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.

I enrolled my daughter at this location with high expectations for a safe, nurturing, attentive,…read moreand structured learning environment. Unfortunately, my experience over time raised several concerns that ultimately led to me seeing the truth about this location. One of my primary concerns was basic hygiene and attentiveness. On multiple occasions, I picked my daughter up with visible food residue still on her face. I also observed dried nasal discharge on her face and even on the back of her hand, as if she had attempted to clean herself. I began noticing similar issues with other children as well, including children walking around with excessively runny noses for extended periods without staff intervention. I'm sure this is why the kids are always sick. In addition, there appeared to be a lack of situational awareness when it came to children's comfort and supervision. There were times where clothing did not seem appropriate for the weather, which further reflected a lack of attentiveness to individual needs. They would take the children outside without coats while it's cold. More concerning were multiple safety incidents involving my daughter that were handled in an extremely dismissive manner. One incident I personally witnessed on camera involved another child pushing my daughter three times back-to-back until she fell to the ground, while a teacher stood directly beside them without intervening. Later that same day, I noticed a bruise on my daughter's leg. When I reported this to the director, Erin, I was told the video showed my daughter "falling into the teacher's lap," which did not align with what I personally observed on camera. I was also informed that no incident report would be completed because the injury was not from the neck up. Another incident involved my daughter being struck in the head with a toy by another child, leaving her with a swollen bruise and lump that was black, blue, and purple. At pickup, staff appeared very nonchalant about the situation, simply stating that they "put ice on it" and that these things were "normal." While discussing this incident with staff, another child nearby was actively biting another child while staff stood around without immediately intervening. When I pointed this out, the response I received was dismissive instead of reassuring. I also observed what appeared to be inconsistent treatment and favoritism within the center. When I inquired about my daughter transitioning to the next classroom as she approached the appropriate age, I was told it would not be possible because of lack of space and something regarding the way they pick who goes to the next class. However, I personally observed the director's granddaughter transition out of the same classroom within approximately 2-3 weeks. She doesn't talk, isn't potty trained and is only two months older than my daughter. Her mom confirmed these things to me personally. This raised concerns for me regarding whether policies and opportunities were being applied equally to all families. In addition to these concerns, I often was dismissed when attempting to advocate for my child. Erin's communication style frequently came across as condescending, defensive, racist and lacking empathy whenever concerns were raised. Rather than feeling supported as a parent, I often left interactions feeling unheard and uncomfortable. I also recorded my second raised concern that I had with Erin. So if anyone wants proof on the way she handles things, I will send you the video! There were also instances where staff appeared more focused on phones and side conversations than actively engaging with the children. The environment is more like passive babysitting than a structured educational setting focused on child development and attentive care. My daughter went from talking and being expressive to crying and whining all the time. When I asked to speak to the owner Erin continuously lied and made excuses. For $525 per week (approximately $2,100 per month), parents should be able to expect attentive supervision, professionalism, cleanliness, accountability, and equitable treatment. Unfortunately, that was not my experience. Also the front desk worker Suzie as well is extremely disrespectful. I just left the school so upset that this is the way they handle people who pay their hard earned money. Erin is a liar as well. She claimed I was rude and used profanity when my child was hit on by another child. Which is a lie! Watch the cameras for one full day while your child is there and I PROMISE YOU WILL NOT WANT YOUR CHILD ATTENDING THIS EXPENSIVE BABY SITTER! UPDATE: Notice every response is signed "Karim B. (Owner) mine is "Center Administration and Compliance Team". Erin is in fact a big part of the problem. Parents can draw their own conclusions regarding how concerns are handled when serious safety and supervision issues are raised.

Leaving Kiddie Academy of Alexandria is so bittersweet for our family. Both of our children have…read morebeen here since they were just 12 weeks old, and watching them grow up in such a loving environment has been a beautiful experience. It's the kind of place where everyone knows your kids, greets them with a smile, and treats them like family. We are so sad to say goodbye. The wonderful teachers will always have a special place in my heart, and I cannot recommend this daycare enough to any parent looking for a safe, loving place for their little ones. They really are the best.

The best early child development program! Every single teacher pays such close attention to each…read morechild. My 2 children have loved their time there and learned so much. Such a blessing to have found this school!!

My daughter has been attending this "school" (I will explain why I used that word later" since…read moreOctober of 2012. She started a week before her 2nd birthday and has learned so much. When she started she was not potty trained. Ms Brooks (the owner AND teacher) has helped her blossom in so many ways. My 3 year old now knows some colors and numbers in Spanish, she recognizes her name by sight, can tell you how to spell her name without seeing the letters and she even knows how to write the majority of her first name. She is also fully potty trained. She knows letter, numbers, shapes (including octagon and hexagons) and what surprised me the most is that she knows all of her alphabets in sign language ( we go straight down the list, mix it up, and we even give her the wrong answers sometimes to see if she corrects us, which she does) Ms. Brooks is an excellent teacher, along with her daughters who help occasionally. I chose the word school earlier because that is exactly what its like. They wear uniforms, they have homework, art projects and more. My daughter loves her and she loves the kids right back. From a parents point of view, outside of how much she teaches the kids, she RARELY closes (outside of major holidays) and she is very flexible. Another plus is that the class setting is small for it to be a center. But they all learn so much and I love it!

Wow Ms. Carissa Jones you definitely have the wrong center. My daughter been at this daycare for 2…read moreyears now. I have never seen a roach, bug or any virus in this facility. I am not sure who you are because I have never seen you in this facility so you must have nothing to do but write bad reviews. Since going to this daycare my daughter is 3 years old reading, writing and talk very clear using words like Marvelous in a sentence or Awesome. I am so proud of her and I am especially happy with her teacher. I never see anyone come in and out of this child care center with hand/foot/mouth virus, the flu or and other virus because this facility is very clean. 5 stars to this center.

I was in DC for a 2-day work trip with full-day meetings and needed someone who could come to my…read morehotel so I could continue exclusively breastfeeding my 8-month-old between sessions. Honestly, it's really hard to trust a service like this with your baby, especially in a city away from home. I had a few things in place so I could keep an eye on my daughter throughout the day, and because of that, I know she was genuinely well cared for. Alison from The Educated Babysitter was great. She arrived on time, took my daughter on walks outside, changed diapers, and kept her happy and comfortable throughout the day. By the second day, even the hotel staff knew my baby and would stop to say hi. The only reason I'm taking the time to write this review is because I know there are other moms in similar situations trying to balance work travel and motherhood, and trusted childcare like this can make all the difference.

Good babysitter was provided for me the first time but when I reached out again two other times for…read moreadditional babysitter service, I was told that they would get back to me regarding whether or not they could get a babysitter for the requested date/time. I was pretty much ghosted and never received a follow up response...on two occassions.

This has to be the most unprofessional atmosphere we have ever observed…read more The leadership or "mentors" could care less about the children. They let them act unruly in public settings with screaming, kicking one another, while these adults converse with each other or stuck in their phones. We observed these multiple afternoons from a balcony next the playground and was in shock how misbehaved the children were. These children lacked the discipline and control from 4-5:30 daily, and disrespectful to the community as well. We are so disappointed to see the lack of effort in this "School" ... This place is a day care only and should be embarrassed... Do not have your children come here.

I have had the worst experiences when it comes to childcare in the DMV. When I first applied to…read moreCelebree, I could not believe how open, transparent, and informed they were. There was a little bit of a waiting period because the school wasn't open just yet. But during that wait period, my son and I still had a chance to interact with both the teachers and the parents. Every question I had was answered with meaningful intention. They truly and honestly made it feel like a second home for my toddler. The time and attention given to each parent, child, and staff member shows how much effort is put into upholding the Celebree Values. * Communication: 10/10 They use the "HiMama" app where everything from the fire drills to the daily report is consistently uploaded daily. Recently my toddler was sick and had to stay home for a week. If I didn't reach out to the team someone from the team would reach out to check on him. * Culture: 10/10 They focus a lot on the kids and parents comfortability. If my son isn't feeling well or is just having a bad day they go above and beyond to understand what's going rather than just brush it off as an off day. They have parent events to have the parents connect with not only the teachers but other parents as well. * Curriculum: 10/10 I love the structure the curriculum because it's geared more towards comprehension and not solely memorization. For example: He knows how to count to 20 but does he know what the quantity actually looks like. * Procedures and Policies: 10/10 Safety is a number one priority for me so I spent a lot of time interviewing them about the safety procedures and policies. They have a policy in place for every and any issue you could possible think of. They have an open door policy and I can't count the amount of time I have dropped in to say hi or ask questions. * Facility: 10/10 I love that everything is always clean and childproof. The playground is on top of the roof which I know sounds like the most dangerous thing but the security around the playground is very reassuring. The structure of the multiple fences does not allow any devastating accidents. They do not leave the building outside of fire drills. The toys and books are up-to-date and well kept. Everything is very aesthetically pleasing. * Staff: 10/10 Each and every teacher has been amazing! My son is extremely excited each day to go to school so that he can see his teachers and friends. Life happens and sometimes teachers have to rotate out but the quality of care does not change. The staff makes sure know each student whether they are in their class or not. The Admin team really is the DREAM TEAM! The work like a well oiled machine the way the support each other, the staff, the kids, and the parents. * Ms. Shawn has to be one of the best support manager. She takes her time to connect with every student and parent. When I have a problem she has already began working on the solution! One moment she will bring doing Admin duties and the next she is in the classes teaching the kids. She does a lot of work to make sure the needs of everyone in the Celebree Family is met. * Ms. Jana is AH-MAY-ZING! She is the conductor of this train. Although she has worked in childcare for many years she is not jaded and somehow is able to give each child and parent consistent love and care. She brought us in and made sure we felt like family. She has even improved my parenting with all types of advice, tips, and tricks. * Mr. Mohammad and Mrs. Ayesha have been welcoming and open from the very beginning. I was hesitant because you never really get to form a bond with the owners of a daycare but they make sure to not just "show face" but actively be inside of the classrooms assisting the teachers with anything they need. I really wanted to make sure that this team of amazing people received their praises! I really appreciate each and every person that is apart of the Celebree Family.

We are so glad we've found this preschool! The teachers are sweet and caring. They go through great…read morelengths to really educate the kids, not just babysit them. (My son adores Ms. Sue and Ms. Amy!) The classrooms are bright and a good size. They have a cute music room, where Ms. Jasmin plays the guitar and teaches them songs and they learn about instruments, etc. There's a big play room, on days they can't go outside due to bad weather. And they have a huge play ground outside in the shade, which my son absolutely loves. The tuition fee is reasonable and they offer lunch bunch and enrichment classes, which are a lot of fun for the kids! Melissa, the director, has always been very helpful. Overall, a great experience for us!

From the owner: Affordable, small play-based, child-centered preschool located in the Belle View area of Alexandria…read moreclose to Old Town Alexandria. Offers low student-teacher ratio for children between the ages of 2-5 years old. Weekly music, large outdoor play area and beautiful, sun-filled rooms. Combining the best of modern education to enrich your children's social, language and cognitive development.

The caring love and patience they have shown my children will leave a lasting mark on their…read moreemotional and intellectual development. Their diverse, peaceful environment is a unique school that I cherish deeply!

We came to Potomac Crescent Waldorf School looking for something we couldn't quite name -- and…read morefound it immediately. As a bilingual family raising kids in Northern Virginia, we wanted an environment where learning would feel joyful and rooted. PCWS has delivered that and more. Our daughter genuinely looks forward to going to school every single day. Getting a kindergartener to bound out the door in the morning is its own kind of report card. The faculty and staff don't just tend to the children; they genuinely know each one. The nature-based learning and screen-free environment aligned perfectly with how we want our kids to experience childhood -- but what's kept us is the community. It's one of the most welcoming groups of families and educators we've encountered. If you're searching for a private school in Alexandria that takes the whole child seriously, this is it. One of the top schools in Alexandria for families who care about depth and heart.