Pillars Academy

We’ve been with Pillars Academy for over a year now, and it has been such a wonderful experience 🙌. The principal and my kids’ teachers have shown so much professionalism and care. Miss Amani, the Quran and Islamic studies teacher, is just amazing at engaging my daughter with Quran and Islam . Our principal, always goes above and beyond—she sends not only school updates but also parenting tips and community news, which I really appreciate. They are dedicated and passionate about what they do. I really hope the school can grow into a full elementary program, because I truly believe our Muslim community needs this. 💕

Normally do not leave reviews, but I feel it is very important to share our experience to help other families make informed decisions. When I first found this school, I was happy that my 3.5-year-old son would not only attend preschool, but also learn Islamic studies. He is very social and has been attending childcare since he was 1.5 years old. After moving to a new state, he missed being around other children and was very excited to start. However, from the very beginning, our experience was disappointing. Staff were not welcoming during drop-offs and pick-ups. Initially, they complained about his uniform (which we purchased after), and later about his shoes. I explained that my son has sensory issues and only feels comfortable wearing Crocs. Despite this, they insisted we follow their strict policy. After much effort, my son eventually agreed to wear sneakers. In a very short time, three serious incidents happened: He fell and injured his arm— at least this was reported properly. He came home with scratches on his face and neck. When I asked, the teacher simply said my son was still learning about personal space and they didn’t see what happened. The most heartbreaking: I picked him up to find him crying alone in the bathroom. The teacher was across the room and had left him there alone. When I asked my son what happened, he told me the teacher hit him on the head. I immediately asked this with the director and assistant. They denied everything and claimed a student hit him (even though the student was asleep at the time). At the follow-up meeting with the director and teacher, their explanation was shocking. The teacher said my son woke up crying, so she tough that he needs go to the bathroom and sent him to the bathroom without even trying to comfort him. Leaving a crying child alone in the bathroom is unacceptable and dangerous. When I asked why no one comforted him or tried to find out why he was crying, the answer was "she had to take care of other children." My son does not usually cry like this and does not make up stories. Regardless of who hit him, it is clear that he was left alone, distressed, and ignored, which is unacceptable in any childcare setting, especially an NAEYC accredited center. Other concerns: Poor communication: No daily or weekly reports, no photos, and they do not allow parents into the classroom at pickup or drop off times . Teacher-student ratio issue: The teacher herself told me she was alone with 15-16 kids. For ages 3-4, NAEYC requires a ratio of 1:10. Low-quality curriculum: Only 30 minutes of Islamic studies and the rest is math science they said , but mostly I saw they just coloring worksheets. There is little focus on meaningful, process-based learning. This has been the worst experience I have had in the U.S. with early childhood education. I do not recommend this school to any parent who values a warm, inclusive environment where children and parents feel respected and engaged. This is not a place where children feel safe, supported, or happy to go every day.

My son is in the Infants and Toddlers class at Pillars, and it has been such a positive experience. He clearly loves his teacher-- his face lights up when he sees her and he is excited and happy to be there. He gets lots of love and attention from his teacher, and they do so many fun activities-- from art to music to reading. The class size is small, and he gets all the love and support he needs. He is growing and developing so well, and I know it's due in part to the support he gets there. It has been such a relief to me to find somewhere with such a safe and supportive environment. I am SO glad we chose Pillars. They have made health and safety the top priority throughout the pandemic, and I feel much better knowing that they follow strict guidelines to keep the children there healthy. The school management is responsive and communicates frequently with parents. I really like the school app which allows us to check our son in and out of school, see pictures of him throughout the day, and communicate directly with his teachers. I could not recommend Pillars highly enough.

Great school within an even greater community. My children have been attending for the last two years and we really love the religious focus and environment that is hard to come by. Was saddened to take my kids out, now that they are attending first grade. Would love for the pillars team to see about extending their curriculum all through 6th grade..

Exceptional and loving care catered specifically and thoughtfully to each child. Patient and knowledgeable staff. An all around great place and I feel so happy and comfortable leaving my child in their hands.