While sitting at my desk, stressed about a work assignment, I looked out my window and saw my daughter happily prancing around our cherry blossom tree--full of light and carefree. At that moment, I realized I wanted to keep that spark in her as long as possible. So when it came time to choose a kindergarten, I knew I wanted more than our local neighborhood school and standardized testing. Enter Green Acres School, a hidden gem that focuses on outdoor play and creative learning - a school that would build a solid foundation for these early years. The atmosphere at Green Acres is warm and supportive from the moment the kids hop out of the car at drop-off. The staff respectfully engages with the children, giving them a voice to grow into independent thinkers who advocate for themselves. When the school recognized that my daughter was excelling academically, they adapted to her needs while keeping learning fun and engaging (and have done so with my son, too). She's eager to go to school every day and, to her father's and my irritation, even cried during a Disney World vacation because she missed it! That love for school isn't typical, and I attribute it to the outstanding teachers at Green Acres. I also want to highlight the fantastic work of the new head of the school. Under her leadership, the school is making great strides while staying true to its values. The balance between strong academics and a low-stress environment is something our family deeply appreciates--it's a place where kids are challenged without feeling overwhelmed. Overall, I couldn't be happier with our experience at Green Acres. If you want a place where your child isn't just fine but is great, Green Acres is the one. read more

Our child went to Green Acres for a few years, and we would never recommend Green Acres. We found it to be too small, with limited academic and extracurricular opportunities. Teachers, staff, and administrators at Green Acres did not seem organized and lacked the social-emotional skills and training to support students of varying academic, social and emotional abilities. They were quick to blame individual kids for systemic issues at the school. Classroom management was poor, and outside time for middle school kids is not monitored as it should be, both of which leads to highly unproductive behavior among the students. For parents interested in Green Acres, you should ask many questions about classroom management and overall supervision. In addition, we highly suggest you ask about the school's financial standing (income statements and other financial information) and how the school plans to address the loss of income from lost rent related to the Diener School move. Finally, we suggest that interested parents talk with doctors or others who know a lot of school aged kids. The problems at Green Acres are well-known in these circles. There are many great public and private schools in Montgomery County, and we highly suggest that you look elsewhere. We did, and we are thrilled with our child's new school. read more

My girls have been lucky enough to attend Green Acres for what is now 3 years. The leadership is outstanding and the child-centric learning environment is exactly what we were looking for in a school. Progressive education at its best. read more

As the mother of three Green Acres students, I can't say enough about this exceptional school. My son, a graduate,was well prepared for the competitive DC high school school that he now attends, especially in math. My two daughters continue to thrive at Green Acres. There is a real comradery among the girls in their classes. All three of my children have enjoyed school so much that they are upset to miss a day - even when they are sick! They have developed close, personal relationships with their teachers every year. Class sizes are so small that lesson plans can be individualized to address student strengths. Teachers give personalized attention in writing projects, really teaching kids how to write. Homework is done in a way that encourages student ownership of it, so that kids feel proud of their accomplishments and our family life is peaceful without homework battles. Thank you Green Acres School for an unbeatable start! read more

I am a 3rd generation Washingtonian that attended all private schools, co-ed and then all-girls all the way through high school. As the mother of a current Green Acres 1st grader, I am happy to write a review of this exceptional school. The environment is challenging, stimulating and the teachers do a wonderful job of focusing on the social and emotional health of children, the importance of which cannot be emphasized enough. The faculty and staff work simultaneously with parents to enrich each individual child's experience. My son has flourished, his self-confidence has grown, he is engaged academically and loves school. The hands-on approach to learning is what is absent in other area schools, but it is a core element of the Green Acres program and philosophy. The fact that the school ends in 8th grade is an ADVANTAGE I feel prospective families need to understand this: your child changes each year, so the student they are in 3rd grade will grow and evolve by Middle School. By 8th grade, the high school selection process is that much EASIER particularly because Green Acres does such a fantastic job with their Middle School kids, preparing them WELL for the next chapter : how to self-advocate, how to organize, how to approach teachers, how to work collaboratively as well as independently. I also want to add that Green Acres graduates are HIGHLY sought after by other area independent high schools. All you need to do is look at where the 8th grade class has been accepted, and that these children have options.Other area schools actually seek out Green Acres 8th graders. Finally, I want to address the importance of a school that ends in 8th grade. I understand that many families do not want to switch schools at high school time for reasons such as "they won't have as good a chance of getting in if we wait for high school" or "we want a school that goes 3-12 and it is easier," the admissions process in 9th grade is different - MANY vacancies open up as schools EXPAND their classes in 9th grade so keep that in mind. I personally know multiple families whose children started at schools beginning in 3rd grade and they thought they were all set until 12th grade only to discover, that sure enough, the high school was not a match and they wound up transferring. We love Green Acres and did a lot of research in selecting a school for our son so my advice - talk to current families as well as parents of graduates, tour the school and spend time on campus especially observing classrooms, meet the Admissions folks, and by all means, stop by and meet the Head of School, Neal Brown. You will not meet a more approachable, savvy and sophisticated team of people highly specialized in their field! Sincerely, Lauren Gage read more

My children have been at Green Acres since PreK and have absolutely thrived over the past several years (in both lower and middle school). They love going to school and are excited for each new day. The teachers are very attentive and nurturing and provide a comfortable environment for them. The academics are presented in both traditional and nontraditional ways. Most importantly, they learn how to apply concepts to everyday life and often come home with insights and connections that just amaze me. They are taught to be inquisitive and active participants in learning. The teachers are phenomenal in integrating learning in all crevices of their day to day, including free play. Green Acres kids are taught to think more abstractly, which is a far more complex and advanced way of processing information. The teachers are incredibly skilled and passionate and this enthusiasm is clearly transferred to students. We have been so thankful to the school for creating an environment where our kids are continually evolving as thinking, caring, and creative individuals. read more