i love THE langley school. The teachers are super caring and always make time for students to help…read moreout. And I LOVE the community! It's so welcoming and very inclusive! Go leopards!!

Our experience with the Langley School has been excellent!! Our children love to go every day to…read moreschool. The teachers and administrative staff are great and care about our children not just academically but also socially and emotionally. There is a great sense of community and collaboration. Love the school and everything we have seen since we moved to the area!

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.

Review for basketball gym only…read more The infamous DeMatha Catholic High School has been host for the WCAC girl's basketball quarterfinals for years but this year was a bit different. DeMatha's beloved, celebrated coach of the boys program for decades passed away in January. At the front entrance was signage that in Coach Wootten's honor, they were collecting used (but not abused) basketball shoes for the under privileged. Such an awesome gesture for an extraordinary coach/man. I've been to many basketball games in this gym and have enjoyed them all. They've always had the boosters and the DeMatha families working the front desk, collecting money and at the concession stand. Everyone is super friendly, even when folks have been eager to bypass the long lines and crowds. When packed, the atmosphere is electric and usually multiple college recruiters can be seen in attendance. That's what high school basketball is all about, especially at DeMatha where Coach Wootten built his legacy.

Stopped here for a basketball showcase recently for work. I grew up watching this school in the…read moreACIT, so traveling there to watch games was a totally different animal. Traveling with the team I will say I lucked out in a way bc I am not sure where anyone parks other than illegally in the street coming in and out of the complex when it is busy. So that could be an issue for patrons who travel and need a place to park. However, this will be a very big issue to find a place to park. I will say that the inside of this arena is that of a bigger division 2 arena however - their snack bar and seating was all filled and the inside and entrances were well lit by natural light and windows. The only thing that maybe either they are keeping original or haven't gotten to is the floor. It is the original heavily polyurethane yellow-tinted floor paint. Charming to me but kind of looks out of place with the rest of the place. Will be back

I sent 3 kids here for various grades. The teachers really create a loving space for them to grow…read more The kids are challenged in lots of different ways, and grow grow grow. :-)

The students here know they are loved, and that they matter, and that life is worthy even amid…read morechallenges. It was a pleasure to share a message with the students and staff - chatting about hope and peace - and to answer so many engaging questions. The school environment is inviting.

My brother just started his first year at Ideaventions, and it has been an amazing school for him…read more Ideaventions offers a challenging environment where he can grow as a learner and as a person. His love for physics and mathematics is nurtured there, and he is surrounded by people with a similar work ethic and drive. However, don't be fooled by the name! The school also offers incredible humanities courses that are incredibly interactive and hands-on. The school offers a plethora of clubs and events specifically tailored to the overall interests of the students, and seems to be an amazing school overall.

Ideaventions operates more like a very small homeschool or micro-school than a traditional private…read moreschool. While this type of environment may work well for some families seeking a highly informal, hands-off setting, it was not a good fit for our family. At the elementary level, we observed wide variation in academic readiness within classrooms, with students at very different skill levels learning together. In our experience, students' academic strengths appeared to reflect individual ability or outside enrichment rather than outcomes consistently supported by the instructional program. Enrollment size is extremely small, particularly in the upper grades. We were told that recent graduating classes consisted of only one or two students, which raised concerns for us about long-term sustainability, peer learning opportunities, and social development. Families seeking sports, group activities, or broader peer interaction may find this limiting. When we asked basic, reasonable questions about curriculum and placement, communication with administration felt strained rather than collaborative. We were frequently told "we are a family here," which in practice seemed to function as a way to discourage questions or parent input. Over time, this created discomfort around advocacy rather than partnership. The school structure concentrates multiple roles within a single leader (administrator, teacher, coach, and primary decision-maker). This consolidation made the environment feel insular and, at times, uncomfortable when raising concerns. Families who value clear professional boundaries, transparency, and shared problem-solving may find this challenging. While the school promotes STEM accreditation and innovation, our experience did not reflect consistent alignment with basic public-school academic benchmarks. Families considering enrollment should ask detailed questions about curriculum standards, differentiation, and how parent feedback is handled. The school is very small, has no PTA, and limited avenues for parent collaboration. This school may be appropriate for families seeking a more affordable, informal, and highly hands-off educational setting. For families who expect academic rigor, openness to questions, and a collaborative relationship with school leadership, expectations should be managed carefully. Some families may have had different experiences, but ours was ultimately disappointing.

Spring Knolls has been a wonderful fit for our family. My daughter genuinely lights up on Monday…read moremornings and after holidays, eager to see her teachers and friends. The teachers' passion and genuine care shine through in everything they do--from hosting inclusive family events that welcome siblings to going above and beyond when my daughter started mid-year to help her feel at home. I feel completely at ease dropping her off on my way to the office, knowing she's learning through play and thriving. We were selective about finding the right fit when I returned to work, and Spring Knolls has exceeded our expectations in every way. We're excited to have our son join in the fall when he turns two.

This is my second year of my children attending Spring Knolls, and I've got to say--I love it! The…read moreteachers are really special, and I feel the love they have for my kids. There is also an excellent art specialist, Ms. Kristin, who leads my children in crafts that I actually want to display in my home! I love the cooperative nature of Spring Knolls and the parent community--it truly has been such a blessing for my family to enroll in Spring Knolls. I love it so much that I enrolled my 2 year old the second he was eligible--and he loves it too! SK also offers part-time options--pretty hard to find in the DC area! Love that I don't have pay for more child care than I need! Love this school.

*****EDIT**** Nope…read more According to a few of the mothers who I still talk to and have their children attend there, it's honestly not as great... especially for POC . Ps- Audrey O is a faculty member so it's hard to take that review seriously. I appreciate her effort to improve the school's rating, however. *****EDIT***** Apparently the school got a total faculty makeover. Thank god. They caught on to the fact that there were some issues. So I moved my stars up slightly only because my children no longer attend there so I don't know what the environment is like there currently. I am still scarred from what I had to endure there for the few years my son did attend. However, I don't want to take away from the possibility that the school has improved. ************* It got to a point where I sent my child to a private school because I couldn't let my child go another year in this disaster of a school. Before, this school had raving reviews, but in the past few years- it has just been miserable. Many of the teachers here are pleasant but it's the administrative staff that I worry about. They do not seem engaged with their students nor truly care for their academic success. My child tended to have trouble in school and much of it had to do with his struggle with impulse. The teacher has been kind enough to "allow" an evaluation to take place but I have had so much push-back from the staff. I understand that it costs the school a great deal of money when doing an IEP, but it's for the benefit of the child! I just want to ensure that my child is getting the specialized instruction he needs in order to be confident in school. The year prior, he came home comfortable with the idea that he is just "not smart".That shouldn't ever be the case. My husband and I do our best to try and have him tutured at home, help him with reading, and occasionally see a specialist to assist with impulse control. Despite our efforts at home, my child still struggles at school. During my conference with the school however, I was informed by their assistant principle, Mrs. McNamee, that his issues were stemmed from the fact that he gets too much attention at home. What? Then they proceeded to still push back with getting my child any help until they FINALLY settled on having a 504 plan done. I want to give them the benefit of a doubt- but they have left me with the impression that that if your child has any type of disorder, language barrier, or disability- you're in for a world of grief here. Oh and heaven forbid you're a step parent. According to Mrs. McNamee, step parents dont have an opinion.

Braddock Elementary School is definitely a shining gem in Fairfax County. I am in and out of the…read moreschool every day and I can confidently say that the students are happy to be there. As a member of the PTA, I see teachers who go over and beyond for our kids. Parents, including me, are extremely engaged and volunteer countless hours. We are blessed that the administration allows our students the opportunity to participate in a wide range of after school activities that really enrich my kids. The staff and and administration genuinely live what they do and it truly shows. When your kids come home and all they can talk about is school you know you have them in a winning school! I swear that the principal must live there because she is there every single time I am in the school no matter what time of day! I really enjoy getting to talk to the parent liaison who always has time to listen when I need to talk! When my kids are challenged in such a warm, safe, and meaningful way they are on the path to becoming lifelong learners. This school is amazing and serves its widely diverse population well!

Excellent, caring, professional staff and educators. Students are happy, engaged, and seem to love…read moreto learn.

Parent / Guardian May 24, 2022…read moreDO NOT SEND YOUR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS HERE. This has to be the worst school for special needs. My son attended for 3 years. I regret not pulling him from the school immediately when he complained of an adult putting her hands on him. She would pull him by the arm when he refused to walk with her. I complained and requested that he never be alone with her. Additionally the CSS principal is either uncaring and incompetent. The school has had budget cuts and no longer had a full time psychologist for the CSS kids. Instead they've hired very poor IAs and a woman who worked in law enforcement. My son has the same teacher for two years and she absolutely did not care about the kids or her job. It was evident that she'd given up trying.