Nia House Learning Center
Berkeley, CA
Parent Q&A
Parent Reviews
Parents, please Sign in to post a review on this page.We have been beyond thrilled with the care and education both of our kids have received at Nia House. It's hard for me to know where to begin. My first child is a 2020 baby, and it felt like a huge leap for us to start her in childcare. From the moment I set foot in the school, I couldn't have felt more confident in our decision. Every aspect of Nia House from the physical environment to the way teachers speak to the children is utterly thoughtful. The teachers are deeply knowledgable about development and about helping each unique child find their place in the community. The teachers and staff have also been extremely supportive of my husband and I as parents and have offered guidance and advice when we've run into challenges at home. I feel incredibly lucky to have Nia House as a partner in raising my kids!
Nia House is an excellent Montessori preschool in West Berkeley. Students can continue there through their kindergarten year. My daughter (now five) has gone there the past three years and my son will be starting in the toddler program this fall.
We have had the greatest experience having our two children at Nia House. One is moving on to public school for K-5 at the end of summer having been at NH for almost 4 years and our youngest is moving over from the NH toddler program to to preschool program currently. First: When I was a kid there was nothing like this place where I grew up, just looking at the facilities makes you smile.
I was not keen on what Montessori education was even all about at first but have seen so much growth in both of our kids throughout their time there. What's more to us is how much our kids have learned about their sense of self, determination, care for others, and our world beyond their years. The staff truly changes the world, supporting our kids on their journey as the work they do builds and builds atop a foundation.
It's tough to describe how much those who care and look after our children mean to us all in our lives - NH's staff is comprised of amazing people and if you're able to have your kids there for their early years, I know you'll feel so lucky to have been able to.
There's always a twist with how COVID has affected the world we interacted with before - the school and parents who's children attend that work in the life sciences and medical sectors have supported and ushered adaptive plans to keep the kids' environment moving forward and open throughout this time.
The community is highly impactful to one another and beyond in their goals - places like this deserve and need more of a spotlight and support in their efforts.
As a former UC student parent, I know the grants help but don't stretch that far. It is not play-based, but Nia House really helped me out when I was in grad school and location is perfect. Congratulations and you've got this!
My son attends the Nia House on 9th street. It’s a truly wonderful school with excellent teachers and staff. It’s a Montessori program, and my son has really flourished there. Of all the preschools I toured for my son, it was the most diverse. Good luck with your search!
My daughter has been attending Nia House for about 2 years now. She started when she was 18 months and is now 3.5 years old.
From the day of the tour, this place has been nothing short of amazing. If you're looking for a preschool that knows what they're doing, this is it. I knew it when they told me that while they encourage children to walk to their class spaces themselves, if your child is crying and needs to be carried, you should carry them in and pass them to the teacher who is greeting them. The idea - one safe space to another - is wise. And that's what I've found Nia House to be. The administrators and teachers care for the kids deeply, but will not hesitate to draw gentle boundaries. They teach the kids to respect both their own bodies as well as that of others, and I've seen it reflected in my child.
At parent meetings, which are more like family gatherings, parents learn about how to be better parents together - talking about toddler tantrums, picky eaters, how to encourage gratitude, and modeling kindness.
At Nia House, the entire family is one, and families learn and grow together until the children are ready for the next steps in life. The kids go on walks and excursions, play outside every day in their wonderful outdoor space, receive coaching in soccer from an external coach, feed chickens and care for bunnies, and more in a space that has been very carefully and deliberately designed to let children lead the way in their learning. Don't worry, they do learn to read, write, and count.
Yesterday was my son's last day at Nia House Learning Center, so I feel compelled to write a review of this amazing place and all that it has meant to our family.
Our son started there over 4 years ago when he was just 20 months old. From his first day at Nia House he was supported in pursuing his passions, and he absolutely loved his teachers and friends there. As a new working parent, it alleviated so much anxiety and guilt to see how happy he was every single day and how his development was supported both with the Montessori curriculum and the nurturing care of the teachers. As other reviewers note, NH does a fantastic job of preparing kids and parents for every transition, which means that kids and parents have a much easier time with these big changes (i.e. moving into preschool from the toddler class, and now moving on to kindergarten).
Our daughter started at NH about 2 years ago at the same age, and has had a similarly positive experience. We've been incredibly grateful for the support and wisdom of the teachers and staff there. All of the lead toddler and preschool teachers are true experts in the Montessori philosophy and curriculum, and it shows in the way kids are supported and nurtured to explore the world. Conflict resolution is practiced with great awareness and intention, and again the kids are supported to be their best selves in every way at this school.
We also have so much appreciation for the parent community--it's diverse in many ways, and the school culture encourages connection and involvement. I'm happy that our daughter has another two years to spend in this sweet school community. As my son makes his move into public school, we feel he could not be more prepared academically, emotionally, and socially for kindergarten. He has a lot of confidence in his ability to learn and master challenging tasks, and for that we credit the teachers at NH and their dedication to the Montessori method.
We love Nia House!!!
My son loves the Nia House! He is always excited to go. On Mondays, he can’t wait to go to school and tell his teachers about his weekend. My son started at 20 months in Alexis’s toddler class, and the transition to school was surprisingly easy. The Nia House staff takes great pains to make the transitions easier for parents and children. They have meetings in advance and have a tapered schedule that allowed for my son to get familiar and comfortable at the school. My son has never cried during drop off and is always happy and engrossed when I come to pick him up. I
The teachers and staff really walk the walk when it comes to their teaching philosophy and the way they interact with students. I toured a lot of schools before selecting the Nia House, and many of the schools claimed they operated in a certain way or followed certain philosophies, but it was clear that was more aspirational than operational. At the Nia House they are very consistent with the way they interact with parents and children. I feel very confident that my son is being nurtured and treated with respect, while also being give the freedom to learn, and the guidance a toddler needs. My son has learned so much from his time at school. For example, this morning when I went to put his shoes he asked if he could do it himself! He did a wonderful job, and I would not have expected him to figure that out so young, but the Nia House has given him the tools and the space to try new things, and he is expanding his (and my) understanding of what he can do.
I cannot say enough good things about Alexis, Fahima, and Stacie (Toddler West). My son adores all three of them. I can tell he truly feels safe and loved with them. Any question or concern I have had has been quickly addressed. I truly feel glad we found the Nia House.
The Nia House definitely has more rules and guidelines than a lot of schools. For example, they have strict policies around food and drop off times. I found them a bit daunting at the beginning, but once I got the hang of things, I don’t give them a second thought. I would definitely recommend anyone interested in the Nia House review the policies to make sure they are on board. The other thing to be aware of it the need for parent hours/parent participation. You are required to attend monthly meetings and contribute parent hours. I think these function to build a strong and supportive community, but they do add things to your “to do” list. Personally, I like the policies because they push me to be the kind of parent I want to be (involved parent whose child enjoys nutritious zero-waste lunch!) but I would also understand if someone was not a fan of being hemmed in by these guidelines.
Nia House checks all my boxes and as an early childhood teacher myself, I am VERY picky!! My daughter has been attending since toddlerhood and has truly thrived here. She has become so confident both socially and in her own toddler way such as dressing herself, cleaning up after herself, and potty training! The teachers at Nia House are very knowledgeable and dedicated and many have been there for several years. There are many opportunities to get invovled and become part of the parent community. If you are looking for Montessori school this is your spot and even if you have no interest in the Montessori principles, this is still your spot and you may just surprise yourself and fall in love with Montessori by the time your kiddo graduates!
We cannot say enough positive about Nia House. Since our daughter started almost a year ago in the toddler room at 20 months of age, we have been immersed in the NH family with care and support. This center provides the highest standard of early childhood education through the Montessori principles of care for self, care for others, and care for the environment. Our daughter has formed trusting relationships with multiple adults, clearly communicates her needs and wants at a early age through verbal communication, and has learned to self-advocate and problem solve independently at an advanced level. Our family is daily grateful for the care and education we all receive from the loving and dedicated educators at Nia House Learning Center.
Not exactly an answer to your question, but have you considered Nia House Learning Center (http://www.niahouse.org/)? My family is white, so I can't speak with direct experience as a non white family, but we have found Nia House to have a rigorous Montessori philosophy and to be extremely diverse for a preschool. There are all kinds of families from different ethnic backgrounds, two mom families, single parent families, multiracial families, etc. The school has a strong curriculum on diversity and social justice and even discussed how to discuss diversity with young children as a topic for one of their mandatory parent meetings. One of the parents also created an amazing list of children's books about human rights and social justice which we've used in our home to educate our children.
If this sounds appealing to you, I would encourage you to reach out to the director to see if she can connect you with a non white family for their perspective.
Our son has been attending Nia House since last fall and we absolutely love Nia House for so, so many reasons !! The teachers and staff are all incredibly thoughtful and loving. The community is mixed/diverse socio-economically in ways that you don't see often. I see the ways that he learns and grows daily (in what he can say and do and how he's able to relate to both adults and fellow young people). We joined Nia in part because of the rave reviews that literally each and every parent with contact with the place had, and all these months later we whole-heartedly agree !!
My daughter has been attending Nia House for a year now. We love Nia House! My daughter loves to go to school. She is always happy when I arrive to pick her up. The teachers are awesome! They are genuine, loving, and thoughtful. They support my daughter in everything that she does and they allow her the space to make mistakes and learn through self expression and friendship. I am proud to be part of the Nia House community!
Nia House has been an awesome place! Aside from the beautiful setting, Nia House has really helped my son cultivate and reap the benefit of learning who he is while academically fortifying him with many tools. I am a pre school teacher myself and am constantly awed by the respect and empowerment given to the Nia House children by ALL of their teachers. The director and lead teacher create a customized experience for every student, making you feel that your family's needs and wants are of the utmost importance. Even when I have voiced concern or dismay about things I have been respected and shown love and appreciation for my insight. During these times I was also given action plans that empowered both the school and my family to work together to replace our concerns with trust and comfort. My son is a second generation Nia House child (me being the first ;) I have seen Nia House change for the better over the years and in my opinion it is at a peak. Nia House is the epitome of Montessori in it's truest form. Maria Montessori's philosophy is upheld by teachers through continued staff development and implementation of academia via play through work. Children learn to be intentional with their learning prioritizing their interests while also learning to co-exist safely and happily with one another and their environment. We truly love Nia House and feel that same love in return, our son is thriving! He is celebrated, loved, respected, and being taught outstanding values and lessons!
Nia House has been a gift to our family. Not only are they a wonderful nurturing environment for children they are incredibly supportive of parents. They are a full-time program (no part-time schedule) which is wonderful for full-time working parents. We have been part of this community for 4 years and have only had positive experiences. The teachers are amazing and the grounds are fantastic. The only school I have found with a large grassy area in the Berkeley/Oakland area. Our daughter has thrived there. Jen
Archived Q&A and Reviews
Dec 2012
RE: friendly Montessori preschool
I would HIGHLY recommend you check out Nia House Learning Center - a montessori preschool in central-west Berkeley. Everything about it is outstanding, imo. And most importantly, very committed and thoughtful about their practice of montessori philosophy. Eve is the director and she can give you an overview, tour, etc. Jeff
Dec 2011
Re: Warm and Fuzzy Montessori?
Nia House in Berkeley! I've written in about them before, always to say that I wish my son could be in school there forever. Such a warm and creative and open environment with Montessori principles. Unfortunately, they don't often have openings. Lise
August 2011
Hi - We are looking into pre-school options, or morning learning programs/class. Our son is 18 months and attends a wonderful family daycare, but we feel he is ready for a bit more structure and i know waiting lists can be long. We are looking for a part-time program or class that would challenge him a bit. Does anyone have any feedback on Nia House Learning Center and the Model School? The reviews on BPN were older posts. Ideally we are looking for a morning learning program maybe a few days a week, I feel he is still to young for a full pre-school program and we would like to keep him in the family care environment. Or are there any other learning structured classes that you can recommend? We are open to music and art classes as well. Thank you in advance for any advice and/recommendations. Amanda
Our family has been part of the Nia House community for the last 6 years. My daughter started in the preschool just before her third birthday (she is now 9) and my son started in the toddler room when he was 18 months old (he is now 5). I feel quite confident saying that sending my children to Nia House has been one of my best parenting decisions so far.
The program at Nia House teaches each child that s/he is a valuable part of a peaceful community - the Nia House community, the Berkeley Community, and the World community. Everyday, through every interaction, the children learn the responsibilities and privileges that flow from being part of a larger group. Responsibilities include being kind and respectful of one another, taking care of physical surroundings, and working out problems with other children using "kind words" (ie. no hitting, no excluding, no bullying, ever). Privileges include being a teacher/leader to new students, going on field trips, celebrating birthdays and holidays together, doing wonderful art projects, performing puppet shows, cooking banana bread, and just plain ol' having fun together. Somehow, every teacher at Nia House knows how to strike just the right balance of kindness and firmness to create a safe and predictable structure for every single child. As a result, the children flourish socially, emotionally, and, it turns out, academically.
The "academics" at Nia House seem to grow organically from the social and physical environment. As far as the children are concerned, the biggest "privilege" of being a student at Nia House is getting to do the "challenging works" - activities which include the Montessori curriculum (numbers, letters, practical life, sensorial, etc), reading, and art for a one hour period each morning. I know this might sound overly-rigorous and structured to some, but over the years I've observed the children during their "work" periods many times, and I can say with 100% confidence that they love it. They love learning new things, they love working together, and they take tremendous pride in showing their friends and family their new skills. Our kids add to our dinner table conversation many details about animal life cycles, invertebrates, the solar system, adding numbers, and other amazing topics.
Both of my children were incredibly well prepared when they transitioned to a new school: socially/emotionally they knew how to work with other children, they were able to control their bodies and not be wiggly at inappropriate times. They are able to focus on a task for an extended period of time, and both were so skilled with reading, writing and numbers that they instantly felt comfortable with the material they were presented with at their new school.
For me, the strong academic skills both of my children gained at Nia House - while quite amazing - were simply icing on the cake. Everyday my husband or I dropped them off at Nia House, we knew they would be cared for and supported in a safe, loving environment rich with new things to discover. For a working parent - any parent really - what more could one ask for? Denise
Nia House is the best kept secret in Berkeley. The teachers get continuous training and have an impressive number of years of experience with kids. Each child is treated as a person, and these teachers care dearly for the kids. My child thrives there every day! I couldn't say enough about the care that each child gets, and how much they learn because of this environment.
The Nia House teachers pay special attention to how children learn. They understand that young kids are capable of extraordinary things, and that they are each unique. The children learn social behaviors that help them solve conflicts with words, which makes the kids well-rounded and able to act independently...and it's all age-appropriate.
There is a gentleness to all the instructors that makes me feel my child is in great hands all day long. There's never a moment that the children aren't being watched. The kids are not only being watched, they are, at all times, admired.
Nia House Parent
Dec 2008
My son is approaching preschool age and we're fortunate to have two great options starting next fall: Nia House Montessori or one of the UC Berkeley preschools. I really liked the feel of Nia House and can sense that it's a fantastic environment for introducing kids to the joy of learning. On the other hand, the fact that they don't provide meals/snacks and that the school is far from my home and work would add quite a bit to my daily stress. The UC Berkeley preschools have a great reputation, although I'm a little less enthused about them relative to Nia House. But...they're close to home and work, and meals are provided. Thus, more precious moments with my son that would otherwise be spent driving, shopping, and cooking. Do any of you have relevant experience, suggestions, advice? anon
I'm sure other Nia House parents will have similar answers, but the convenience of a short drive and not packing a lunch everyday will not outweigh the outstanding benefits of childhood learning at Nia House (which does provide healthy snacks btw). My 2 kids learned conflict resolution, focus, and advanced communication skills by age 3. They went on to early reading and math skills, all within a social justice and peace curriculum. Most importantly, I learned all of my most effective parenting skills at Nia House. Really! At Zellerbach Hall field trips, it's the Nia house kids listening to their teachers, waiting patiently, and listening intently to the performance - not the older grade school students, but these preschoolers. You would not regret your choice of Nia House. a happy nia house parent
My son is 2 (28 months) and we're also researching preschools...especially Montessori. The ONLY (and completley self-serving) reason I had to post is that I am a Nia House Alum. Nia House (I'm 36...years not months, lol) were my first memories!
Painting, singing (they let me sing in spanish even though I didn't know a lick? WTH? poor teachers).
I have no clue how Nia House is run today. Please take my post with a grain of salt. Nia House Alum
We absolutely love Nia House. The Director and Teachers are great and there is a real sense of community! Our daughter has thrived in the Montessori environment. They do provide snacks BUT lunch does take extra time/dedication in the morning. Nia House also encourages healthy meals so ''lunchable type'' stuff is not an option. It has actually helped our whole family eat a lot better. We do a short drive in the morning but it always goes smooth. Nia Mom
editor note: a review was also received for Child Study Center at UC Berkeley.
Feb 2006
I would love to hear about recent experiences with Nia House. The reviews on BPN are a few years old at this point, and it would be great to hear from some parents with kids currently enrolled there -- I'm especially interested in the toddler program, but any thoughts would be appreciated.
Nia House is fabulous! We had two older daughters go through their program 5-10 years ago, and our current 3 year old has been there for a year and a half. The staff is wonderful and the toddler room teachers have been there 20 and 15 tears each respectively, but they are not ''burnt out''- they love the kids and are completely attuned to their developmental needs! In fact many of the staff has been there 15+ years, and the new teachers are equally terrific. I am always amazed at how engaged, caring and genuinely happy all of the children are at Nia House. They love to be at school and learn so many skills that build there confidence and capabilities, it's exciting to watch. There is a wide variety af families there also- racially, economically, and family structures, which makes for a wonderful experience as well. The only difficult thing we have found is that since it's a Montessori School, the classroom is child-centered and parents are not invited to be in the classroom with the kids at all. You are welcome to observe anytime, and can also hang out outside with the kids, but sometimes it feels a little cold dropping your child at the door- but this is a parent issue- I think the kids are fine with it.
happy Nia House parent
I've had/have two boys at Nia House, one recently left for first grade, the other is still there. It is a full-time program geared toward working/schooling parents. There is a wonderful mix of all different kinds of families from all different backgrounds. My oldest was at Nia House from 18 months through Kindergarten and just started 1st grade this academic year. My youngest began in the toddler room at 18 months and just transitioned at the end of last year into the preschool program. I could make this email thousands of words long, but the bottom line is that Nia House is absolutely FANTASTIC. The directors, the teachers, the program, and the mix of ''work'' and play, everything. The wonderful new play structures and recent sprucing of the facility are an added bonus. The toddler program (what you specifically asked for information on) is spectacular, two wonderful loving teachers, both of whom have been there for many, many years. Both are so in tune with toddlers, it is amazing. They have different personalities which really complement each other; my sons connected well with both. I still ask the head toddler teacher for advice and she always comes up with 2-3 wonderful suggestions. The preschool teachers are also wonderful with children and great communicators with parents. I am constantly amazed at what my children have learned there, how well children respect each other and their teachers, how well the teachers really know my kids, and how caring the other families are. This is a truly special preschool and a place our family will always, always remember with great fondness.
Sharon A., Nia House mom
Our daughter is in her kindergarten year at Nia House and started there in the pre-school program at 2yrs., 9 mos. I cannot say enough good things about Nia House. The most important thing to me in choosing Nia House at the beginning was the diversity of the staff and the kids. It is diverse in every respect, ethnic, socio-economic and gay/lesbian parent families. Our daughter has thrived there. The things I like the best are the staff, the emphasis on good nutrition and the way they teach conflict resolution. It's also great academically. Daily, I'm impressed with what my daughter knows and understands. I wish it went through elementary school. We will miss it terribly.
Nia House parent
We don't just love Nia House. We LOVE LOVE Nia house. If you're looking for a nurturing, supportive, economically and racially diverse program, which will help you with all of your parenting challenges, then this is the place for your child. I have a 5 year old and a 2-1/2 year old in the program (both of whom started at 18 months), with very different personalities, and they both thrive here. (You could not, in your wildest imagination, dream up a better toddler room teacher). From an early age, they've learned to communicate their feelings, resolve social problems on their own, and learn ''daily living'' skills. The academics in the older ''explorer'' room are strong, and the teachers pay close attention to each child's development in all areas. You may not receive a daily report on your child, but at the drop of a hat you can schedule a one on one conference to speak with your child's teacher, or come to a classroom observation.
I have heard critiques that Montesorri programs can be tough, rigid and inflexible, but this is not one of them. This is a school with deeply experienced teachers (many have been there 15-20 years), almost no teacher turnover, and a friendly, inclusive community of parents and students. New developments in the last 3 months include a brand new play structure and new classroom finishes with a focus on green building materials. Come for a visit!
A happy preschool parent
Nia House is an extraordinary place. My son started there at 18 months in the Toddler program. He is now doing his kindergarten year there. The past 4 1/2 years at Nia House have been wonderful. It is a caring and nurturing environment. The teachers and staff are loving educators who focus on the whole child and whole family. Our son has looked forward to going to school every single day. I urge you to do a tour and observation there. If Nia House seems like a good fit for your child, you will look back on this decision (as I do) as one of the best you've made in your life.
Anna
2001
I've been a parent at Nia House for 6 years. My youngest will probably leave to start kindergarten in the fall & it will be very sad to say goodbye to such a wonderful preschool community. Whether it's the incredible, diverse, longterm staff, the great kids, the wonderful families, the play/social/emotional/academic skills the kids acquire or any other aspect of the school, it's been a rich, warm & most memorable experience. I'd be happy to talk to anyone who wants to know more. Bill and Rebecca
My younger son started Nia House at 2 1/2 in the "toddler" room and is now in his third year of preschool (preschool is separated into two age groups: approximately 34 1/2 and 4 1/2 to 6, after the 3rd year, kids are ready for 1st grade) and my older son (now a 5th grader) also went to Nia House. Nia House is a warm, loving environment with AMAZING staff. Lee, the Director has been with the school for over 20 years (originally as a parent), Lisa, the preschool head teacher is "new", about 6 years!!, and two of the assistant teachers have been there for 12 years and more (Jeannie, the toddler teacher is one of the founders of the school!). Lisa is just back from successful breast cancer treatment(had been out for several months) and while the school managed to do fine in her absence, her return made us all realize just how much she has become the center of our close knit community. The school is small (about 36 kids from 17 months to 6yrs old) and has to be the most ethnic and socioeconomically diverse preschool ever. Half the kids receive some type of scholarship while higher income families pay a "premium" to attend(and what's nice you don't usually know which kids are from which families) and families range from "traditional" same ethnicity/different sex couples with biological kids to single parents (including grandmas), lesbian couples, transracial adoption families, and more. The staff reflects this mix: Lee is an African American man, Lisa an African American woman, Tita and Pia (the two assistant teachers) are Cambodian, and Jeannie is a white woman. There is other staff as well,including a wonderful parttime teacher that does architecture and gardening with the kids. The school provides every child with the right academic challenge. My son is reading at 1st2nd grade level and is doing 2nd grade math. But as this is a Montessori school, the teachers "follow" the interest and developmental level of each child. The school also stresses individual responsibility and selfdiscipline (very Montessori). The school welcomes visitors call and make an appointment, the school often has a waiting list (ALWAYS for the toddler room) so call soon for the Fall. Feel free to call me for more: 8416153 (as are most Nia House parents I'm FANATICAL about the school). Karen
If you are looking for a high quality, diverse preschool (18mos.6yrs, with kids graduating ready for 1st grade) I highly suggest Nia House Learning Center (Montessori) in Berkeley. For Berkeley public school, I recommend Washington Elementary. I've written about both schools before, so check the archives, but I'll address the issue about diversity, especially for gay headed families.
At Nia House, there IS NO DIVERSITY COMMITTEE, because there is no need. The school is all about inclusivity, socioeconomic, gay/straight, single parent/grandparent headed, multi cultural/racial, "mixed" ethnic families (including by adoption). While I don't remember gay male headed families specifically, over the past 8 yrs. that I've had kids at Nia House, lesbian headed families have comprised anywhere from 10% to at least 20% of the student population (35 kids in the whole school). Nia House's strength to me is that inclusivity there is like breathing you really don't discuss what is integral to you that percentage is just based on families that my kids have socialized with, that I've met in parent meetings/school gatherings, or know from my kids that "Joey/Jane" has "2 Mommys".
We enrolled our now 2.5 year old the day after she was born and she just got in, albeit with a lot of leg work and a bit of luck. The waitlist doesn't do much good. The staff relayed to call as much as possible to stay top of mind as their enrollment happens all year on a per needed basis (less than a handful of spots seem to open at a time). Their waitlist has over 1,000 children. We had friends who are current Nia house parents as well as alum parents and tried to leverage their connects as much as possible. They select based off "need" (which can be a bit broad), but that includes financial as they are funded partially by the city and if siblings have or currently attend. We assumed we weren't getting in (but continued to try) and had a happy surprise when we did.
A general note that we've found with all these preschool waitlists in Berkeley and the Bay Area – the demand is so high across the board that the idea of signing up and expecting a call out of the blue is not the reality. You have to work the system, be top of mind, and put in as much legwork as you can. Think of it like securing a job. It takes time, persistence, and networking.
My child attended Nia House, it is a wonderful school! We put our kid's name on the list at 4 months old, and we were contacted when he was about 20 months to say there was a spot available in the toddler program and he started at 22 months. This was a few years ago, but I know of other folks who were able to get in a little quicker than us. I think it is worth reaching out to the school to let them know how interested you are.
It is further away, but the other JEDI-focused Montessori school I know of is Grand Lake Montessori.