As a parent of a Westminster School graduate, I can say with confidence that this institution…read moresignificantly, positively, and permanently influences children's lives. My child, for nine years (K-8), grew up in a caring community dedicated to bringing out the best in every student. Westminster's teachers are passionate about their subjects and truly go the extra mile to help students achieve academic success. Even more importantly, the emphasis of the school, as guided by a devoted administration, is the holistic growth of each child. It starts with the etiquette and respect for one's elders that is expected of all students; it continues with opportunities for enrichment such as taking classes on public speaking. It "ends" with the 8th grade play, the last of nine annual shows in which those who have attended Westminster since kindergarten will have performed a major role and which allows students to blossom into the poised, self-confident, self-aware, and ultimately well-rounded people they have consistently been raised to be. The lessons and impact of Westminster really never end. I cannot tell you how much my son mentions his time at Westminster and thanks its community for building him into who he is today. As an up and coming professional play-by-play broadcaster, he points to the extensive public speaking experience he received at a young age as a key factor in his success. He also often speaks of accomplishing tasks "neatly, completely, and with pride," a Westminster expectation for every student, faculty and administrative staff member of the school. While it may be daunting to think of the cost of a private school K-8 education, Westminster School is extremely competitive and the education your child receives will pay immense dividends throughout the rest of his or her life!

Horrible. Rigid, unreasonably structural, not even remotely understanding of different needs. One…read morelittle girl (middle school age) wasn't allowed to leave her classroom to use the restroom. She actually needed to change her menstrual pad, but couldn't! Another child was denied a water fountain break after playing sports. And I could go on... The school is all about control and the headmaster's ego. And about school plays. . Please, keep your children far far away! There are other excellent private schools in our area and we are also fortunate enough to have very good public schools too.

Pinecrest is a little gem in the heart of Annandale. The small student to teacher ratios ensure…read morethat each child is nurtured and taught in an environment where they can have their needs met. The teachers are warm, caring, and provide exciting and challenging curriculum while helping maintain a creative environment. The motto "This is Community" could not be more true as parent and teachers work together, are involved and always looking out for the best interest of the children. Pinecrest also has a wonderful Mindfulness program that is implemented in every classroom on a daily basis! It's a wonderful and warm place to have your children learn and thrive!

As an educator I know a quality school when I see it. Pinecrest School (as well as their summer…read morecamp- Pinecrest Summer Pavilion) is an incredibly unique learning environment, with a school community like no other. I often think how much I would have loved going to school there as child. Pinecrest's leadership and staff are highly qualified and incredibly talented. The class sizes are small and the students truly LOVE their school. There is a genuine joy of learning that takes place at Pinecrest from both the students and the staff. The energy at Pinecrest is buzzing with creativity, comfort and community. It is a true gem of Northern VA.

My almost-four-year-old son currently attends Griffin Academy. We are working parents and needed…read morefull-day care, and we did a pretty exhaustive search in the area for an affordable preschool. I cannot BELIEVE how lucky we are to have found this place. Let me tell you why you should send your kids here. Even before I talk about my son's experience, I need to mention how well this program is run. Kristine Lee, the preschool director, is one of the warmest, kindest, most competent and professional humans with whom I've had the pleasure of interacting. She was so responsive and helpful throughout our enrollment process that we felt like we were already family members from the first contact. This was not our experience with other preschool programs. Many private preschools, like the one our older daughter attended, have strict arbitrary rules, parent work hour requirements, and intimidating admission processes that (for us) made us feel a tiny bit unwelcome. None of this from Westminster. This private school, with its classical focus, has managed to wrap us in its arms and surround us with a community of funny, warm, and down-to-earth people. It feels EASY, not stressful, to attend school here. As private school first-timers, we had to adjust to uniforms, but it's been no sweat. Teachers. We knew that our son liked his teacher, and that she (and all of the Griffin teachers) had been kind to him, and patient as he adjusted to a full day of school. We were so incredibly impressed when we met her in person at back-to-school night. Beyond having exactly the personality you would want for a preschool teacher (gentle, nurturing, and understanding), Miss Horner brings incredible expertise and professional knowledge to her job as classroom teacher. I myself am a board-certified teacher, so I have some clue about what they do, and my son's teacher is at the top of her game. Literally every aspect of her students' experience seems to have been designed with their development in mind. Everything in the classroom is accessible to the children, with the goal of fostering their independence, improving their fine and gross motor skills, and promoting harmony. The children are taught to greet each other respectfully, refer to their classmates as "friends", and express appreciation frequently. We toured other schools in our search, and at some well-known schools, we were dismayed to notice that the teachers did not seem to have a loving relationship with their students. My son's teachers LOVE him, and it shows. This was the single most important thing that we as parents were looking for. Every child deserves to experience preschool in a class like my son's, and we cannot overstate how fortunate we feel to have landed here. Here are some other fun things that we love: - They go on field trips (on the Westminster bus!) on almost a monthly basis. That is so many out-of-class experiences! - Each classroom has an imaginative play area that changes monthly (post office! garden! cave! grocery store!). - You can pack your child's lunch, OR order hot lunch from their service! Or both! - Excite Soccer offers a short after-school class on Thursdays, and our son goes to this and LOVES it. - French. Library. Music. Science. Our preschooler's schedule is as varied and rich as our 1st-grader's. My son is a wiggly little boy. Was I worried that he wouldn't have enough opportunity to move and play in the course of his rigorous classical education? I was. I've got one word for you: GYMNASIUM. If you can show me another preschool where kids get to run around a huge gym first thing every single morning, I'll be astonished. My guy comes home happy and tired every day. I'm typing all of this because when we were looking for preschools, there weren't a lot of parent reviews to read, and parents need to know that this wonderful option is available. Look no further!

Our son went to Griffin Academy for preschool and he attended some of the Griffin camps (winter,…read morespring, summer.) Griffin Academy is part of the Westminster School, however, it is on a different campus and it is run by a different headmaster. So first, I must say that this review is for Griffin Academy not Westminster as we do not have any experience with Westminster directly. The best part of Griffin Academy is the teaching staff (actually, all of the staff) and the facilities. If you take a tour of the facilities I have no doubt you will be very impressed. Having an indoor gym-type of space in the winter was hugely beneficial. Also, the teaching staff was excellent, and I mean really excellent. My son had a primary teacher who he adored and then he did rotate through other teachers who teach specialty subjects, and they all got to know him and I was really impressed with all of them. The expectations, educationally, were set very high which works well for my son and our family because I felt that he was pushed just the right amount. The class sizes are small so the teachers are really able to work with the kids at the level that they are at. They also worked a lot on his manners and his social interactions. My son came out of Griffin at age 4, able to sight read entire books on his own, silently, to himself. So educationally, I cannot fault Griffin at all; I was very impressed. Our son was definitely not bored, which is a big thing for us. The hours that they provide childcare/school for are also very good for working parents, as they provide a variety of options to allow the parents to be able to choose and manage the hours of school and childcare that they need. The price was also surprisingly much more affordable than a lot of other preschools. The only reason I am not giving the school 5 stars is because, just out of bad luck, is our son really didn't have that many other boys in his class, so unfortunately a lot of the stereotypical boy activities, he was not able to partake in to the fullest extent of what he would have preferred, so I ended up having to enroll him in some outside extracurricular activities (karate, etc.) just to kind of make up that deficit. The class he was in was almost all girls. However, as I say, I realize that experience was probably just unique to us and unfortunate due to the way the classes broke down. The reason that is a big deal to me is my son needs a lot of physical activity to get his energy out and that really requires him basically running around like a maniac playing soccer, etc. He is already at the age where he doesn't want to play what he thinks of as girly games so that was a bit of an issue during the school times, was not having enough physical activity for his liking. (***During the camps sessions it was a better mixture of boys and girls so this problem actually completely went away for us during all of the Griffin camp sessions.) The only other pretty minor complaint I had about the school was at times I felt they were a bit too strict on some things that I myself am pretty relaxed on - especially the "clean your plate" mentality, I am not really that into. On the flip side, his manners were much improved and he is able to do a lot more on his own and for himself than he was when he went into Griffin, so I have mixed feelings about that. All in all, I would really recommend Griffin, it is a very good preschool, and when our daughter is old enough we will probably be sending our daughter there.

The staff is very caring and provide a fun and engaging environment. My favorite thing about…read moreAnnandale Play-Care

I met with staff and visited their location. They took the time to see what needs my son may need…read moreand informed how they could help us. Glad we found them.

I am absolutely in love with this school. Our son was home with family for his first 2 years, and…read morewe agonized over putting him in school. We wanted the social interaction and advanced opportunity to learn that an official program would offer, but we were really anxious about his transition away from the house and the quality of the teachers/facilities. We hunted for months and months. We visited daycare facilities, montessori schools, and other styles of preschool. I was on the verge of giving up - nothing made me comfortable enough to leave my precious sweetheart with strangers. Then we stumbled upon MSNV. We did a school visit and swooned over their facilities - natural light, cozy surroundings, and amazing outdoor spaces. Then we observed the students. They seemed extremely happy to be at school - from the little 2-year olds up to the "upper elementary" students. We also noticed that they treated each other, their teachers, and the visitors (including our toddler) very respectfully. We also observed the teachers. They are kind, loving, and extremely skilled. We submitted our application and crossed our fingers that we'd get admitted. We did (yay!!), and our 2-year old started school in September (Falls Church campus). He has absolutely loved it. He loves his teachers so much that he requests to visit them on evenings and weekends. His class is extremely diverse, which was also really important to us. And the school is great about fostering diversity and teaching the children about all the wonderful different cultures that make up our great world. I am so, so glad we did this for my son. Initially, when we started our search, I felt guilty about the idea of putting our son in someone else's care. But at MSNV, I feel as though I've done him a great service. He's gaining so much from this experience that I couldn't have given him at home. The school is expensive, but it's worth every dime (and then some!) for the wonderful experiences he receives. The school is small enough that everyone knows each other, and it's like a family. The administration is wonderful, and everyone knew my son (and me) by name within the first month. The parents all know each other, and arrange class playdates together. I can't say enough wonderful things about this school.

MSNV is an amazing school from pre primary up to upper elementaty. Our three boys attend and it's…read morebeen wonderful, loving and the teachers and community are great!

ACCA is an acronym for Annandale Christian Community for Action…read more ACCA is a church-supported voluntary organization providing rental assistance, day care, emergency food delivery, Meals on Wheels, basic furniture delivery, housing repair, transportation to medial appointments, family emergency financial assistance, student scholarships and other services to needy families in the area. They have a child development center and a food pantry on-site & all ACCA services, except the Child Development Center, are provided by volunteers at no cost to those who need them. They were founded over 50 years go by Fred & Emily Ruffing, a local family from Alexandria, VA, who were going through hardships themselves. They organized a meeting with representatives from eight local churches to set up a day care center to provide assistance to the working poor. They marshaled support from the county and from local donors & succeeded in meeting the needs! Annandale Christian Community for Action branched out into other activities, all under the banner of "doing what Jesus would do". The organization started with eight churches and currently has a membership of 26. I have been doing food delivery for them for years and I also bring clothing & household donations from my school & my home. The beautiful thing about donating is it is all put out on table for folks to simply take what they need - no cost! So it to literally goes directly to the community. They accept food donations, clothing, toys, household, school supplies, you name it, and you can also donate financially. To request assistance from ACCA, please contact the Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning office at 703-222-0880. I can't say enough good things about this community non-profit organization other than PLEASE SUPPORT!

I'm thoroughly impressed with the environment and the program they offer. The center is designed…read morewith children's growth in mind, featuring bright, engaging spaces that stimulate learning and creativity. The teachers are exceptionally qualified and dedicated. They create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, making it easy for children to feel comfortable and secure. The educators are not only knowledgeable but also genuinely passionate about child development. They provide individualized attention, ensuring that each child's unique needs are met. Overall, ACCA CDC stands out as a wonderful and enriching early learning program for young children. It's a place where they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. I would highly recommend it to any parent seeking quality early childhood education in Northern Virginia. Also, see their reviews in Google and Facebook. They reflect the real status of ACCA CDC.

We have had a wonderful experience sending both our daughter and son to Annandale Cooperative…read morePreschool (ACPS). Our daughter was in the Spiders' class, and our son has been in both the Fireflies' class. The teachers and staff here are truly exceptional. They are incredibly dedicated, knowledgeable, and nurturing. As a cooperative preschool, it provides a unique opportunity to be truly involved in our children's early education and build a tight-knit community with other families. The play-based, child-centered curriculum has been perfect for their development, and it is easy to see why they are highly recognized in the area. We highly recommend ACPS to any family looking for a warm, engaging preschool environment!

Our family has a wonderful experience at ACPS. It truly feels like a community, where families,…read moreteachers, and children all support one another. My son absolutely loves going to school each day and has grown so much. One of our favorite aspects is the amount of outdoor time the children get, allowing them to explore, play, and learn in nature. We are so grateful for this school!

We love the Wee Center. Staff is so friendly and caring. The facility is very clean. Ms. Lipton is…read morean amazing director. I wish this were a full-time program!

The WEE Center at Parkwood Baptist is one of the most amazing schools I have ever encountered. Two…read moreof my children have attended the school, and it is surely the kind of warm and supportive environment that is perfect for preschool-aged children. All of the teachers are wonderful people who care for the children as if they were their own and recognize the beauty and potential in each student. Ms. Ann Lipton is an EXTRAORDINARY director who has made the school into a faith-centered atmosphere that provides the resources for children to grow and develop in this precious stage of their lives. I only wish that they had classes for older children! ;) The WEE Center holds a special place in my heart, and I only hope that whatever schools my children attend in the future, that they be as nurturing as the WEE Center.

Raised both of our boys from infancy. Both of our children had positive experiences with both…read morefriends and staff. There are several staff who have been at Carousel for 10+ years, a few who have been there for over 20 years. Others have mentioned the lack of cosmetic updates to the facilities, however, ownership changed hands a year or two ago, and steady improvements to the facilities (new bathrooms, fresh paint) and technology (parent app, door camera and entry system) have been made since. At the end of the day, our children have thrived here, our oldest is doing well in elementary AAP classes and the youngest is nearing the end of his final year. We couldn't have been happier with the way things have gone, especially given the lower price than other nearby facilities, such as bright horizons in the inova complex. 10 years after nervously dropping off our first infant, barely 90 days old, we'd do it all over with Carousel. A deep thank you to all of the staff who work tirelessly so that our children get needed attention and care while we are off pursuing our careers. Kudos to you all.

My son has been going here for 6 months now and I couldn't be happier. My son loves his teachers…read moreand the teachers are so caring! This was his first daycare center experience and I was really worried that he would not like it but he loves going everyday! We have been very fortunate and blessed to have found Carousel!