★ 5

Our family loves the Goldfish Swim School!We’ve taken a couple casual mini lessons and gone to a few family swims with our daughter from 6 months- 16 months. Grateful for the opportunity to still give her these important experiences with water fun and safety while a regular enrollment isn’t in the budget. She’s comfortable in the water and excited every time we go. We participated in their recent trick or treat event and had so much fun. As always, the staff creates such a warm and inviting community!

Source: Google

★ 5

10/10 recommend! Teachers are so amazing and my daughter loves going. They teach water safety but make it fun!

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★ 5

Highly organized, immaculately clean facility, adequate swim instruction for the kids. Well run operation here, completely satisfied.

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★ 5

My 2 daughters (5 & 3) love coming to Goldfish Swim School! The coaches are so patient and great with the kiddos.

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★ 5

We've been sending our son to Goldfish since he was about 18 months old and he loves it! They offer a wide range of classes for different age groups and swim levels and are super helpful when it comes to scheduling. Flexible class times and plenty of instructors/life guards always available. They take safety very seriously and the facility is always very clean. We love them and highly recommend!

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★ 5

The goldfish swim school is such a wonderful child focused program! We are so lucky to have found it and is heads above anywhere else we have gone all over the country!

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★ 5

We love going to pool school! The instructor's do an amazing job and its such a great atmosphere!

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★ 5

Excellent teachers, classes, and concept. The fact that my 2 year old can pull himself out of a pool and float unassisted makes it worth every penny. The reschedule policy is also really great for chaotic, busy families!

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★ 5

My kids love goldfish swim school! 🐠 🏊‍♀️ 🚌 They have the best time every week and it is so fun to watch them find confidence in the water! We have been doing lessons for over a year for our two kids and they have both grown so much in their swimming abilities!

Source: Google

★ 5

We've seen significant progress in our child's swimming and a marked increase in her confidence and enjoyment since enrolling her in lessons at Goldfish. The instructors are present, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable, and we particularly love how they celebrate every milestone. It's clear that the entire staff genuinely cares about the progress of each student.

Communication from Goldfish is top-notch and their comprehensive website makes it easy to view and adjust schedules, as well as access all the information related to enrollment. For all of these reasons and more, we highly recommend Goldfish in Portland.

Source: Google

★ 5

We joined Goldfish Swim School February 2025, and we absolutely love it! Swimming and water safety are such important life skills and we wanted to get our then 8 month old into the water as soon as possible. Flash forward to now, our son is thriving and looks forward to swim lessons every week. The facility is always clean, the staff are welcoming and attentive. The app and having the ability to text into the team any questions or the occasional lesson rescheduling is super helpful for busy parents. I have recommended Goldfish Swim School to all my friends with kids.

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★ 5

We have been coming to goldfish since Jan 2025 and we will never go anywhere else! Clean, safe, fun and our son's confidence has sky rocked in the water! We are so thankful!

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 5

We've been with Goldfish Swim School for over a year now and have nothing but positive things to say about them! Our girls started lessons at 4 and 7 years old. Both loved the water but were very scared to get water in their faces and to go under water. I went into it with pretty low expectations and was completely blown away at how comfortable they became in the water. Once our oldest got through Glider 1, she soared through the rest of the Glider levels (pretty much skipping Glider 3 entirely) and into Pro 1. 'Swim School Sunday' is their favorite day of the week and we're so fortunate to have Goldfish as part of our extended family.

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★ 5

We have been going to goldfish for over a year! Our kids love going and have such a fun time. They feel so welcome by every instructor and front desk staff. They really help build strong swim and safety skills. I would highly recommend to any parents.

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

We’ve had such a great experience at Goldfish Swim School. As a mom of three, I was looking for a program that was both effective and encouraging — and this has exceeded expectations.

The staff is amazing with kids, and the environment is bright, clean, and incredibly organized. Each of my children has made real progress, and the curriculum is clearly designed with both safety and fun in mind.

Living in Maine, water is a big part of our lifestyle — lakes, pools, oceans — and having kids who feel confident in and around the water has been such a gift. I can’t recommend Goldfish enough to families looking to build skills that truly matter.

Source: Google

★ 1

Awful curriculum, worse teaching. My kid was in for six months gained no skills, didnt even get previously had skills back in that time. Constant turnover of undertrained unenthusiastic staff. Go anywhere but here. Wish I could get all that money and time back.

Source: Google

★ 5

Our girls have been going to Goldfish Swim School since they opened in December 2023. Swim days are their favorite day of the week and they’ve made such great progress since starting. We recently tried the mini class for our newest little one and she loved it as well! The instructors and staff are amazing in every way too.

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★ 1

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★ 5

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★ 1

Our child had a very difficult time with the teachers constantly changing at Goldfish. In the five months that we were going to Goldfish, they assigned 8 different teachers to our child (a mixture of subs and permanent instructors). For many other children, the constant change of teachers is fine, but our child doesn't do well with this and went from enjoying swim lessons for the first month or two at Goldfish to then getting more fearful of the lessons until he refused to get in the pool with the 8th instructor.

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

I’m a parent of 3 young kids, but I used to be a swim instructor at a big city pool. I’m blown away with how ENJOYABLE Goldfish Swim School has made swim class for me AND my kids. The classes are brief, dynamic, and full of confidence-building activities. No chance for boredom or fatigue. It seems the entire set up from the fun and relaxed atmosphere to the consistent rewarding of achievements is designed to foster confidence and skill in water safety. The classes are very small which is just amazing. We’ve gone to 5 classes and my 3 and 5 year old have absolutely blossomed in such a short time. Can’t wait to start with my baby - they have SO many fun activities to build confidence while having fun! I’m so glad I tried Goldfish.

Source: Google

★ 5

We started at goldfish Portland when their facility opened, we quickly realized how incredible it was here. My oldest son has always loved the water, but finally getting him in a program that helped him learn essential water safety skills was so helpful! They taught him and us as parents what to work on and how to make it fun. We enrolled my
Youngest son at 4 months old and I was excited to see his progress from starting at such a young age. At 1.5 he is floating independently, loves water and has a strong foundation for safe skills in the pool. The instructors are fantastic, knowledgeable and so helpful. The program is consistent, timely and the facility is very clean. We love swimming here, and would recommend it to anyone in the area.

Source: Google

★ 5

They really cater to where your kiddo is at with swim/water exposure and not just based on age. Their instructors are kind, patient and attentive. My kiddo started out hating the idea of swim class and now he's psyched to go.

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★ 5

We have seen SO MUCH progress in our daughter's skills since joining Goldfish it's phenomenal! The facility is clean and well taken care of, easy to access and most importantly the COACHES and STAFF are AMAZING! 5 stars is an understatement!!

Source: Google

★ 5

I absolutely love Goldfish Swim School! It's such a fun, supportive environment and their curriculum and dedication to skill development is unmatched. My 3 year old is swimming independently and we feel so much better about her ability to stay safe in water. I highly recommend them!!

Source: Google

★ 5

My daughter started her swimming classes recently and loves it. Coaches and the facility is great

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★ 5

My 1 year old has been attending GSS for a few months now. He loves it, only thing he does all week that'll make him nap for hours afterwards. Everyone has been so friendly and patient. Everything is always clean and well maintained. Couldn't ask for a better place to take my son for his swim lessons.

Source: Google

★ 5

Our son absolutely LOVES his swim lessons at Goldfish. Our boy has autism and we were worried about how he would do at the lessons and the teacher that's with him but his teacher, Miss Charlotte is AMAZING with him and meets him exactly where he's at and we've seen so much improvement just in 3 lessons :)

Source: Google

★ 5

"This place is an absolute gem! From the pristine waters to the welcoming staff, every visit is a joy. The facilities are spotless, the atmosphere is relaxing, and whether you're here for serious training or just a fun swim, it's perfect for all ages and skill levels. I've always felt safe and comfortable here, and the attention to detail is outstanding. If you're looking for the best swimming spot, look no further—this place truly deserves every one of these five stars!"_

Source: Google

★ 5

The staff is so helpful and welcoming, the tiered structure of development is fantastic. Students are encouraged to continue learning and trying their best at whatever stage they are in!

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★ 5

Cannot say enough good things about Goldfish. Our daughter was unsure of the water/swimming when we started and now she is swimming on her own and doing strokes at 4 years old!! Truly amazing. The facility is beautiful. Very clean and caters to the kids!! Highly recommend

Source: Google

★ 5

My son loves attending weekly!

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★ 5

Love this place so much. From the first interaction they have been kind, helpful and flexible. The staff have all been so great to me and to my daughter. Very clean and professional environment too. I can't say enough good about them, highly recommend.

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★ 5

We chose Goldfish to take our daughter at 9 months and we are still swimming there almost a year later!

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★ 5

Goldfish Swim School Portland is a wonderful place, the interactive swim lessons with attentive instructors are the highlight of our 2 daughter's week! Their operations are very well run and the facility is well maintained and very clean!

Source: Google

★ 5

Beautiful, clean facilities and pools for your little ones to learn, practice and play. Each swim instructor we have interacted with has been so lovely. Their care and excitement for the kids makes me feel so much more comfortable as my toddler is learning the skills she needs to stay safe in any body of water. They keep things exciting and really seem to be teaching more than swim skills. They are instilling confidence, creating memories and offering opportunities for socialization. We love Goldfish (and Bubbles)!

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★ 5

A fantastic place for kids to learn to swim! Fun, comfortable (warm:) and positive! They have a great system & we've been grateful for all they've taught our kids.

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★ 5

We have had a wonderful experience at Goldfish! The staff are great- friendly and knowledgeable. The facility is clean, welcoming, and fun! We have enjoyed watching our littles learn to swim!

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★ 5

Awesome place for children to learn to swim. Very clean with lots of private changing rooms to keep everyone moving.

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★ 4

Great facility, staff and pricing! Love the ease of using their app to find classes

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★ 5

Highly recommend Goldfish Swim School! My 2 kids have learned so much and love going each week. The place is always clean and the staff happy and great with the kids.

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★ 5

My 2 year old goes here for swim lessons in the mini 3 group. He loves it! The instructor has taken the time to get him to love the water

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★ 5

What a great experience for my kids. They’ve made a lot of great progress and the warm water means they get right in the pool!

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★ 5

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★ 5

My son joined as a student to prep for summer camp. I really love the facility, and the staff are all very kind and accommodating. Really pleasant atmosphere, and very well run and managed. Definitely recommend!

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★ 5

We've been going to Goldfish in Portland for our almost 5 year old and 2 year old for a couple of months now, and we are so happy with everything! Super friendly and helpful staff, clean facilities. They have great systems in place! Highly recommend.

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★ 5

Our daughter absolutely loves swim class every week and we love the important skills she is learning. The instructors are amazing and the whole staff is friendly and professional! Highly recommend to all of our friends!

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★ 5

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★ 4

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★ 2

Nice facilities but I don’t think they actually teach the kids to … swim?

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★ 5

We’ve been swimming at goldfish for a couple months and my daughter just said she had the most fun ever at swimming with a substitute instructor, Beau. She’s normally nervous to put her ears under but Beau kept her (and me) laughing the whole time. That atmosphere led her to confidently float on her back unassisted for the first time ever!!! Thank you Beau and goldfish!!

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★ 5

Can't say enough good things about this place. It's perfectly set up for busy parents. It's warm and inviting. The kids actually learn how to swim and have a curriculum. THANK YOU.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

I have been taking my now 3 year old son to GSS in Portland since the week they have opened and am still just as thrilled with the school as the day we started! The facilities are bright, inviting and catered towards children, which makes everything so easy. The staff is wonderful, caring and supportive and it’s just the right environment to foster a love for swimming. We’ve even had two birthday parties there already- the best! Highly recommend!

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 5

Great facility for kids and babies learning to swim and get water familiarity.

A heartfelt thanks to Michelle R.--Very patient with our swimmers, who made incredible improvements during their time here.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 1

They don’t run class sessions with start and end dates that have identifiable goals within their time frame, thus allows the swimmer to only advance based on their suggestions and gives them no accountability to a time frame of improvement. I like Foss’ swim school model better.
Their instructors were all very nice and knowledgeable. My oldest had a good time each session.
Frequently the facilities needed a good sweeping and mopping.
The pool was pretty cold for my infant a couple of times.
Their 30 day notice with cancellations is horrible.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Very well organized with superb staff!

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★ 5

We had our child’s birthday party there yesterday. Everything was fantastic! Great vibe, great staff, it was run very well. Kids and adults all had a great time. Staff was super strict and heavily enforced rules, but the kids didn’t seem to care and the flip side of that is that we all felt our kids were very safe in the water. We would definitely have another party there.

Source: Google

★ 4

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★ 2

Edit Dec 1st.
To respond to the original edits, response... I never received a call from the school... so interesting that they would say that. I had to speak with someone again after the following class as the pool was still old the following class.
Though, since they have been working on making sure the pool has been warmer for our class time. The pool has been doing better for the majority of her classes. Since my original review. I have had to mention it to staff on multiple occasions. Though it is nice to no longer be freezing at every class. I hope for better news in the future as we continue with classes into winter.

Original review:
I used to love this swim school for my daughter. We have been coming since July.

I picked this swim school over other options in the area due to their 90° shiver free comfort promise. For at least the last month and half if not 2 months the pool has been cold. So cold I have been cold. My daughter has had blue lips and has been shivering. No matter how many times I have tried to address it with staff I am told it isn't fixable. The solution I was given was to move her up a class even though she has not shown to be ready to be moved up into the next class because that lane may be less cold.

As I said I brought it up to staff and their response was that the pool refills with cold water and it has to fill regardless of if there are classes or not. Apparently it fills with cold water from outside tanks. I am not the only parent to notice.. the pool fills on the baby end. (Lanes 12 and 11) I was told today by staff that the opposite end of the pool is warmer... I am very close to pulling my daughter and putting her in a new extra curricular activity if this "promise" can not be fullfilled. I drive an hour one direction for this particular school and do not feel as tho my money is being utilized due to the promises they say will be upheld. I would not enroll until the pool temperature issue is resolved. Especially now that we are moving into winter with the colder weather.

Source: Google

★ 5

We switched to Goldfish from the Y in Lewiston and are so happy we did. The facilities are clean and very welcoming. There are separate changing rooms and bathrooms that are private and clean. They have a hair drying station so you don't have to worry about bringing your own blow dryer. We love that the pool is heated and there are benches along the sides so that the kids don't have to get out of the water when it's not their turn. The classes are small and they offer makeup tokens if you miss a class, which is great in the winter when you know that your child is going to be sick for at least several weeks of the season. The instructors are welcoming and fun and my daughter absolutely loves Goldfish. It's definitely worth the drive from the Auburn area and, although it's much more expensive than the Y, the value of my child being warm, happy, having fun, and actually making progress is worth the cost.

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 5

Sean has learned so much in the last 5 months. The staff are so good with him. He has sensory issues and is on the autism spectrum and they adapt well

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★ 5

My daughter has gained soo much confidence and learned soo much while still having tons of fun each class. I suggest it to everyone I meet.

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★ 5

True story: When my son started at Goldfish in March (2024), he was afraid of putting his face anywhere near the water. By August, he was volunteering for a dunk tank! We are so grateful!

Source: Google

★ 5

Great experience with Goldfish in Portland. My 3 year old cried the first 2 lessons and they were so calm and understanding with him. He now LOVES it and has a giant smile the whole time. It’s a little more expensive than I would like to spend but probably the going rate for an important skill.

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 4

We are very pleased with Goldfish Swim School. We have a 4 year old and 2 year old enrolled and it’s amazing how much progress they have made! Our 4 year old absolutely loves swimming and her teachers have been so encouraging, she’s learned how to be safe in water and keeps advancing. Our 2 year old was not interested for the first couple of months but teachers kept it fun and went at his pace and now he’s much more comfortable. It’s also a great environment with everything you need. I would give it 5 stars if it was easier to use make up tokens or less expensive.

Source: Google

★ 5

My son and I had our first lesson this past Wednesday. We had so much fun learning new skills and singing the swim songs. Everyone there is very nice and welcoming. The instructors were great and the facilities are very clean!! I would highly recommend this swim school to anyone.

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★ 5

Our family loves Goldfish Swim for our girls! The instructors are so kind and caring!

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★ 5

All three of our kids have gone here since it opened. Great instructors and facilities.

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★ 5

My daughter loves coming here, they do a great job and she loves her teacher!

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★ 5

We started swim lessons 4 months ago and our kids love it! We can see their skill sets developing, and they’re always excited to go. The best part is, I don’t have to get in the water with them!

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★ 5

We love Goldfish. We have 3 boys and a severe lack of quality swim lessons in our area. They run a tight ship!

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★ 5

Truly the best swim school!! Both my kids love it and have learned so much. I have been really impressed with the level of enthusiasm from the teachers (Ashlyn, Faith, and Vanessa are rockstars!). I also love that it’s so easy to schedule make-up classes so you don’t have to worry about “losing money” if you’re traveling.

Source: Google

★ 5

My daughter has been swimming in the school for about 8 weeks now and loves her lessons! She is becoming a smarter and stronger and safer swimmer. Thanks!

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 5

Highly recommend! The staff and instructors go above and beyond anytime they have the ability. Facility is bright, clean and friendly.

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★ 5

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★ 5

We love it here. Was and welcoming. My son had one had 4 lessons and I can already see a difference in his confidence in the water. He wakes up most days asking if it’s a swimming day we tell people about gold fish all the time.

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

My kids are 4.5 years apart and as a busy family, it's hard to find activities they can do together. I love that both kids can take lessons as the same time and build on their water skills at their individual levels. The large variety of courses available make it so even the busiest of families can find a time that works best. The staff has all been wonderful and I love how there are no sessions and the kids continue to build on their skills each week.

Source: Google

★ 2

We were eagerly anticipating enrolling in this swim school, but unfortunately, it fell short of our expectations. Our two-year-old child was about to experience his first swim lesson, and we were hoping for a positive and engaging environment. While one instructor was attentive and engaging, the other instructor leading the class was notably reserved and seemed disinterested in building rapport with the students. The class sizes were small, but the pool area was shared by numerous classes, creating a chaotic and overwhelming environment for some children. Additionally, the classes felt crowded, and we found the costs to be relatively high in comparison to the value we received. The shared pool space and numerous classes made it challenging to hear the instructors, further detracting from the experience. Overall, it was a disappointing experience that did not align with our initial expectations.

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★ 5

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★ 5

The staff is so nice, friendly and welcoming.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

My kids were afraid of getting in the water and now they don’t want class to end! We love coming every week!! Staff has been nothing but great and very helpful!

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★ 4

My son hated the water 3 out of the 4 sessions. He loved the 4th. The instructor met him where we was at and we will be at Sunday for session 5/8!

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★ 5

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★ 5

we started taking our 5 year old to Goldfish Portland for swim lessons at the beginning of the year (2024) and then as soon as our youngest turned 4 months she started- we are so pleased with how well the lessons are going. Both girls absolutely love the water and the skills they’re learning (even at 4 months) have been so reassuring. Not only is goldfish swim school Portland always clean and well organized the staff is incredible. Seriously we adore our girls instructors, they’re patient, calm, welcoming and so knowledgeable. We appreciate our time so much here and are always eager to share our experiences with other parents and caregivers

Source: Google

★ 5

Everyone at Goldfish has been exceptionally kind, patient and gentle with our three year old daughter. She was very reluctant and displayed lots of anxiety about getting in the water two months ago. Now she practically leaps into her instructor’s arms with a huge smile on her face. Our daughter is so much more confident and joyful in the water now. We are so grateful she has had such a positive experience with a fabulous team at Goldfish. Thank you!

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

Great facility, instructors and kids love it!

They will get 6 stars if they provide coffee for parents 🙂

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★ 5

The facility is clean and the children have fun! There is consistency in coaches, but we have had a good experience!

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great school.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Made my experience so amazing with my son as he is only 8 months old

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

We have two kids in swim lessons one of which is very shy in new environments. Her instructor Vanessa and all of the staff are so welcoming and patient. Our shy girl went from being so nervous to saying she liked swim to then saying she loved swim and now she can’t wait to go back each week. I’m astounded by the progress our kids are making and cannot wait to have more confident swimmers when we are on the water this summer. We are so happy to have this new opportunity for local swim lessons.

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 5

They are so kind and loving to even the most hesitant swimmers! I’m blown away by the awesomeness of every staff member we’ve encountered.

Source: Google

★ 5

Great facility with patient and engaging instructors who focus on water safety while still making class fun. Our boys love their weekly lesson.

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★ 5

The staff are really great, they’re friendly, good with kids and know how to handle it when little ones get nervous about being in the water. The facility is very nice, it’s clean and the tropical theme is super cute and fun for the kids.

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★ 5

Great place for my 4 and 6 year old! So organized and the class sizes are small! My kids are scared to do anything and they surprisingly walked right in and LOVE going back!

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★ 5

I've had my 3 year old daughter in lessons since they opened up last month and she is having such a great experience! The environment is welcoming (and tropical!), and the instructors have done a great job at supporting her comfort level in the water while challenging her to try new things in a fun, kid friendly, way.
Additionally, the staff have been responsive and proactive in their communication.

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★ 5

Great staff, super clean, kids are learning !

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★ 5

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★ 5

Observing from the parent deck, you guys are attentive, collaborative and have each others back. If a little friend isn’t have a good morning, you guys step right up and make it better. I saw fast action one morning when a little lost their footing. I feel so safe that you guys are teaching and protecting my kid.

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 5

We’ve done one lesson so far and it was really great.

We have a 3 and a 6 year old. They both had a really good time.

Our 3 year old in particular can be a handful and the instructor managed him perfectly, had a smile on his face the whole time.

Nice that we can schedule them at the same time so we can only make one trip too.

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google