A World of Wonders Awaits!
Recognizing and celebrating every small achievement
in every child’s development!
Welcome to Our School
Welcome to Little Otters Academy in Alhambra, CA. Previously known as Virgin Mary Preschool and Kindergarten, our preschool program has been serving Alhambra Community, San Gabriel Commuinty and Montery Park Community, since 1987! The school was established to serve preschoolers in an environment where the focus is on nurturing care and individual education. Drawing upon almost forty years combined experience in private educations, our school has spacious campus designed with little child in mind and provides a full-time preschool program for our students.
Our Pre-School, Pre-Kindergarten and After School Program options provide the perfect opportunity to maximize your children’s early learning experiences.
We are committed to keeping you connected throughout the day through real-time updates on our parent-school communication app and our school is always open for any questions or recommendations.
We encourage you to call or stop by to learn more about Little Otters Academy in Alhambra, CA today so we can show you all that we have to offer.
Educational Offer
We prioritize a high standard of education, meticulously curate our teaching staff, offer a comprehensive selection of enriching classes, ensure a safe and comfortable learning environment for children, foster a culture of trust and respect that enhances both learning and relationships, and invite you to explore our school’s offerings.
Immerse your child in a cozy classroom environment that provides enriching learning experiences and prepares them for school.
Prepare your 4- and 5-year-olds for kindergarten with our comprehensive full-day program, led by experienced teachers.
Enrich your child’s educational journey with our extracurricular programs.
Customer Reviews
Posted on Yelp Raymond W.June 25, 2026Verified The Little Otters Academy is a great place for any parents with busy careers to have a peace of mind, knowing that the kids are in good hands while they are at work. We've sent both of our kids to this school: my son when it was called Virgin Mary and my daughter who just graduated after two years and going to TK next year. My nephews and nieces also went to this school. The school's accommodation is excellent. The playground area is very spacious and safe for kids. The playground, play toys and carpet are always clean. Parents can drop off their kids without breakfast and the kids get warm breakfast, lunch and snacks. Ms. Elva who has been working there since the days of my nephews, nieces and son is an excellent chef and kids love her. The staff and teaching program is excellent as well. The teachers for my daughter are very diverse in background. All of them enjoy teaching the kids from the bottom of their heart. My daughter started at this school at the age of two. Her development accelerated during those two years. She went from wearing diaper and not speaking properly to a confident girl who reads and write all alphabets and even some three letter words and who can count and add numbers. The teachers also constantly gave us reports on her development. We didn't need to teach anything outside of school. Other than academics, the school also focused social and physical development. The school has planned activities almost every month for the students to learn and appreciate different cultures. The school also invites different professionals (cops, fire fighters, dentists) to school. The school also teaches music, dances, different languages like Chinese and Spanish. We highly recommend this school for any parents who wanted to have their kids grow while having busy lives.Posted on Yelp Kelly Q.March 23, 2026Verified My son has grown so much socially and academically since starting at Little Otters Academy. We've seen huge strides in his confidence and social skills. We are especially impressed by the extracurricular activities they offer; having Spanish and Chinese classes integrated into the day is such a unique and valuable benefit. They also recently added a Soccer Shots class, which has been a huge hit--my son absolutely loves getting out there and playing soccer with his peers. I also love that they have cooking activities, which is such a fun way for the kids to learn and explore. Beyond the academics, they put on the cutest little performances for parents to watch, like the Christmas show, which we absolutely loved. We couldn't ask for a more stimulating learning environment with amazing and attentive teachers for our little one!Posted on Yelp Liz Z.March 16, 2026Verified We absolutely love Little Otters Academy! My daughter started here when she was 3 in their preschool program and stayed on for TK because we loved their curriculum so much. The teachers are amazing-so warm, communicative, and you can tell they truly care about the kids and their success. The school itself is great. The playground is huge, the campus is very clean, and safety is clearly a priority with security cameras around the school. Compared to other local preschools we toured, the classrooms and playground here are by far the most spacious, which we really appreciated. We also like that the school focuses on both academics and play. Even starting in preschool, they introduce light homework, which helps build good learning habits early while still keeping things fun. Another thing we love is their focus on community engagement. They bring in local police officers, firefighters, and librarians to talk to the kids about safety and the community. Fridays are especially fun with activities like pizza making, dress-up days, and arts and crafts. They also do a great job celebrating different cultural holidays so every family feels included. Mandarin and Spanish classes are available too (for an additional cost), which is a nice bonus. Overall, we've had a great experience and would definitely recommend Little Otters Academy to other families looking for a caring and well-rounded preschool/TK program.Posted on Yelp Cielo R.March 13, 2026Verified My son has attended Little Otters Academy since he was 2 years old, these past 3 years he's already learned how to write his first and last name, count to 100, starting to learn how to read, and learn Spanish. Little Otters Academy has exceptional teachers that go above and beyond for their students. With a small classroom setting, my son gets one-on-one attention and great supervision. Thank you Little Otters for giving my son the best start in his education, so grateful!Posted on Yelp JeffFebruary 2, 2026Verified An excellent school! The administration is very responsible and attentive, and the teachers are incredibly kind and caring. Our children had a wonderful and happy time here, made great progress, and became much more confident. Highly recommended!Posted on Yelp Analita W.January 21, 2026Verified We love Little Otters Academy. Our son has developed a lot since his enrollment. Teachers are caring and loving, school activities are fun, school environment is warm and welcoming. Communication with family is very quick and consistent. We are happy to find this wonderful preschool in Alhambra area with reasonable cost!Posted on Yelp Shannon M.October 7, 2025Verified My older children went here when it was Virgin Mary preschool. I went on a tour for my youngest and OMG, it's the same warm beautiful vibes. Classrooms are clean, organized and you can feel that the teachers love the children.Posted on Yelp Skyla L.September 17, 2025Verified We've had such a great experience at this preschool! My daughter loves her teacher Ms. Garcia! She's so warm, patient, and genuinely cares for each kid. We've seen so much progress in her since she started. The whole staff is super friendly and gets to know each kid well. I also love they have a new topic every week, and the Friday special events are always something my daughter looks forward to. She has a blast with those! I'm so grateful for this school!Posted on Yelp Andy Q.August 18, 2025Verified I can't say enough wonderful things about Little Otter's Academy! From the very first day my twin boys, Ayden and Leo, walked through the doors, we felt nothing but love, warmth, and genuine care. The entire staff goes above and beyond to make every child feel safe, valued, and truly at home. As a parent, it's not easy to trust someone else with your little ones, but Little Otter's has given us complete peace of mind. The teachers treat our boys like their own--nurturing, patient, and endlessly kind. Every morning, Ayden and Leo run into the classroom with big smiles, which speaks volumes about how happy and comfortable they feel here. The balance of learning, play, and care is outstanding. We've seen so much growth in their confidence, social skills, and curiosity, and it's clear that the staff takes great pride in helping each child thrive. The communication with parents is also excellent--we're always kept in the loop, and it's evident how much thought and love goes into every detail of the program. We are beyond grateful to have found Little Otter's Academy. Knowing that Ayden and Leo are surrounded by such a loving and supportive team every day means the world to us. Truly a second family--we couldn't ask for a better place!Posted on Yelp Michael M.May 11, 2025Verified Little Otter Academy has been a wonderful place for our child! The staff is friendly, caring, and always attentive to each child's needs. My daughter has really blossomed since starting--becoming more confident, social, and curious about learning. The classroom is welcoming and full of creative activities that keep the kids engaged and happy. We also love getting regular updates and pictures. It gives us so much peace of mind knowing our child is in such good hands. We're so glad we found this preschool!Yelp rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 46 reviews


























