Schools near Glen Ridge, NJ

“Very nurturing, loving community for our child. She talks constantly about her teachers and friends. She's learned so much, always coming home with information about letters, numbers, colors, etc.”

“We are grateful we found MCDC. Our son has grown so much academically and socially. Teachers and staff are welcoming and friendly. Shout out to Mrs Perez, Mrs Chavez, Ms Newbia, Ms Eman, and Mrs Bautista. Thank you.”

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5-Star Review for Bright Star Academy

Bright Star Academy has been a wonderful experience for our family! My son learned so much during his time there — not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well. The teachers are caring, patient, and truly dedicated to the children. I was so impressed with the program that I’ve now enrolled my youngest daughter too!

The staff communicates well with parents, keeps us informed, and always makes safety a top priority. It’s such a comforting feeling to know my kids are in a nurturing and secure environment. I’m beyond grateful for everything Bright Star has done for my children. I highly recommend them to any parent looking for a quality preschool!”

“We had such a wonderful experience at Little Achievers ! From the very first day, the teachers made my boys feel welcome . The staff go above and beyond to communicate with parents. We’re so grateful for everything they’ve done for my boys .”

“Play N Learn was where both my children went to when they were younger… they are now 7 and 9 and ask to go back every chance they get. They love it! We love it! The teachers are great, they really care about the children. They update you daily on their activities which gives you a piece of mind while working. Their hours are working parent friendly which is great for the working parents. Kids come home with projects and always have awesome stories to share. Honestly, you feel like part of the family at Play N Learn. We love all the staff! We appreciate everything they did from potty training to the extra snuggles. If there is a place you can trust your children with its here. Stop searching, you found a forever family.”

“TLE Cedar Grove has been incredible for our family and have been crucial to the development of our 4 year old child. Our son has made so many friends and learned so much from all of his teachers ever since he was a 1 year old. We will forever be grateful to the staff for helping my wife and I navigate parenthood. Thank you TLE!”

“We recently moved to the area and were overwhelmed by the school search. After touring numerous schools, Playhouse felt like a warm hug, putting our worries at ease that this would be the perfect school for our son. As the year has gone by, we have been blown away by the progress he has made, both emotionally and mentally, and how happy he is when he comes home each day. The whole staff is loving, supportive and super communicative, as well as the community of parents who are incredibly involved and reliable. We couldn’t ask for more in a school and would 1000% recommend.”

“It’s truly hard to let go of Preschool Learn Time, as it has been such a wonderful experience for my son, who has been part of the school since he was almost 3 yrs old. I am so grateful to Ms. Pavana and the wonderful teachers that welcomed him from day one and cared for him with so much love and attention. This place has meant so much to my family.
Thank you for all the love, care, and dedication you and your team have given my son over the years. We will truly miss it.”

“We are so grateful for Marigold Academy and everything they have done for our daughter. Our daughter attended two different daycares before we found Marigold, and the difference was truly noticeable from the beginning. The love, care, and sense of community she found here has no price.

The teachers and staff genuinely care about the children and create such a warm, safe, and happy environment. A very special thank you to Miss Dolly, who is an amazing director and truly loves what she does. Her dedication and kindness can be felt throughout the entire school.

Thank you for giving our daughter such beautiful memories and making her feel so loved every day. We now say good bye but we will truly miss this place.”

“As a mother, there is nothing more powerful than trust, and this daycare has earned mine completely. I go to work knowing my baby is not only safe, but loved, stimulated, and nurtured in a way that supports his growth and happiness. That kind of peace of mind is priceless. This isn’t just childcare—it’s a community, a support system, and a place where little lives are cherished every single day.”

“As a dad, nothing matters more to me than knowing my child is safe, happy, and loved—and the teachers from TLE in ER from Toddler B group, Ms. Mellany and Ms. Melinda have completely earned my trust. From day one, they’ve gone above and beyond to create a warm, nurturing environment that feels like a second home.
They don’t just watch the kids—they engage with them, teach them, comfort them, and cheer them on through every little milestone. I’ve watched my toddler grow so much socially and emotionally, and it’s 100% thanks to the amazing care and energy these teachers bring every day.
It’s clear they love what they do, and as a parent, there’s nothing more reassuring than that. Thank you for everything you do—you’ve made a huge difference in our lives.”

“Fantastic experience for our kids. We have two boys at this Goddard School, for about 3 years now. We have loved the teachers and staff. They do so much programming for the kids, they are so sweet and we trust them entirely. We love being a part of their school and highly recommend them to anyone.”

“I've had both my children here under 1 and 3+ and I've had a great experience and highly recommend Primrose of Wayne. Below is my honest and thorough review listed as pros and cons.

PROS
FOOD & WATER - I don't have to worry about packing lunch, because they feed the kids. All meals are made in house like beef w/ lo mein, chicken brown rice and veggies, and cheese tortellini in marinera sauce with side of peas. No Juices, only water (I love this). Not things like chicken nuggets and pizza.
ADMIN - Communication is fantastic. They always pick up and read my messages right away. Address my concerns (e.g. daughter said she didn't have friends when they changed classroom-got fixed right away). They've always had the same admin staff since I've been there and they are all amazing and very attentive, kind, welcoming, and reassuring.
TEACHERS- Simply kind and caring. My daughter loves her teachers and wants to go to school every day.
CLEANLINESS- compared to other places I've toured, this daycare looks and feels clean and organized.
EDUCATION: Great. I love that they practice writing names every day, learning math, and science.
SERVICES/EXTRACURRICULARS: They connected me with speech therapy faciliated at the school and soccer in spring is wonderful.
Note: Before picking this place for my daughter, I went on the state website to check for complaints or violations during state inspections and they passed with flying colors. There were places closer to me that after seeing those inspection reports, it was a no brainer that I would choose Primrose.

CONS (but not really)
PRICE - Their price is great, but childcare in general is expensive. Paying over $3,000 a month for two kids was rough for me this year.
ITEMS - My milk bottle caps got lost on more than 2 ocassions. For baby/toddler rooms, label everything if you can. Check your bag to make sure its yours before you leave. I left with other baby's bag twice because it was handed to me and I didn't check until I got home.
NEW STAFF - Mistakes like getting the wrong backpack, jackets, or other things is most likely going to happen with new staff or staff that don't normally cover that room. This is normal in any place, so just be mindful.
Note: I was friendly with two moms who changed their kids to a different school because they were not satisfied with their experience here, but with the few parents I've spoken to in my child's classroom, including myself, are very satistified with the quality of care at primrose.”

“We had a wonderful experience with Park Street Academy! The teachers were kind and caring, and the summer camp is wonderful. Ms. Alexa, who runs it, cares so much about making it a good experience.”

“Switching our son from his previous school to LBA was truly the best decision we could have made. The teachers are so dedicated to their work, and the curriculum is both engaging and fun — our son comes home every day excited to tell us about what he learned and how much he enjoyed his day.

The live feed also gave us such peace of mind, especially during those first few transitional months. His very first teacher at LBA was Ms. Orianna, and there aren’t enough words to express how thankful we are for the love and care she showed our little guy. He talked about her constantly, and it was clear that he felt safe, valued, and truly cared for.

Ms. Orianna went above and beyond for her class — always bringing creative experiments, crafts, and activities to life. She showed up each day with such positivity and energy, and her passion for teaching was felt by everyone. We couldn’t have asked for a better start to his early childhood education.
And now he’s moved up to the big kid class this school year, with Ms. Kim as his teacher. From the moment we first met her, she’s been nothing short of amazing. In fact, she was the one who gave me a tour of LBA when we were first considering the switch, and the lasting impression she made was one of the key reasons we ultimately decided to join. We feel so fortunate to have her as our son’s teacher this year and know without a doubt that he’s in great hands!”

“We are so happy with the care our son Angad receives in the Khaki Kangaroo classroom. Ms. Ximena and Ms. Daniela are amazing—caring, patient, and attentive. Angad comes home happy and excited about what he learns each day, and we can see how much he’s growing under their guidance. We’re so grateful for the love and support they give him every single day!”

“We absolutely love this daycare and could not be happier with the care our daughter receives. The Twaddlers teachers — Miss Shirley, Miss Eugenia, and Miss Linda — are truly wonderful. They are kind, patient, caring, and make our daughter feel so loved and comfortable every single day. It gives us such peace of mind knowing she is in such great hands.
The staff at the front desk are also always so friendly, welcoming, and helpful. Everyone creates such a positive and nurturing environment. We love everything about this school and are so grateful to be part of it! Could not recommend it enough.”

“My 2 children have attended since they were very small, and I truly couldn’t be happier with our experience. The staff has always treated my kids with nothing but care, kindness, and respect—they really treat them like family. I’ve watched my children grow, learn, and feel safe here, and that means everything to me as a parent. I would absolutely recommend Academy House to any family looking for a loving and supportive environment for their children.”

“We enrolled our daughter at Kiddie Academy this year, and so far the experience has been wonderful! The teachers are warm, caring, and truly attentive to each child’s needs. They have a nice curriculum where she’s learning through play, music, and creative activities. The biggest plus for us is the live surveillance and on-site meal prep which gives us peace of mind. The facility is clean, secure, and well-equipped. Her teachers Ms. Paula and Yarelin are just amazing. My daughter lights up as soon as she sees them. Ms. Paula remembers ever child's personal items which shows such great attention to detail.
Special mention of course is the site director Ms Ronnie. She is such a positive person. Always smiling and welcoming. She is willing to help and put our mind to ease whenever our daughter needs some extra love or attention some days. Overall, its been a wonderful experience!”

“If you are looking for PEACE OF MIND in a preschool/ daycare for your child/children, look no further than RMS Bloomfield. As two full-time working, parents, my husband and I are thrilled and extremely satisfied with the care our children are receiving here for the past soon to be 3 years. They provide an ultra safe, clean, fun and engaging environment and we truly feel that our children are being loved in our place during the day! Not to mention, compared to others-it is reasonably priced. We so appreciate the teachers and staff and feel very grateful to have them as part of our family’s community (and lives). I’ll tell anyone who’ll listen- we love Rainbow Montessori.”

“After we did our research we felt led to allow my niece to attend Brainiacs! Ms. Cole who teaches the Pre-k 4 year old class is wonderful! My niece is excelling in penmanship, word association & other social skills. We are very pleased with her progress. We look forward to getting daily pictures & updates of her school day. Ms. Jennifer is also wonderful.”

“Finding a school for your young child can be a stressful experience. You're entrusting people you may not know with taking care of your kid during some of their most formative years. Orchard School has been absolutely tremendous.We came to them after a negative experience at a chain daycare for our then-6-month-old. The difference was immediate - rather than crying when dropping her off, she would crawl to her teachers and wouldn't want to come home when we came to pick her up. Her growth since joining the 0-5 y/o class has been astonishing. We've enjoyed watching her become a part of the group - the older kids watch out for and play with the younger ones with a care that reminds us of siblings.The teachers do a great job combining play with educational enrichment activities, and the property has a delightful array of spaces for the kids to enjoy, ranging from a ball pit to a pool to mini-rooms with tiny furniture to a track for biking. The staff is super flexible and understanding; it feels like we have true partners in our child's care and understanding.The most important thing I have to say about Orchard is that its staff sees the kids for who they are. They understand each kid is an individual with their own personality and needs, and they do everything they can to encourage each child to be the best version of themself. Our daughter (now 18 months) is growing into a wonderful little person, and Orchard School has played a huge part.”

“This preschool is a absolute gem; we feel so lucky to have found it! Both of my kids attended from 2019-2023. 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 and moving around we have attended 4 different schools/daycares in the area, but Neighborhood House is our absolute favorite, hands down.”

“The Goddard in Fairfield has been an extraordinary place for our son. His growth and development have been impressive. But most of all, we're grateful that we have the assurance that he's in good hands. He's always looking forward to going to school and he comes home happy. The curriculum is excellent and the sense of community and events is very much appreciated, not to mention the regular updates on what he's doing throughout the day.”

“Little Tykes Preschool is a great school with excellent teachers who create a great learning atmosphere for my son. He's learned so much since he's started attending.”

“I put my kids there my daughter was happy and popular Everytime she come home she be like mom everybody knows me and my son was so happy Everytime they come back I love Danna daycare”

“Kiddie Academy Springfield was so accommodating and understanding. We needed childcare asap and since they had the space available, they were able to get us enrolled within 1 week. The team was excellent during the entire process, and they continue to go above and beyond during the normal day to day. Our daughter is in great hands. She’s adjusted so well and owe a lot of that success to her teachers and the staff. We highly recommend this location.”

“My sons attended Springfield Genius Academy. I mainly wanted them to learn Chinese. After a year at this school they started to speak mandarin with my wife. I was so surprised how much mandarin they learned at school. The teachers are patient with my sons and responsible taking care of my sons.

I highly recommend this preschool.”

“We have been at Tutor time for nearly two years and we feel lucky to have teachers who care so much about our boys. My oldest was accepted to the UPK program this past fall and he has really been thriving, learning and growing before our eyes. His teachers there are exceptional.”

“Excellent learning institution where children are taught to learn and embrace curiosity. Phenomenal teachers who are dedicated to the well being of the children in their classrooms and solid leadership from school director Stacy Prince.”