Life Changing! This was our first year at Oakwood, and despite COVID, it was by far the best year…read moreof school that my daughter has ever had. She thrived academically, emotionally and socially. She now loves to read and write stories, and she is happy to do her homework everyday, with out any prodding from me. Best of all, she now believes in herself and her ability to learn. They handled the distance learning brought on by COVID beautifully, and she was able to keep learning and engaging with her class and teachers all the way through the end of school. My only regret is that I didn't start her at Oakwood two years earlier.

Incredible School. I attended Oakwood School for nine years because I got diagnosed with Dyslexia,…read moreDyscalculia and some executive functioning issues when I was seven years old. Oakwood school's owners and staff have been wonderful throughout my education. Had it not been for Oakwood School I would have never been able to graduate from High School and graduate from Northern Va Community College with an Associates degree of science with a Major in General Studies. I give Oakwood School Five Stars because the teachers work very hard to teach and inspire their students.

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!!!!

Potential parents who would like to enroll their child should read the public record, the Assurance…read moreof Voluntary Compliance (AVC), issued to Waterfront Academy, Inc., by the Attorney General's Office of DC (June 5, 2023). This public record can be retrieved via the District's Freedom of Information Act. The AVC addresses a pattern of behavior, regarding the omission of material information "in connection with the solicitation and receipt of tuition payments." My family's experience mirrored those documented in this record. We had completed early re-enrollment for our son with the expectation that Waterfront would remain at 924 Pennsylvania Ave SE, which it did not. Not only did it change school locations 4 times within 12 months (in summer 2024, they had moved from their M street location to Pennsylvania Avenue), from September 3, 2024 to February 28, 2025, Waterfront Academy engaged in knowing misrepresentation and concealed the material fact about the school's actual operating locations. Waterfront Academy operated in part from the Hill Center across the street at 921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Next, Waterfront began operating exclusively out of the Hill Center on March 3, 2025, due to lease termination at its 924 Pennsylvania Avenue location. (A termination that was not explained to parents). A few weeks later it settled into the "new" home on D Street on April 7, 2025. Given the staggering mismanagement of the school's location, we decided to un-enroll our child. We were not refunded, even though as a direct result of the behavior and manipulation regarding the location of the school lessons, we suffered the following damages: financial loss in paid school tuition; emotional distress; and wasted time. Even given the above, the school administration was unwavering: "Tuition and fee payments are non-refundable," and we have suffered the financial burden.

Sadly we can confirm the accuracy of Kaira's post dated Nov 12, 2025. Our son attended Waterfront…read morefrom Jan 2023 till Jun 2025. Melissa withheld information from parents during the 2024-25 school year regarding 924 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Waterfront's ostensible school building at the time, which we came to understand never had a certificate of occupancy appropriate for a school to operate in. Melissa also avoided informing parents that students were spending at least half of the school day at the Hill Center between September 2024 and February 2025, which we believe to have been an attempt to work around the lack of a certificate of occupancy. When classes were being conducted at the Hill Center, children did not have access to the Montessori materials. To this day, we do not know what our child was doing in "class" at the Hill Center. In February 2025 the school's landlord terminated the lease, which Melissa told parents on an emergency call was connected to the pending opening of a nearby marijuana shop - an assertion we could never find a basis for. Parents had to piece together what was going on. We eventually concluded the termination was related to the certificate of occupancy and possibly other issues. When explicitly asked why the lease was terminated, Melissa refused to answer. From there the school moved twice in the remaining four months of the school year. Melissa's misrepresentations and deceptions multiplied - they are too many to list here. The moves were chaotic; the interim location (the Hill Center, now on a full-day basis) was loud and chaotic and lacked appropriate school furniture. The progress we had seen our son make in the previous two school years ground virtually to a halt. The strain on his teachers, who were excellent and always warm and kind with the children, was apparent, and neither of them work for the school anymore. We would advise anyone considering sending their child to Waterfront to reconsider.

The cheese course that Carolyn runs out of Seasonal Pantry twice a month is exactly what I was…read morelooking for when I started searching for DC cheese classes. Carolyn is super knowledgeable, engaging and presents cheese in a non-pretentious manner, making you feel right at home at the adorable set-up inside Seasonal Pantry. I was a little nervous on what to expect the first time, but the class draws people just like me: cheese lovers that don't actually know a whole lot about cheese. Dan's homemade accompaniments are delicious and we have left two classes super full (read: do not eat dinner prior). I would definitely recommend this for a fun night with the girls or for a date. You can sign up for the monthly emails so you know when the classes go on sale because they definitely sell out quick! And of course, Seasonal Pantry is full of delicious goodies, including the cheeses that are used in the class. I can't wait to try supper club!

We attended the 2/20/2012 class on Cheese, Chocolate and Bubbly. The setting inside Seasonal Pantry…read morewas cosy, but not claustrophobic. The atmosphere was that of being invited to a secret back room at a hip restaurant or a the kitchen of a cool young chef - if young chefs could afford gorgeous lofts with exposed brick. Carolyn dispensed a lot of information in a casual and fun way that didn't feel like a lecture. She included everyone from the group in the discussion and it was a comfortable environment to ask questions. The cheese and wine were great, but I won't review those since they change each month. The crowd was late 20s to early 40s, mostly couples. I went with my cheese loving husband, but it would be an impressive second date (with Carolyn doing most of the talking for you) or something different to do with out of town guests who want a "big city" foodie experience without the expense of a full meal and where it's ok to admit you're still learning. Overall we learned a lot and tried new things, but our boundaries weren't pushed too far. No super strong or stinky cheeses, no bizarre pairings. I would definitely take another class. Carolyn had the cheeses and foods we ate available for purchase. We were also able to purchase from Seasonal Pantry's shelves and I'm looking forward to trying the pickled jalepenos we bought. 6/5 update - OMG - just realized I never posted this review. The pickled jalepenos are AWESOME. Thanks again to Carolyn and her cool friends at SP for a fun night.

Our family has been apart of the Children's House Montessori Alexandria Campus for a year. Our…read morechild has just completed their time with the toddler program at CHMS, and they have recently moved to the preschool program. We have been in awe of the progress they has shown in their independence, confidence, and communication. Thanks to the thoughtfully curated Montessori environment at school, we find our child taking pride in their ability to do things on their own, such as putting on shoes, cleaning up a mess, and using the potty. They are also able to more clearly articulate their needs, wants, and questions with more patience and manners. All of these are taught and reinforced daily at CHMS. We have also genuinely appreciated the care and attention that all staff members have shown our family. Staff is quick to communicate with us via the Brightwheel app, a phone call, or at pick up or drop off. From the monthly playdates hosted at the school in the warmer months, the schoolwide picnics and pizza parties, and the multiple opportunities to visit the classrooms, we have felt like true members of the CHMS community. We have been so grateful for our experience, and we are excited to see how our child continues to grow.

We couldn't be happier with our daughter's time at CHMS. She started the year shy at drop-off, and…read moreby spring she was practically running through the door to greet her teachers and friends. The growth we saw in her over the year was remarkable -- her vocabulary exploded, she learned to read and write, and she came home excited to share new songs and facts she'd learned! What impressed us most was how the teachers nurtured her independence and confidence. Additionally, the communication from staff was consistent and thoughtful all year. CHMS gave our daughter such a strong foundation socially, emotionally, and academically. We're so grateful and highly recommend it to any family considering school here! We know she will be very prepared as she takes on her new chapter!

(The Lab School Of Washington Part 1) 10/15/19…read moreBefore The Gow School, there was The Lab School Of Washington. This is a school for students that have learning disabilities. A school that uses many techniques to help kids and adults learn challenging tools and skills they will need in the big bad world. I came to this school at the age of five or maybe six. My reading and math skills were under developed as; well, as being unable to focus on my studies.(gotta love that hyper attention deficit disorder on top of dyslexia) I thought I was focused, but in the words of Mr. Hans (aka Jackie Chan) "Your focus needs more focus. " And so it begins... I was brought to the school and given the tour by an administrator who's name I can't remember. I remember seeing kids younger than me and thinking of a number of things. I wondered if I was going to like this school? If I was worried about making friends, those worries were laid to rest not long after I joined the school. I don't really remember my first week of school as the new kid, but I do remember classes like Caveman Club, Knights&Ladies Club, Gods Club and Renaissance Club. These were actually history classes, but the teachers dressed up in their classes for at least week...(Some teachers like Lord Don *aka Don White* really dressed the part.) There were classes as I moved up in grades like wood working with a teacher name Dieter. There are some people that did not like him, but he was one of the coolest teachers out there. Pitty I didn't see this back then. Other classes like PE (aka physical education) with a woman named Heather, who later on introduced us to a man name Angelo, who later introduced us to a man name Judd. Judd stayed with Angelo for decades and eventually became the head of PE. In between Angelo and Judd, there was another woman who's name escapes me. She took PE to a higher level than Angelo and Judd did. Moving up through the grades, I remember how my reading and mathematics improved. My reading improved more with the help of Talking Books at the Media Center and Drama Class. The Media Center helped students learn how to sound out words as well as entertain students. We also practiced writing out what we heard on the talking books. Another learning technique for writing. I wish I remembered that teachers name because she really helped so many students. With the help of the Media Center, Drama classes with Sean Miskell helped us remember words, sentences to memorizing lines for theatrical performances. One of my favorite games of his was hide the chip. Another was word games. We had to remember words and phrases as the word or sentence passed from one student to another. I am sure you can imagine how the real sentence changed dramatically as the last student said the sentence out loud. All these little things did not seem like much, but all together it helped students get a better grip on one's schooling. Yes, Sally Smith knew what she was doing even if I did not get along with her from time to time. She was known as the Perfume Lady back when I was a kid. She wore a lot of it and her downstairs office smelled like it too. Her office use to be in an office outside the main school. Her office later was changed to the castle/library later on. Sally Smith knew how to get intouch with many celebrities like Dexter Keith Manley, Henry Franklin Winkler aka The Fonz, Cher, Tom Cruise and the actor who die and became a monster in the movie Leviathan. These are just a few people that the student body got to meet and learn how the celebrities turn their learning disabilities into their strengths. I don't know if this still goes on today, but it did back then. I will write more later on... To be continued.....

We love this school. My son loves going to school again and has gained more self confidence and…read moreless anxiety about school. Thank you Lab School and their dedicated teachers and staff.

I am so grateful that our paths crossed. As many parents I was desperate and overwhelmed. Not…read moreknowing what I needed to do to get my child the help she needed because of so much push back from the school. This lady gave me my hope back. She is full of knowledge and this is her calling. Thank you for your services. I feel like my voice is being heard now . I look forward to working together throughout this journey. Very satisfied.

From the owner: I provide special education consulting to families with special needs kids ABG Special Education…read moreConsulting, Inc is a Washington D.C-based 501(c)3 tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation that provides supports to schools, students, and parents as they work to successfully navigate the special education system.

First of all, Maureen is absolutely amazing. She is such a professional and became a great friend…read more She made the whole process so easy and she was so flexible. Second, my daughter Jasmine has shown significant improvement in her organizational skills, note taking in class, memory and confidence in her ability to shine. She loved Maureen and her teachers. She looked forward to class and was sad if we had to miss it. I would and have recommended this program to many friends. I highly recommend this program for not only kids with ADD/ADHD, but for any child who wants to be more successful in their studies or just general lifelong skills.

Our trainer Katie is amazing! She has helped to build not only my daughter's skills, but overall…read moreconfidence. We are forever grateful!

There are two parts to DC Central Kitchen at Buzzard Point. The first part is a full center where…read morepeople can volunteer to help pack food, etc. The facility is newer so it's clean and nice. There's even a lobby for volunteers with cold water, places to sit, and more. The second part is a cafe that's open every day that sells coffee drinks, food, and snacks. I ordered the chai latte with an espresso shot and it was strong and tasty. They also sell sandwiches, lunch deals, Just Tea, and more. There's plenty of seating inside and a few seats outdoors along the sidewalk.

DC Central Kitchen serves fresh, satisfying meals that prove cafeteria-style food can still be…read moredelicious. The menu offers a variety of well-prepared options made with quality ingredients, and the portions are generous for the price. Whether you're stopping by for breakfast or lunch, it's a reliable spot for a flavorful meal that also supports a great cause.