Can anyone recommend good preschools/day cares in the West University/Bellaire/Gallaria areas? We are relocating from Norway to Houston in December and need to find a good preschool/day care for my 3 and 5 year old boys.
Hands down - Montessori Country Day School! My daughter went there and we both loved it! Tell Marge that Lexi Roberts and her mom say hello! :-)
I know my sister loves AOS in montrose/museum district area which is not that far from west U. Her daughter now 6 has been going there for the past three years. Good luck!
Hi! Yes! There are quite a few. St Luke's Day School, St. Pauls, First Steps (at St John's school), River Oaks Baptist has a nursery program, The Bee Hive school (next to West U elementary) is popular, West U Baptist, Bethany Christian. Here are a few suggestions. I can also tell you about the area elementary schools as it looks as though you may have a child in Kindergarten? You are welcome to email me if I can help you further as I live in the area and am a native Houstonian. :)
Hi K., I don't recommend Montessori Country Day School I have bad experience with the school. Let me share with you my experience. After reading a few reviews on line, I enrolled my 17 mth old to this school. There was one teacher was too hard on him on mastering a few basic skills (pulling his pants up). Some other parents from his class agreed with me that the teachers shouldn't be to hard on the kids and should give them more loves and kisses. Come on, these kids are not even two yet. The head of school, Mrs "MXXXX" is a person who care $$$$ more than anything else. During the one week without classes (Hurricane Ike), she planned not to pay some hourly rate teachers. The school hired some interns that have no Montessory knowledge. Beware the supply fees and lunch fees. Ask about turnover how long have the teachers been at that campus, how long have the subs? The administration is focused on collecting tuition, not compassion.There was one day I arrived earlier to pick up my child and found him lay down and crying at one corner. Later I heard that the sub didn't turn out that day and they were short of teachers. No one pay attention to a crying child in the class. Please think twice if you plan to send your baby to this school.
http://www.loisharmonschool.com/ This is a fantastic, family run school located near the intersection of Stella Link and Holcombe/Bellaire, near Pershing Middle School. When I taught at Pershing (I know, it was the 70's and 80's), all the teachers took their kids to Ms. Harmon's. It is now being run by the daughter of the founder. When my daughter was there, I did not send her during the summer, since I was a teacher. Once she was back when she was 4, one day Ms. Harmon came up to me when I was picking up my daughter to say that my daughter was now ready to be moved to another class because she was developmentally ready. (Remember, this was 25 years ago, when not everyone knew as much as they know today.) I was so impressed that the director not only personally knew my child but knew her well enough to say where she should be placed.
There are other good preschools out there, but for some you have to get on a waiting list at birth!
Yes, a great one is South Hampton Montessori School just near Rice Village and just outside West U. My son went there for years (thru the fifth grade) and he still remembers it with affection.
Country Day Montessori is in the Museum District, both of my kids have gone there, we love it. St. Luke's and AOS are both programs that I have heard great things about. Good Luck!
St. Martin's Episcopal School near the Galleria is wonderful. We too moved from overseas and were able to get in. I believe they start at 15 months thru Pre-K. The teachers are wonderful and my son loves it.
Good luck...and pack away all your cold weather stuff! I don't know if it's in the loop or out...I'm still learning my way around.
