There are quite literally not enough words to describe how much we love and appreciate every aspect of this center. When you are looking for a center, if the administrative staff is beyond communicative, if teachers love your child as they love their own, and if the energy that seeps forth boasts of creativity and engagement at all times, you know you've found the perfect place, and that place is Rock Spring Children's Center. It's hard enough knowing that you have to leave your child over the course of a day, but to know that you have the best care possible for your child during the day helps alleviate so much of that stress. The Center does not just say they love children, what they want to do to improve or how the work aligns with the mission, but they show EACH of these things, with intention, every single day. And while I'm talking about the overall feel and experience of the center, there are so many additions that really take it to the next level. The offerings of ballet, karate, an amazing plyometrics program, and music, all of it offered from phenomenal external entities as a formal class that help keep your weekends, a little more open. And for more ease, if you struggle to pack lunch every day, a catered lunch option is available. There is differentiated instruction that allows for all students to feel safe and seen. And did I mention the engagement and love of teachers, and administration? The list goes on. TLDR: There will never be a center as phenomenal as Rock Spring Children's Center! read more

We have been at rock spring for several years for both of our kids and are very happy with the care and education they have received. Teachers are excellent, loving and nurturing. Most teachers have been here for years which says a lot about the culture of this institution. Classrooms are beautiful, and tailored perfectly for each age group. We will forever be grateful to Rock Spring for taking such good care of our kids. read more

I can't recommend Rock Spring Children's Center enough. The location is incredibly convenient--right off 270 and 495--which makes daily drop-offs and pickups so much easier. The classrooms are bright, engaging, and thoughtfully designed, and the entire school is consistently clean and well maintained. The four large outdoor play areas are a huge plus and give the kids plenty of space to explore and stay active. What truly sets this school apart is the staff. The teacher turnover is remarkably low, with many teachers staying anywhere from 5 to 30 years. That kind of longevity really speaks to the positive environment and dedication of the team. The teachers genuinely love the children and are deeply invested in their well-being. The play-based curriculum is another standout feature. It's carefully designed to support not just academics, but also the social and emotional development of each child as they grow. Rock Spring has been a meaningful part of our family's support system for the past nine years. More than anything, we felt supported as parents throughout the journey, which made such a huge difference to us. Both of my children thrived here--and so did we. As a nonprofit, the school also fosters a strong, welcoming community. My son graduated and went on to MCPS well ahead of his peers. My daughter, who will be graduating soon, is more than ready for kindergarten, academically and emotionally. This school has truly provided our kids with such a loving childhood experience! We will forever be thankful! read more

I would give over 5 stars if I could. Our daughter has been there for a 2.5 years now and loves it so much. She's made friends there and has learned/grown so much because of the role everyone at RSCC played. She started as a goldfish, then salamander, then butterfly, and now turtle. We've never had a concern about the experience from one class to the next because every teacher and staff member is so loving and caring of every kid. The families and staff make this such a wonderful part of our community and I can't recommend them enough!! read more

We started our daughter here after a terrible experience at another facility locally. She wouldn't take bottles and the infant care teachers tried different methods and were able to get her to eat and finally made me feel comfortable going back to work. Since then we have been so happy with every classroom and the wonderful teachers. Would 100% recommend to anyone without reservations. The care here is beyond anywhere I've ever seen. read more

RSCC has been such a blessing to our family. Both our boys have attended RSCC so we've been fortunate to get to know teachers in many of the classrooms. In every classroom, the teachers have been loving and welcoming--we feel like our boys have received excellent care at each stop. Many of the staff have been with the center for decades, which is a testament to how well they treat their staff and how much the staff love their jobs. Everything is extremely organized and well managed and communication to parents is top-notch. They also try to engage with families through several fun events planned throughout the year (Halloween party, annual fundraiser, field trips, etc.). They also offer "parent's night out" where the staff will watch kiddos for up to 4 hours for a reasonable cost, so parents can have a night away. Can't recommend RSCC enough! read more

I can't say enough good things about RSCC. My two children, who have very different temperaments and needs, continue to thrive after more than 2 years at the school. It's the perfect balance of a professional organization with all the requisite infrastructure/resources, while each class feels like it's own little ecosystem. The teachers are friendly and communicative, seem well trained, and there's very little turn over. Management is responsive and reasonable. I've also been so impressed as my older child progresses through the classes to see how much he is learning each day. The occasional weekend drop off opportunities are such a stand out perk, I don't know how any working parent gets by without it. It's a loving community that we're lucky to have. read more

RSCC is the best. Talk to any Rock Spring parent, and you will hear the same story. We all shopped around at the same list of daycares, and chose RSCC over everywhere else. The staff and teachers are all so warm, experienced, and patient with the kids. We have two kids enrolled, and have had nothing but a positive and happy experience at every age level. The twice-monthly Parents Nights Out are also a huge, unsung perk- we take advantage every month, and it is a lifesaver. read more

So proud to send my children to this amazing school. The teachers are incredible and have all been there for so many years- truly a testament to the quality of the program. read more

We love RSCC, and have from day one. Our child started there at 4 months old, and is now three. He's on his fifth classroom and set of teachers now, and I can echo what others have said here--the teachers are wonderful, and many of them have been there for years. They are communicative, sweet, and attentive. The administration is the same. The field trips in the summer and weekend drop-offs are fantastic too. There's a lot of parental involvement too. Can't say enough good things about this place! read more

Great daycare/preschool. My oldest is now 3 and has been here since she was 10 months old. Our youngest is 14 months and just transitioned from one of the infant classes. The staff is caring and supportive. The director has always been very responsive if we raised any concerns. We particularly loved the staffing ratios - 1:2 the majority of the time in the infant classes and about 1:4 or better in the 2's classes. Other pros include the large playgrounds, field trips and waterplay in the summertime. May aspects of the program are designed to ease the burden on working parents. Formula/milk, breakfast and snack are included in tuition and a healthy diverse lunch menu is available for an additional fee. Precovid there was aftercare available until 6:30pm. They also host parent's night out/day out babysitting services several evenings and weekdays each month. Lastly. I was really impressed with the free parent seminars with catered dinner and aftercare. Prior to starting daycare, I was really torn deciding between nanny vs daycare, but have not regretted the decision to choose Rock Spring even now during COVID. My kids love it and are well cared for. read more

Updating my review because my son is now 2.5 We couldn't be happier from the infant room , to mobile babies, to the toddler room and now in the 2's He is happy and Thriving . We do Jump bunch on Fridays and between that, show and share and pizza lunch he can't wait to go to school. He loves when Mr. John comes to do Music and even asked for a guitar so he could be like Mr. John We took awesome field trips to go strawberry picking, the pumpkin patch and the splash pad. All of which were well organized and thought out. We are now tackling Potty Training and the teachers and helping us through the process. We don't have a daycare or a school we have a family and a village that is helping raise our son. read more

I just withdrew my youngest daughter from Rock Spring after three months because I found the care to be not up to the standard I've experienced at other local centers. On several occasions, I saw the staff be sarcastic with the children, they habitually did not welcome my daughter in the morning (which made her less secure), and there was a tremendous amount of staff turnover in her room. When I raised concerns with the administration, I was told they'd look into it, but no one followed up with me. I really wanted this to work, and they made a great first impression. But over the last three months, I've found them to be inflexible, unsympathetic and unwilling to take any responsibility for my concerns. My kids have been happily in childcare for six years, and I've never had these issues in the past. read more

Our family has loved Rock Spring. For my kids, it is their home away from home. Their teachers are consistently knowledgable and kind. My older child started at 9 months old and is now in kindergarten. When she started kindergarten, she was well-prepared academically, as Rock Spring's preschool curriculum is excellent. She's a shy kid, and her Rock Spring teachers had given me many insights on how to keep her happy and comfortable in a new setting. I passed this information on to her kindergarten teacher, and the transition to her new school went very smoothly. My second child's personality is very different from my first. I see how the teachers, with their great expertise, have adapted their approach to him as an individual. If I ask about how he is doing, I often get responses not only when I ask, but also over the next few days, as they have taken time to think about my question while observing him. We are so grateful for the excellent care Rock Spring has provided our kids. read more

The staff here are absolutely amazing. It is hard to trust your baby with strangers during the day, but I have never felt like I am dropping off my son at a daycare with Rock Spring. It feels more like I am leaving my son with a group of trusted grandmothers. They make me feel like i have the most special baby in the whole world :) I get a daily report card that tells me what my baby did every day, and the post lots of pictures of him all over the classroom so I can see his daily activities, too. My 9-month-old lights up when he sees the staff every morning. I am so happy to have found this daycare. read more

My child has been at RSCC since he was 4.5 months old (he is now 13 months old). He started in the Guppy room, and is now a Tadpole. We could not be happier with the center, the teachers, the administration. Everyone is welcoming and my son is very happy and smiling every day when he gets to "school". We love how well he is developing, and how he is stimulated and encouraged by everyone at RSCC. Great community all around! read more

So grateful for what RSCC has meant to our kids as well as us as parents. An incredibly dedicated, knowledgeable and tenured staff make RSCC an exceptional daycare and preschool. This is where our children grew into confident toddlers and successfully prepared for elementary. Both our kids, each very different, loved attending RSCC. As parents we found a supportive administration and open parent community. Some of the highlights, in my opinion: -most teachers have an 8+ yr tenure and are always continuing to seek educational opportunities to help them become better at their jobs -happy teachers! do not take this for granted. and as a result- happy children! -hours of operation: 7-6 included, aftercare available through 6:45 -baby food and formula (Similac) are included for babies, as well as breakfast, snacks and organic milk for older children -teachers also babysit- they know your child and their schedule best. this is reassuring to your child. -lunch is offered at a nominal cost -children graduate with an advanced understanding of letter recognition and sounding, as well as basic math skills -continuous open communication between the teachers, administration and parents -free access to psychologists and therapists for evaluation and to implement a plan of action as needed -physcial and speech therapists can provide their services onsite, and speak with the teachers to make sure they are aware of what needs to be done to ensure progress -networking promoted by the administration -teachers get to know your children as well as you and will make recommendations on how to best navigate the next step in your child's education read more

I cannot say enough great things about Rock Spring. The teachers and managers are wonderfully caring, incredibly welcoming of our little one. What's more, they have an innovative curriculum and are always looking for new ways to engage the kids. And, the parents all stay very involved, so it feels like a community. I feel very fortunate to send my child here. read more