Children's Lighthouse of Murrieta — Local services in Murrieta

As a parent, choosing a preschool is one of the most important (and emotional) decisions you’ll ever make. You’re not just picking a school, you’re deciding who will care for, guide, and love your child when you’re not there. That’s a huge responsibility, and one we did not take lightly. Our son has been at Lighthouse in Murrieta for over a year now, and looking back, I can say with absolute confidence that it has been one of the very best choices we’ve made for him and for our family.

I’ll admit, I’m guilty of not writing reviews nearly as often as I should when I’ve had a great experience. But in this case, I felt compelled to sit down and share, because what we’ve experienced at Lighthouse deserves to be recognized.

Our son is a strong-willed, opinionated, yet incredibly sweet little boy. We were fully prepared for the possibility that he might not always enjoy school, or that he would push back against parts of the routine, and honestly, that’s part of his personality that we adore. But from the very beginning, he has absolutely thrived at Lighthouse. He LOVES school. He talks about his friends constantly, he lights up when he sees his teachers, and he genuinely looks forward to going every day. As a mom, there is nothing more comforting than watching your child walk into school with a big smile and knowing they are happy and cared for.

What makes Lighthouse so special is not just the academics or the activities (though those are wonderful), it’s the people. The teachers and staff radiate genuine warmth and care. I feel it every single time I drop him off and pick him up. It’s not just a job for them; they truly love and understand children. That love is felt by the kids and by the parents. The leadership team is also fantastic! It’s clear they are attentive, organized, and always keeping an eye on the classrooms and the bigger picture. That level of involvement gives us even more peace of mind.

I’ve read some of the less-than-great reviews out there, and honestly, it makes me sad. Of course, no school is ever going to be a perfect fit for every single family. But from what we’ve seen and experienced day in and day out, Lighthouse is a place where children are safe, loved, and given every opportunity to grow. As engaged parents, we’ve found that if anything ever comes up (as it naturally does when raising kids), simply being proactive and working hand-in-hand with the school keeps everything on track.

Some of the highlights for us: our son brings home the most creative and fun art projects, friendships are encouraged and celebrated in such a sweet way, and the school itself is always clean, well-maintained, and thoughtfully organized. But more than all of that, it’s the intangible, the joy in my son’s voice when he talks about school, the excitement he has for his friends and teachers, and the trust I feel in leaving him each morning.

To any parent who is feeling the weight of this decision, I just want to share from the heart: Lighthouse has been an incredible blessing for our family. We are so grateful we found this school, and we can honestly say we picked the right place for our son. I will always remember this season of his little life with so much gratitude, and that’s why I wanted to leave this review, because the good experiences matter just as much, if not more, than the negative ones.

If you’re looking for a place where your child will be nurtured, loved, guided, and truly seen as the unique little person they are, Lighthouse in Murrieta is...

6/2022 Update:

My son went on to 1st grade and was always in the top 3 of his class on any subject. He had a solid foundation of learning at Children’s Lighthouse. I am most grateful to Mrs. Veronica for teaching him how to read because he is now an avid reader. My daughter has been at Children’s lighthouse for 3 years and 3 months now. She is a social butterfly and everyone’s best friend. She is safe and happy here. If she is not feeling well or there is a minor incident, we are always notified promptly. Potty training was an easy transition as her teachers just continued what we started at home. Summer’s are extra fun with the splash pad/extra activities. Our daughter will be busy making lifelong childhood memories here at Children’s Lighthouse for as long as possible.

Both of my children have been coming here for over a year. At first, my then 4 year old son struggled to adapt to a high teacher turnover rate. This is no longer the case as Ms. Marissa, Mrs. Jessica, and Mrs. Veronica are great teachers dedicated to their classrooms (6,7,8.) My son was learning a lot, but he still struggled socially... Then to my surprise, he started thriving at Children’s Lighthouse during the Stay-at-home Orders. (My husband and I have both been working the whole time.) Having the older school-aged children around has provided an unexpected benefit as they have shown my son compassion and how to be a better friend/brother. My son is benefiting from the extra specialized attention he is getting from Mrs. Jessica in his small class too. He will be staying through private kindergarten.

My daughter has been coming to Children’s Lighthouse since she was 6 months old. She’s a very social and happy baby who loved being with Mrs. Zuni and Mrs. Julianne in the baby room. She transitioned so easily into the toddler room recently. She’s only 1 yr and 8 months old, but she sings, dances, colors, counts to 20, knows her shapes and colors. She talks a lot and eats a lot! I could not be any happier with her development and care.

Throughout the last year, the owner suddenly passed away and since then her daughter and son-in-law have taken over management/ ownership of the school. They are incredibly kind and intelligent people. The way they orchestrated their Coronavirus response was nothing short of amazing. I had to/chose to trust them with the lives of my children during a pandemic for the last 2.5 months and they did not waver. I have an incredible amount of gratitude and respect for them.

When you are ready, I can highly recommend bringing your children back to Children’s Lighthouse in Murrieta or trying it for...

Rating 1 star is an overstatement. My child was attending this location for almost 2 years. The first 1 year, was great. Ms. Cassy was awesome as the location's Director, We loved the 2-year-old classroom teachers Ms. Sandra, Ms. Audrey, and Ms. Silvia. But a few month's ago we noticed the turnover of their staff was rapid! The school has ZERO consistently with staff ever since. The 2 and 4-year-old students are placed in the 2-year-old class because they are always understaffed and over ratio. Since Ms. Cassy got replaced as the Director, the school has had two new Directors. Ms. Kelly and Ms. Dianne, whom are no longer there. Another main issue I had was the “healthy meals”. I picked up daughter early last month and noticed the teacher served the kids one meatball one chicken nugget and half of a strawberry. Are you kidding me? I brought up the issue to the teachers the next day and they both laughed at me and said that they do not get enough food to feed all the children in their classroom. My daughter’s teacher showed me her closet filled with snacks that she had to buy with her own money to keep the kids content throughout the day. This used to be a place where your child could learn and develop to now becoming a hostile, toxic environment. Change of leadership has caused a mass number of experienced teachers departing the school with no clear explanation. I regret sending my daughter to this place. Zero customer services whatsoever. They hardly ever greet the families. No one at the entrance which makes it easier for a stranger to sneak in. So much for a high-security daycare. The teacher there are running around like chickens with their head cut off. If that was their best, I have zero faith in their ability to care for my child. Needless to say, we will not be using this facility and do not recommend you waste your time...