Ann Arbor Hills Child Development Center At Old Bader School

Our family spent nearly seven wonderful years at Ann Arbor Hills Child Development Center, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the experience. We watched both of our kids thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The school built such a strong foundation in reading, writing, and math, skills that have set them up beautifully for the next stages of their education. What truly sets Ann Arbor Hills apart is its people. The teachers, staff, and leadership are resourceful, well-equipped, and genuinely kind. They understand each child as an individual and nurture both their needs and their potential. The curriculum is rich and well-rounded, with music, art, and hands-on learning woven into every day. Beyond the classroom, the sense of community is remarkable. Families know each other, support each other, and celebrate each child’s growth together. We feel so lucky to have been part of such a nurturing and inspiring environment. It gave our children not just academic readiness, but confidence, curiosity, and joy in learning.

A heartfelt and glowing recommendation We sent both of our boys to Ann Arbor Hills Child Development Center for their entire preschool years (2019–2025), and I cannot say enough about the experience. From the very beginning, the teachers were deeply invested in our children’s growth—meeting them where they were and gently guiding them forward. Their thoughtful, child-led approach helped build not just academic readiness but also confidence, creativity, and emotional resilience. Our boys were more than prepared for kindergarten thanks to the strong foundation laid here. The program beautifully blends academics with the arts, movement, and play—teaching numbers, early math, and literacy in ways that feel joyful and engaging. One standout was the incredible music program led by Gannon Alexander, which sparked a love of music in both of our children that I know will last a lifetime. Ann Arbor Hills CDC is a place where childhood is respected, nurtured, and celebrated. I would enthusiastically recommend it to any parent looking for a mindful, enriching early childhood education.

Our hearts are full, full of gratitude for the teachers and administrators at this wonderful school. Despite having a larger than usual class size this year (likely from the Pandemic boom), the school teachers accomodated our little one for the school year. He thrived with the well structured, well thought of curriculum, which included many child-led art production/projects, music appreciation. We appreciate very much the emphasis of large motor and fine motor needs of toddlers. The toys/books selections are authentic and well defined throughout the year. We are thrilled with the attention paid to the development of manner and respect. When it is shown that our toddler needed more social skills support, the teachers and administrators bent backwards to accomodate our needs for additional help. Everything that happens at this place allows a child to be a child at the appropriate time and space. Thank you also for the many lessons to us parents and for allowing us to mature along with our little one.

I highly recommend Ann Arbor Hills Child Development Center to any parent who is trying to find a wonderful school for their child. AAHCDC's Directors: Ramelle Alexander and Beth Randall truly understand early child development and appropriate pedagogy to nurture growth and education for each child. I toured and visited other preschools, and once I visited AAHCDC, I knew that this school was one of the best in town. My child has learned so much in her one year of preschool here, which has prepped her for Kindergarten immensely. Her preschool class interweaves fun, kinesthetic, multi-sensory learning experiences in every single aspect of the day, so that while she is learning, she is having fun and truly engaging with knowledge and memorable experiences. She has developed an excitement and positivity about learning, and the capability to try new learning experiences with enthusiasm. She has a knowledge of numbers, the alphabet letter names and alphabet letter sounds, as well as handwriting and intuitive spelling. Her classroom provides daily pretend and play centers, art centers, science/experiment centers, and recess. The teacher to student ratio is ideal, so she received tons of personal attention. She had two lead teachers in her classroom who always kept me in the loop as to her development and engagement with the classroom. In addition, the music teacher Mr. Alexander is so creative and fun with the kids – they have a blast. My child has also begun speaking Spanish due to their full-time Spanish teacher, Ms. Rojo, who visits each classroom. AAHCDC has various fun events for the students, like the Halloween Parade or the Graduation/End of Year Picnic. The teachers who work here have been here for many years (over 10 years), which tells you something about how they are treated. I personally love when my child’s teachers are happy and treated well, because happy, well-treated teachers make a positive learning environment for students! The school’s scheduling is incredibly flexible in terms of days and length of the day, so you can make the schedule work for your family’s needs. AAHCDC teaches children from Age 2.5 through 2nd Grade. Every single staff member is incredibly positive – every single interaction – each phone call and every drop off and pick up was immensely positive. My child was so excited to attend school each morning. I felt very proud to send my child to such a wonderful school where she has made friends with her classmates and feels a part of a community. I highly recommend any parent who is searching for a school for their child, to call and schedule a tour, to meet the Directors and teachers and see this amazing school. Best of luck on your search!

I've been a teacher at Ann Arbor Hills for a number of years. I teach a multi-age class of kindergarten, first, and second graders. With 12 children each morning, 2 master teachers work to meet the needs of each child, all while creating an environment where learning is fun, challenging, and relevant. You won't find a place where your child's best interests are more valued. Come for a visit; you'll be glad you did.