Golden pond school is the BEST pre school in Loudoun county! I have seen multiple schools in Leesburg and Ashburn and GPS is head and shoulders above the rest. Our son entered the 2/3 year old bunnies class and settled from day 1. The  bunnies teacher, Ms Manthe, is the MOST wonderful and dedicated teacher and her kindness and care shines through. She makes every day happy and learning fun! Every school week is theme based and structured to teach skills in an engaging and interactive way. For example, during the carrot and potatoes week, the kids enjoyed  tasting, cooking, crunching, and dipping carrots and potatoes! They sponge painted carrots, counted carrots, stamped orange paint for the bottom and green paint for the top, stamped potatoes that were cut into different shapes and followed directions. The class then graphed their favorite potato type. They tasted potatoes cooked several diverse ways and talked about how the food changed once it was cooked. They weighed, washed, hammered, and examined potatoes under a magnifying glass. This is just a very small example of how GPS uses fun activities to teach learning concepts. There are no work sheets! Every day the children learn through play and have so much fun all while learning incredible math, science, language, problem solving, music and creative skills. At the end of each week, the parents are sent an "ask me about" email detailing what the class did that week and questions you can ask your child to engage in a conversation about what they learned. Photographs from the week are also sent to the parents so you can see your child in action in the class. The classrooms are well equipped, bright and colorful with a wonderful charming energy. The outside play area is beautiful with lots for the kids to play with and experience. The teacher parent communication is beyond excellent and professional and the principle of GPS, Jennifer Brummett, is an absolute delight! You will be welcomed with open arms and a genuine care and warmth. All we want as parents is for our kids to be happy at school and get the best all round education possible. GPS is provides this and so much more. No wonder they have won best preschool every year in the Best of Loudoun awards. read more

This is now my family's 8th year at Golden Pond School and it has taken me awhile to write this review because I cannot think of the right words to explain how much we love this place. I have three kids, two boys and one girl. My kids have pretty much been in all the classes ages three to Kindergarten as well as summer camps. I tried to be as involved a parent as I could be so I was lucky to witness the relationship my kids developed with the teachers each year. Golden Pond has been like a second family to us. My kids have severe nut allergies and another medical condition yet I always knew they were safe and loved. The teachers were great about communicating with parents. I was amazed at how much and how quickly my kids would learn things. I wondered how our family's last and final year at Golden Pond would be given the pandemic but it was still amazing and the admin and teachers rose to the occasion. Huge thanks especially this past year to my daughter's wonderful Kindergarten teachers, Mrs. Kathy Sestak & Mrs. Kim Eng. I am so grateful my child was able to go to a school in person full time where she felt safe, could have fun learning, develop great memories and stay healthy. Finally, through all eight years, I have had the pleasure to get to know the amazing Señora Aviles (first as my child's teacher and then as the Spanish teacher) and also the awesome assistant director Mrs. Ingrid Dudley. Thank you both for everything you do! For anybody who is looking for a place where their child will be safe, loved, nurtured and grow both academically and socially, AND a place where parents are welcomed with open arms and communication is a priority, Golden Pond School is the place for you. I will miss this school! read more

We love Golden Pond. We toured the usual suspects in the area and came away really impressed with Golden Pond staff and pre-k curriculum. The teacher/student ratio was a good fit us and the classes had a more intimate feel as opposed to a body factory. Our kids are all coming from a background where they have been watched by family, so this would be their first experience in a more structured environment. What we were looking for most was patience in the staff as we knew it would be a rough transition. When we toured we paid special attention to how staff interacted with the kids and we couldn't have been happier. They assured me that once he got the routine down he would be fine and love coming to school. It was a rough start and I was skeptical, but sure enough, a month or so in, he was happy to go and even a few days a week he asks to stay longer when we come for pick up. He comes home singing, talking about things he's learned. Unprompted, we see him grab paper and practice writing his name, numbers, and address - even very simple math with his fingers. That's a testament to his teachers. Special kudos Mrs. Shah, Mrs. Eng, Mrs. Price, Mrs. Horton, and Mrs. Kareem as they are his teachers and the ones we interact with the most, but no kidding, every single person we see during drop off and pick up is great. We're excited for our oldest to finish pre-k and enroll in the kindergarten program and his two younger siblings to enroll next year. We wouldn't expect an online review to be family's deciding factor, but it's a start for at least engaging with admissions and taking tour. Golden Pond should be on your list of schools to tour. read more

I can't say enough great things about Golden Pond School. My daughter recently received the Super Citizen of the Month award at her LCPS elementary school. We firmly believe that she won in the very first of month because of the hard work and exemplary citizenship skills instilled in her by the teachers at Golden Pond School she had the three previous years. Not only have their efforts impacted my child, but in light of her receiving this award, they have put a smile on the faces of many other students during their first month of school.Then yesterday, she came home from school and announced with great pride, "Guess what mom? My teacher asked the class what a Venn diagram was and I was the only one in our class who knew the answer!" These are the moments where I know her Golden Pond education has given her the foundation for a great future. I chose Golden Pond originally based off recommendations from friends whose children had attended and after touring tons of schools in the area before my oldest was ready to start preschool. I knew my children would benefit from the outstanding Golden Pond curriculum at each program level; however, I couldn't have foreseen the impression Golden Pond would make on my children and the "love of learning" that would develop. read more

Our 3.5 year old daughter started at Golden Pond this fall after a switch from a Montessori school that we felt wasn't up to par. We are big fans of the Montessori method and were both hesitant to make the switch. From the first moment we set foot in Golden Pond, every fear we may have held was assuaged. We were happy to see the proponents of play and child led learning were incorporated here in the traditional learning environment. Our daughter has thrived here from day one. There was literally zero transition time! We have been in three schools in three cities in two years and this is the first time our daughter has asked to go to school each day. She has come home speaking Spanish, amazing! And shown great appreciation for her teachers, Mrs. Simmons and Mrs. Cichieske. I have found each staff member that we have had the pleasure of dealing with to be not only extremely welcoming and friendly, but empathetic and nurturing. The car line that handles easily 100+ cars daily is handles with utmost efficiency. I am so happy to have finally found a place that we can absolutely feel our child is in the best hands. Thank you so much Golden Pond! read more

This is our 5th year with the school, and I can't say enough great things about Golden Pond. The staff are knowledgeable, compassionate and embrace their professions and it shows with how well they execute their mission. They consistently provide a positive learning environment filled with love and nurturing. I am always amazed at how natural they are at maximizing each child's potential through consistent positive reinforcement. We have seen each of our children grow and thrive almost immediately upon entering into each program. The school is very successful at ensuring each child is engaged and challenged at the appropriate level. My kids beam with pride as they practice concepts of observation and problem solving and imagination and creativity that they have absorbed at school. The teachers have mastered taking difficult concepts and immerse the children in a fun, interactive way of learning-the kids themselves don't even realize that they are doing such difficult things such as reading, writing, addition and subtraction. We feel confident that the Golden Pond way is setting our children up for success through solid foundation building! read more

From the moment I called GPS and spoke to Melissa Greenberg I felt the warmth, professionalism and the brightness in her voice. After touring and feeling first hand the nourtouring, hands on and care floating through the school I knew this was the place my child should be. It's been over a month since we have become part of the Golden Pond family and our child is excited, happy, challenged and nurtured. She speaks highly of her teachers and comes home telling me all about the backpack full of artwork she has. The communication between the teachers and myself is just wonderful. Impressive, the time they take to ensure all parents feel touched by a picture share or a friendly email or even text! What more could a parent ask for . I hope GPS continues this pattern and grows . Thank you GPS for all you do from the front desk smiles all the way through! read more

If you are looking for a school that loves, nurtures, educates and plays with your preschooler than Golden Pond is the right choice for you! As a former parent of 4 years and now substitute teacher I have had the pleasure to see both sides. The curriculum is age appropriate and the best part is the children think they are playing the whole time. My daughter and each of her peers are now doing exceptionally well in grade grade school. Golden Pond prepares each child to be independent and academically and socially mature. The atmosphere just screams "family" each and every day. Now that I work with each teacher I see the full circle and the "warm and fuzzy/ made the right choice mommy feeling" fills my heart each and every day I am there. As a parent the friendships I, my husband and my daughter have made will truly last a lifetime!!! read more

My youngest daughter is currently in her second year at GPS. My older daughter went to a different private preschool in the area but with my little one I was looking for something different. After walking into GPS for the first time I knew this was it. After two years I am so happy I made the decision to send her here. The teachers are so loving and attentive. I feel they truly care for my child's well being and want her to thrive. GPS provides a fun environment but the curriculum is also worth bragging about. My 4 YO is almost reading and has developed a love for learning. The teachers at GPS have the ability to put their unique touches on the curriculum which makes it so much fun for the kids and the teachers. The administrative staff is always very helpful and attentive. I feel at home when I drop my daughter off every day! read more

I have two sons that have both attended the Golden Pond School. Honestly, this school is a rare find. They have a wonderful program to prepare your children for elementary school and the teachers are all beyond amazing. My husband and I visited almost every preschool in the area, and the quality and education of the teachers far surpassed any other preschools. My oldest son had a difficult time with separating in the mornings and their patience was very much appreciated. And within a short time, he was excited to go and take part in all the wonderful activities they plan. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a pre-school or private kindergarten option for their children! read more

As a family who was really missing the community, teachers, etc. at GPS we were thrilled to see they were offering a virtual preschool program. We signed up right away, and my son is loving it! His face lights up every time he sees his amazing teachers and friends on the screen. The class is the perfect amount of time to keep the students engaged, and the teachers know just what to do to keep the kids on task, focused, and learning the GPS way (even from a distance)! Thank you so much for offering this! We can't say enough wonderful things about GPS. We can't wait to get back to the pond in person, but for now this is perfect for our family! read more

Our 4-year old son attends Golden Pond and we love everything about this school! We recently moved here and actually chose this school when we were still living in California. I spoke with the director of the school and everything I learned about Golden Pond's philosophy towards educating and nurturing their students really resonated with me. We were especially impressed with their theme-based curriculum. Our son enjoys each day at this school! We are fortunate to have found Golden Pond and highly recommend it to others. read more

Golden Pond has been wonderful for my son. I held him back this year, as he has a September birthday, and their Junior Kindergarten program is amazing. We get a detailed newsletter every week with tons of photos and information on what the kids are doing. We have frequent parent teacher conferences with detailed progress information. Golden Pond has found a way to be safely open in person throughout year, even with COVID, and we are super grateful. Could not recommend this school more. read more

The teachers and administration are warm and loving, classrooms and playgrounds are cheerful and I felt good sending my children to GPS for over 5 years including Kindergarten. The curriculum is exciting and the activities are SO creative! It is a special place and I feel lucky to have found such a unique school that my children love so much - it was a great investment in my children's education and early development. Thank you GPS! read more

My children are Golden Pond Alums. Their love for learning continues because of the strong foundation they received at GPS. The theme based curriculum is layered, integrated and hands-on through music, art, Spanish, science, math, and language which makes learning fun! My children still talk about activities and their teachers at GPS and how much fun it was to attend. The school is top notch! read more