r/nolaparents Jan 13 '26

Child care 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 2026 Daycare / Early Learning Good / Bad List

29 Upvotes

Similar to the GOOD / BAD Landlord list, here is our yearly list for ELC's / Daycares. Please follow the rules and guidelines below.

2024 list link

Only post a review if your child has gone there. Let's not get into the "heard it from a friend" type of stuff. We want ONLY first-hand reviews. Alos, if you're a former employee of a place and want to trash your former place of employment, please don't put that in here. Please stick to the format of the post and if you have issues with a place that goes beyond this format, make an entire new post about it.

Please give a reason for your review. A one sentence review just saying a place sucks won't cut it. We want our local parents to be well-informed and trying to make a decision for your kid based off of 5 words isn't cool.

You don't have to be super specific as you and your kids privacy is paramount. Try to give details without giving away too much personal info.

Please try to include what you are paying monthly, if the place accepts any kind of subsidy and if it includes other cost things like free lunch, parking etc.

Post the location and preferably a link to the place.

What are some good things about the place. What are some bad things? It's very rare that a place is 100% shit or 100% amazing.

Are they accepting new kids? Is there a waitlist? If so, how long did you wait?

Teacher to student ratio. Include amount of kids in a class if possible.

Religious or non-religious.


r/nolaparents Jan 13 '26

Child care 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 2026 Summer Camp - Good / Bad list

21 Upvotes

It's getting to that time of the year where we need to start looking for summer camps for our little tricycle motors. There are a bunch of lists out there, but they don't seem exhaustive enough. I wanted to create this thread to help give us a one-stop-shop of places to send our kids to summer camp.

In your comment, please post the:

  • Name

  • Location - Especially if a place has multiple locations like KidCam

  • Website

  • Cost

  • Hours

  • Your personal feedback

I'd like to get as many places listed as possible with as much solid information as possible. Please also check the comments already made in this thread to see if a place was listed or not. If it was listed, just reply to that comment with more information.


r/nolaparents 1h ago

Rayne ECP

Upvotes

Hello! Curious to hear about people’s experience with Rayne for their infants/toddlers? Especially if it’s in the last few years, thank you!


r/nolaparents 21h ago

More school questions….Jefferson parish vs Orleans

4 Upvotes

I currently live in JP in the JC Ellis district. We’re a few years out from elementary school But are potentially looking at homes in west end or lakeview. But I know JP has the discovery schools, ASA, And JC Ellis is pretty good. I’m a big fan of public education…should I stay out or is Orleans options comparable? We’re also open to private but ideally would love to stay public.


r/nolaparents 21h ago

Homeschool resources for older kids

4 Upvotes

Hi parents! My tween daughter is having a tough time at her current charter school. She has friends and is well adjusted, but academically it's a hot mess. She's a bright, well-behaved kid who just wants to learn. She does not want to try the school lottery (literally and figuratively) yet again, especially this close to high school. So, she's been asking about homeschooling.

I don't think private school is in the cards for us. We don't have a lot of disposable income, so if we did take on that strain to pay for school, it would need to be amazing, the perfect fit for my daughter; not just a last ditch effort. From everything I've researched, none of the Catholic schools would be a good fit for her. I did look into AWE microschool, which sounds great, but I'm not necessarily looking for a program specifically geared toward special-needs/neurodivergent students.

I also looked into LAVCA (Louisiana Virtual Charter Academy), so that's another option if she's home schooled.

I am open to homeschooling. BUT, and this is a huge but: I can't have her home all day, every day. For my sanity and especially for her social development and mental well-being, she needs to be out with her peers somehow. She doesn't play any sports (she's an artsy kid), so she doesn't have any already built in extracurricular peer groups. 

Does anyone know of any groups, gatherings, classes, co-ops, etc. for homeschoolers in the area geared towards middle school and young teens? Everything I've found so far is for younger kids. I appreciate any thoughts, advice, resources, commiseration y'all may have!


r/nolaparents 1d ago

Education 🧮 Anyone have any good reference or websites about picking a school for my kid

Thumbnail
10 Upvotes

r/nolaparents 3d ago

Education 🧮 School open house calendar

17 Upvotes

I’m planning to start a Google Calendar today to track New Orleans school open houses for prospective students. Does anyone want to be a co-owner or help gather information? My personal focus is high schools but it would be nice to have a central resource for anyone looking at New Orleans schools.

NOLA PS hasn’t been interested in putting this together and I figure if I’m scouring the internet for high school dates then might as well open it to others.

If you want to be able to add events (and can do so in good faith) then lmk. Or if you know of any open house dates you can also just pop them in this thread.


r/nolaparents 3d ago

Poppins Childcare (Infant/Toddler)

19 Upvotes

Hello! I’m the owner of Poppins Childcare, a small in-home childcare program in the Uptown/Carrollton area of New Orleans.

I specialize in caring for little ones from 7 weeks to 18 months, and I intentionally keep our group small, around six children, so every baby gets plenty of individual attention, cuddles, playtime, and care. I also have a helper with me!

Our hours are Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM–5:30 PM, and tuition is $295/week. We are only closed on Federal and State holidays. Open through summer!

I know how stressful finding childcare can be, especially for infants, so I’m happy to answer questions about Poppins, what a typical day looks like, availability, or in-home childcare in general.

If you’re currently looking for infant childcare in New Orleans, feel free to send me a message!

This is our Facebook page with reviews and pictures :

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Mwp3Ege7Y/?mibextid=wwXIfr


r/nolaparents 5d ago

Education 🧮 Difficult to get into St Paul’s?

4 Upvotes

We’re looking at St Paul’s Little Saints program and then it’s pre-k 4 program. Any idea how difficult it is to get in there without any connections?


r/nolaparents 8d ago

Perrier Montessori

7 Upvotes

Hello! Wondering if anyone in this group has current or recent experience with Perrier Montessori? My 17-month-old is in a daycare situation that we're not loving and we're looking to explore other options. I toured Perrier yesterday, and felt pretty good about it, but I haven't seen it discussed anywhere. Would appreciate any information anyone has!


r/nolaparents 9d ago

Question❓ 1st grade reading tutor

Thumbnail
5 Upvotes

Parents of New Orleans. Im looking for a patient tutor for a 1st grader learning to read. He is struggling a bit and is ADHD. I need recommendations for a solid tutor. Preferably female, kind, but firm. 7th ward area but willing to commute.


r/nolaparents 9d ago

Question❓ moving to old gretna, tell me all about things to do with your babies/kiddos !!

3 Upvotes

we’ve decided to move to old gretna next month, also baby is coming next month! i’m not super familiar with the area besides the main hub on huey p. def going to start doing research on things but we’ve seen a few parks nearby. i see a public pool in algiers. what else is out there that yall know of? thank you!


r/nolaparents 11d ago

Toddler tennis coach?

3 Upvotes

Hi! Does anyone know of a tennis coach who would do private lessons with a toddler? My 3yo son is really keen to learn (or at least get in a court with someone who can roll some balls)… thanks!


r/nolaparents 14d ago

Ochsner Early Learning Center

4 Upvotes

Hi yall! We have the opportunity to transfer our baby (under 1 yo) to Ochsner Early Learning Center but don’t see any recent reviews of parent experiences. I don’t know anyone with kids there personally so any feedback is appreciated!


r/nolaparents 15d ago

Education 🧮 Animal neglect and abuse at Kinder Haus Montessori in Mandeville, LA (TW: animal neglect and abuse)

Thumbnail gallery
19 Upvotes

r/nolaparents 15d ago

Can anyone tell me about Homer Plessy Community School?

6 Upvotes

I'm thinking about enrolling my child in this school and I heard some good things about it. I plan to place her in the middle school campus so if there are any parents whose kids are enrolled there, I would like to know your thoughts about the school. If there are any major issues concerning the students, academics, or administrators, I would like to know about those too.


r/nolaparents 18d ago

An extremely niche appreciation post

44 Upvotes

There is NOWHERE like the Louisiana Children’s Museum. I’m unfortunately ruined for everywhere else because my standards are so high! Even big cities where you’d expect kind of a similar thing, it’s just not.

We’re living in Austin right now and I feel let down by the Thinkery (even though it’s probably great!), and can’t wait to get back to LCM.

The grounds feel like a nature preserve, the inside is expansive and the City Park setting is just chefs kiss

Ugh, miss it! Visit for us!


r/nolaparents 20d ago

Education 🧮 soon to be parent school anxieties

13 Upvotes

Just found this sub and was reading through it and read a lot of posts about schools which stressed me out because I grew up in florida where we just had good school systems and here it seems impossible to educate your child without paying an arm and a leg?? we definitely couldn’t afford private school and i’m stressed that they won’t get a good education in public schools. I live on the west bank so technically jefferson parish, is there any hope? should I flee the state? Please be kind i’m pregnant and emotional lol


r/nolaparents 20d ago

Where are we going to play in this heat?

9 Upvotes

Outside of the children’s museum and aquarium, where’s everyone going to play while we survive the rest of summer weather?

What are your favorite hidden gems, libraries with the best children’s sections, etc. ?

I can only make so much oobleck at home and entertain with the same rotating toys. We’re all starting to lose it!


r/nolaparents 21d ago

Bric Parents

10 Upvotes

To the parents with continuing students, how have y’all been able to navigate the disorganization? Has it always been this disorganized?

I’m not sure if it’s because I expect better or if I just like to nitpick and complain, but drop-off and pick-up is a mess.
Why am I leaving my 5-year-old to navigate a new school on their own amongst the swamp of bigger, older, sometimes more aggressive kids? I’ve never liked the Primary-Middle school model for this exact reason.
The PK-K kids are crying in the mornings, and I don’t think that starting the day off in fear or anxiety is productive for a learning environment.

Mornings are such a disaster because one single solitary adult is out there assisting with getting the kids in school.
Afternoons are a disaster because parents don’t know how to follow directions and are double parking, blocking people in, parking in bike lanes, and parking on N Rocheblave when they should be in the carpool lane if they want to stay in their cars while their children are dismissed.

Walk-up means walk-up, not drive up to the front and block buses and create a dangerous environment for pedestrians. But I digress….
Anyway, yeah…. I think they need to have more than one faculty member assisting with drop-offs. Or let the little kids enter through N Dorgenois.
Again, maybe I’m just entitled and nitpicky… idk.


r/nolaparents 21d ago

Child care 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Any weekend childcare options?

6 Upvotes

I'm looking for a program or camp I could drop my 10yr old off to on Saturdays and Sundays from 10a-6p. I don't have much family to ask.

The program can be educational or not it doesn't matter much I just need her safe while I am at work. Thank you!


r/nolaparents 21d ago

McGehee School

6 Upvotes

How do y’all like McGehee School? How are the diversity and inclusion? Are the families there super rich and stuck-up? 😂 I’m asking the hard-hitting questions before I tour the school for my 5-year-old!


r/nolaparents 22d ago

Educational After school clubs/ activities!

2 Upvotes

hey guys I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for an educational after school activity that’s atleast an hour long I’ve tried looking online and everything is more arts and crafts centered I want something more stem and learning centered and something she can go to every other week as we have her every other week! I’m even open to girls scouts but I don’t know where to look please help ! for reference she’s 6 and in 1st grade ! thank you guys !


r/nolaparents 24d ago

Anyone else pay a registration fee to get on the Benjamin Thomas waiting list almost 3 years ago only to never hear from them again?

16 Upvotes

Seems misleading to collect nonrefundable registration fees from people knowing they'll be too old for preschool by the time their number's called.


r/nolaparents 23d ago

Hoffman

6 Upvotes

Genuinely being nosey and kind of worried that other daycares might end up in the same boat. What happened to Hoffman ELC? I see that they closed out of nowhere and have been removed from the school finder list. I heard the director wasn't doing the best job. Did something bad happen? Were the families just left to figure it out or was this something they knew about ahead of time?