We love Holy Redeemer School! It is an incredible, close-knit school with a community that is fully…read morecommitted to its success. At the time of this review, my kids are 6 and 9 (1st and 3rd grades). Both have attended the school since Kindergarten. My 6 yr old also attended Pre-K at Holy Redeemer. We were first drawn to HRS for its reputation in our neighborhood as being a welcoming school with a firm anti-bullying stance. The teachers and administration work hard to maintain a supportive learning environment where students feel welcome and wanted. What sets HRS apart from other area schools is its small class sizes, its balanced and integrated STEM curriculum, and its committment to developing the whole person. HRS students are some of the nicest kids I have ever met -- kind, excited about service opportunities, curious about their world, eager to help each other, excited about math! The teachers here are incredible educators that encourage collaboration and inspire a joyful curiousity in their students. What I love most about the school is how the teachers (due to the small class sizes and their tenure at the school) really know and look out for my kids. This personal attention has really helped my kids to thrive -- both academically and personally. I also work in a STEM field, and the administration and teachers are very open and receptive to my recommendations of activities/extra-curriculars. They have also granted me many opportunities to share my organization's work with the students - which is so fun! In short -- if you are looking for a welcoming school where your child can get a phenomenal eduction in a safe environment, please join us!

In my experience, my biggest fear was that the school would change its approach halfway through the…read moreschool year, and unfortunately, that's exactly what happened. I felt that my concerns about racial harassment and discrimination involving children of color were not taken seriously. In my opinion, there was a lack of transparency and accountability from the administration, and I often felt that issues were minimized rather than addressed. I also felt that many staff members had close personal or family ties to the church community, which made it difficult for families outside of those circles to feel heard or supported. While the school presents itself as welcoming and student-focused, my experience was very different. I felt that promises made to our family were not honored and that tuition became the priority over the well-being of students. Based on my experience, I would encourage families--especially families of color--to ask detailed questions, pay close attention to how concerns are handled, and make sure the school's values align with their own before enrolling. I sincerely pray for healing, accountability, and positive change for the school community. God bless everyone involved. FYI Reviews were turned off, via Ms Krestler request. Think About It!!!!

As a parent of both an elementary and a middle school student, choosing the right school has never…read morefelt like a small decision. For a long time, I carried a constant question: Are my kids in the right place? Mandala School has given me peace of mind I didn't realize how much I was missing. What stands out most is that the school's values are not aspirational language on a website. They are visible every day in how students are supported as whole people. I genuinely feel like a partner in my children's education. The hands-on, project-based learning approach allows kids to lean into their individual strengths while learning how to collaborate and contribute to a team. My children are developing communication, leadership, organization, and problem-solving skills through meaningful work. I don't pretend to know exactly what world I'm preparing them for, but I'm confident these skills will matter in life and work. Most telling of all, my kids love going to school. They don't want to miss days or arrive late for appointments, and the usual requests for mental health days or skip for mysterious stomachaches have disappeared. They've built real friendships, discovered new interests, grown in confidence, and learned how to advocate for their own needs. No school is perfect, and when issues have come up, I've felt truly listened to as a parent. Just as importantly, my children have felt respected and included in the resolution process. We see Mandala School as a long-term partner in our children's growth, and our commitment to this community is mutual.

My son has been at the school for 5 years and is thriving!! The school not only has a strong…read moreacademic program but also looks at a child as a whole person.Through the practice of yoga and mindfulness they help the children develop their social emotional skills as well.

We wanted to like this school. But staff refused to acknowledge constant bullying by one of the…read morestaff's children. They gaslit my son into thinking that if he were more friendly and compassionate he would get along with a very manipulative and entitled student. They taught Montessori principles but when it came to one of their own children, they expected families to look the other way or "understand" the complexities. We thought the environment would be great for our rather shy son, but we were raklroaded by passive aggression. Also staff tends to talk to parents about other children... Very inappropriate. If you decide to send your child here, RUN at the first hint of these behaviors because it will only continue. My wife and I discussed these matters with staff, but they continued to ask what my son could have done to mitigate the bullying. We finally had enough and decided to leave. Our son is thriving in fourth grade and we feel supported by teachers who are not compromised by their own personal issues. ​

My 2.5 year old son will be attending OCMC in the Fall. Montessori education is awesome! Parents,…read moreI highly recommend you check out OCMC. Their mission is to make Montessori education affordable for the local community and to share the philosophy of Maria Montessori on educating the whole child. You will not regret it!

One of the best public schools in the country! Proud to have sent my daughter here. Amazing…read moreacademics, culture, diversity, and sports!

An amazing schoool that produces some of the Washington DC areas finest students, proud to have…read moresent my kids here !

My daughter started at Siena last year. It has been a fantastic experience. Amazing teachers,…read morehands-on curriculum, tons of supports, and the specials are icing on the cake (makers, drama, music, pe). She has made great friends and the community is so special too. Although she loved her MCPS experience, dyslexia supports were lacking. At Siena, students get a full day of classes built around their learning style/needs.

Nothing but great things to say from the front staff to the teachers! My daughter is so happy!read more

This school isn't that bad but it's not the best. Ive had some bad moments at the school. But…read moreoverall the school was ok. In this school we have some bad and good teacher. One time there was this teacher who just came and like after 3 days she thought that she ran the whole school. She would boss people around and tell kids her own rules that did not follow the school. There was also a parent who came as a recess teacher and she was telling everybody what to do. She told my class when we were in line treat me like how you treat your parents but some kids don't treat their parents that well. Plus, SHE IS NOT OUR PARENT. and all we did to her was just turn around and she said that we were disrespectful. Anyway, IF YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO BE IN A GOOD SCHOOL, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS SCHOOL UNLESS YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO SUFFER, OR HAVE A GOOD TIME. Have a good day or night.

Educators creates a strong, supportive environment where students are encouraged, challenged, and…read morenurtured. It's clear that the staff isn't just there to teach; they genuinely care about each child's success, both in and out of the classroom. New Hope is a place where students are seen, valued, and pushed toward their highest potential.

My kids LOVE it here! They learn so much about life and real world experiences. Every wall in the…read moreschool has a unique mural or presentation that some of the kids have created. Their minds are stimulated before they even get into their classrooms!

This school does not work well with "all children" that have developmental delays/disabilities. Nor…read moredoes this school follow IEPs. I have never seen a faculty that pretends to know so little about the law, it's like they are simply learning as they go (mainly the principal). You can't require a parent of a disabled child to attend a field trip or threaten that the child won't be able to participate, because you are short staffed. That's a violation of the law (IDEA?) and discrimination. That was my initial experience with the current principal, and things have gone downhill since. They should really lose their funding for targeting children with disabilities, as it appears this Charter School is now a business, opening multiple schools, and hiring former Hedge Fund/Investment managers (Gregory Gann for example) to guide them. This is not about the children anymore. I will do my best in Washington to stop the government from funding these "investment firms" that pretend to be educational facilities.