services!Thank you Kids 1st Learning Center! Y'all are appreciated ❤”