I appreciate the extra steps taken when a parent visits the school. ID checks are conducted and I'm…read morealways promptly helped. When transferring my son into the Anne Arundel County School District, his counsel (Ms. Worsham) was very involved and accomodating with the process. Improvements could be made on the etiquette of the school bus drivers. I've had my son relay some interesting events that happen on the bus. Often when you go to the school parking is reserved for the administration so on parent/teacher conferences, picking up after a school outing the parking lot cannot accomodate a lot of vehicles so you'll find people parked in the grass, bus lane or anywhere their car will fit. The availability of the online accesses to communicate with teachers is great. What I don't like is when I get an email about an assignment that hasn't been turned in only to be told upon further inquiry that it hasn't been entered in the system. This is a good way to track progress, homework and school assignments so that when a child gets their grades you are not surprised because you have the tools to monitor it. Gone are the days of free field trips. I'm not in love with the many field trips they have @ $35 a pop. I understand cultural events but if you read the notices they send home it states that if for any reason the trip is canceled you won't recieve a refund. Not a fan of that and I'm sure that they are obligated to disclose how/where your money was spent. Overall, good notification protocols when there are unforeseen events, weather or simply keeping parents in the loop on upcoming school events.

KinderCare is top of the line! The director is amazing and runs a very tight operation. Her…read moreorganizational skills and customer service skills shine through every time I go and pick my children up. My kids love their teachers and have met many friends a long the way. I would recommend KinderCare Gambrills to anyone that truly cares about their child's well being and education! Thank you KinderCare!

I normally don't leave reviews, but I feel parents deserve to know about my experience…read more From what I personally observed, there was a lack of consistency in how the center was managed. Policies and expectations did not seem to be applied equally, and communication from management was often unprofessional. Staff support appeared to be inconsistent, which made it difficult to maintain a positive classroom environment. I also observed children from multiple classrooms being combined, which created challenging classroom management situations. In my experience, it was difficult to receive timely administrative support when behavioral issues arose. I believe children thrive when teachers are supported, respected, and given clear, consistent expectations. Unfortunately, that was not my experience here. I encourage parents to visit the center, ask questions about classroom assignments, staff turnover, supervision practices, and communication with families so they can make the decision that is best for their child.

Good school and Great staff! If you are looking for a middle school to go to, you should probably…read morego here!

This school is so good! The teachers are so nice and call but the bathrooms are dirty tho but thats…read morefine! The food is good and the classrooms are clean!

My family and I went there today to watch an Old Mill football game and we had to leave due to all…read morethe marijuana smoking in the parking lot, by the concession stand and in the grandstands. Then there were arguments from the other players and the parents from the previous game. I did not know that school was so rough. I talked to one of the supervisors about the rules and about having some kind of security out there and she said we are doing our best. What they allow is criminal.

In the mid 70's it was a great school! Even with split shifts all three years, they kept things…read moretogether for the seniors as best as possible, when Olde Mill opened in fall of '75, the class of '76 stayed together!

Underpaid teachers are depressed, burnt out, and 1/5 actually have the resolve to teach…read more Zero programs for student enrichment. All sports are directed as if they're trying to get to kids to go for the Olympics rather than enjoy the exercise and teamwork that sports is supposed to offer. My student was told to cut out diary, bread, sugar, and otherwise eat like a rabbit. For what? We all know Bowie isn't exactly a state wide competitor.. Bathrooms seem to solely exist for smoking and other .. activities. Homework is busy work, stacked up to try to replace the sorry excuse of teaching. Tests seem to be the only measure of intelligence. And the effect is that kids are depressed, cruel to each other, and making friends is hard. No one I know seems to have enjoyed their time here at all. Special shout out to AP Gov teacher Mr Morris. May God bless his endeavors.

I attended my entire High School years at this school in the 70s. Having develop thick skin from…read moremy experience in Samuel Ogle Jr High, I was prepared when I walked into this school. It was better than Jr. High. The school in no way prepared me for college. Here I made honor roll every quarter and found it easy to make good grades. My poor study habits made me into a very dumb college student. Having said that, there were good and bad teachers and good and bad experiences. Being a baby boomer, my class was humongous and I didn't know many people. I'm surprised how many people I met later in life that was in the same class as me. You'll never forget high school. Go Bulldogs!

As a parent of both an elementary and a middle school student, choosing the right school has never…read morefelt like a small decision. For a long time, I carried a constant question: Are my kids in the right place? Mandala School has given me peace of mind I didn't realize how much I was missing. What stands out most is that the school's values are not aspirational language on a website. They are visible every day in how students are supported as whole people. I genuinely feel like a partner in my children's education. The hands-on, project-based learning approach allows kids to lean into their individual strengths while learning how to collaborate and contribute to a team. My children are developing communication, leadership, organization, and problem-solving skills through meaningful work. I don't pretend to know exactly what world I'm preparing them for, but I'm confident these skills will matter in life and work. Most telling of all, my kids love going to school. They don't want to miss days or arrive late for appointments, and the usual requests for mental health days or skip for mysterious stomachaches have disappeared. They've built real friendships, discovered new interests, grown in confidence, and learned how to advocate for their own needs. No school is perfect, and when issues have come up, I've felt truly listened to as a parent. Just as importantly, my children have felt respected and included in the resolution process. We see Mandala School as a long-term partner in our children's growth, and our commitment to this community is mutual.

My son has been at the school for 5 years and is thriving!! The school not only has a strong…read moreacademic program but also looks at a child as a whole person.Through the practice of yoga and mindfulness they help the children develop their social emotional skills as well.

My son started at this daycare when he was 9 months old while social distancing was still in…read moreeffect. My tour with them was virtual, and I had toured many daycares at the time, but this one left me with that "good gut feeling" that this was the place! We haven't looked back since! My son has truly thrived here, as I always notice that he's learned new things even before I've introduced it to him. He has been loved by his teachers so much and he's already made so many friends. He is 2 years old now and says his friends names everyday on his way to school. Impressionable Years is wonderful and I would highly recommend it! I will say that they've had some turnover with some teachers and similar to many daycares, one of our cups went missing and they could improve on some organizational skills but we are all human and they always keep my baby safe and loved and I know it's a great place because everyday since he's started, he's been excited when we arrived and any question or concern I've ever had, has been addressed timely! They are also super clean and clean the toys and rooms often and have "parents night out" usually once a month which is an awesome way to know your kid is with someone you know and trust and you can have a nice evening out or even at home to yourself! I could say so much more, but all I need to say is, it's a great place. Your child will learn, remain developmentally on target (even early), be loved and cared for, have lots of time outside, and establish friendships!

The sad story of impressionable years daycare can be compared to the story of a beloved bakery…read morethat, at one time, baked every cake from scratch and with care, only to compromise the quality of their product because they scaled the business to an extent that the quality that was once associated with the business was impossible to maintain. It's a common story, one that could be avoided by tempering growth until the business has a chance to scale with the increase in business. This maintains product quality while also adapting the methodology to serve more customers. It's a difficult process that many businesses fail to account for, which is why we see once-great businesses close their doors when better options become available. A once-great daycare that has grown to the point where the quality of the education and supervision the kids receive has become substandard. My family has had a long history with Impressionable Years. Once owned by parents, now passed down to their daughter. The parents built this company from the ground up. The population cap was low in those days, and the parent owners were on top of their game. The employees were of high quality, the owners were always there, and the collaboration between the parent and the center was easy, streamlined, and productive. That is no longer the case. My three children went through Impressionable Years, and I lament that my third child did not receive the same standard as my older two did. When dropping my child off, teachers are commonly too busy talking amongst themselves or doomscrolling on their phones. Most teachers won't even look up from their phones when acknowledging your presence. This can only communicate that this practice is tolerated. The feedback you receive from the school will commonly be short-handed and unhelpful. I can forgive this for most things because when you have a class of 20 children, I don't expect a fully articulated essay on my kids' day. This becomes an issue, however, when your child doesn't meet the center's expectations. They will berate you with short-handed comments (that are pre-written) that say your child made terrible choices that day. But here is the main issue with the center: when you push for specifics, you will commonly get the cold shoulder. The owner of the establishment (Courtney) makes high-level decisions and then blames her mother when she knows the outcome will be controversial or is not justifiable given the student handbook. Her Mother handed over the business to her almost 2 years ago. A director who deflects responsibility is a giant red flag. When my child was dismissed from the daycare for "bad behavior," I asked for the video footage so I could see what happened (this was denied). I asked for specifics on what happened, but when Courtney kept deflecting, and I kept pressing her, she hung up on me and then refused to pick up the phone again. If you take nothing else away from this, then highlight this part. If you ask basic questions about your child, they will crash out because you don't buy the narrative that they are giving to you. The reason they can't give you specifics is that your child will not be adequately supervised. The teachers are too busy on their phones, talking on their phones (please count how many ear buds are actively in the ears of the teachers when dropping your kids off), and the center is removed from any responsibility because they can kick your kids at anytime with no notice. There are other problems as well: They commonly send employees home when the student population doesn't justify their presence. Yet, you have to pay full tuition whether your kids show up or not. This is a predatory practice that seeks to maximize profits while causing inconvenience to parents. This little flaw will show itself when they put your kids in a room that is developmentally inappropriate for your child due to "staffing problems," because the room's population didn't meet the standard for them to pay someone to be there all day. Impressionable Years was a great daycare. It is no longer. This is what happens when something is given to someone who doesn't have to earn it. The quality of this place has been run into the ground. And even though the cake you get isn't quite what it used to be, you should, as a parent, ask yourself what you are paying for, and whether the management is competent and coherent in their ability to communicate to parents. All of which this place lacks.

Both our children are beginning their fifth year at Rockbridge Academy. Our educational journey…read morebegan as a homeschool family, and we later needed to find a school to place them. At the core of our search was a school that was Christ-centered and where parents were considered the primary educators of their child(ren). At Rockbridge, we have found that and more. Education there is perceived as the exploring, unpacking and understanding of God's creation, and this philosophy undergirds every subject area. They follow a classical curriculum, which essentially translates to an education that aligns with a child's natural development. The fruit of this form of education has been wonderful to witness as a parent. What really has been the "clincher" for my husband and I is the way they handle discipline. At the heart is forgiveness and restoration of the student. I am so incredibly grateful for the education they are receiving there and that they experience the Lord's grace there and at home.

From the owner: Rockbridge Academy offers a classical Christian approach to education designed to create…read moreself-motivated learners who pursue truth, beauty, and goodness in all endeavors. Our curriculum seeks to instill a love for learning and to equip students to meet challenges with enthusiasm and determination. Our dedicated teachers love their subjects and their students, encouraging them to take every thought captive to Christ.