Carmel Mountain Preschool

If you are looking for a place where your child is truly seen, loved, and inspired, look no further than Dot to Dot Academy in Carmel Valley. Our experience here has been nothing short of transformative for our family. One of the standout features is their Food Atelier. It is rare to find a program so committed to health; the sugar-free, vegetarian menu is prepared with such care. Knowing my child is eating wholesome, seasonal meals—and is actually learning about where their food comes from—gives me incredible peace of mind. The teachers and educators here are the heart of the school. Their attention to detail and genuine affection for the children are evident every single day. I love that they prioritize outdoor time in such a meaningful way. Beyond the classroom, Dot to Dot has fostered a wonderful sense of community among parents. It feels like a partnership where we are all invested in raising kind, curious humans. Most importantly, my child is thriving. Seeing them run into school with a smile and come home bursting with stories about their "inquiries" and projects is the greatest testimonial I could ask for. We very much look forward to sending our newborn to Dot to Dot when the time comes.

*No pressure, no frills, no rigid curriculum, no one-size-fits-all approach: Being parents at Carmel Mountain Preschool (CMP) has been a wonderful experience for the past four years. The holistic educational model, amenities, and most importantly, dedicated staff are second to none. The flexibility CMP offers to parents is paramount, and allows children of all backgrounds to seamlessly transition into a schooling environment and develop at their own pace in a safe space. Seeing our children blossom, grow and thrive as a result of the CMP family has been one of our greatest joys. It truly takes a village.

Carmel Mountain Preschool is genuinely the best decision we have made for our kids first school experience. Every staff member is caring and attentive, the teachers are amazing at bringing out the best in each child. The atmosphere feels like a school family. The facilities are beyond well rounded ranging from an organic garden, art studio, kitchen, tinkering, to an 'enchanted forest' and animals on site. Beyond the physical space and amazing staff, we are personally grateful for seeing our kids thrive and come out of their shells while cultivating a love for learning. Thank you CMP!

What can I say about CMP other than that it’s our home away from home! My daughter started there at 18 months old and absolutely thrived. Even through the inevitable hard drop-offs as we got used to the new environment, she always came home happy and excited to show us dances or tell us about her friends. Each day became easier, and now, in her second year of school, she loves every day. The teachers are so kind, attentive, and knowledgeable. At every pickup they share something fun the class did and point out moments that made them—and her—proud. As a family, we love getting involved and attending the school events. Every day at drop-off and pickup we walk the campus to say hi to the animals (chickens, bunnies, turtles, snakes, lizards, etc.) and stop at our favorite spot—the garden! Ms. Maile is amazing with the kids and has created a truly beautiful and delicious garden. She has even given us a few veggies to plant at home because my daughter loves it so much. Beyond the beauty of the campus, we love CMP’s learning style. My very cautious, clean, careful daughter has finally learned to get a little messy and to trust herself to be brave and try risky things. She learns from the other kids and from the “don’t intervene unless injury is imminent” philosophy that she can climb and run and doesn’t need to worry—she can trust her body. She’s also become so in tune with her feelings, regularly telling us, “I’m sad because…” or “I’m angry because…”—a huge development we credit to CMP’s approach. All in all, we love every aspect of CMP. There are endless activities and areas to play, learn, and explore, and so many wonderful people providing her with love, support, and guidance throughout the day. We can’t wait to send our littlest there soon!

CMP is such an awesome preschool. It has everything I was looking for in a school. It’s outdoor and play focused, they serve organic snacks, and all of the facilities and staff are wonderful. We started with the Parent and Me class with Ms Sylvia. It was so fun, my son loved it, and it was a great way to familiarize him with the school. At 18 months, he started twice a week in the toddler class with Ms Carolina and Ms Ruby. They are so amazing with all the kids. My son absolutely loves them. Ms Ariz is another toddler teacher my son loves. All in all, I can’t recommend this school and the teachers enough. 5 stars all around