La Jolla Montessori School has truly been the best decision we’ve made for our child’s academic journey. This is our fourth year at LJMS, and our son started there when he was just 18 months old. We had him on the waitlist 10 months in advance, and looking back, it was one of the smartest things we’ve ever done.
The growth we’ve seen is incredible. Compared to other children his age, our son is way ahead–he’s reading and doing basic math at only 4 years old! The teachers here are nothing short of amazing. His first teachers, Miss Andrea and Miss Angela, laid a strong foundation, which Miss Michelle, Miss Cherie, and Miss America expertly built on. Miss Flor, along with his other EDP teachers, Miss Olivia and Miss Sage, have continued his growth beautifully. And Miss Heather, the Director, has fostered such a positive and nurturing environment.
One of the standout features of LJMS is their Spanish immersion program–it’s truly the best in the area. We’ve seen firsthand how much it sets the school apart from others. If you’re serious about giving your child a strong academic start and setting them up for long-term success, La Jolla Montessori School is the place to be! We couldn’t be happier with our experience.

LJMS has been a second home for our family! We have our son and our daughter attending the school for the past 3+ years. Their teachers have been kind, polite and extremely caring and we have felt safe leaving our children in their care.
In addition to their first language (Persian) they have learned fluent English and Spanish as well.
We have been happy with the way the teachers reach out to us and are open to meet and talk about any concerns. We are able to observe our children any time. We are grateful for the education our children are able to get through the AMI curriculum. This is a school not a daycare.

La Jolla Montessori has been such a great find for our family and our 3 year old daughter. It’s been wonderful to watch her develop and learn new skills in the school. It seems like each day she comes home with new pieces of arts and crafts that she worked on during the school day. Within a few months at the school, she was able to count to 10 and beyond in Spanish along with other vocabulary. It’s pretty adorable to hear a 3 year old, whose “r”s still sound like “w”‘s, speak Spanish words that have rolled R’s. Hah. The school does a great job of over-communicating with my wife and I, including messages through their app and invitations to observe the kids in the classroom during their school day. In the times we’ve observed the kids, we’ve seen the teachers work with them with a loving and structured approach, which is exactly what our strong-willed girl needs. The school went a long way in helping our daughter get potty trained, which has been tremendous for our family. Would definitely recommend any family check out this school if they’re looking for a hands-on, learn-through-play, based school.

It has been SUCH a blessing to our family to find this wonderful preschool for our daughter. Every single person is so caring, thoughtful and deliberate with how they are teaching and guiding our daughter. My daughter started just as she turned two and is now 3 1/2. My daughter’s teachers have helped her to slow down and do things in a methodical way. She loves all the hands on tasks like gardening, sewing, stenciling, folding, etc… I appreciate even activities like coloring are so organized and her brain is being trained that way… using a tray, only picking three colors, choosing a stencil, cleaning up after each she’s done. They do a brilliant job of implementing order, practicality and fun to daily routines. Her teachers helped us navigate potty training…(they were the ones that noticed diapers staying dry for longer periods of time and let us know our girl is ready). Her teachers have noticed social situations that need altering and are so helpful and communicate of how to navigate if a challenge with a peer comes up. I appreciate much how the teachers are paying attention and are committed to my girls success. Thank you Ms. Heather, Ms. Carmen, Ms. Isobel, Ms. Hannah!

We have had excellent experiences at La Jolla Montessori. Both of our daughters have attended the school and we know the director and staff very well. The communication between staff and parents is very clear and open, and the quality of the instruction is excellent. The bilingual program in particular is very good, with children receiving daily language lessons, which are complemented by Montessori work cycles in both English and Spanish. There are two guides in each classroom, one who provides instruction in English and one who provides instruction in Spanish. This creates a solid foundation in both languages – in fact our eldest daughter recently began attending a Spanish immersion elementary school and has had a very successful transition. We highly recommend LJMS.

La Jolla Montessori Bilingual School has been a cornerstone of our family’s journey since our daughter joined at the age of two, followed by our son at 18 months. Our daughter is preparing to graduate from the Whale class at five years old, and our son continues to thrive in the Dolphin Toddler class. Throughout our journey, we have seen both of our kids transform into confidant and curious children. When we started our daughter is LJMS we did not know a lot about the Montessori approach, we found this school out of pure luck during COVID and we have come to believe it was a blessing in disguise for our family. The bilingual curriculum has been a highlight for our family. We’re continually impressed by their fluency and ease in both Spanish and English, thanks to the thoughtful and engaging approach of the teachers
The staff is so great, from admin to the teaches they really do care about all the children and their families. LJMS has become an extension of our family, and we wholeheartedly recommend it to any parent seeking a nurturing, bilingual education for their children.

My children, aged 4 and 5, both started at La Jolla Montessori when they were around two years old. Back then, I didn’t fully grasp what a “Montessori school” entailed, but amid the challenges of Covid, I was grateful to find a school. I initially worried about the lack of traditional structure and toys, preferring a more play-based learning environment. However, I’m immensely thankful for the incredible experience they’ve had there. The school not only facilitated their academic growth but also helped with practical skills like potty training, healthy eating habits, and fluency in Spanish, a language my husband and I don’t speak. As they transition to John Muir next year, I’m grateful for the solid foundation provided by LJ Montessori. The school’s cleanliness, safety, and educational toys are remarkable. The teachers, like Ms. Angela, Ms. Carmen, Ms. Andrea, Ms. Katia, and Ms. America, have been exceptional–passionate, kind, and caring. With my 4-year-old still attending LJ Montessori, I’ve cherished our time there and highly recommend this Spanish immersion school. I’m confident that next year, as they enter a 90% Spanish immersion program, they’ll be fully prepared thanks to the wonderful experiences at LJ Montessori.

We have absolutely loved this school. My son was having a hard time adjusting to a previous preschool–but since I moved him to La Jolla Montessori, he has been thriving! He is well prepared and confident to move on to elementary school next year. Between both my kids, we’ve been through a few different preschools, and La Jolla Montessori has been our best experience. The teachers are so warm and loving. They teach valuable lessons including empathy, kindness, and manners. When visiting, it’s amazing to see how calm and well adjusted all the children are! Highly recommend!

Our child has been at LJMS since 2020 and we have LOVED every aspect of it. The teachers are so kind and nurturing, and our child has learned SO much. The Montessori philosophy to nurture the whole child, and including a focus on caring for their environment, kindness, and compassion is wonderful. They have provided wonderful instruction – my child loves math, reading, writing, has learned about countries across the globe! The dual language (Spanish and English) is also an asset. My child has also been there for the extended day program, and participated in extra curricular activities that were offered on site such as soccer and cooking. Everyone there seems deeply committed to the students, and I am so happy our child had the opportunity to be there.

Our daughter has been at La Jolla Montessori School (LJMS) for the past year, and we love the school. The teachers are excellent, and the support staff are terrific. She loves the Montessori approach and could easily do Math(4-digit addition) or read a book independently. We enrolled her in the Extended Day Care program after class till 4.30 pm, and she always comes back with a smile.
Ms.Heather, the Program Director, and Ms.Hannah, the Administrative Assistant, are responsive and willing to answer any question with a smiling face.
The teachers Ms.Radhiya and her Spanish teacher Ms.America are fantastic, and we highly recommend them. The EDP staff also provides her with different activities which she enjoys every day.
We are big believers in Montessori education, and LJMS is one of the best Montessori schools in San Diego. We can’t appreciate enough how the school and teachers have made her independent. I will recommend any parent of a young child to join the LJMS with confidence and rest assured your kid will be well taken care of and come out as an independent, responsible, self-sufficient, and confident child.

My son has been at LJMS for 9 months now in the toddler classroom, and he’s learned so much! The teachers and staff were extremely helpful during the transition to a new school. They asked a bunch of questions about his interests and made sure to incorporate some into his “work”. When he’s home, he asks to help with everything: laundry, sweeping, preparing his food, etc.
One of the things that drew me to LJMS was the dual-immersion program and I’m immensely thankful that they have it. One teacher only speaks to him in English and the other only speaks to him in Spanish. We primarily speak English at home, with some Spanglish thrown in, so I wanted to make sure he was hearing Spanish consistently throughout the day, and it’s made such a difference.
The teachers and staff treat the children with such respect and really let them guide their own lessons and play throughout the day. My son is also learning to use the toilet, an adventure that I was a bit hesitant about, but the teachers walked me through their approach at school and ways that I could reinforce those habits at home. It’s been so nice to have that support throughout the day.
During this COVID era, Kelly, the director, and the rest of the staff have been communicative about all the changing government guidelines as well as monitoring the health of every student. The health and well-being of each child is really top-of-mind for them. To echo others’ comments, they make you feel as if you’re part of a small community; they greet everyone by name (the parents too!) and provide photos of the kids engaged in their work and playing outside.

We feel so fortunate to be a part of the LJMS community. Our son is 26 months old and he is THRIVING at this school. Yes, even in the midst of COVID-19!
First and foremost, LJMS provides an authentic Montessori education. All of the teachers are AMI educated. This was very important to us in our search for a Montessori school, as not all schools which use the Montessori name offer this level of authenticity. The entire staff is truly committed to the Montessori method, which is characterized by child-led development that involves the staff’s observation of the child and their strengths and creating an individualized learning program that follows the child’s unique interests and pace. Our son especially enjoys cooking with his teachers and other practical life activities (gardening, sweeping, cleaning windows, and lately, learning to dress himself), circle time (including singing songs, playing instruments, and reading books), and language lessons (which involve the use of real materials, such as fruits and vegetables; and replicas, such as miniature versions of different animals). All of these daily activities assist in fostering our son’s independence, curiosity, and desire to learn.
Also, unlike any other childcare center that we considered (there were A LOT), LJMS offers an English/Spanish bilingual immersion program to all students attending the school at no additional cost. Each classroom has one teacher who exclusively speaks English with the children and a second teacher who exclusively speaks Spanish. This is a proven method that assists children in learning to speak a second language fluently by the time they complete Kindergarten. What an amazing gift to give your child! We’ve overheard our two year old counting to himself in Spanish and lately he has been using Spanish words to describe objects that he sees in books. It really works!
Other factors we considered when interviewing schools was the availability of before/after school care and a summer program. LJMS offers both. Our son is currently enrolled in the summer program and prior to COVID-19, when both of us parents were commuting to/from work, he was enrolled in the after school care program. Everything we love about what LJMS offers during the traditional school year calendar/hours is also prevalent in their before/after school care and summer program.
Outside of the classroom, LJMS has consistently demonstrated their commitment to support their families. Prior to COVID-19, they offered informative sessions for parents, which gave us the opportunity to meet with the Director, teachers, and other parents to learn more about the Montessori method and how to continue it at home. During COVID-19 and prior to reopening the school, they offered weekly parent meetings on Zoom, during which they shared relevant information and resources for all of us parents suddenly tasked with providing full-time childcare. Also during COVID-19 and prior to reopening the school, the teachers hosted daily Zoom meetings for the children, during which they offered lessons in cooking and making play dough, sang songs, and read books. Our son participated in most of these meetings, which made his transition back to school that much easier.
Since reopening after COVID-19, the school has implemented a proven protocol ensuring the health and safety of the children. Staff wear masks, everyone gets their temperature checked upon arrival and again in the afternoon, children wash their hands every 45 minutes, and disinfecting the classrooms/materials is taken very seriously. We were SO pleased to learn about their recent addition to their disinfecting protocol – Electrochemical Activation (ECA) generators, which use water, salt, and electricity to produce a potent, but natural, disinfectant that can cover the walls, furniture, and classroom materials in minutes. They are EPA approved and frequently used in hospitals, airplanes, and childcare centers. We are so grateful of (and truly impressed with) LJMS’ commitment to both the health and safety of our son.
If you’ve taken the time to read through this lengthy review, you’re likely as thorough as we were in selecting a school for our son. We can honestly say that LJMS has and continues to exceed our expectations in regards to all of the factors that we consider to be important. We have another son due in August and we already know that we want to enroll him at LJMS as soon as he is eligible at 18 months old!

Our daughter has been at La Jolla Montessori School (LJMS) now for one year. We absolutely love the school. The teachers are amazing. The bilingual program is top notch and truly works in teaching our daughter to learn a second language at an early age with ease. The school has a warm family feeling which makes it so easy to drop our daughter off every morning.
Kelly, the administrator of the school, is always willing to help and answer any questions that may arise. LJMS truly tailors to working parents by having before and after care availability, as well as having a great summer program. The school opened the doors early after the COVID restrictions lifted making the school available for parents that needed childcare during those difficult times.
We are big believers in the Montessori education. Our older two daughters went through the Montessori program as well from 2 years old through 1st and 3rd grade. Its teaching our kids independence and the true love of learning from a very young age. We have seen these fundamentals carry through and manifest in our older children’s elementary school years. They are truly interested in learning and love going to school.
We are so proud to be part of the LJMS community. I can recommend the school with confidence and educate parents frequently of the great benefits that we see in our Montessori children.

LJMS is an extraordinary community founded on integrity to the Montessori method and led by an incredible group of educators. We are so grateful that our child is able to attend LJMS- we have truly seen her thrive in this environment and she comes home so happy and proud of her work each day, beaming as she shows off her math, art, and excited that she is able to help and lead the littler ones in her class. The director, Ms. Kelly is so kind and dedicated to the vision and potential of this school. We can’t wait to see LJMS continue to grow. She exemplifies putting the child first, is so approachable, and also proactively seeks parents needs and input into building this school community. We have been so impressed at the expeditious improvements in the facilities, with a focus on creating not only a beautiful, but a safe environment for children to learn. The EDP program works well for working parents, and is currently run by Ms. Natasha who has a most engaging but grounding presence for the students. The bilingual education is so special with one teacher Spanish-speaking only to truly immerse the children in language and it is incredible how they learn! Together, Ms. Adri is a wonderful influence to her students, and is so engaged with helping them advance, and Ms. Mara creates a very loving environment where our daughter has felt safe to continue to explore without fear of failure, but rather the audacity to try. As parents, we have such peace of mind that our children are loved, nurtured, and so well cared for in this environment. They are taught to respect others and the world by the examples of their teachers -what better wish could you have for their future.

After touring La Jolla Montessori school, I’m mesmerized by the minimalist and gorgeous classrooms! Well done! What a beautiful and logical way to learn at a preschool level!
This is an English and Spanish bilingual Montessori school so kids begin their bilingual path at 18 months old. Love it, as language is one of my favorites! The Spanish teachers only spoke Spanish and the English teachers only spoke English so it’s an awesome way to become bilingual.
The teachers and staff are so loving and kind. I especially love the concept to guide the child so they are independent thinkers and doers!
Bravo!!