Really impressed with the quality of teachers here. You can tell they don't hire just anyone. I…read moreused to teach Montessori when I was in college and I can testify that not all preschools are as high quality as you would hope, but I have been extremely pleased with our experience at Family Academy of Bethesda in both the younger and older classrooms. They take care of things for you and are completely child-centered, and they somehow manage to be laid back and provide a stronger academic program than most schools. The kids are all lively and sweet and engaged-- I was a little worried about preschool crushing my son's spirit but Family Academy really seems to follow the Montessori idea for real and created a real curiosity and love of learning in my 2 year old. It is so fun to watch him color and wash dishes and it's clear he enjoys it. The school buildings are a little dilapidated, but I think that's because the staff is focused on quality teaching for the kids rather than expanding and looking fancy to attract more parents. Anyway they are totally clean and each classroom is it's own house, which is really cute. Definitely would recommend it if you can get a spot.

I give my highest and most heartfelt recommendation to the Family Academy of Bethesda. My son has…read morebeen here since he was just three months old and stayed until almost three years old, when unfortunately we had to move away due to work relocation. If it weren't for that, we would have loved for him to stay here as long as possible. It's hard to put into words how incredible this place has been for our family. From the days when he could barely lift his head, to learning to walk, talk, sing, and share stories about his day, we've watched him grow into a happy, curious, and confident little boy--all thanks to the loving care and nurturing environment of Family Academy. He not only learned language and knowledge, but also good manners and a true love of learning.The teachers are absolutely amazing--kind, patient, and so easy to communicate with. My son is a slow and picky eater, yet they always gave him extra time and gentle encouragement. They care for each child as if they were their own. The administration team is just as wonderful; they know every child by name and engage with them warmly every single day.What makes Family Academy so special is not only the quality of education but the genuine love and attention they give to every child. The environment encourages exploration, creativity, and curiosity about everything in the world. I could see every day how happy my son was here.I am deeply grateful for everything the Family Academy has given to our son and to our family. This school is truly a treasure in the community, and I would recommend it wholeheartedly to any parent.

I recommend this school to everyone that is looking for a serious and true Montessori program. In…read moreMD any school that claims to be Montessori has to be approved by the state and has to have at least one Montessori-trained teacher. However, I have heard parents complain sending kids to Montessori is a waste of money because it's just a name to sell the school. So, not all state-approved Montessori programs have good quality of education. So being aware not all schools are the same, I toured 3 Montessori schools: Lone Oak, Manor and the Woods Academy. I found the Lone Oak Montessori on AMI website and Woods academy on AMS website. Manor was recommended by other parents and it seems to be a popular choice when it comes to Montessori preschools in Bethesda area. I took my 3-year-old son with me to all the tours and he loved the Woods the best because we were allowed to walk into the classroom and had very brief interactions with the students and teachers, to observe and also play some toys in the classroom while parents were talking to the director, Mrs. Gerber- who is very knowledgeable and experienced about Montessori programs and part of the reason we chose Montessori is because of her expertise and experience. After the tour, my son wanted to go back the next day because the classroom was just so fun and interesting for little kids. My son is happy every day and cannot wait to tell me what he learned in school. The teachers encourage independence, good manners, trying new things/food, healthy snacks, and creativity. They are caring and loving but also very firm when giving instructions. My son learns new things/facts each day and not just merely playing with expensive toys. For instance, he came home one day start singing "The family of the Sun," and talked about all the facts he learned about planets and I was amazed. And three weeks later, he started to learn the sounds of alphabets and try to read! The teacher told me she would advance any student if s/he is ready so there is no need to wait till 4 or 5 to learn how to read. The other pluses but not major factors are- 1) facility, it's a school so it has it's own gym, music/art classrooms, library, and playground. It's very spacious, clean and well-maintained. 2) it has PE, music and art classes once a week for 30 minutes. The school has a very strong art program. 3) faculty and staff are very friendly and they know student by names. I felt that students are given a lot of attention because of its small classroom size. The only downside is the tuition. It is about $2K more than other schools I checked/toured. We've been happy with our choice and would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good preschool in Bethesda. If you want more information about the Montessori program, check out the blog: http://woodsmontessori.blogspot.com/

This is a very good private school in the Potomac and Bethesda area. I went here for Montessori…read morethrough 8th grade and loved my experience here. There were incredible resources and the teachers were awesome! I definitely recommend looking here for your child.

We had a great experience! The teachers are warm and attentive, and we really appreciate how often…read morethey send emails and photos - it meant a lot to feel that connected to our daughter. The curriculum clearly works! Our daughter is more than ready for kindergarten. She's already reading and working through math problems, and she runs in happy every morning. Highly recommend.

As a father with a strong demeanor regarding education, I could not be happier with BMS. Now,…read morelet's be honest, your child and mine will not finish pre-school as a rocket scientist. However, he or she will learn basic math, use of a computer, a little French, self-awareness & independence, and start learning how to read and write. In fact, by age 4 most students can legibly write their name and count to 50+. This is only possible due to the loving and nurturing way each teacher engages with each student to build a desire to learn. I can't ask for anything better! My daughter is currently finishing her second year and will return to finish out her 3rd year (Kindergarten). I also intend to send my son once he is old enough for pre-school. Also, the after school care is run by an incredible group of educators that have a tender heart for children, and the school provides "extra classes" ranging from soccor to martial arts to dance and yoga.

I highly recommend Bethesda Prep Over 2 years I looked for…read morean excellent preschool for my son and I found that here. The Directors Melissa and Sonia are AMAZING, always welcoming, very kind, open to help us with our son needs. The whole team of teachers is beyond amazing too! they are very professional, very caring, supportive and always looking for what is best for the kids, but most importantly the method that they use to teach is very appropriate for each age. Their curriculum is Excellent, all the activities that are included and plan daily are great and also fun for the kids. Since my son started I can see how much he advanced in knowledge, skills, and socialization. My son is loves it here and loves his teachers and I believe that this is the best reference to know the excellency of this preschool. I can't be more happy and grateful for finding this wonderful and lovely place! Is 100/10.

We absolutely love this daycare and more importantly, our child loves it! From the very first day,…read morethe staff made us feel welcomed and supported. Every morning, my child is excited to go, which speaks volumes about the care and positive environment they provide. The teachers are kind, patient, and truly invested in the kids' growth and happiness. We've seen so much development, socially, emotionally, and academically since our child started here. My 3 year old son comes home smiling, singing songs, and sharing little stories about his day. We're so grateful for the nurturing atmosphere and the peace of mind that comes with knowing our child is safe, engaged, and genuinely happy. Highly recommend!

We absolutely LOVE BNS!!! Everything about the school from the staff to the fun and creative…read moreprogramming and wonderful facilities make it a truly fabulous community. Our kids love it and we can't recommend it highly enough!

Bannockburn Nursery School has been a wonderful, nurturing school for all three of our children…read more The teachers are incredible--kind, supportive, gentle, and creative. The director is passionate about creating a school that feels like a family, not just a childcare facility. And while some people worry about having to participate in a cooperative school, the commitment can be as much or as little as you like. The ability to watch our children learn emotionally, socially, and cognitively, alongside other children who we love as well, has given our family lifelong memories and a strong basis for the rest of the kids' lives.

Amazing school. The teachers go above and beyond with the children and do a phenomenal job keeping…read morethe parents involved and creating a sense of community. We were so sad we had to move so our children couldn't keep attending. We miss you, Crestview!

Our daughter (then aged 3.5) joined Crestview a year ago after we moved from the UK. It's a gem…read more It's a small, mixed age group pre-school with c.15 children aged 2.5-6. There is really nice, close-knit, multicultural group of children who get on really well together and support each other in their learning and development. It's a Montessori so the older children mentor the younger ones, good for learning on both sides. The staff are exceptional, kind, and deeply care about the children. They have created a warm, supportive, and nurturing environment, and are attuned to the needs of each child. Our daughter is making great progress on her reading, writing, and fine motor skills. They also do a lot of creative work (painting, singing, dancing etc.). Thoroughly recommend; our daughter is very happy there.

My kids don't actually go to the school, but I walk by this property pretty much every day on my…read moreway to work. The staff seemed like they are on top of it, and the kids always seem like they're having lots of fun! Just wanted to shout out a local school!

My 3.5-year-old twins have been attending BCDS in the past 18 months, and it has been a blast! The…read moreprincipal and teachers are very loving, caring and full of energy, especially Ms Bionca, Ms Suzy, Ms Lorena, Ms Nicole, Ms Isabella, Ms Briona and many more! They took so much care of my girls, always ready to share about statuses, progress, issues, and tips/guidance with parents! Originally we selected the school because it was just walking distance from home, but then we realized how convenient it is. it offers nutritious breakfast, lunch and snacka, have before and after care, and never close (except federal holidays)! that's critical for busy working parents! My girls loved their teachers so much and a lot of enrichment programs offered in school so we don't have to send them elsewhere to take dance, Karate, or soccer! lots of holiday events and even swimming/water fun during the summer! High recommend to all!

When I lived in Bethesda when my son was 3 years old, I toured Harbor School along with 40 other…read moreBethesda area schools (that's not a typo, actually 40), and Harbor school was my favorite of the 40 for early childhood education. I have 17 years of experience as a recruiter (mainly Microsoft, now Nike) and am honed in evaluating talent -- with schools, checking everything out, the student art on the walls, how the kids look, how the teachers interact with the children, how the environment feels, all of it. Harbor School is a special place in that the teachers are really exceptional -- exceptional care for the students, expertise, there's a healthy genuine feel to the school, the students look good. It's not a fancy hyper modern place, but note that it also doesn't come with a fancy hyper modern 40k tuition price tag. The school is real, and I think a gem. Sadly for us, we moved too far away from it, in Middleburg VA now. Our 6 year old is a bit school avoiding and so I recently called up Harbor School, where our dear friends with a 6yr old and 3 yr old attend, and I asked Andrea if she would be willing to tour me and my son again, let him be in the classroom of his best friend, let him see how his younger friend, the 3 year old, is also in school. She was gracious in allowing it, I spent a beautiful 15 minutes in the pre-k class, 2 students productive and engaged at each station. The 2 teachers were lovely, on the ball, inclusive to my son, it was just a wonderful visit. One of the teachers with 27 years of experience at the school. We got to see the art room, music room, the maker room with loads of hands-on crafts, and we spent 15 minutes outside at the playground in the back -- lovely space. You could pay more for a school, and help fund facilities that go with it, but common sense would advise checking out this lovely school that has keen focus on what matters most: recruitment of wonderful staff. I also valued the small teacher to student ratio I saw, which set the whole thing up for success. In terms of kindness/sensitivity/expert knowledge at the younger years, I'm definitely impressed with Harbor School. End of day, I think a young child benefits most from being surrounded by excellent compassionate teachers vs a shiny perfect gym that some schools with higher tuition offer. Apparently Harbor School is moving in a year, but I think this is a school that would be worth chasing after wherever nearby they relocate to. Being at Harbor School again yesterday I literally contemplated could we reasonably do the drive from Middleburg...sigh. But for Bethesda area parents you're in a lucky situation feels like to me, wherever they move, because they are taking their teachers and philosophy and humane student:teacher ratio with them.

A wonderful, caring school. It's a great foundation for young learners. The teachers are very…read moreexperienced, caring and kind. Students are embraced. Each child gets a lot of individual attention. They feel accepted and comfortable, so they truly learn and form meaningful relationships. The student-teacher ratio is amazing and makes such a big difference. They are up to date on growth mindset, mindfulness, hands on learning, flexible classroom space and sitting options, inquiry based learning, use of technology, etc. It's a traditional school with an innovative learning program. It has structure, but it is personalized and flexible to accomodate each student. We are in our final year at the Harbor School and very sad to be leaving this wonderful place.