iHow the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%89+52.2Reliability 26%88+23Value 15%36+5.5Momentum penalty38−6.2Experts Score= 74Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.74SCORE
BGradeiLetter from the Experts Score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = under 20.
#53 of 80 daycare centersiPosition by Experts Score among all companies we track in this category. · better than 34%
4.9★★★★★75 Google reviews · 12 photos
97%five-star reviews
4.33★last 12 monthsiAverage stars on reviews from the last 12 months only.
1.5%1–2★ in 2 yearsiShare of 1–2★ reviews in the last 24 months — or the 20 newest reviews when the company had fewer than 20 in that time.
Google reviewers rate Alta Schoolhouse 4.9 out of 5 based on 75 reviews, with the owner responding to 83% of comments. Families frequently praise the staff’s attentiveness, daily communication through photos, and the structured, nurturing environment that supports academic and social development. Services include early and after-school care, outdoor play, and hands-on curriculum. However, low-star reviews highlight a pattern of dissatisfaction regarding the waitlist process, citing long delays and nonrefundable fees without clear updates for prospective families.
Google rating: 4.9 out of 5 from 75 reviews (97% five-star).
Reviews on this page: 75 Google reviews (73 with written comments).
Owner responses: the business replied to 83% of reviews.
Most recent review: October 24, 2026.
Service: Daycare Center serving Lakeland, Florida.
Data from Google, last updated October 25, 2026.
Score profile vs other daycare centers
Score per factor (100 = best)iEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (star average, share of 1–2★ reviews, price verdicts…); standing within the category can only raise it, never lower it.. Strongest: satisfaction and reliability; weakest: value.
Alta SchoolhouseDaycare Centers median0 = centre, 100 = best
SatisfactioniSatisfaction · 54% of the scoreRecency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.Alta Schoolhouse: 89/100 on this factor. Category median: 83.A
89
ReliabilityiReliability · 24% of the scoreHow rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.Alta Schoolhouse: 88/100 on this factor. Category median: 76.A
88
Craft & serviceiCraft & service · penalty only, up to −10 pointsGoogle review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Not enough reviews for this factor yet. Category median: 99.–
–
ValueiValue · 14% of the scoreCustomers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Alta Schoolhouse: 36/100 on this factor. Category median: 94.D
36
MomentumiMomentum · penalty only, up to −10 pointsPenalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.Alta Schoolhouse: 38/100 on this factor. Category median: 100.D
38
Replies to reviewsiReplies to reviews · 7% of the scoreHow often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Not enough reviews for this factor yet. Category median: 44.–
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Bar = this company · dark tick = category median.
Star ratings
75 Google reviews we collected
4.9of 5
5 stars7397%
4 stars00%
3 stars11%
2 stars00%
1 star11%
Praise vs complaints
Phrases our text analysis found in 73 written reviews
93%praise
Praise6793%
Complaints57%
PriceiGoogle asks reviewers whether the price was great, reasonable or overpriced; these are their answers.
Price verdicts customers left with their Google review
80%fair
Great price120%
Reasonable360%
Overpriced120%
Not sure00%
Topic share
How often each topic comes up in the written reviews
6topics
Staff & attitude3447%
Would recommend1419%
Quality & results913%
Speed & response57%
Communication57%
Honesty & trust57%
What customers talk about
We read 73 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.
“Every single staff member from the teachers to the front desk are kind and helpful.”
“I highly recommend Alta Schoolhouse for anyone in search of a school for their children.”
“I cannot recommend Alta enough.”
“We were nervous about our daughter starting preschool but Alta has been such a great experience and she absolutely loves going there!”
“Everyone is so kind, and we’re greeted every morning and afternoon😊and if we have any questions it’s always answered quickly!”
“Within the first month he’s been there his speech delay has also gotten better and I couldn’t be more thankful.”
“They are also very good with communication and I really like that they post pictures through out the day of the students working and learning so we ar…”
“Daily updates and photos from the teachers highlight their genuine care and commitment to my child's development.”
People customers mention
Montessori7 reviews
praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.
Reviews for your job
Customers hired Alta Schoolhouse for 1 kind of job. Pick one to see what they paid and said.
Dominique6 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 23 hours ago★★★★★
Alta isn’t just a school, it’s an extension of our village and the staff there have become like family to us. My little boy use to be so shy and would cry whenever I left the room, but after going to Alta he has absolutely blossomed into a social butterfly. He loves his school, his friends, the teachers and he even…
Great priceEducational services
Alana9 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 2 weeks ago★★★★★
We absolutely love this school! ❤️ They’ve been such a huge help throughout our son’s potty training journey, and we couldn’t be more grateful for his amazing teachers. We love receiving daily updates and pictures of what he’s learning, and it means so much that they reassure us when he has a rough morning and let…
Matthew8 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 4 weeks ago★★★★★
This school is phenomenal! My child loves her astronaut class! Great class and great school. Highly recommend.
Reasonable priceEducational services
Ashley4 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · a month ago★★★★★
Started my son here as soon as he turned two and it’s been the best experience. The teachers have treated him like one of their own and he loves them! Within the first month he’s been there his speech delay has also gotten better and I couldn’t be more thankful. Alta was my first pick for a childcare/preschool and…
Reasonable priceEducational services
Megan6 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 5 months ago★★★
If you have special needs child or a child with neurodivergence, skip this school.
My child was bitten multiple times, she was also mauled in the face, and scratched repeatedly. When we asked about these scenarios we were told "it happens" (Which we understand to an extent) toddlers are insane.
Then began the…
Madelyn4 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · Edited 7 months ago★★★★★
We love Alta Schoolhouse! We recently had the opportunity to enroll our second child here, and we are so incredibly grateful for this community. Seeing our second child start preschool with the same excitement our first had is a wonderful feeling. Alta truly demonstrates excellence in every area, from the thoughtful…
Alta isn’t just a school, it’s an extension of our village and the staff there have become like family to us. My little boy use to be so shy and would cry whenever I left the room, but after going to Alta he has absolutely blossomed into a social butterfly. He loves his school, his friends, the teachers and he even asks me on the weekends if he can go to school. The staff at Alta love your babies like their own and truly work with you to make sure your kids have the best experience. I will forever be grateful for all the ladies there.
Price assessment: Great price
Services: Educational services
Alana9 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Alana has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We absolutely love this school! ❤️ They’ve been such a huge help throughout our son’s potty training journey, and we couldn’t be more grateful for his amazing teachers. We love receiving daily updates and pictures of what he’s learning, and it means so much that they reassure us when he has a rough morning and let us know when his mood improves. He’s learned so much since starting here, and we truly love bringing him to school! We couldn’t be happier with our experience! 🥰
Matthew Nucifore8 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Matthew has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Started my son here as soon as he turned two and it’s been the best experience. The teachers have treated him like one of their own and he loves them! Within the first month he’s been there his speech delay has also gotten better and I couldn’t be more thankful. Alta was my first pick for a childcare/preschool and if I could’ve I would’ve put him even sooner than two. We love Alta Schoolhouse!!
Price assessment: Reasonable price
Services: Educational services
Megan McGee6 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Megan has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
If you have special needs child or a child with neurodivergence, skip this school.
My child was bitten multiple times, she was also mauled in the face, and scratched repeatedly. When we asked about these scenarios we were told "it happens" (Which we understand to an extent) toddlers are insane.
Then began the calls for pickup every day at noon. We were beside ourselves wanting this school to work, as our daughter made friends and we enjoyed the environment.
We tried repeatedly to work with teachers and staff, to be told they deal with my child's meltdowns by ignoring her first few requests. After this conversation they basically said "it's not a fit"
In just a year there were several staffing changes, which maybe is why things began to change. Very discouraged and disappointing. If you have a "big feeler" Alta is not the place for you.
Response from the owner · 5 months ago
Megan, we're sorry your family's time with us didn't end the way any of us hoped. Student privacy keeps us from addressing specifics publicly, but we'd welcome a direct conversation if you'd like to reach out . We wish your daughter all the best.
Madelyn Cantrell4 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Madelyn has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We love Alta Schoolhouse! We recently had the opportunity to enroll our second child here, and we are so incredibly grateful for this community. Seeing our second child start preschool with the same excitement our first had is a wonderful feeling. Alta truly demonstrates excellence in every area, from the thoughtful curriculum to the nurturing environment. The teachers are wonderful and so intentional. We couldn’t ask for a better preschool for our family to be apart of!
Response from the owner · 5 months ago
Thank you so much for these kind words Madelyn! Welcoming your second child has been a real joy, and it means the world to us that the excitement carried through a second time around. Our teachers will especially love hearing this. We're so grateful to have your family part of our Alta family.
Alivia TerriacaLocal Guide · 20 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Alivia has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We started our daughter at Alta schoolhouse once she turned 2. What a fantastic environment and change this has been for her! She has absolutely flourished with the help of her teachers and peers. Every single staff member from the teachers to the front desk are kind and helpful. Our daughter is greeted by name every day and looks forward to attending school! 😊 She has learned so much over the past few months that she has been here. There are so many activities for her to engage with and there is a lot of opportunities for parent involvement. The communication and openness is fantastic! We could not be happier with our decision to enroll our daughter here.
Response from the owner · 5 months ago
Thank you for taking the time to share this! Watching your daughter settle in and flourish has been such a gift for our team, and the part about her being greeted by name every day is exactly the kind of culture we work hard to build. We're so glad the communication and parent involvement feel meaningful too. Thank you for being part of the Alta family!
Roteb LatifLocal Guide · 43 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Roteb has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
At first glance the school seems modern and well maintained but beware of their waitlist scam. My two boys have been on the waitlist for more than a year now, and for the last several months "next in line". They were happy to take a nonrefundable $100 per child for the waitlist but never reach out with updates. They have a preferential waitlist beware.
Price assessment: Overpriced
Response from the owner · 9 months ago
Hi Roteb, thank you for sharing your concerns. We understand how frustrating the waitlist process can feel when planning care for young children, and we appreciate the opportunity to clarify how our enrollment works.
Alta is a Montessori-inspired school with mixed-age classrooms. Because of this structure, placement is based on age-group availability and schedule needs rather than strictly on the order in which families join the waitlist. Part-time schedules, in particular, typically require longer wait times due to limited availability, while full-time enrollment historically has more frequent openings.
Waitlist movement occurs primarily during our main enrollment cycles in May and August. Since August, there has been very limited turnover, and many families remain on the waitlist at this time.
We do not operate a preferential waitlist. Placement priorities are limited to those clearly outlined in our parent handbook (staff children and siblings of enrolled families). All other families are treated consistently within the constraints of age, classroom balance, and schedule availability.
The waitlist fee is non-refundable and is fully disclosed at the time a family joins the waitlist, this is disclaimed on the invoice as well as in our handbook. This fee confirms interest but does not guarantee placement or alter a family’s position.
We would be happy to discuss this matter directly, as our records indicate that your family joined our waitlist in June of 2025 (approximately six months ago), rather than over a year ago as stated. We maintain detailed records of our communications and are always available to review a family’s status and provide updated estimates privately. We would be happy to do this.
Transparency, fairness, and clear communication are central to how we operate, and we appreciate the opportunity to clarify our process for families considering Alta and apologize for any misunderstanding. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us next week when we return from our Winter Break, so we can discuss in more detail your families waitlist position.
Stephan T3 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Stephan has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We have been so fortunate with Alta being our first school experience. Two years in and we’re just as pleased as the day we started. I highly recommend Alta Schoolhouse for anyone in search of a school for their children.
Response from the owner · a year ago
Thank you Stephan for your review and recommendation!
