Hillcrest Montessori School

Our twins attended preschool at Hillcrest. It was a wonderful experience for both of them. Hillcrest is a fun, nurturing, educative, and secure environment for your child.
It was very nice to drop them off in the morning and see their happy faces, neither of them cried a single time upon being dropped off. Both of them have grown tremendously in all developmental and cognitive areas. They’ve learned so much from planets, layers of the earth, numbers, spelling, reading, geography, (they reminded us the flags we had forgotten about) and much more. They always sing the songs they learned here, and seemed very happy upon returning home. (They still correct each other on how the songs should be).
At the beginning of the school year, one of our twins had a little difficulty adjusting to the school setting, peers, structure, etc., but Ms. Paiva and Ms. Nancy were both very supportive, understanding, and communicated very well with us about the changes he was having and the way they were working on making it an easy transition. We always discussed at home what had happened at school, and supported the teachers to help with a smooth transition. After a few weeks, we saw the change, our child had transitioned and had adjusted in all areas. The teachers have an incredible amount of patience, and we’re very thankful for everything they did to help our child.
Our other child, was very shy upon entering Hillcrest. When they had the X-​Mas show, our little one’s face was almost always looking down during the performance. We could see the lack of confidence, and some fear of the audience. (This show is very well rehearsed. It’s nicely balanced from singing, acting, and dancing. Simply beautiful, and we really enjoyed it!!) We were hopeful that our child would open up, and it happened smoothly little by little. Ms. Paiva and Ms. Nancy kept us very well informed of the progress and the comments from home our «shy and quiet» child would share with them. During graduation ceremony, our little one was not the same from the X-​Mas show. When Ms. Paiva called out our child’s name, we could see the self confidence in his face, and the enthusiasm about speaking. We could’ve heard the whole speech without a microphone. He opened up so much, it’s amazing!
If I could repeat this experience, I would. The only thing I would change is, I would enroll them an extra year so they could gain double the positive experience, and greater achievement. We have so much fun now, listening to our kids enjoy reading to us. They’re beyond prepared for kindergarten.
Our youngest child will follow his brother and sister’s steps as soon as he’s finished with some in-​home classes he currently takes. We can’t wait for him to begin his journey at Hillcrest!!!

Without any bit of hesitation, I highly recommend Hillcrest Montessori. Ms. Paiva is amazing as are the rest of the teachers there. They are loving, caring and provide a setting which allows the children to feel loved, safe and happy.
My son attended the school one year because it was difficult for me to let go as he was my first born. They made my separation anxiety disappear as I saw how soon my son was able to separate from me (I have to admit he had no problem the first day or any day after that) and look forward to going to school every day. Now, my second child is completing her first year and she will be attending a total of two years before moving on to Kindergarten. She loves it and is really motivated to learn. I really feel blessed that I was able to find this school for my children and would choose it again without hesitation if I had more children. If you are looking for a preschool, definitely visit this one before making your choice.

My husband and I wholeheartedly recommend this preschool. Our 3.5 year old daughter started here when she was 2 and has made great progress socially
and academically. When i had my daughter, we were looking for a Montessori based preschool in Pasadena. We toured several preschools and Montessori and chose Hillcrest based on online reviews and my tour experience. We couldn’t be more happier with our choice. Some of the schools we toured were cold to kids.
I wanted to find an intimate, warm, and caring environment for my daughter and Hillcrest provides it perfectly along with environment to develop her academic skills. The school is not pretentious and the focus is entirely on the kids. Teachers are caring but firm with kids. Its a small school and love the teacher-​child ratio. Each kid gets personal attention from teachers. There are 3 class rooms (max 45 kids). All teachers knows kids from all rooms and all kids know each other and spend time
together everyday as part of their curriculum. The facility is always clean (both the classrooms and the outdoor space) with so many resources and activities for the children. The Montessori jobs are periodically replaced so the kids never get bored.
What I love most about this place is that they keep the parents in the know about activities, routines and how your child is progressing. You can go to the school any time to check and you will be surprised that there is no chaos and children doing their activities or playing happily.
The tuition fee is very reasonable. It includes all art and learning materials and Spanish too. Dance classes are optional. They have a cute Christmas show in December and end of school show in June.
I feel relaxed and at ease when I am at work knowing my daughter is safe and cared for.

My husband and I wholeheartedly recommend this preschool. Our 4 year old daughter has been enrolled for the last 2 years, and we are amazed at the progress she has made, both socially and academically, thanks to the curriculum and caring environment established by the director Ms. Paiva and the other teachers.
Maybe it’s because she’s our first, but we can’t believe the things a 4 year old can do — reading, writing, arithmetic, identify flags of the world, etc. She comes home with fun and educational art projects — booklets illustrating the lifecycle of a frog, glued cardboard and rocks representing the layers of the earth, colorful pasted planets of the solar system (Saturn has silver tinsel rings!). At the last open house, I couldn’t believe my eyes — a room full of 4 and 5 year olds quietly and happily selecting their own projects from a huge selection, completing them on their own with minimal guidance from the teachers, and then putting them away neatly when finished.
Our son will be 2 later this year, and we look forward to enrolling him. Hillcrest helps with potty training — phew! Already, he gets very excited to pick up his sister from school because he is completely at home there, exploring the classrooms, running around on the playground with the big kids, and «talking» with the teachers.
Hillcrest is a wonderful find, especially given the very reasonable tuition, and I’m so glad we found it!

We love Hillcrest!!! Our 3 year old has been there for a year and our 5 year old has been there for 3. In 2012 we brought our youngest daughter home from the hospital and decided our oldest needed to be in a preschool program. It was a last minute decision and so when I saw the sign in front reading «Now Enrolling», I immediately called the school. Although the director Ms. Paiva was on vacation (it was summer), Ms. Nancy said to come on in and visit that afternoon! No waiting, no «oh you missed the deadline», all very welcoming.
We love the size. There are only 3 classrooms with a max of 15 in each. It’s in the lower level of a church and nice and quiet. The school is extremely clean and well organized. There are so many activities and materials for the children, I feel like I’m still seeing new things after 3 years there. The kids eat lunch outside on a covered patio and the school has a large playground and play area where children can ride numerous tricycles. My kids nap really well there. They play music and the teachers sit on the floor with kids and help get them to sleep.
They are super flexible with schedules and willing to work with you if you want/​need to switch things up. They offer before and aftercare as well. From talking to families at other schools, I believe the tuition is extremely affordable.
I have been amazed at the school work my kids bring home. Our oldest daughter just turned 5 and is reading, doing addition/​subtraction and multiplication/​division. She has also learned the geography of the USA, numerous international flags and the major bones of the body. The great thing is that they teach at the child’s own pace so it’s never stressful or not fun. There is lots of play time and craft time. My kids are so proud of all the work they bring home.
As our daughter gets ready to enter kindergarten in the fall we know she is beyond prepared. Children from this school end up in a variety of schools from private, to charter, to public.
We feel so blessed to have found Ms. Paiva and Hillcrest. We couldn’t have asked for a better «second home» for our kids. The love of the teachers for what they do is apparent in all aspects of the school. The school is not pretentious at all and the focus is entirely on the kids.
We are sad that our oldest daughter is moving on, but are so glad we have another 2 years there with our youngest.
Also, one last tidbit-​the holiday show. How they get the kids to do what they do is beyond me, but it is absolutely spectacular. The effort that goes into it is incredible and is a favorite of mine. Hillcrest even invites past students back for the last song. And then there’s the potluck after… yum! :)
Anyway, go check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

Hillcrest is a wonderful preschool and I strongly recommend it! My kids love all their teachers and Ms. Paiva runs the school with experience and true care. She has been teaching Montessori for decades and was actually my Montessori teacher when I was a child! My kids love learning here and they have made significant progress since beginning last summer. My 5 year old son was deemed kindergarten ready in every category when independently tested and accepted to every great school we applied. In addition to the academic aspect, the teachers truly foster a wonderful and safe classroom environment where the children are expected to treat their fellow classmates with care and respect and it works! My kids’ classmates are wonderful and a joy to be around and I love how thoughtful they all are! So glad we made the decision to put our kids in this gem of a school!

Simply put, Hillcrest Montessori is an absolutely fantastic place for students to thrive both academically and socially. I currently have one daughter attending Hillcrest, and my other daughter graduated from Hillcrest last year (2014). Both daughters have been enrolled since 2012, and so I feel I have a pretty good impression of the school as a whole, as they have spanned the beginning classes (2 years+), up to the graduating class of 5 year olds.
I actually had both of my daughters enrolled in a more expensive preschool in 2012, and another parent recommended Hillcrest to me. At the time, we were underwhelmed with our previous pre-​school, citing too much playtime and not enough learning. When we would read to our daughters at home, they would be engaging in academic conversation, asking about letters and numbers, but they weren’t getting that at their previous school.
When we toured Hillcrest, we were impressed by the level of student achievement in the graduating class. Utilizing the Montessori curriculum, which I was unfamiliar with at the time, the students at Hillcrest were FAR SURPASSING the students at our previous preschool. At Hillcrest, most students were READING upon exiting the school. (At our previous school, in the most advanced classroom, students were being introduced to letters… occasionally). It was almost entirely social/​emotional development, but it was really lacking any type of academic focus.
Needless to say, we had found the academic component of what our daughters had been seeking at Hillcrest. Since then, we have been nothing but impressed time and time again by the communication from staff, the supportive parent community, and lasting friendships both on the student and parent level.
When my youngest daughter enters the school in the morning, she is excited and runs to the arms of her teacher (Ms. Nancy). Her vocabulary, speaking, writing, math, and social demeanor have all improved in her past two years at Hillcrest. When she struggles and/​or thrives, her teachers let me know. There is a constant flow of communication, not only from my daughter about her daily practices at school, but also from Hillcrest staff, which I really appreciate.
I would also like to add, I truly feel the educators at Hillcrest hold the students to a high standard, not only with academic content, but also in interacting with one another. I have had unending support from staff while my daughter went through the «terrible 2’s» and such, and I can honestly say she is a MUCH more polite and respectful little girl than before, and I think a lot of that has to do with the support and structure the Hillcrest staff has shown over the past two years.
In closing, as both a parent and an educator myself, I can wholly recommend Hillcrest Montessori to any parent seeking a caring and engaging atmosphere for their child. My youngest daughter, who still has one more year left at Hillcrest, is already reading on a kindergarten level. She knows all her letters with accompanying sounds, and she can sit next to her sister — who is soon to graduate kindergarten — and follow along with her homework! She knows her numbers up to 100 (another kindergarten skill), and is already experimenting with addition and subtraction on a daily basis. This, of course, is on top of the multitude of art projects she is bringing home, songs she learns, friendships she has procured, weekly dance classes, and performances she has been in. (And YES, you WILL be impressed with the Christmas show!).
In conclusion, if you’re looking for a preschool for your son (s) and/​or daughter (s), I would definitely recommend checking out Hillcrest Montessori. Ms. Paiva and the staff have done wonders to enhance both the social and academic skills of both my daughters, and I am extremely thankful I was referred to Hillcrest Montessori.

We were referred to Hillcrest Montessori by the owners of a rental home we were looking at 2 years ago when we moved back down to Southern California. They were thrilled with their daughter’s education, including advanced reading skills. We are also extremely pleased with Hillcrest Montessori! We enrolled our daughter right when she turned 2 and are amazed at how much she has learned! At age 3.5 she is already learning addition and subtraction and writing her numbers. She is always singing a new song at home that she’s learned at school.
All of the teachers are extremely friendly and loving, always eager to give personal updates on your child. My daughter always hugs whichever teacher is there with her when I pick her up. They were also very patient with our daughter with potty training.
Our daughter has made so many friends at school. I also love that Lucky Ducks dance class comes once a week and our daughter has the chance to learn ballet, tap, cheerleading and gymnastics.
The hours of operation work great with my 8 – 5 M-​F job and the rates are very good.
I am currently pregnant with our second daughter and know that once she turns 2, we will be enrolling her with Hillcrest.

Although there are other preschool closer to our area, we decided to bring our 2 years old here base on a friend’s recommendation. We were told that the teachers here are very caring, but firm. They focus on academics varying from math, science, language, and social skills. Also the school is very clean. What’s most important to us at the time was they accepted our son even though he was not potty trained. A year in and now my son is potty trained thanks mostly to them.
Our son is not very social. I was very concern that he will have issue interacting with other kids. A few months in and he was making friends and becomes very talkative. I am very impressed at how much my son have excel and how well he behave.
The staff shows great care to every one of their student. I am amazed at how everyone gets along with one another and are very polite.
I can go on describing how impress I am, but to sum it all up our son continually surprise us each time with something new.
Overall I highly recommend Hillcrest Montessori Pasadena. I am glad I took my friend’s recommendation.

My two daughters went to Hillcrest Montessori and I have nothing but great things to say about the school. My kids loved every day of school. The teachers are well organized, caring, loving and at the same time firm with children. All the teachers are well experienced and wonderful. The curriculum is very well balanced with academics, motor skills, creativity, arts and crafts, play and fun. The children start their day with fun filled circle time greeting the teachers, singing cute songs and Pledge of Allegiance. Teachers engage them with different activities through out the day. The kids come out more than prepared for kindergarten and even more advanced. We were amazed by the stuff that kids could do in math, spelling and reading. The staff communicates well with the parents. Their Holiday program is phenomenal and the cutest thing on earth. The school is clean, safe and structured. It has a big play ground and plenty of parking. We recommended the school for many of our friends and they are extremely happy with it. We highly recommend Hillcrest Montessori for pre-​school children.

I give Hillcrest Montessori preschool my highest recommendation. I have sent two children here over the past 6 years ages 2 – 5. The school lead by Ms. Paiva offers a varied curriculum including math, geography, science, language arts, performance arts, spanish, manners and playtime. My children have made lasting friendships with the teachers and peers, and entered Kindergarten well above grade level.
The preschools strengths are the caring teachers who communicate well with parents, and offer personalized learning when needed. I toured over 15 Pasadena area preschools before choosing Hillcrest Montessori. While the facilities are not brand new (like many other pricey Pasadena preschools) they are clean, safe and inviting. There are myriad outdoor games, toys, bikes and play structures while inside the Montessori jobs change each month to the children’s delight.
One highlight is the annual Christmas play, it’s a preschool performance that rivals any middle school. The children gain confidence and public speaking skills via multiple costume changes, songs and musical numbers.
The small number of children, and reasonable price is just icing on the cake. The real strength is the kind staff and curriculum.