At a Glance
Trust Score
Based on comprehensive analysis of reviews, safety records, and operations.
About School In the Pines
School in the Pines Preschool
School in the Pines offers a "preschool first" environment for children from infancy through elementary age. The program emphasizes academic readiness alongside play, with a structured curriculum that runs daily from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM for all age groups. Managed by owners Amanda and Joe Maisonneuve, the facility focuses on literacy, creative development, and social-emotional growth in a close-knit, family-oriented atmosphere. The campus features dedicated indoor learning centers and a spacious outdoor playground equipped with forts, slides, and sand play areas. Security is a priority, utilizing a computerized front-desk check-in system for all families. With flexible scheduling options including full-time care, Mother’s Day Out, and before/after-school support for Lemm Elementary, the school is designed to meet the diverse needs of working parents. Progress is communicated through the Brightwheel app, providing a modern bridge between home and school.
What Parents Say
5 reviews from parents
My daughter attended School in the Pines briefly when she was 18 months old, and it was her first daycare experience. The staff was amazing—kind, patient, and very communicative, which made the transition so easy for us. We only stopped attending because we moved; otherwise, we would have gladly stayed. Overall, a wonderful experience and I highly recommend them.
Our daughter has been going here since she was 13 months old, she’s now six. We couldn’t be happier with SITP and they love care they have over the children.
My son has been attending School in the Pines since he was a infant and it has been an exceptional experience for our family! The staff are nurturing, caring, and are very responsive to communication. I couldn't be more pleased with School in the Pines!
5 stars!!!!! As a parent who has experienced two other daycare settings—Blossoms Montessori and Kids R Kids Holzworth—I can confidently say that School in the Pines is a true gem. We left those other schools for two main reasons: constant teacher turnover and overcrowded classrooms that left us feeling invisible and our children stressed out. At both places, we never saw the same faces, and our kids didn't know who to trust as the adults in their lives were always changing. That all changed when we found School in the Pines. From day one, I've been impressed by the consistency and care the teachers offer. My children have the same teachers every day, and I can tell that the teachers genuinely love and care for them. These are the teachers I look forward to chatting with, and it has been so comforting to know that my kids are being nurtured by people who truly care. What’s even better is that my children now love going to school! It’s such a relief as a parent to see them excited every morning instead of stressed or anxious. Not only that, but they’ve developed meaningful friendships with their classmates, and those friendships have extended beyond school—now they’re having playdates outside of class too! The curriculum, especially the Treetop program, has been a game-changer. It introduces learning objectives that I know would have been introduced much later, but now my children are excelling in skills like numbers, letters, sounds, and even writing their names—well before elementary school! The lessons are consistent, fun, and clearly designed to foster both educational growth and emotional well-being. I used to dread daycare drop-offs at previous schools because I felt so uncertain about the care my children were receiving. But at School in the Pines, not a single day has gone by where I’ve been stressed. The teachers go above and beyond to make the classrooms warm, welcoming, and personalized, with every student’s artwork proudly displayed. The atmosphere is like a real school, not just daycare, and it’s been such a joy to witness my children thrive in this environment. I honestly never thought I’d say this, but I now get sad thinking about them aging out of childcare and moving on to elementary school. I wish I could keep them here forever! I cannot recommend School in the Pines enough. If you’re looking for a daycare or early education program that provides exceptional care, consistency, and an enriching learning experience, look no further. This place truly feels like a second home for my children.
We used School in the Pines for before and after care for my 2 boys, as well as childcare for our youngest through pregnancy. The staff us amazing, and it felt like dropping the kids off with friends. We moved changing our school zoning, so we had to stop using them, buyt I strongly recommend this daycare! Whenever we run into Amanda, the owner, in public, she still remembers our children's ages and asks how they are doing.
Web Report
Aggregated insights from public records & parent discussions
Safety Record
A former employee, Dennis Michiel McDaniel, who worked at the facility in 2020, was arrested in December 2022 and charged with indecency with a child; though the incidents leading to the arrest occurred at other locations, the school was listed in his verified work history. The facility is a state-licensed child care center (License #198724) and has been in operation since April 1987. No other major news incidents or specific counts of recent safety violations were found in public records.
Parent Reputation
The school has a limited online presence for parent reviews, but was recognized in a 2014 list by Houstonia Magazine as one of 'Houston's Best Preschools' based on tuition and student-teacher ratios. Current parent sentiment on major platforms like Google and Facebook is sparse, leading to a largely unverified reputation in recent years. Directory listings on Winnie and Care.com are active but currently feature no written user reviews.
Staff Insights
Employee reviews are limited, with a 3.5-star rating on Indeed from two reviews as of 2019, where one staff member described it as an acceptable workplace for those who enjoy working with children. The school is a family-owned operation that describes itself as a 'preschool first and childcare center second.' Beyond the serious 2022 legal issue involving a former 2020 staff member, no data regarding recent staff turnover or management culture is available.
Quick Information
Varies by age and schedule





