Palo Alto Montessori School - Palo Alto, California

Nadine S.

We enrolled our daughter at Palo Alto Montessori when she was 2.5 years old, and we couldn’t be happier with our experience.

The daycare is extremely well-run, with a highly structured daily routine that provides a sense of predictability for both children and parents. This made the transition for our daughter incredibly smooth.

Palo Alto Montessori has a rich history—founded by the mother of the current owner, Dinesh, it was the first Montessori school in the Bay Area. This legacy is reflected in the school’s deep commitment to the Montessori philosophy. Our daughter had the opportunity to express her creativity and enjoy free play while also engaging in age-appropriate, hands-on learning activities.

By the time she graduated, our daughter was not only academically prepared for kindergarten but also equipped with essential behavioral and social skills. What stood out the most to us was the school’s focus on fostering a love for learning. Dinesh and his team made learning exciting and joyful for our daughter, and he even provided us with excellent tips to nurture that enthusiasm at home. Overall, we feel so fortunate to have found Palo Alto Montessori.

Ted W.

Our son has had a wonderful experience at Palo Alto Montessori School. He's made so many friends and has developed into a very social person. The nurturing environment and the dedicated staff have played a huge role in his growth. The school always keeps us well-informed through in-person updates, emails, and regularly scheduled conferences. We couldn't be happier with the education and care he receives here

Inna Z.

This is an excellent Montessori preschool!
The staff is very attentive and responsible, and my child enjoys going there every day.
My daughter has learned to write letters, do math, including adding and subtracting numbers.
The teachers also organized wonderful celebrations for both children and adults, adding a special atmosphere and joyful moments to our lives. Each event was carefully planned, and the children always participated actively, which contributed to their social and emotional development.

I highly recommend

Macksoud K.

As a parent, finding the right preschool for your child is paramount, and Palo Alto Montessori has been an exceptional choice for our daughter, Piper. Having spent the past year here, she has not only loved every moment but has also shown tremendous growth in all aspects. The environment is nurturing and fun, perfect for young curious minds eager to explore the world.

One of the standout features of Palo Alto Montessori is the leadership under Dinesh. He is not only personable and awesome but also incredibly dedicated to maintaining clear and open lines of communication. His responsiveness and accessibility are beyond what we've experienced at other schools, making us as parents feel very involved and informed.

Piper's happiness and excitement to attend school every day have been the best indicators of the positive experience she has had. She always comes home with new things she has learned and stories of fun activities. This school has not only provided her with a solid educational foundation but has also enriched her with life skills and happiness.

We are genuinely thankful to Dinesh and the entire staff for making Piper's preschool experience so memorable and joyful. We highly recommend Palo Alto Montessori Pre-school to any parent looking for a place where their child can grow, learn, and, most importantly, be happy!

Vicky L. M.

Both our boys went to the Palo Alto Montessori School (PAMS) and we couldn’t be happier with our experience. The school is incredible and has only enriched our lives. The teachers are amazing (the Director, Dinesh, is going above and beyond) and you can tell they truly love what they do and take the time to know your child. They create a safe and collaborative environment where your child will develop a love of learning combined with a mindset to keep trying. This has given our kids a strong foundation with high independence, confidence, and social emotional skills. Now about to start Kinder and 1st grade, they are thriving, thanks to PAMS. We can't say enough good things about this preschool!

Leeah C.

Our daughter went to Palo Alto Montessori School from ages 3 to 5. As parents who highly value our child's early education journey, we couldn't have asked for a better place to lay the foundation. She thrived there.

The school leads a purposeful path to early education. Their program and activities are crafted with intention and purpose that ignited our daughter's curiosity and nurtured her creativity. Her skills and interests were recognized and supported, and she grew in confidence.

What set the school apart is its deep-rooted connection to the lineage of Maria Montessori herself. The school's rich history and commitment to the Montessori philosophy provided a rare opportunity for our child to experience education. The family tradition added another layer of authenticity to the preschool experience, also making it a warm and nurturing environment.

And the staff's reliability, knowledge, and wealth of experience were evident. Their ability to connect with both parents and children created a sense of community that was invaluable during our child's formative years. And especially during COVID, they did a phenomenal job creating an environment that was both safe and sane.

It is bittersweet to leave as our daughter has moved onto Kindergarten, but we are so very grateful to have started our journey with the school.

Giselle N.

We have truly enjoyed our time as a Palo Alto Montessori family over the past two years. It has been wonderful watching our child learn and grow in the program - both academically (letters, numbers, basic math) and social-emotionally (strong sense of confidence). They have a huge play area and give the kids a lot of outdoor time. The parent community is also very strong. We are grateful to PAMS and the teachers at the school for all of their care and support. Highly recommend this preschool.

Shruti M.

This is the right preschool if your focus is child's happiness, social emotional development and strong foundation in academics, which is tailed according to the child's speed to learn.

My daughter went to PAMS from 2 years to 5.4 years and had lot of fun, learnt on many fronts and made great friends and loved all her teachers.
They also (optional) offer gymnastics and dance classes, which my daughter loved.
They handle conflict and bullying in a sensible manner, encourage students to speak up for themselves but step in and take action when needed.
The director of the school (Dinesh) understands every child, their strengths and areas of growth. They use Montessori method of teaching in everything, even English and math. The teachers spend extra time in areas where the child is struggling academically. By 5.4 years, my daughter was able to write three letters words and was learning multiplication. They also have summer classes which includes cooking, art, gardening, music etc.
The school took extraordinary precautions about cleaning, testing, masking during and even after pandemic. I do not think there was any outbreak in the school. Before any school event where parents are allowed inside the school, everyone has to still show a negative COVID test.
Although it is relatively a smaller school, the attrition rate for teachers is negligible (none in past 3.5 years), which speaks for itself.
My daughter looked forward to going to school everyday.