The best way to describe CLC is magical! We toured ALL of the preschools in the Olney/Ashton area…read moreand when we walked into CLC we knew in about 2 seconds that this was the preschool for us. This is my daughter's second year at CLC and my son will join the hummingbirds class next year. The staff is the top of the top. Every single person who works there knows my child and greets her by name every day, even the teachers she has not yet had. All staff have taken a genuine interest in getting to know my daughter and our family. They are incredibly skilled in teaching young children to love school and learn to become the best little people they can be. The teachers make learning fun and engaging through music, art, and play. while infusing academics in the most creative of ways. The staff is committed to making sure that my child's needs are always met and the communication between teachers, the director, and the parents is impeccable (conferences, responsive emails and phone calls, newsletters, and school-wide emails when needed) . They are extremely flexible with our needs in terms of aftercare with drop-ins available when I need it. They make activities fun and exciting for the children, such as a Valentines concert, Halloween parades and field trips in the community. The classrooms are clean, bright, fun, and inviting. The other families that attend CLC are as warm and welcoming as the school itself, we have playdates with friends we have made at CLC frequently. My daughter is excited every single day to get up and go to see her teachers and friends at school (not one complaint about attending ever). To put it simply, I wish my babies could stay at CLC forever!!

This is a true pearl of a school. I did a lot of research before choosing it for my son, touring…read moremany of the nearby preschools (e.g., Norbeck Montessori, Chesterbrook Academy, Children in the Shoe), and while I liked certain aspects of those schools, I just LOVED this school from the moment I walked through the door. Lots of pros and just a few cons. Pros: Teachers: Are wonderful. Full of energy and enthusiasm. Many of the teachers have also been there for many years. Two of the teachers in particular, Mrs Zechar and Mrs Harper, who are in the room for the 3-years olds, have been teaching at the school for more than twenty years and their experience shows. They are extremely patient and good at dealing with any issue arising. Director: Is fantastic. Lots of positive interactions with parents and children alike. Classrooms: Really like their set-up. In contrast to most other preschools, they have separate classes for 2, 3 and 4 year olds (with 3 and 4 year olds merging for aftercare). Also in contrast to many other preschools, classroom sizes are small with a maximum of 15 kids per room with 2 teachers. Playground: Is good. It is fenced in and away from any large roads or neighbors. It is also relatively large, with different activity zones. Program: Very flexible. They offer 2, 3, or 5-day options and various part/ full time options. Price: OK. It is not cheap but - at least for the full-time program that my son is enrolled in - the price is comparable to, or even lower than, prices of most other schools in the area. Cons: Not many. The main one, at least for me, is that the school does not offer a 12-month schedule, which can be a problem for households with two working parents. On a final note, while the school is sharing grounds with a church, it is not actually affiliated with that church.

Just an excellent learning environment. Our daughter just LOVES to go to school each day and has…read morereally thrived at Hilltop. Staff and teachers are truly dedicated to the children and really strive to keep the parents informed about their child's learning and progress. We plan to send all of our children there in the future and highly recommend it!

I can't imagine there's a better preschool in the Clarksville/Columbia area. Obviously every…read moreparent has their own list of "wants" and "needs" when shopping preschools - their own list of the features that are most important to them. Most importantly for my wife and I was to find a school where our 2-1/2 year-old would be happy, learn social skills, and would learn the fundamental skills needed to function in a classroom setting (preparation for kindergarten). It was also critical that we find a place where we would never feel guilty or apprehensive about dropping our kids off at school. We found all this and more at Hilltop. The most important things to note about Hilltop are... Small School - There are two classrooms and each one has a max of roughly 15 children. Small classes means lots of one-on-one interaction with the teachers, which any educator will tell you is extremely beneficial (especially for young children). Learning Activities - It is a school after all - so it's pretty important that they follow a really well-conceived philosophy and educational curriculum. Every day we receive notes from the teacher about what our child learned that day, sample assignments he worked on, etc. Low Staff Turnover - At other schools and daycares we've witnessed a constant churn of teacher turnover. The teachers at Hilltop have been there for years and are part of the fabric of the school. Family Atmosphere - So many families have their 2nd or 3rd children enrolled, so we've gotten to know each other and have formed great friendships. When I drop my son at Hilltop it feels like I'm leaving him with close friends/family. Credentials - Hilltop is accredited by the MD Board of Education and each teacher and staff member has all their MD creds (I'm not that familiar with all the credentials, so you'd have to check with them for more info on this). Secluded Location - While the school is right off Rt 108 in Clarksville (near the River Hill shopping center) it's also tucked away behind a Methodist church. Its location is nice for security reasons - and there's also something nice about being on a church campus. What more can I say? We are a Hilltop family and absolutely recommend this preschool to anyone trying to make the difficult decision of where to send your child for preschool.

We have sent both of our children here starting from 18 months until 5 years old. Our children love…read morethe teachers and staff, which makes us so happy with our choice for childcare. The teachers are great communicators; they call you with urgent issues during the day, give you brief updates at pickup and are always happy to answer questions. In addition, they have parent teacher conferences (for toddlers!) to keep us in the loop. If you ever get a chance to observe the classroom, it's amazing how one teacher that can control so many kids in silence with only sign language, even though they are all working independently. We highly Recommend JBS

If there is a zero star option, this is what this school deserves. No respect for the child or his…read moreparents, no engagement with the family about their child progress. I have not seen any educational or moral progress with my child. Teacher level of education and capability to teach is zero. One year of what they called education, my child still writes the Z inverted. The teacher did not have a capability to correct that!!!!!! I had been in international Montessori school when I was a child, the level of emotional and social support was beyond amazing, while julia brown has nothing to do with emotional and social support. I have no idea how Montessori allowed them to run under their name with such poor standards of education and engagement with the child, never mind the gloominess of this school, old furniture, no modern methods of learning, my child continuously expressed how unhappy he was there. Kids don't lie!!!!

Absolute gem of a school. We've had 2 girls that graduated from here and their academics and…read moresocialization have exceeded our expectations. They are ahead of their peers and more importantly have developed into caring and compassionate children. Both Ms Burkhardt and Mrs Jones are exceptional teachers who really care for their students. Our girls loved going to school here and we couldn't have found a better fit for them. Casa also has a wonderful before and after care program that is super flexible and provides a safe and fun environment outside of the classroom. This school has our highest recommendation and provides so much more flexibility and care than other preschools we've visited.

When we started searching for a preschool for our oldest daughter over 5 years ago, I stumbled on…read moreCasa on a local blog. We went to an Open House and within 5 minuted I knew this was where our kids would go. We met Mrs. Burkhardt and Mrs. Jones and could immediately tell how much they cared about the kids. We loved that it was a family run school and that their teachers and staff had worked there for decades. We put in an application on the spot and didn't look at any other schools. Our oldest daughter loved her 3 years and Casa and her younger sister couldn't wait to get to Casa. Now their brother is anxiously awaiting his turn. Casa is truly like a family. Our kids have had Mrs. Burkhardt, Mrs. Jones and Ms. Burkhardt and each one of them is a fantastic, caring teacher. Everyone at Casa clearly cares about all of the kids. I appreciate that they have pushed our girls to try harder and tailored their work to what they are interested in. I am always amazed at some of the work that comes home. My first grader is doing some of the same math that I see my 2nd grader bring home from public school. We consider ourselves so lucky to have found Casa. My daughter gets upset when I pick her up "too early" from school so that is how I know we made the right decision. We will be sad when our time at Casa is over, but luckily that is still a few years away!

We love Primrose Layhill! The owner and staff are wonderful, supportive, and work with you to…read moreensure your child's success. Curriculum and instruction are strong. They celebrate diversity with many cultural events. They provide healthy meals. Great communication with families. Plus the facility is new and clean.

From the owner: Primrose School of Silver Spring at Layhill is an accredited daycare located in the Silver Spring…read morearea that offers infant, toddler, preschool, pre-kindergarten and after school programs. For over 40 years Primrose preschools has been a trusted household name and a nationally recognized daycare provider committed to forging a path that leads to a brighter future for all children.

I am posting this as someone who did not send my child here (for personal reasons). That said, I…read morefeel obligated to post something based on my particularly positive experience with her. I was impressed with Celines flexibility about scheduling a tour. After touring many places over the years, I've noticed that when staff only want you to come at a specific time and refuse to allow you to come at other times it is a red flag. Even if kids are napping, I can peek through a window or at least just meet with a teacher. Celine seemed to understand that I was pressed for time, and worked with my neuroses! She was kind, understanding and flexible. I would, at the very least, schedule a tour and meet her/see her daycare.

From the owner: We believe that strong, open, and communicative relationships with families will create the…read moreconsistency needed for young children to thrive both at home and at school. Early childhood years serve as the foundation of life and have been shown to have a profound, long-term impact on future outcomes. At Discover-U, we will treat our time with children as critical for shaping generations to come. We prepare students to excel in an interconnected world.

In our home, we often say that Yudith was a gift that fell from the sky. We used to travel quite…read morefar every day to a pretty good daycare to ensure our daughter was in safe hands. Then one day, by chance, I met Yudith at a park. We talked, and she invited me to visit her daycare, which happened to be close to where we live. When we walked in, we couldn't believe how beautiful, clean, and organized everything was. And on top of that, she seemed so honest and kind. Today, a year later, we can confidently say that Yudith isn't just as wonderful as she appeared--she's truly an incredible woman. My daughter adores her like an aunt, and Yudith has taught her so much! This month, our daughter started Pre-K and is well ahead for her age, thanks to her time with Yudith. Yudith follows the Montessori method, encouraging freedom of expression, fun, and friendship, while also maintaining a solid routine and impeccable transparency. It's a small daycare with only a few children, so the attention is highly personalized. You always know how your child is doing, what they're learning, how they're living--whether it's how they sleep, eat, or play. If you love your children dearly and can enroll them in this daycare, do it! It's a gift that will last them a lifetime. Yudith has been a blessing not only for my daughter but for our entire family. She has so much experience, is transparent, kind, and responsible. I can't emphasize enough how important these qualities are. She's organized and dedicated--we couldn't have been luckier. Our daughter was in the best hands we could have ever imagined. Oh, and the daycare is bilingual! The price is very reasonable, and we don't have a single complaint.

Yudy's place is exceptional. I'm so glad that I was able to send my son here. the place is very…read moreclean and Ms. Yudy always has thoughtful activities for the kids (painting, learning colors, letters, numbers, practicing writing, outdoor play, storytime, NO screentime). The best part is Ms. Yudy herself. she truly loves the kids like they're her own. when my child had to miss due to being sick, she always checked in on him. I can't recommend her enough.

Ms. Laura and Ms. Stephanie put in great effort to connect and include our 4-year-old daughter in…read moregroup activities, and to friends in the classroom. Ms. Laura does a fantastic job of reporting to us each day on how our child is doing in the classroom, and provides us with specific examples of interactions she had that day, as well as activities she enjoyed and engaged with. She also lets us know when we are missed, or when our child is struggling a bit -- which we appreciate equally! We love the open, honest, and frequent communication. These pre-K teachers have helped us to feel confident that our decision to switch our child from her previous preschool to Goddard was a good one. She is receiving more warmth, individualized attention, and care in this environment than she was in the 30-child-classroom she was in at another school. We can see how much it's benefitting her. She is developing a sense of belonging, confidence, and lightheartedness. Her play has become more imaginative and incorporates concepts from lessons learned at school.

We were so excited when the Goddard School opened in our community! There aren't that many centers…read morein this area, and we were unhappy with the staff and facilities of the centers we had tried. Several centers seemed chaotic and disorganized, had staff that weren't trained and didn't promote developmental activities, or had poor communication. Maybe we have high expectations, but we wanted competent staff that were involved with our son beyond his basic needs, and a center that provided a nurturing environment for growth. Especially since the cost of daycare is so high in this area, we expected to have better quality childcare. The staff at Goddard is very caring, engaging, helpful, professional, and competent. The owner, Tracy, is great to work with and truly cares about making the center a great place for the children. The director, Mary Sue, is very caring and involved with the teachers and children in all of the classrooms. It was evident that our son's teachers, Erin, Vera, Tara, and Farrukh, were competent and caring staff who focus on the children's well being. Our son was far from being a model citizen - he had bad separation anxiety, cried a lot, and refused his bottles and naps at daycare. All of the staff, not just the immediate teachers, assisted with transitioning our son to the new environment, and they were open to trying anything and everything to make him comfortable and happy. The communication we received from them was thorough and frequent and we felt well informed of any issues on a daily basis. In addition to the staff being great, the learning program is designed with daily curriculums and our son is engaged in fun activities throughout the day. As an added bonus, the center uses the Tadpoles program technology to electronically send daily reports and pictures to our email and phone app. Overall our son is happier and more engaged at Goddard, and as parents we feel more comfortable knowing that he is being cared for by caring and competent staff.

My husband and I were in search of a new preschool for our four year old son when we came across…read moreLittle Einsteins Preschool and Daycare. From our first contact with the owner, Mrs. Shazia, we knew this was the preschool of choice for our family. Our son had been attending another preschool the prior year and while he enjoyed it, as did we, he would come home sick every other week. We could barely keep up with all the illness. With a new baby on the way, we could not take a chance with unnecessary sicknesses. We expressed our concerns and how important the sanitary conditions of the preschool was to us and the owner assured us her school was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each school day. Needless to say, our son has yet to catch anything and it is clear that Miss Shazia and her assistant take the kids health very seriously. Aside from this, her curriculum is top notch and my son has learned a great deal while attending. He comes home each day with schoolwork and crafts he has completed throughout the day. The activities Miss Shazia puts together for her class are fun and they inspire creativity. During each day, we get pictures and texts detailing how our son spent his day. It brings my husband and I such peace of mind having our son attend this preschool. Miss Shazia and her assistant are truly invested in the preschool and in the children that attend it. They care tremendously for each of the kids and the kids experiences while there. If you are seeking a warm and loving environment for your child, this is the place to be hands down!

I was very happy that my son attended Little Einstein's Daycare. Shazia cares very much for the…read morekids and is very responsive. There are many learning tools and fun activities that kids will enjoy. I am always thankful that my son got a chance to be a part of Little Einstein's!

I have had a wonderful experience while my daughter has been at The Learning Tree. She started when…read moreshe was two and she will graduate from the Burtonsville location this Summer. The staff has been approachable and responsive. I asked if I could do a presentation for Black History month for my daughter's class, and it was encouraged and supported. The teachers are amazing and caring and well-trained. Ms. Madona Williams and Ms. Elizabeth Mikanga along with Ms. Kayla Williams are soo very special to me because they have taken the time to talk to me when I have questions about how to supplement my daughter's development and education. They are patient when she is acting a bit out of sorts (like a child) and she loves them. I have been very comfortable with her learning, development and safety at The Learning Tree.

I can honestly say that this child care center is by far the best. Both if my girls have worked…read morethere. My youngest daughter is 30yrs old and she went there. My 3 grandchildren ...2 are enrolled there right now the other one is in middle school. The original owner still owns and runs the center. Its a very warm and friendly place. Anyone looking for child care should check them out. Dont sleep on this one!