Open Air Academy

Looked from exterior like something we wanted for our 4-​month old. I.e. They had a great website… Yet, upon walking in the door, we were greeted by a woman behind the reception desk holding an obviously sick child (pale/​covered in red blotches/​drippy nose) who said, they probably couldn’t give us the tour we requested. She then said she’d get the assistant director to talk with us and disappeared into the back. From here it got worse…
A woman with a thick European accent came out and informed us, with no apologies or insight, that there is a 15 month waiting list for the infant (6wk-​12mos) program, then no space for toddlers, the earliest she would have something available was when our 4 month turns 3 years old… Wow so helpful! Apparently there are no new clients likely to be accepted ever to Open Air??! We were told we should have gotten on waiting lists prior to even trying to conceive our son, and were told they couldn’t even hold spots for couples with one child already enrolled there if they waited until they were 3-​months pregnant to inform the academy .She showed no interest in even taking our names or numbers, let alone caring about what services we were looking for, or adding us to the wait list, indeed, she didn’t even crack so much as a hint of a smile during the whole conversation. She also had no recommendations of other centers in the area or with a similar philosophy that we could try. Left a very bad taste in our mouths, and seriously brought into question if we would ever want to leave our son with her anyway. Bottom line, their website is not to be believed, do not stop in for a tour or more information, unless you are just thinking of maybe starting to try to get pregnant in 6 months or so, they don’t want you.

The center has some potential but the directors lack in experience and direction. Claims to be Reggio, but having been to Reggio myself it is very far from it. Some teachers are so wonderful and definitely amazing while others are cold and unhappy. It’s like rolling a dice.
On a side note they lack very much in cleanliness so germs are prevalent.
The tuition is absurd for the quality of care.

I would not take my child to this school again. We were there as part of the preschool program, and it was awful. It’s not a preschool, it’s a daycare, plain and simple. My child did not learn anything and the teacher was biased and favored the kids that have been there for a longer amount of time. The director is a slow witted person, who I swear has multiple personalities. She is so weird and socially inept. Find a better place for your child to thrive and learn.

Love this school for my 4 year old daughter. The staff is very friendly and seem to enjoy working there. Everyone is flexible, helpful, and almost like a little family. I will be sad to leave when we have to go kindergarden but happy to see my girl’s first experience with school is so positive and creatively supportive.

Open Air Academy has been the answer for us! After applying to many schools and been wait-​listed at every single one we lost hope of even trying to get our son in school for just a few hours a week. Then we found Open Air and no wait list, all the teachers are excellent, warm and caring. It’s a clean, fresh environment with large windows and the philosophy doing a lot of things outside. We had no problem getting in and setting our own schedule that works for us. They are flexible and understand parents’ needs and the Reggio Emilia philosophy has been perfect. It has been the answer to pre-​school that we were looking for!

Open Air Academy has been an amazing place for our 2 year old son to go and learn (not to mention a little fun too!). From the Directors to the teachers — everyone has been amazing. The school itself allows for real integration of the outside environment — from the rock wall, slides, sandbox and gardens — truly an exceptional school.

Our daughter is 3 and started going to Open Air Academy a few months ago. She is a shy kid who was not in daycare before and we were a little worried about the transition. Months later, not only did she transition greatly but we have seen her thrive and grow in the environment provided by this school.
Open Air Academy is a brand new school with a state-​of-​the-​art facility right off I70 before I25. It is owned by two young people– a man and a woman, both parents. The school has a Reggio Emilia curriculum — a fantastic approach to education– and a highly qualified staff.
We have had a wonderful experience there and highly recommend it.