Raintree School

Raintree school was an incredible experience for my children. As an educator myself, I had high expectations when it came to early childhood education. The teachers did an excellent job when it came to project based learning. It was enriching, challenging, and authentic. We saw much growth when it came to number sense and literacy skills. The teachers take the time to help all children learn about emotions, problem solving skills with peers, self regulation skills, and positive self image with a growth mindset. We chose Raintree during a year we knew our family would be dealing with a military deployment. We wanted a space where our children would be best supported and they were. They thrived in an outdoor environment and rich learning environment.

We have 2 of our kiddos attending this school currently. All the staff is well-trained, they have a great structured classroom while also having so many fun outdoor activities available. Teachers are all very warm and attentive. The menu for breakfast and lunch is intimidating for my picky eaters, but it all seems very well thought out. The chef is very knowledgeable about child eating habits and had well-researched suggestions when teachers were concerned about food intake for my youngest child. I say all this to say that teachers are attentive, caring, and staff is all very professional and knowledgeable, I was very impressed! I would strongly recommend this school! The price is a bit steep but there are financial assistance options to my knowledge, and the Head of School is very helpful.

I cannot say enough about how much I love Raintree. The staff is excellent. Every teacher there gives me the feeling that they love every kid in their class. I have seen my daughter’s teachers, Ms. Ashley and Ms. Melanie, at her friend’s birthday parties, and everyone is happy to see them there. My youngest would hug his teacher like I have only seen him hug his family, he started the year with anxiety but ended it looking forward to seeing her. My oldest, who has aged out, still speaks of missing them. The food is wonderful. My kids eat better and fresher than I do. The wonderful chef Katie and chef Ioannis prepare fantastic dishes that have broadened my kid’s pallet considerably and helped them gain a great appreciation for healthy food. I should also add that the kids help grow some of this food in the garden near the playscape. What sets this school above and beyond is probably obvious, but the forest must be mentioned. My children love, absolutely adore, that they get to spend their days outside. I have visited the forest, and I can understand why. There is so much space for adventure and learning for them to experience amongst the trees. We sent our oldest to Raintree first because we did not think he would thrive in a traditional schooling environment. He’s a talker, he is energetic, he seemingly never stops moving. When I would think about sitting him in a desk all day to do worksheets it broke my heart. His preschool had already started deskwork as “kindergarten prep,” and that was making him miserable. His time at Raintree gave him a gentle start to schooling where he wouldn’t be in trouble all the time for just being himself. He also had an elementary teacher, Ms. Susan, who was able to prepare him for aging out of Raintree and into a more traditional school setting when the time came. He is eight now and is doing well in a non-forest school. We never felt as though our younger two would have a hard time sitting at a desk or going to the same daycare they did before, but we saw how well our son was doing here and made the switch for them as well. They are three and five years old and both in their second year right now, preschool and pre-k, respectively, and absolutely love it. They come home covered in mud. I find rocks in my washing machine and my dryer and everywhere else as they fall out of pants pockets and fanny packs. I have about a dozen “walking sticks” by my door, some decorated, some just a fun shape. I have found object art decorating my desk at work. My daughter once gave me a hug and a cloud of dust erupted from her clothes like a cartoon character, and her eyes were as big and as happy as any five-year-old's eyes can be. If you are thinking of sending your kids here you should at least visit. See the chicken coop the students built. Look at the board game one of the kindergarten classes made. See the work they are doing to help native plants. Talk about the projects they do each semester; they will love to share. I say with no reservations that this school has made my children happier and more excited about education. I love them and I love Raintree for helping them love every day. Lastly, I want to thank Ilya, the head of the school, who has made such an untold impact on the lives of my three kids. Your school is beautiful and everyone there is amazing.

We love this school! My daughter went to Raintree when she was 3-5. When the time came for my son to go to school, we decided to try other schools, but the experience of the "Forest School" is sooo hard to beat. I kept coming back to Raintree in my mind. We went for a re-visit (as it's been a few years since my daughter left Raintree to go to kindergarten) and after our meet and greet with the teachers it was game over! We absolutely LOVE his teachers, their approach, their willingness to always work together through anything and everything is just amazing! We have a spunky, energetic, young man on our hands...we have some good days and bad, but every day we hear "we're in this together" from his teachers. The staff is always fantastic and welcoming. Everyone knows us and our kids by name and I feel like everyone genuinely cares about their well being. We adore this school, especially now that we have something else to compare it to!

Raintree School is everything we wanted for our son. We're starting our second year for our now three year old, and I couldn't imagine taking him anywhere else. From the communication with admin staff, how amazing his teachers are, and the community that Raintree builds for not only their students but for the families who attend - Raintree School is something truly special. They nurture a love and respect for nature, empathy, kindness and a curiosity that is so amazing to watch grow in your own child. We're immensely glad that we found Raintree School!