Our daughter has been at CHMS for 1.5yrs. We've watched her become more confident and enjoy…read morelearning. What we appreciate most is how the school nurtures her independence, she takes real pride in doing things for herself. Watching her walk in each morning with such assurance tells us everything we need to know. We're grateful for the teachers for giving her such a solid foundation.

We feel so fortunate to have been part of CHMS Alexandria's inaugural class this year. You'd never…read moreknow it was their first year--the transition was seamless! When we began searching for a preschool for our then 2.5-year-old son, CHMS stood out due to its strong focus on values and excellent leadership. Among so many options, it truly set itself apart, and it has exceeded our expectations. From day one, our son has eagerly walked into school without hesitation, and comes home each day with a big smile. Every aspect of the school is carefully designed to support the students in the best possible way. The weekend playdates, where new students can meet their peers and staff, helped ease the transition and made him feel welcome right away. The classroom is bright, calm, and welcoming--an ideal environment for learning. The teachers are not only knowledgeable and caring but also incredibly responsive to both the children and parents. The sense of community among the students and parents has been an added bonus, and we have loved getting to know so many wonderful families. We've seen our son flourish in his empathy, focus, and overall learning. CHMS Alexandria has become such an important part of our village, and we are deeply grateful for the amazing first school experience it has provided for our son.

Choosing a preschool for our child was very hard, especially coming from overseas. Today we are…read morevery happy with our choice of Full Circle Montessori School. The teachers and staff have consistently exceeded our expectations in making our child adjust to the new environment and making learning fun and engaging. Adjustment time was needed (very sensitive child)to fit into a new environment. But with a welcoming and comforting environment, our child adjusted to school very well. Also, with the thoughtfully designed curriculum that promotes both academic readiness and essential social-emotional skills, our child is very excited about going to school every day now. Communication with parents is superb; the scheduled updates and photos make us feel connected and informed about her activities. The facility itself is bright, clean, and safe, offering a wonderful space for the children to explore and play. We highly recommend Full Circle Montessori School for families seeking a positive, enriching, and high-quality early childhood education experience.

We started our son in public school for kindergarten, but halfway through the year, we became…read moreunhappy with the experience and began looking into other options. The lack of communication, heavy screen time, and the way our son was feeling about himself made it clear that we needed a change. He would often come home saying he was a "bad kid" because he kept getting in trouble at school, which was hard to hear as a parent. Switching to Full Circle Montessori has been one of the best decisions we've made for our family. The difference in our son was noticeable within a few weeks. He's much more regulated coming home from school, and we've seen a noticeable boost in his self-confidence. One of the first things he told us after starting at Full Circle was how nice the teachers are he said they actually talk to him instead of yelling. That shift alone was huge for him, and for us. Academically, he was at the top of his class in public school, but that often led to boredom. Since he wasn't being challenged, he would try to socialize, which would get him in trouble. At Full Circle, he learns at his own pace with a hands-on approach that keeps him curious and engaged. If you have a child who isn't thriving in a traditional school setting or struggles with the sit-still-all-day model, we can't recommend Full Circle Montessori enough. It's been a truly positive and empowering experience for our son and for us as parents.

I wrote this review for the Company that owns and runs this school, but my opinion is still the…read moresame. ****** My child attends the Alexandria (Old Town) campus. I cannot express how much I like this school. Montessori preschool is an adjustment for anyone coming from a regular play based preschool or daycare, but there is a method (and no madness). I am impressed with the scope of what my kid is learning and impressed with how the teachers have cultivated a sense of leadership in her. It's just an all around great place and I heartily recommend it for any parent looking for daycare in Old Town Alexandria. Unlike many of the schools in the area, this school allows for Space Sharing (MWF/TH), which is great if you are slowing planning on returning to work full time or work part time.

Attending this school has definitely had a positive impact on my kids, and the parent experience…read morehas been good too. I'd recommend NES to anyone looking for a preschool.

We have been a part of the DRMS community for two years now and have been so pleased with our…read morechoice in preschool. The Young Children's Classroom (YCC) will always have a special place in my heart as such a loving and caring environment for our child's first school experience. The primary classroom has also been an amazing experience to watch our child grow in knowledge, curiosity and independence. DRMS is the real deal when it comes to having AMI certified lead guides (teachers) in all classrooms. We've appreciated the parent nights that help us transfer Montessori principles and positive discipline into home life. An added bonus of this school is the local community you build with other families and parents. We are so grateful to the friendships we have built and to the other parents who equally support this school and invest in building up the teachers and administration.

Everywhere you go, there are brochures and promises, from preschools to colleges to nursing homes…read moreand spas. It's the usual relentless and carefully parsed blah-blah-blah, intended to lure you in. We were made to believe that my child would be treated with empathy, kindness, fairness and integrity. That wasn't our experience. Perhaps we misunderstood what we experienced, but that wasn't our impression. Make careful evaluations, and trust your nose.

seems odd to rate a school on Yelp! but just came across it.....and i have to say i am a huge fan…read moreof OTMS. they are incredible educators. could not think of a better investment.

From the owner: Old Town Montessori School, established in 1987, offers a nurturing environment where children…read morethrive through authentic AMI Montessori education. Located in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, our school offers: AMI-Certified Teachers: Each classroom is led by highly trained educators dedicated to fostering independent learning. Personalized Learning: We focus on each child's unique interests and developmental pace, encouraging curiosity and exploration. Community-Centric Atmosphere: Our strong partnership with families creates a supportive community where children feel valued and engaged.

I am a Chesterbrook Montessori alumni! I had such wonderful memories of Chesterbrook that when my 2…read morechildren came of age, I had no hesitation in reaching back out. No surprise that there was another alum with her children also in the program at the same time. My son and daughter had enjoyable experiences, my daughter came up from the Toddler program. I credit Chesterbrook with a lot of their self-assuredness and independence. The small community is full of love and Ms. Judy and Ms. Lisa are an excellent team. My children continue to ask to visit (5th and 7th graders).

Chesterbrook Montessori is such a special place! From the very beginning, the application process…read morefeels personal and thoughtful, with family involvement and a home visit. Ms. Lisa, the lead of the toddler program, worked patiently with us throughout each step from inquiry to first day; offering 1-1 calls and was very responsive to questions via email and phone. The teachers are incredibly kind and truly care about each child, making sure they feel comfortable and supported as they adjust to the classroom. The space itself is always clean, calm, and beautifully organized, creating an ideal environment for nurturing and learning. It's hard to put into words just how wonderful this program is-- it's clear that Chesterbrook Montessori is a place where families are welcomed and valued; and where children thrive.

Serious delay in security deposit refund. My daughter graduated from Guideposts West Alex, VA…read morelocation in July 2025. Nine months later, we still have not received her refund despite countless phone calls and email follow-ups. At one point they claimed a refund check had been issued and mailed, but they could not provide any documentation when asked. After that, they stopped responding entirely. We never received the check. Now it appears they are switching ownership and are using that as an excuse not to issue the refund. This level of unprofessionalism and stonewalling is infuriating -- we trusted this company and they have betrayed that trust. What a shady, irresponsible company.

We've had an incredibly positive experience with Guidepost West Alex…read more Our daughter has thrived in both the Toddler cohort, and now since turning 3, in Children's House. The guides foster an environment of curiosity and learning, and I love hearing our daughter talk about the activities and conversations she has throughout the day. Interactions are positive and numerous. This ranges from warm greetings in the morning to getting updates via Smart Classroom to weekly email updates to 1:1 meetings with the guides. We always feel included and in-the-loop on what's going on in the school broadly and how our daughter is doing specifically. From a leadership and administrative perspective, there has been a positive shift since Ms. Mary started in the Summer of 2022. There is a strong sense of community throughout the school, including after-school and outside-of-school events and meetups. She and her leadership team are always accessible and open. If you notice all the sub-par reviews are old and are from prospective parents. I want to recognize that we experienced some of those same challenges too, however the caveat is that this was with the prior leadership team and during COVID when admissions had a modified onboarding process. As a current parent I have full trust for the guides and administrative team to do what's best for our daughter's physical, emotional, and cognitive safety and development.

I just wanted to share why I think Bright Horizons at Old Town Alexandria is such a great daycare…read moreoption. They offer both full-time and part, time care, which gives families flexibility depending on their needs. One thing I really liked is that they also have backup care, so you can pay for just a day to try it out and see how your child does before committing. They also do a lot to include families. For example, they held Donuts with Dads for Father's Day and Muffins with Moms for Mother's Day, where parents could come in and share breakfast with their child before drop-off. It's little things like that that make it feel like a real community. Their hours are super convenient, they're open from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM. The teachers are very engaged, not only with the kids but also with the families. There's also an app they use to send updates and pictures throughout the day, which I love because it helps me stay connected with what my child is doing. Before your child starts, they set up an intake meeting where you get to meet the teachers, learn about the classroom, and ask any questions. It really helped me feel more comfortable and prepared with my two kids.

Make sure to ask current parents what they think of BH after the change in the center's…read moreadministration before joining the waitlist. What once was a truly wonderful and nurturing center has turned into an unsafe, unhappy place to bring my children, and it revolves around the new administration, not the teachers.