Schools near Stanford, CA

“This is our third year at MVPNS, and we are incredibly grateful to be part of this community.

As new parents with a toddler readjusting to social interactions after pandemic isolation, we found a strong sense of guidance and reassurance in the 2–3s class. Teachers Susan and Sandra helped us understand our child’s developmental milestones and how to nurture them at home. With a thoughtfully designed activities and interactions with working parents/caregivers, our child’s vocabulary and language skills grew rapidly.

In the 3–4s class, Teachers Claire and Maureen created a nurturing and inclusive environment. They thoughtfully prepared activities that encouraged skill-building without pressure. During a challenging and prolonged period of separation anxiety, our child received intentional, kind, and empathetic care. He learned self-regulation tools that aligned with his analytical temperament—it truly felt like a “teach a person to fish” experience.

In the 3.5–5s class, Teachers Val and Claudia met our family exactly where we were. They addressed our child’s self-regulation needs, motor skill development, and helped him thrive within a mixed-age peer group. Their focus on kindergarten readiness has been individualized and responsive to each child.

Over our time at MVPNS, we have grown as parents, learning practical ways to raise our child with positivity and respect. In this inclusive, multicultural, and nurturing environment—shaped by intentional educators and a community of purpose-driven families—we are grateful to see our child truly find his happy place!”

“We highly recommend Whole Kids School for any parent looking for a high-quality early childcare. Our daughter has been enrolled since she was 18 months old, and the growth we've seen in her is a testament to their curriculum and care.

The communication here is outstanding--we always receive detailed, thoughtful updates on her progress. The teachers are clearly passionate about child development, and they have fostered a wonderful sense of community. It's been especially rewarding to watch her social and interpersonal skills thrive. It's a clean, well-run, and deeply caring environment”

“My son had the most amazing experience with Tiny Einstein. We love all the teachers,atmosphere, academics and approach this center has. They pay great attention to your kid. My son’s ability to speak English, count, communicate his feelings- impressed me. He learned so much there. Definitely highly recommending as a very reliable Child Development Center. We will miss so much all the teachers and Nickolas will definitely miss his friends.”

“A great school! We have been so impressed and grateful to see our son in such a nurturing and developmental environment. Teacher Barbara and Meenakshi are awesome.”

“My kids had the best experience at PAMS. All the teachers went above and beyond in their attention and care. My children were so happy to go to school every day and enjoyed learning, playing, cooking, and doing gym and dance classes with their friends. We were so lucky to have been part of the PAMS family!”

“My son attended Challenge School for a year between the age of 2.5 and 3.5 and we had the most wonderful experience. I highly recommend it without qualification to anyone looking for care for their child, and particularly if you're looking for a Mandarin-immersion environment.

The school provides a balance of structure and play, while having care and warmth be at the center of everything they do. As a result, our son flourished in the time he had at Challenge. If it weren't for the lottery system for public schools in San Mateo, we would have had him stay another year. We are sad to be leaving in August but leave with gratitude to all of the teachers and staff.”

“Great experience… Both our children went here from age 2ish. Teachers really care and (most critically) very low turnover (if any). Over several years - 2 out of 3 classrooms have had same teachers since we’ve been here… in short great little community school / daycare plus fun events (Halloween parade, Holiday concert). Our kids were always excited to go.”

“Outstanding teachers, well-designed curriculum, excellent customer service - can’t recommend enough. We have been with Thinkacademy for 5 years now. Truly wonderful experience. Teacher Candy, Peter, and Atharva are awesome. They often keep providing free special workshop classes to their long term students, which is such a huge bonus. All the staff are amazing too. They always go an extra mile to help the students and parents. Kids get reward coins for class and home assignments and through fun games at class that they can use later to redeem for big brand gift cards (including Roblox, Apple, Lego, Amazon), Lego sets, Beats headphones, and many other gifts. When it comes to math, we are totally at peace. Can't have enough words to praise them. A big shoutout!”

“We had our older child attend this preschool between 2018-2020. It truly made a positive difference to his elementary education as he was KG ready.

When we needed a preschool again for our second child; we didn’t look anywhere else. I must say the quality hasn’t dropped over the years. My younger one is in Tembo Tots class with Ms Michelle. She has made a great impact on our child’s learning and development. He is a polite, well mannered kid who never misses to say his please and Thank you!. His vocabulary has improved a lot over the academic year he has spent in this class. Thank you Michelle for the tremendous job you have done.

The principal (Ms Suhasini) is very approachable and has a solution for all situations. Overall, I would highly recommend this school for anyone in the neighborhood who is looking for a preschool.”

“I love Sunnyvale Christian School! I know my daughters are safe and loved. The teachers are all hard working and dependable. Most of them have been at SCS for 10-20 years because they have a passion for teaching and a love for the kids. If you are looking for your child to grow academically and spiritually this is the place!”

“We have had an absolutely wonderful experience with Safari Kid. What stood out for us was the experienced teachers and great outdoor space for the kids. Teacher Bev and Teacher Stephanie are both very dedicated and committed to the overall development of the kids and open to have an honest conversation on how we could help kids outside of the school. One of the primary measures of whether the kids are enjoying their time at school is whether they look forward to going to school and how they are feeling when you go pick them up - we are very grateful to say that we dropped off and picked up very happy and excited kids!”

“The teachers and staff here are so kind, patient, and come up with activities that keep the kiddos engaged and learning something new every day. We are happy our kids are well taken care of and happy here. This is our 5th year sending our kiddos to LPP and couldn’t recommend them more. :)”

“My son went here six years ago and we loved the school. Adela is an excellent administrator and runs the school very well. The teachers were wonderful, especially Ms Melissa (dragonfly classroom). The space is beautiful and the activities were very thoughtfully designed. My son loved his time here and always insisted in being the last one to get picked up!”

“My 4.5-year-old son attended Safari Kid for two years, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. His teachers, Ms. Leah and Ms. Megha, were truly exceptional—nurturing, patient, and incredibly skilled at supporting early childhood development. Under their guidance, my son made remarkable progress in writing and reading, showing confidence and curiosity well beyond his age. His language skills blossomed, and he developed a strong foundation in math that continues to impress us. Safari Kid provided an environment that helped him thrive both academically and socially. We’re so grateful for the love and dedication shown by his teachers and the entire staff.”

“I still vividly remember the first time we toured the school. I wrote an email on Friday night and I was not expecting immediate reply but Teacher Courtney replied immediately and she gave us a tour on a rainy Saturday morning over Christmas break. Then we asked our first son, which school he liked the most and he said Parents Nursery School (mostly because there are chickens).

We were hesitant at first whether we could make the arrangement for a co-op (parents participation) preschool, but we’re so glad we did. Our son is slow to warm up to people but over time his personality has bloomed and we love seeing him grow all rounded.

I remember I teared up during first drop off but everyone in school, the parent volunteers and teachers greeted him by name and that gave me so much assurance that he’s in the right place. The same goes when my daughter joined school as she turned 2.5, everyone welcomed her with so much love.

When our son joined the school, we also just relocated to the area and were hoping to find a great community and yes we did find it here. Many people would say, “just let me know if you ever need help”, but only few would actually do it. This school community goes above and beyond and they show up in times of need. When I gave birth to my 3rd child and we don’t have family who live close by, everyone showed up and helped us during the transition. They hosted our children, picked them up, fed them, arranged playdates, and fed my whole family.

I couldn’t thank this community enough! This is not just a school, it is a family ❤️”

“As our daughter graduates from elementary school this year and moves on to a new chapter, we find ourselves reflecting on how much Growing Tree Learning Center has meant to our family. After so many years, it is bittersweet to say goodbye. We will truly miss the wonderful teachers and staff who have been such an important part of our daughter's childhood.

Our daughter first joined Growing Tree as a preschooler and later returned for the after-school program throughout her elementary school years. Looking back, it is hard to imagine her journey without the support, guidance, and care she received here.

What makes Growing Tree special is not only its Montessori philosophy and bilingual Chinese-English program, but also the people. The teachers and staff genuinely care about the children and create an environment where students feel safe, respected, and encouraged to grow. They have helped our daughter develop confidence, independence, responsibility, and a love of learning that will stay with her for years to come.

We especially appreciate how the school balances academic support with social and emotional development. The after-school program provided a structured, nurturing environment where our daughter could complete her homework, participate in enriching activities, and build lasting friendships. As parents, it gave us tremendous peace of mind knowing she was surrounded by caring adults who truly had her best interests at heart.

Over the years, we have watched our daughter grow from a shy little preschooler into a confident and capable young person. Growing Tree has played an important role in that transformation, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of her journey.

Thank you to all the amazing teachers and staff for your dedication, kindness, patience, and support. Although our time at Growing Tree has come to an end, the memories and positive impact will stay with our family forever.

We highly recommend Growing Tree Learning Center to any family looking for a caring, supportive, and high-quality Montessori bilingual program.”

“My son started attending Safari Kid when he was almost 4years old teachers are very supportive,and genuinely care about each childI have seen a lot of improvement in him since then. Later I have enrolled my daughter in the after school program,and she has been attending for the past 2 years.Both of my children now attend the after school program and have also participated in the summer camp.The summer camp is very fun and well organized,with exciting themes ,hands on activities,creative projects and field trips that my kids always look forward to.Overall ,it has been a wonderful experience for our family and I highly recommend it”

“We just moved from Georgia few months ago and was looking for a daycare, and even there, we had a hard time looking for a good one that can tolerate my son’s behavior. They would always send him home which stressed us out and was having anxiety of ever finding a daycare until we found Lilliput. It welcomed him with open arms and love. Because of all the horror stories about bad daycares; we got paranoid before yet Lilliput never make us feel that way—it is a place that we really trust. We feel confident that my son will be loved and cared for even if we leave him there for several hours. Moreover, all the teachers, Anna, his “Lola” Vicky etc are approachable and friendly and you can really feel their genuine love for all the children especially Teacher JR, who oversees the kids every day. He’s been teaching my boy to be calm, kind and gentle towards other children and thankfully he is becoming those. He has more self-control and has improved a lot with the way he speaks. Lastly, they treat us like family. Vicky, who started they daycare, would sometimes visit, would sit and talk to us parents and would just chat with us. We’re starting to get worried that he’ll be going to Kindergarten soon and we just hope that his future school will treat him the same way as how Lilliput has been treating him—teach, play and discipline with love.”

“My daughter has been at Challenge School belmont campus for 2 years. She is having fun at school everyday and loves the school and the teachers there. From day one, it's been clear that the teachers are not only dedicated but also genuinely caring and patient, which has made a world of difference for my daughter who took some time adjusting to a new environment.

The environment at Challenge School is incredibly nurturing, and it's evident that the teachers know each child individually. They go above and beyond to accommodate different needs, which has helped my daughter build confidence and feel comfortable expressing herself. The daily activities are not only fun but also educational, ranging from crafts and role-playing to planting and even making ice cream! They also had short field trips to the post office to mail their first valentine's day letter!

One of the standout features for us has been the bilingual education. In the Blueberry (2yr-old) class, the entire curriculum is in Mandarin, which has been fantastic for my daughter's language development. As she transitioned to the Strawberry (3yr-old) class, she began learning English alongside Chinese, with dedicated teachers for each language.

Beyond language skills, the school places a strong emphasis on social and emotional development. In Blueberry, the focus was on adapting to school routines and learning self-care, while in Strawberry, it shifted to teaching manners, cooperation, and empathy. It's been incredible to see my daughter grow not just academically but also in terms of her social skills and independence.

Overall, our experience with Challenge School has been overwhelmingly positive. We've watched our daughter blossom in ways we couldn't have imagined, and we owe a huge thanks to the wonderful teachers and staff who have been instrumental in her growth. If you're looking for a preschool where your child will be nurtured, challenged, and supported every step of the way, Challenge School is an excellent choice.”

“Building Kidz San Carlos was a very educational and caring place for our little one to grown in. Their scheduled music, dance, movement classes and educational curriculum was very enriching. The teachers and director were very caring and responsible. The outdoor play area needs some soft landscaping but that is something I know they are working on. Overall a very good experience.”

“For anyone considering piano lessons, I wholeheartedly recommend CSMA! My experience with Muza Mdzinarishvili, a Distinguished Faculty member, was outstanding.

As an adult learner, I truly valued her balanced teaching style: she consistently acknowledged my progress, which was very motivating, while also gently guiding me to address my weaknesses. What sets Muza apart is her ability to create personalized homework assignments that are a perfect blend of pieces by composers I adore and targeted exercises to develop my finger skills. She's an amazing piano teacher!”

“Challenger Ardenwood has provided an incredible academic foundation for my daughter, putting her well ahead of grade level in both reading and math. The structured curriculum and dedicated teachers have helped her develop strong study habits and discipline from an early age. I have noticed significant improvements in my daughter's confidence through the school's emphasis on public speaking skills. Overall, it is a rigorous environment that delivers tangible results, and we are very happy with her progress.”

“Our family has been part of the Happy Days Cupertino community for over two years — both of our kids attend — and it's been one of the best decisions we've made as parents. Here's what stands out:

+ THE TEACHERS: This is what makes Happy Days special. Our kids' teachers have known them since they were babies and toddlers. They know each child's personality, what lights them up, and what they need on a hard day. Every staff member greets our kids by name at pickup — not just their classroom teachers, everyone. That kind of continuity doesn't exist at larger programs. Some teachers also speak Spanish with our son, which is meaningful to our multicultural family. Many of them have been at Happy Days for well over a decade, they are clearly doing a great job at retaining their staff.

+ THE FOOD: Meals are cooked fresh on-site daily — hot soup, fresh fruits and vegetables, balanced meals our kids actually love. Our picky eater eats things here she refuses at home. The daily soup has quietly helped with fine motor skills (holding a spoon, scooping carefully) in a way that feels like lunch, not therapy.

+ SIBLING CONNECTION: Our kids are in different age groups but share the same playground with the infant care area separated by an open fence. The open layout lets children of different ages interact naturally, and watching our two spot each other across the yard is the best part of our day. Ms. Simran does a phenomenal job of capturing these sweet moments on camera!

+INFANT CARE: We started our youngest at 8 months. The 1:4 teacher-to-infant ratio, daily written activity logs, and classroom cameras gave us real peace of mind. Watching our baby hit every milestone with teachers cheering them on made the hardest part of going back to work so much easier. It was so hard when my daughter and I got sick often in the first few months, but the teachers were incredibly helpful in navigating that season.

+ POTTY TRAINING SUPPORT: Our oldest started in the transition classroom before being potty trained. The teachers were patient, encouraging, and never made it stressful — for our child or for us. The kids are still obsessed with Ms. Rosie to this day!

+ CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS: Happy Days embraces the diversity of its families through events and classroom activities. For a multicultural family like ours, this matters more than any test score. We love the Diwali, Easter, Lunar New Year, Earth Day, St Patrick's Day and other festivities so much!

+MS. STEPHANIE: She knows every child and every family. Responsive, honest, and genuinely invested. You can tell this isn't just a business to her. She's been at the facility for over 25 years and is truly committed helping these kids thrive.

We're now navigating the graduation out of Happy Days and the hardest part isn't academics — it's the thought of leaving Happy Days. Our kids didn't just go to daycare here. They grew up here.

If you're touring schools and feeling overwhelmed: go visit Happy Days. You'll feel the difference the moment you walk in.”

“If you are looking for an amazing daycare that will treat your kids like family would look no further! I sent all of my 3 kids here and I believe the level of care and love is unmatched. From the Director Lynda, to the teachers Virginie, Oussam, Nadia and others as well as the cook they are all a cohesive team that work together and create an absolute amazing environment where kids thrive. 100% would recommend!”

“We chose the Sunnyvale location for spring break when other nearby facilities were full. Friendly staff, clean facility, and a great overall experience. Would definitely recommend—just note that lunch is not provided.”

“For those that want an academic based school, I would HIGHLY recommend this school. I found my child was unhappy at other academic based schools and didn't progress as much as I had hoped. My child has always been happy and responded well with the staff at ACME/Learn and Play Montessori. I don't recall a single time where I dropped him off where he cried, which is quite different than the other places he attended. Feedback from my child has always leaned toward staying at ACME/L&PM vs the other schools he attended.

Our son has attended Learn and Play Montessori school and ACME at multiple points of his early education. The first time he attended was just during the summer time, he went to a highly ranked and credible academic school the following school year where he then attended ACME again the following summer. We debated what school to attend the following year but found that his academic progress at ACME in both periods was too great to deny.

Currently there is a GREAT RATIO that allows our child to get the attention and focus of the teachers he would not get anywhere else. This has led him to excel past my expectations in English, Mandarin, Math, Science, and very impressed with his progress in his reading skills very early in Pre-k.

Thanks to Learn and Play Montessori school, we feel our child is well prepared for any school that he attends next year.”

“Little Oaks is a fantastic preschool. Bright and flower filled outdoor spaces, with clean and brightly lit indoor classrooms and very clean toilets for the little ones. The school management led by Ms. Linda Friedman is beyond excellent- she has a warm and welcoming vibe and truly listens to her customers’ (read Parent’s) needs. I love all the opportunities that the little ones are exposed to academically or in play. Weekly music and movement gives kids the opportunity to dabble in music from all over the world and helps broaden their (and my:)) cultural experiences. There’s online food ordering services and even bubbles in the air (literally!) on a good outdoor day! The weekly newsletters are a great place to find out about all the goings-on at school and offer a peek into what’s to come in the next month. I have to say, I’m so happy with my daughter’s teachers here (we’ve tried several preschools before this one). They’re extremely kind, patient and empathetic. My daughter looks forward to going to school because she likes to play with Ms.Jozann and Ms.Rosie (yea!:)) I’m very grateful to my daughter’s teachers for all the time and opportunity they’re able to give her as I’ve seen her blossom at Little Oaks. I highly recommend it.”

“We sent both of our children to Country Day Little School and recommend it in the highest possible terms. Having explored many preschools in the Bay Area and elsewhere we feel so lucky to have found Country Day, which truly fulfills its mission of focusing on the well-being and flourishing of the children. The teachers are incredibly thoughtful, reflective, and kind. They bring joy to the children's lives, teach them about the natural world, nurture their social interactions in outdoor and indoor play, and are so highly attuned to the needs and capacities of each individual child. The community of parents they gather together is also a pleasure to be with and very supportive. Country Day is a treasure!”

“KinderCare is a reliable place. Regardless of which branch you choose, their program is standardized and their system is well organized. In particular, the De Anza branch is clean and bright, the teachers are warm and kind, and the administrative staff is supportive. We are able to focus on our work thanks to their reliable daycare and educational services. I highly recommend KinderCare to other parents.”