Natural Choice Academy

My three year old daughter has been attending Natural Choice Academy for almost six months and I’ve purposefully waited that long to write a fair review. This school is all we could hope for and more. The combination of the best nutrition and natural environment you will ever find PLUS amazing, creative and caring teachers and wonderful, friendly owners make NCA the very best. Communication between the school/​teachers and parents is open and consistent. The teachers are trained in and follow an «emergent curriculum» model which means they explore what the kids get excited about. And wow do they explore. My daughter told me all about volcanoes, Mt. Vesuvius, the city of Pompei, and Italy. The kids asked about volcanoes and it turned into a weeks-​long exploration which included science projects, history lessons, several art projects, engineering (they built an actual volcano), geography lessons, and culture (a parent who is from Italy was invited to speak to the class about Italy and the Italian culture). These are three year olds! And they love it! The food is amazing; healthy, organic, local and each meal is coded for gluten, dairy, meat, and other ingredients with daily alternatives offered. The owners have been extremely friendly and flexible, and genuinely want to hear parents’ feedback. They plan fun family events throughout the year including family day and a holiday show that is really adorable. We couldn’t be happier with Natural Choice Academy. I only wish they ran an elementary school too.

Our daughter attended pre school here from age 2 – 4.5 when we moved across country. I love the philosophy and the teachers and staff are top notch. Since then, it has been hard to find a school we love as much. The students get lots of outside play and I’m a fan of the Reggio Emilia program. Plus, the care that goes into each meal for the students is a blessing. Where else can our children create farm to table foods or eat organic for each snack and meal? Our daughter thrived in this environment and we made many life long friends. We miss it so much and wish Natural Choice Academy huge success.

I have 2 children that attend NCA and we absolutely love it! My oldest will start kindergarten next year. He has been at NCA for a little over a year now. Prior to NCA we had tried 2 other preschools and neither of them can begin to compare to NCA. I love that he’s receiving hands-​on and attentive care from his teachers and very nutritious meals. He’s thoroughly enjoyed the play-​based learning and I love how emergent curriculum encourages the children to learn. I appreciate that the main classroom teacher is the same for each class and that the additional teachers are also consistent. We struggled with him being moved from room to room in his previous schools. It made it difficult for him to adapt to a new environment and set of teachers each time. At NCA he spent and year in the Veggie Bunch and will be in the Apple Orchard for a year as well.
Our youngest son started in the infant (seedlings) room almost a month ago. He is 4 months old and I would have had a terrible time enrolling him anywhere else but NCA. I hadn’t planned on starting him so early but it became a necessity and he attends NCA 2 days a week. NCA is very supportive of breastfeeding mothers. I can comfortable nurse when I drop him off, come mid-​day and nurse at pick-​up. They are careful not to waste any milk too. His teacher has even worn him to get him to calm down and take a nap. They are incredibly attentive and capable. They start sensory play early on and I love that! My 3 month old got to finger paint!!! Parent and teacher communication is great! I know when he eats, sleep and how many diaper changes he’s received. He has his own crib and they are perfectly happy to let him sleep and eat on demand.
I could really go on and on. The school is family owned and operated and the owners are very involved! There is not a high turn-​over and they treat their staff well. I know I definitely want my children being cared for by people who are happy and love their job and the teachers at NCA truly do! They encourage parents to be involved and are happy to hear suggestions. We are very happy to have our children at NCA and I feel confident dropping my children off knowing that the teachers and owners are going to give them the same genuine care they would give their own children.

Our son has been attending NCA for almost three months and we couldn’t be happier with our decision. The teachers are fantastic! It’s truly been a blessing to have found this place.

NCA is fantastic for its play-​based early childhood development, awesome campus, and nutritious food. However, I have to rave about the infant room! Our girl is 10 months and has been having a blast at NCA. She gets lots of good physical play time, eats and drinks so well, and always seems to have fun. There is continuity of care from the same providers each day, and they know our girl well and take such great care of her.

As a health conscious environmentally friendly and organic minded mother I was beyond delighted to find this facility. The fact that the idea was founded by two environmentally and health conscious sisters made the facility even more attractive. The front office is well run. The facility is safety conscious as well. This facility is built on a foundation of environmentally friendly and health minded values. NCA offers significantly more than your average child care facility. And I embrace the methodology used in each age group to foster a love for learning expiration and sense of wonder. My daughter began in the youngest infant room otherwise known as seedlings and has progressed to sprouts and I am very pleased with the quality of care given to the children. It is difficult for me to leave my daughter while I go to work and this is one place where I feel much better leaving. The facility has a chef on site chef Hillari is amazing and avidly embraces the mindset that the facility is founded upon the menu items often contain not only healthy items but why variety of flavors which helps foster a good palate. The garden and large play area with trees and a lawn with no pesticides is a tremendous plus!

I wish my son had the opertunity to have gone here unfortunately due to either lack of this facility to follow up with parents who put money down to be on a wait list.
My first visit to the center I was not given a tour instead I was told no room right now.
Which I understand. I went back few months later same woman said the exact same thing however another employee there said you can be put on a wait list. I was so excited to hear that. I asked that day if it was possible I could tour .
I did and then placed the money down and that was December 2013.
Never got a call or any sort of follow up. What I do know my friend just enrolled her daughter that’ is same age group my son is in with no wait list or any issues of no room for your child.
How is that? Well truth be told she is white I am Hispanic.
Now, I’m not saying that they racist, it just feels that way when you get go thru all the proper steps to get your child enrolled and told no room yet and then it turns out they have room. What was their motive on telling me no room for my son yet?
I explained to them as well my son was autistic maybe that’s why I was never called back.
Today I called and asked them to please give me an explanation. They said they would call back. Let’s see if that happens or at least they should refund my money.

We love this daycare and have been very happy with the staff and policies. It is a very caring environment and my daughter is always happy. Choosing a daycare is a big decision but this one made the choice easy!

I enrolled my son here about a month ago based on a review from my friend who has his daughter enrolled in the school and I am very happy that I did. From the beginning, the staff as well as my son’s teachers were all extremely welcoming and presented a friendly and comforting environment for my son. This was very needed as he was previously being watched during my work hours by my parents and I wanted as smooth of a transition as possible. I love that they feed the children organic foods and even have a garden for them. By the second day they all new my son by name which helped him transition surprisingly fast as he felt the love coming from everyone here. I will definitely keep my child enrolled here and would recommend Natural Choice for others.

I would argue that this school is the best in the valley and most certainly is the best within 30 miles of Thunderbird & Tatum. I say this because my family had the unfortunate experience of having to try other schools because Natural Choice Academy did not have a spot when we first moved here in August 2012. NCA has caring teachers, the children stay in the same room all day (no conference call kicking teachers out and shuffling children to combined at the beginning and end of the day), and the food is organic and healthy. If you ask or show up at afternoon snack time at OTHER daycare centers, you’ll find that the other daycares feed the children saltine crackers or gold fish for a snack. At NCA, the menu is leaps ahead of other schools.
No school is going to replace the love you provide to your child in your home but the love of the teachers and owners at NCA is a close second. Genna and Allyson wanted to create a place that provided the same level of care they wanted for their children and they have accomplished that. I have and will continue to recommend this school to parents in the valley.

Caring — Natural — Communicative. My son and step-​son both attended Natural Choice. It was such a wonderful experience all around. I feel a bit spoiled from it, because now that I’ve had to move my son somewhere closer to my home, I really miss the feeling that my son is really cared for. At Natural Choice they really went above and beyond. They ALWAYS greet you warmly when you arrive, they have every safety measure in place to protect your child. They have installed a key pad system at the front door, and another check in point with an adorable but sturdy gate that only unlocks once the parent successfully gets finger print accepted by a computer screen. The school serves healthy food– freshly baked items. Lots of sunlight in the classrooms… the teachers are all very sweet and communicative. They email you photos of your baby, updates, send you home with art projects and photos… The teachers are also very aware of your childs wellbeing. They err on the side of caution if your child gets hurt, or seems ill… I always felt like my son was being paid attention to, and cared for.
Gosh what else — they had a fridge in his room so that I could bring almond milk for him. They supply baby wipes — you just bring the diapers.
The owners Genna and Allyson seriously rock. They are natural mamas, who will accomodate nursing mothers (let you show up midday for feedings, or store breastmilk etc.
Very forward thinking, and kind. Oh and a little garden is being planted out front!

I’m stunned by the only other review of NCA and frankly question the writers motivation. I’m not interested in a public back and forth on a social media platform but if you have any doubts as to the veracity of my comments, please PM me for further details.
That said, my son is enrolled at NCA and they do a tremendous job. My wife and I looked at virtually every other place out there and after very careful consideration chose NCA. Are they more expensive than some other options? Yes. Do I think we get the value we pay for? Absolutely yes… and then some. As a business owner myself, I see, understand and fully respect the time and effort the owners of NCA put into what they do and the resultant pride they have in their facility. Do they make a profit? I hope so. That’s what a business is supposed to do. That’s what keeps businesses IN business.
The concept of a good diet was of critical importance to me. I overcame extreme obesity and wanted to be sure my son learned good eating habits from day one. The comments about the food not being what NCA advertises are simply and unequivocally false. If you have even a moments doubt about this, take a tour of their kitchen yourself. The ownership will not only let you, they encourage it. You’ll find that everything is in fact organic from direct vendors or from their own garden. Whole Foods and Sprouts are not the only sources of organic food in the valley.
No preschool is perfect. You can’t predict how small children are going to interact all of the time and you can’t, no matter how diligent you may try, eliminate hiring staff that sometimes just does not work out. What you can do is always be responsive to your clients needs and be willing to hear their concerns. The team at NCA does that on a daily basis.
If you’re impressed by shinny, gargantuan facilities built by national chains then NCA is not the place for you. If you’re looking for a place where everything comes from the POV of what’s best for your children, look no further; Allyson and Genna have what you’re looking for.

My son has been attending Natural Choice Academy practically since it opened, and it is the only place I would ever send him to preschool. I use the word «preschool» and not «daycare» because that is what Natural Choice Academy is — a preschool. The children are encouraged to explore and learn and ask questions, and they do a variety of developmentally appropriate art, sensory, and academic activities. When my two-​year-​old comes home from school, tells me he’s «a paleontologist,» and gleefully points out a «dinosaur femur» in a book we are reading, it really validates my decision to send him to NCA.
More importantly, he is LOVED when he goes to school. His teachers have all been amazing, and the owners are personable and present. My son asks to go to school every day — even on the days we aren’t enrolled! His teachers always have anecdotes and stories to share each day, and they even email pictures of him several times of week.
I can’t help but be confused by a previous poster’s comment about the food. I’ve actually seen inside the cupboards and stayed for lunch several times. Not only is the food DELICIOUS, it is nearly all organic and natural. Applesauce is Trader Joe’s organic. Milk is Shamrock Farms organic. My son’s favorite lunch is an amazing chicken noodle soup with ABC pasta. I asked the nutrition director where she found the ABC pasta, and she showed me a box of Deboles organic alphabet pasta. This is in addition to all the food the kids eat from the on-​site organic garden! It’s pretty amazing to be able to ask my toddler where carrots come from, and he will respond «from the garden» rather than «from the store.» But really, I challenge you to find another preschool where your child will eat homemade quinoa and lentil soup, saffron rice with chicken, or beef and eggplant stew over brown rice (with the eggplant picked directly from the garden outside)! I love the healthy eating habits this school has instilled in my child from the moment he started eating solids.
I wouldn’t say Natural Choice Academy is cheap, but I absolutely believe you get what you pay for. And frankly, we toured a preschool three miles away that charged higher tuition and a menu of canned fruit cocktail and Life cereal. I’ll stick with NCA any day.
I would highly recommend Natural Choice Academy to anyone looking for a safe, loving, engaging, healthy environment for their child.

I really can’t disagree more with the previous review left by Ashlee M. My daughter has been with NCA for over a year now and I don’t even know where to begin to explain all the great things about this school. We started my daughter off when she was 6 months old in a different school that was way more expensive and didn’t provide meals or wipes for our child like NCA does. I’ve done A LOT of research and network with so many parents from the valley including those from NCA and outside of NCA, and none of the parents I know think NCA is overpriced for what you are provided. Especially compared to other schools in the area that provide food and a learning curriculum. As far as the food, I can’t believe anyone would have anything negative to say about the food. Not only have I experienced the meals myself, seen Ms. Nadia making the food myself, but I’ve actually seen her at Sprouts purchasing food. As parents these days that try hard to stay fit and eat clean, there is no better place I would send my daughter for the food alone. I eat clean, I cook clean for my family, and I shop only at Sprouts, Whole foods, Trader Joes, AND YES COSTCO! I have to say that even I don’t compare to Ms. Nadia (the chef) sometimes with her creative and interesting ways of bringing everything healthy to our children in such a broad spectrum of healthy meals. I know first hand that my daughter eats way better and a larger variety of items at NCA than in my home which many busy working moms run into in this day in age, but this makes me even more lucky to have a place to send her where I don’t worry for a second about what they are feeding her. And who doesn’t shop at Costco? Believe it or not, they do have organic and healthy items at Costco. NCA doesn’t hide where they shop, what they serve their kids, and they even invite you to join them for lunch/​snacks as I have done several times. The food is amazing and I can assure you they have not stopped providing organic and all natural meals no matter where they shop. My daughter is in the 3 year old class and with mostly older kids than her, due to her birthday. One of the biggest concerns I had about placing her in the older group was the thought of her getting pushed around, not being able to keep up with the older more daring kids on the play ground and coming home with bruises. I remember my old school always sent home a progress report. A paper showing exactly what my kid did all day and what she ate, when she went to the bathroom etc. At NCA when I first got here I was surprised I didn’t get a take home progress report everyday. And with my concern for her being younger I originally wanted a report everyday. But after a few days, and finally realizing that my kid is older now and more aware and so much more active, I thought more about it. Can you imagine the work involved in notating EVERYTHING a kid does for every parent? And is it really necessary? I take it back. That was for babies, not toddlers. Not only do I get pictures emailed to me daily from the teachers of what she is doing, I get told of her accomplishments via email or in person and of course any problems or concerns they have. Isn’t my teacher’s time better spent actually spending time with the kids, getting to know them, actually TEACHING them, then writing down every move my kid makes. The other day I got an email from the teacher to tell me directly about a mark on her back she got. I don’t get a take home note everyday but I get direct attention from my teachers any time something does happen. And any concern I have ever had or any mark on my kid’s body I’ve ever questioned that I’ve brought to the director’s attention has been taken very seriously. Although the teachers can’t see everything that happens, they make it a point to keep the kids in nothing but a safe and secure environment that allows the children their space to explore and experience the outdoors and their creative minds. Not only do I feel like my kid is safe in her class now with all the older kids, I’m amazed at how much she has mastered and learned from them. Including the bruise she was so proud to get mastering the big girl slide!!! The school is clean, the teachers are creative, skilled, and experienced, and the owners/​directors are always available, present, and approachable. The curriculum is great and the facility is safe and secure. It’s like a family there, all the teachers and directors know my name, and my daughter’s name even though she isn’t in all their classes. Maybe the school isn’t for everyone, but my husband and I are proud to send our daughter there. And the only thing I’m sad to say is that my daughter will eventually grow out of the school and have to move on to Kindergarten. I can only hope to find a Kindergarten that is like Natural Choice Academy.

My daughter was enrolled in this school for about a year. Within that time the school changed. At first my husband and I were excited to find such a school, but as time went on and tuition went up and up, the true purpose of this school came out. This school is for profit, not about the kids. Meals used to come from Sprouts and Whole Foods now come from Costco and they are not even organic or all natural. The whole wheat goldfish are simply Pepperidge Farms Goldfish and the pasta is Kirkland penne. All of this food is garbage that I would not want my child eating.
The second thing that started worrying me was when my daughter started coming home with bruises. I asked her what happened and she said she fell or a bike hit her. I never saw a note go home, when a year before I would have. I asked the teachers about the incidents and they seemed to want to skid away from the subject like they are supposed to cover up accidents to preserve how wonderful the school is or something.
After another registration fee had to be paid and yet another tuition increase, I decided to look at what we are paying for and what we are getting. The meals are no different than what you will get at any other facility, and the tuition is extremely high and will only go up, leaving more money for the owners not better meal choices for the children. The worst part is the secrets as to what my daughter is eating and what she is doing/​injuries that has me really concerned. I did the best thing by taking her out and enrolling her in another montessory school close by.

I am a current employee at NCA and I just have to share how much I enjoy working there. I love that NCA is an ECO-​friendly organic daycare. I appreciate this green living style because I have the same mentality in my own home. I enjoy coming into work everyday and being greeted by the little ones. I love all the children there as if they were my own. I love that with each day I am blessed to see them blossom right before my very eyes. If you share the same mentality as I do when it comes to a green lifestyle for you and your family you should come visit for a tour to come visit our amazing preschool!

Both my kids have gone/​are going to NCA. We call it the «green school» at home. There are a lot of things that are wonderful about this school, but what stands out to me is:
The teachers are very loving and caring with my children. My kids are comfortable when dropped off and look forward to their day at school.
They are constantly improving the business and as a business owner, I notice these things and appreciate it.
The playground is better than any park I have been too!
The feed my kids, healthy snacks and lunch.
If your looking for a preschool, this one you should check out. You won’t be disappointed.

Natural Choice Academy has been a terrific first preschool for my daughter. She enjoys the variety of activities each day and the huge back yard is fabulous. The large play structures along with tricycles & sandbox are some of her favorite times.
She is especially proud to bring home her school work & show off all she is learning and share stories of her friends.
The delicious natural meals make me feel so comfortable knowing she is well cared for every day she spends at NCA.

My two year old son and I are big fans of Natural Choice Academy. He gets a lot of personal attention, the staff all know us and treat us with respect, and he seems to really enjoy his time there. I like the fact that they focus on organic, healthy eating choices, and my son is starting to develop good friendships with his classmates. The kids have time outside every day, and they also do a lot of hands on activities. At such a young age, I think it is important that the curriculum me based in play — not too much forced learning — just a lot of fun, and Natural Choice Academy accomplishes this!

My husband and I picked Natural Choice Academy after visiting many nearby preschools. We loved how clean and organized the grounds were. We also loved knowing our son would be fed fresh organic meals daily (def. beats the sandwich routine)! This experience has been wonderful for our 22 month old boy, he is learning social skills and a routine he wouldn’t have at home. The owners Allyson and Genna are wonderful and very involved. We have been very pleased with our son’s classroom teachers and their one on one attention with our son. We have another boy on the way and plan on sending him here when he’s ready.