Top Rated 15 Schools in Novato, CA - A Guide for Parents and Students

Mercede Lorestany Wonderful experience and interaction with teachers and school community. Great parent co-op nursery school and friendly and caring parents. My family are new to Novato city and my 2.5 yo daughter started going to this school for the very first time. She wakes up every morning and wanted me to take her to school☺️

Nancy Page I moved to Novato in the middle of the Covid global pandemic. It was lonely as a stay at home parent to a young child, isolating. So when I was looking for a preschool for my daughter, I was also looking for a community for myself as well as for her, and I found that at NPNS. It is truly a unique and incredible school with an amazing director (Clare) who brings kindness and calm and wonder to every moment, kind and caring teachers (Lauryn and Lindsey - who both have children at the school!) and a community of caregivers - parents, grandparents, and other guardians - who all believe in the child-led, play-based philosophy of the school and who care for your child as if they were their own. Ive made friends I know will last a lifetime - and so has my daughter!

Dominique Sauve I learned about NPNS through my sister and sister in law, they both sent their kids here and had really positive experiences. I am so happy we started our daughter this year. It is a coop so there is some family involvement like working one day a week in the preschool which is one of the main reasons I joined. I love being able to get a first hand look of my daughter learning through play and how she is interacting with her peers. I also love that it is mainly outdoors, play based, child centered, and Reggio Emilia inspired. The teachers are so supportive, nurturing, and have so much knowledge on child development. If a coop preschool can work for your schedule I highly recommend enrolling your child. I am so happy to have found this special school/community.

Katia Bidaurreta I wholeheartedly endorse Noahs Ark Preschool as both my girls went through their program. The staff members are not only caring but also incredibly knowledgeable, fostering an environment where children can thrive. Communication is seamless - they send reminders of upcoming events and photos of the kids doing activities via an app almost on daily basis. It gave me peace of mind to see a pic of my 3-year-old among other kids having fun. The classrooms are consistently clean and well-organized. One aspect I particularly appreciate is their secure entry & exit system, ensuring safety for all. The well-structured curriculum played a pivotal role in preparing my kids for kindergarten, a testament to the schools dedication to quality education. For parents contemplating enrollment, I strongly encourage you to schedule a tour by calling the school. I am confident that, like me, you will find it to be an excellent choice for your childs early education.

Margaret Li This Christian organization Noah’s Ark preschool is being investigated by the Ca State Dept of Social Services for clearly demonstrating parental bias, parental alienation and failure to report child abuse. Despite providing the school administration our court order clearly identifying me the mother a legal guardian, their school officials directors Heather Freeman and Ruth Ann Newberry refused to provide me our daughter’s progress and school information for over 1 year. My daughter has been attending Noah’s Ark preschool since Aug 2022 and has failed to provide me any progress notes nor student information, attendance, health reports, etc. Noah’s Ark would make unethical and factually incorrect documentations against the mother at the request of the father whom has personal relations to Marin Christian Academy. Since our daughter began attending this school, she’s had an increase rate of infections and other ailments. Communications sent to the administration via email and Hi Mama app, was ignored and not responded to.

Jennifer Lew Our Family has been with Noahs Ark Preschool for the last 7 year with 2 kids that are 5 years apart. We love the school and the teachers they are loving, caring, and like family to us. Not only is the academic part of the preschool great they also have extended aftercare till 5:30pm. This has always been a great help for two working parents. I also want to say that the transition for both kids from preschool to Kindergarten has been great!

Fionn McNeeley Avery sat here (one star)

Saenobae I hear the trees whispers, but cannot decipher them

Alexander Rogers This is a tree. The tree gods are stronger near this tree. The sacrifices are great, and the tree gods bless us with “may all who sacrifice to this tree feel the joy and power of a free school lunch”. All hail our powerful god, the tree.

Rosemary Kumar Like many worried parents I spent countless hours researching, talking to community members, and spending sleepless nights worrying about where to send my little ones. Everyone kept recommending Montessori For Toddlers. After doing a tour, I enrolled my daughter. She had the most wonderful, enriching, confidence-building experience. Terese promotes a positive parenting approach and demonstrates it exceptionally. She is extremely loving and patient with every child, while also knowing exactly what to say in every moment to steer our children toward more desirable behavior and personal growth. Under her care, my daughter learned how to respectfully interact with others, and also extend her sense of independence. My favorite day was when she came home, showed me how she could button her own jacket, and proudly declared, "Mommy, Im so capable!" That ability, that confidence, and that language is reflective of the amazing work of Terese. I have since put my two younger sons through her school and she met both of them with the same care, love, and respect as she did my daughter. She met them where they were and helped them to grow cognitively, socially, and emotionally. My children moved on to Waldorf education after graduating from this school and all of them are thriving!

Leila Baradaran My daughter was so fortunate to get her start at Montessori for Toddlers. Terese is full of so much knowledge and that helped us navigate many ages and stages through my daughter’s toddler years. Lori is such a kind and loving teacher. They both made such a memorable impact on my daughters life and memories. I highly recommend MFT to anyone who would like to see their children learn independence, and mindfulness in a safe and supportive environment. They will develop many skills, learn so much, and make lasting friendships. After 2 years at MFT, we decided to continue onto another Montessori school because we love Montessori so much!

Alisa Gillilan My three children, ages 6, 8, and 11 all went to Montessori for Toddlers from age 18 months to 4. It was so thrilling to see all that they were learning at such a young age. They came home excited to tell me that Miss Terese or Miss Lori had taught them how to squeeze an orange to make orange juice, put on their own shoes, how to use a real screw driver and socket wrench. They were learning amazing life skills that have prepared them for life. And as they got older they were identifying 10 different primates and knew the names of so many species of whales, as well as learning their letters and numbers. I would often hear them singing songs or reciting poems and even learned how to sign with real sign language, the songs they learned at school. This program started them on their educational journey with a real love of learning that continues today. We parents learned so much as well, through Parent education in the Positive Discipline approach. Our first experience with Montessori helped us through this challenging parenting path. I highly recommend this beautiful little Montessori program for your little one

Sang Batoff I needed to find a new daycare for my 7-month-old because he kept getting sick (every other week) at a large daycare facility. I decided to visit WeeKidz because my friend was sending her daughter there. I was impressed immediately! The facility is super clean, they provide healthy homemade meals, and the staff is very attentive to the children. My son loved going there. In addition to a full days agenda of learning throuhg playing, WeeKidz took the children on multiple field trips. Neemo, Mr. Kuku & the staff go above and beyond everyday... not the norm in most daycares. I am grateful for WeeKidz because I had the peace of mind to focus and start my new business.

Sylvia Uhalde We, Sylvia & Sebestian are Hudson’s parents. Our son joined WeeKidZ when he was 5 months and he was happily served until about 5 yrs when he joined the Elementary school. Not only our son, our whole family including Grand parents love happy fun WeeKidZ . They do more than anyone in the child care/ preschool industry. All their services are top in the range and we love the developmental work and the field trips that they have taken our child to. Weekidz provides a loving and welcoming home for your child to prosper from. She and her team are so lovely and have the biggest hearts and put in a 100% to the care they provide. Definitely it is the best follow-the-child preschool Montessori in Novato.

desilva nirosh WeeKidZ is one of the best. It was always easy for me to recommend for families who wanted the best experience for their children. The staff and the owner are well trained and connected with kids and families . We all parents love the amazing care. WeeKidZ is a great asset to the community in Novato. Families and children always love their experience! Best care and Montessori around.

Dylan Dixon Great alternative to regular high school

Eleni Katsaros Toured many preschools and found St. Francis to be the right fit for our child. While the school is not faith based we liked that the campus was at a church and tucked away. Immediately upon touring St. Francis we felt it was something special. It felt cozy and whimsical yet they offered structure and an established reputation. The staff are competent, caring, and enthusiastic about their work. We love our teachers so far and our kiddo is constantly doing things at school like art, cooking, and general play that support her current social and emotional skillsets. Definitely a great place to start your kiddos educational journey. We feel very lucky to be a part of the St. Francis community.