Gina C.
Los Angeles
Meher Montessori is an absolutely excellent school. We have been sending both our children there (now 3 and 5 years old) since they were a little over 2 years old. We love that their teacher takes our kids seriously. She sees and understands our children as people, not as simply as adorable beings to "ooo" and "awww" at. Meher has a vision for our kids of independence and interdependence, of kindness and responsibility, of listening and practice. Thanks to Meher we have watched our kids evolve into highly capable with life skills (dressing themselves, making food, etc), academically advanced (we were shocked at how early my daughter could recite and point out continents and do basic addition), and socialized (taking turns, sharing, being gentle, etc.). My five year-old wanted to turn five so badly just so she could get her special five year old lesson. In other, words it was the prospect of learning more in her class (not mermaid dolls) that she was most excited about in turning 5. This love of learning is cultivated in all children attending Meher.
When we first toured, our main concern was whether it would be "fun" for the kids, as we watched each child so quietly absorbed in a task like stringing beads, or pouring water. But as we looked closer and have observed our own children over time in this environment we realized that there is a deeper joy and self confidence they are gaining, as opposed to a chaotic over-stimulation that we'd seen in some other settings. We believe in the Montessori way (and this is a school that takes pedagogy seriously), but we are not purists. We can see multiple routes to the same end being taken, and yet what is happening at Meher is truly special.
Meher Montessori is what it is because of its incredibly dedicated, loving, and expert staff including Ms. Wildhaber (truly the best preschool teacher Los Angeles has to offer), Ms. McCray, and Ms. Van Ness. Ms. Wildhaber is passionate and constantly learning herself - attending weeks long teachers training and certification courses during school breaks. We believe in Meher and all it has to offer children and families.
Matthew A.
Sierra Madre
If you're reading this, you are probably in the middle of the crucial quest to find what is Best For Your Child. Play-based? Study-based? Experiential? We visited SO MANY schools and talked to SO MANY teachers. Lots of nice schools, lots of nice teachers. But Meher was the only one where we came away from our visits and meetings feeling like they had a real, concrete plan, and an understanding of children's behaviors, wants, and needs from the educational process.
There are a lot of "Montessori" schools but not a lot of real Montessori schools. Meher is, as they say, a real one. We've never come across an educator like Mrs. Wildhaber - such a unique, insightful, caring, special teacher that when the Altadena school was lost to the Eaton fire, most of the parents from our kid's class decided to spend an extra couple hours of their day driving their kids to Mrs. Wildhaber's new classroom in Monterey Park rather than switch schools.
Our kid has come into her own socially, linguistically, artistically, and in other ways in just a year at Meher (and we intend to keep her there). We're proud of her and we're indebted to Mrs. Wildhaber, Ms. McCray, Ms. Van Ness, and all the other caring and capable teachers and staff. Thank you, Meher.
Nicole L.
Los Angeles
Since early 2024, our daughter has been attending Meher Montessori of Altadena, and I can confidently say it has been one of the best decisions we've made for her overall well-being and education. Ms. Wildhaber, Ms. McCray, and Ms. Van Ness, as well as all the other teachers here, are truly remarkable. They go above and beyond to nurture not academic growth, yes, but also emotional intelligence and social skills. For a number of reasons, we worried about how our daughter would adjust, but every single teacher worked so sensitively with her, meeting her where she was and helping her grow at her own pace.
While all of the above would be enough, we need to add this: the sense of community is unlike what I've seen in any other school. The families and teachers are deeply invested in creating an enriching experience for all children. Our daughter has built meaningful friendships, gained confidence, and developed a love for learning that we know will stay with her for years to come. We are incredibly grateful to be a part of this wonderful institution!
Angela K.
Los Angeles
We absolutely love this school. Our son has been attending for about 6 months now and he loves it. Sometimes he asks me why I picked him up so early even though I pick him up when school is almost over.
Our teacher is Ms. Tinajero and she is such an attentive and caring teacher. We are so grateful for the teachers and staff at Meher!
Grace J.
Los Angeles
I was referred to Meher Montessori by a good friend who attended the school as a child, and whose children attended there as well. In fact, Ms. McCray taught her more than 20 years ago!! This shows the dedication and stability of the staff at Meher. Ms. Wildhaber, Ms. McCray, and Ms. Tinajero are all amazing! They are patient, caring, consistent, and thorough. I trust that my son is in good hands at Meher.
As far as curriculum goes, I am amazed at what my 4 year old has learned in the last 2 years at Meher. He can name and locate the countries of North and South America on a map, write all his numbers from 1 to 50, as well as learning respect, responsibility, kindness, and much, much more! He is even learning to write in cursive!
We are truly blessed to have this gem of a school available in our community! We love Meher Montessori in Altadena!
A.S.
Oakland
Our 4-year-old daughter has attended Meher for more than a year, and we are DELIGHTED with her education and development. The intimate setting and highly experienced, attuned teachers have proved an excellent fit for our child. On an educational level, she is already sight-reading and performing basic mathematic equations (!) and from a social perspective, she's learning the lessons she needs by interacting with all the other children. When looking for a school, I toured three accredited Montessori schools in Pasadena.
Although they all have their charms, we definitely feel we made the right choice with Meher.
Andrea O.
Torrance
Meher Montessori was a place where my son thrived besides his behavior issues, his history was that he was always asked to leave every preschool he had been (3 in 2 years) which led us to his high functioning autism diagnosis. I was upfront with the director about it, she was very accommodating and understanding. This seems pretty simple to resume in one sentence but the truth is it wasn't all roses but I never felt judged and my son was never asked to leave and that means a lot, specially when you're trying to figure out what's going on with your little one. He made friends he cared about and still have memories about it. I totally recommend Meher, not just for this monumental reason but because they care there and they're extremely devoted to the montessori method which is a term usually used loosely by some preschools.
Thank you Meher for a great year, sorry it took me too long to write a review on how much this meant to us!
Jenny L.
Los Angeles
Our son attended the Altadena campus from age 3 through 6. We kept him there through kindergarten because he was excelling academically and thriving emotionally/socially. As a kindergartner he was reading short stories, writing in cursive, doing multiplication, long division, world geography, and life/practical skills (Montessori philosophy). Every child receives individual attention and lessons, so it's a great environment for every child to move at their own pace. We really like the mixed age classroom, the older children really enjoy helping the younger children. That environment really helped my son make friends with kids from all grades when he transitioned to 1st grade at another school. Another reason why I chose Meher was because of the natural light through the large windows in the classroom. The school is very clean, and when you walk into the classroom, it feels really comfortable. The teachers are all very caring and patient, they have also been there for a long time.
We feel that Meher was a great choice; they really enhanced our son's curiosity for learning and prepared him for great start academically and socially.
Jessica N.
Altadena
I attended Meher about 22 years ago . I loved it then , and love it now . My son, now 3, currently attends Meher and even did the summer program . They are so helpful and caring. I am so relieved that Miss McCray is still there, she taught me and now she aides teaching my son. Ms. Avila and Ms. Wildhaber are awesome as well. They keep you informed, involved, and updated on everything; from activities at school to photos being sent via email. I highly recommend it to all. I have never had a negative experience here and i assure you , neither will you.