Years ago we sent our son who was having some difficulties in city schools to this school and he…read morewas able to return to public school and made a good transition

How can a school that advertises as catering to children with learning differences possibly…read moreaccommodate those children when they have zero emotional support (they advertise this) and can't even handle children who cry under stress? The teacher my son encountered during their unnecessarily cruel admissions process was mean to her students. They did nothing to try to get to know my son, but expected him to attend two full days of school and then refused him admission when his learning disabilities and the stress of a mean teacher made him cry. My son is a lovely and bright boy. Steer clear of this school and definitely do your homework.

I sent my child here for preschool, so when it came time to choose where I would send him for…read morekindergarten, it was a no brainer. His teachers were incredible and the director, Marysue, makes sure she checks in with each student and parent regularly. I tell all of my friends, send your child to MDO for kindergarten!

My daughters experience here started out wonderfully! Her teachers were great! This preschool was…read morealso highly recommended to me. Recently my daughter stomped her foot and yelled at her teacher after being reprimanded for sitting on another child. All good! I'm all here for that. MarySue, the director, called me that day and proceeded to tell me what happened and how we can move forward and help my daughter to learn better behaviors. Then she proceeds to tell me that my 3 year old daughter is being hateful, disrespectful and that she won't succeed in her future if she does not change! She also said that she didn't want the other children or the TEACHERS not to like my child. Completely inappropriate in my opinion for a director of a preschool to speak so negatively about a 3 year old child to their parent. I think she should have just let me know what happened and come up with a plan to correct and not tell me her personal opinion in my child or what her future may or may not look like. I called to talk with MarySue about my concerns and how that made me feel very uncomfortable even bringing my daughter back there after hearing how she really felt about my child and this woman pretty much laughed at me. Stood by all of her words and told me that I was taking it the wrong way. She did not want to hear what I had to say and was not willing to take responsibility for the inappropriate comments that she made. She almost immediately suggested I remove my daughter from the school. Which by the end of our conversation I agreed this school can't handle my daughter and isn't a good fit for her so I did remove her. I'm not saying don't bring your kids here but if you have a very headstrong child I would definitely think twice about it. This has upset me so much I don't even know what to do about it. So I decided to make this review and share my experience. I'm giving a 1 star because the way that MarySue, the director, handled this situation was extremely inappropriate to begin with and then when I called with concerns the disrespect I received from her was unbelievable. She didn't even want to listen.

I am disappointed with how this daycare/school handled my child's potty accident…read more I fully understand that we have responsibility as parents to provide extra clothes, and I can acknowledge that we should have had backup clothes available. That part is on us. However, young children have accidents, especially when they are adjusting to a new environment, and I was shocked by how the situation was handled. I received a call telling me that my child had an accident and that I needed to bring shorts or pants because they were currently only in their shirt. I was also told that if I could not bring clothes, my child would remain without pants. That is the part I cannot accept. A childcare facility should still have a basic contingency plan for situations like this. No child should be left exposed, embarrassed, or without proper clothing because there are no backup options available. Even when a parent forgets something, the child's dignity and comfort should remain the priority. What makes this even more concerning is that since starting at this school, my child's confidence and self-esteem seem to have changed. They have started saying things like, "I don't use my listening ears. I never do," and "I'm a bad kid." As a parent, that is heartbreaking to hear. Children should be corrected and redirected with patience and care, not in a way that makes them internalize shame or feel like they are bad. A potty accident should be handled privately, calmly, and respectfully. It should never become something that adds to a child's embarrassment or affects how they see themselves. As a parent, it was incredibly stressful to receive that call and feel like my child's dignity was not being protected. I hope the school reviews its policy on potty accidents, backup clothing, and how children are spoken to when they are struggling or adjusting.

Parent pick up is always a breeze. Love the organization and the attention to detail from the staff…read more Education at this school is top notch... they even have their own farm with animals to teach the littles. Love it

I pulled my kids from a popular, very expensive, private school in Suffolk & enrolled them here…read more Best decision too. They have grown spiritually & academically & are being thought by teachers who truly care & love the kids without any bias. Each time I visit the school, I see happy children everywhere & that tells me a lot. I'm loving it so far & my testimony has made 2 other families I know to enroll their kids here & they have no regrets as well. I highly recommend this place, if you are looking for a nurturing, friendly, love filled, academic environment to school your kids.

My child is a rising first grader at this school and I will say whole heartedly that I am beyond…read moresatisfied and even impressed with this particular elementary. I was shocked to have read the first reviewer's comments and completely disagree. From the very beginning they went above and beyond to help me. Last summer, I came here during their business hours to obtain information about enrolling my child for kindergarten. They gave me all the necessary paperwork and explained everything I needed. Towards the first day of school, I was a little excited and impatient about receiving information in the mail and so I called numerous times for information. They were never rude and always so helpful and even encouraging. Fast forward to orientation, parent teacher conferences, etc....perfectly organized. The principal Mrs. Cioppa is wonderful. His teachers are are amazing. The security is on point with Mr. C at the entrance throughout the whole day. I couldn't be happier with Cedar Road Elementary with their faculty and staff. The kindergarteners just finished up a Fun Run this week to allocate funds for brand new outdoor equipment. This is a great school in an even better school district!!

Meh. Grade Entering:…read moreKindergarten Issue: Obtaining basic information for: orientation, supplies, and dress code, and website issues My child is entering kindergarten and I need basic information to begin the school year. Upon searching for all the information and bouncing around websites and placing at least 4-5 phone calls, I finally located everything I need. It should not be so difficult to find this information. Calendars are blank, links are missing, etc. So here we go... 1. Your kid needs a medical check-up/physical prior to entering school and proof of vaccinations. Most doctor offices will have the forms you need on hand. You have to show up to school with these forms, an original birth certificate, and a utility bill with proof of your address on it. It is not required in Virginia to provide your child's Social Security number. 2. Your kid needs supplies: Supplies are determined by what your child individually needs and what they are assigned based on gender. Guess what, pre-sharpened pencils really is a thing...There is also a request/requirement of "one clean athletic sock for wipe boards." Come on now, who buys one sock? Just ask for the set. They ask for Clorox or Lysol wipes but per the individual I spoke to on the phone, they prefer Lysol. *She had to ask someone nearby while I listened. Just specify that on the list then. By the way, you can only find Lysol wipes at Target. You'll need 24 glue sticks. I would be happy to pitch in on one of those old school tubs of minty scented paste. I will not blame teachers for this. However, I find it pathetic that parents are supplying sanitary items: paper towels, soap, and Lysol wipes. Quart sized Ziploc bags. Are those the slide zippers or the original designed ones you prefer? Called about it. Answer: "I don't know. That would be a good question for orientation." Thanks for the lack of effort. Specify it on the list. By the way, orientation is four days before school on a weekday in the morning. The website link for kindergartners has been down for a month. I called because we went to the school and got the official printed list on the neon green paper and I wanted to make sure they were not updating it. I was told by an individual, "Oh, I will let our computer guy know." It's still down as of today. 3. Dress Code: There is no link Based on the county school website (not Cedar Road's none existent link) you will get a note/letter letting you know what the code is "by the end of the first month of school." Wait, what? What parent isn't buying school clothes before school starts? Ugh. *Never got that letter. I called. Girls: Shorts must reach the finger tips Skirts can't be short - probably a fingertip rule too, not sure. Tank top straps - three fingers wide, no spaghetti straps. (Those sexy shoulders and all...) No flip flops Sandals must have a back on them Boys: Apparently, none. At least I wasn't told. The county website is generically broad and spends a lot of time on see through clothing and the standard, "must not be distracting to the learning process" - basically generic and open to their interpretation... Orientation for kindergarten: Is at the end of August, but good luck finding that information prior to August on their page. 4. The links on the page are useless for parents coming to the school for the first time (see above) There really are parents who prepare and do not wait for tax-free weekends and who just want to find information in one spot. Calendars are inactive until August. And seemingly dress codes are different for different schools...I'm guessing. I have no interest in fighting the hoards of parents tearing up the school sections at the stores the weekend before school starts. The cpschools.net site is choppy and not user friendly. I am profoundly underwhelmed, and I am crossing my fingers there will be something done about the website. If there is, perhaps the school would receive less phone calls and teachers would not have to answer phones over the summer. User friendly does not apply here. Finding necessary information, the basics, should not be so difficult and frustrating. I started poking around and attempting to prepare in late June/early July. Schedules change, staffing is limited, etc. I understand that explanation; however, right now it is falling on deaf ears due to the frustration it has manifested. Efficiency and ease of use is an unfortunate downfall for Cedar Roads/ Chesapeake Public Schools at this moment. I will say, through all of my calls, Liz (I believe may be a teacher) has been the most helpful. Others who have answered the phone (I didn't catch a name) have been lackluster at best in their efforts to find and produce answers.

We love it here! our daughter is absolutely thriving in the toddler program. This was her first…read moretime being away from home and she is learning so much. Its so cool to see her using some of the skills she learns in school! she comes home singing songs, counting, and is now starting to sing her ABCs (she's 2!). She has gained so much independence and is excited to go to school every day!

Wonderful school. My daughter is in their toddler program and she loves it. The teachers and…read moreadministration are great to work with, always ready to answer one of my million questions with a smile. I appreciate this school so much and am so grateful!!

Could not recommend this school more!!! My son has been here for about a year, for reference…read more First, they are by far the cleanest daycare I've ever toured and we toured a lot! Second the staff genuinely cares, my son has moved throughout multiple classrooms and every teacher has been nothing short of fantastic in the infant and toddler program thus far. In regards to the infant room they are GREAT about following the oz's per bottle you set, but also gently making recommendations when needed. because let's face it babies act different depending on who they're around sometimes. You get these cute little notes about things they enjoy and developmental milestones they achieve. They send home soooo much art work for you to hang on the fridge and cherish. The toddler program is also wonderful. Classroom 6,1,2, and 3 teachers were all super great. One day there was an issue, my son slept too long and he slept through a bottle and as a ftm it made me super nervous, this staff handled it like CHAMPS they were super understanding and supportive of my position and assured me it wouldn't happen again and it did not. Goes to show how great they are at not only dealing with babies but also parents. The food they receive is also amazing in my opinion their menu never fails! Overall the value of care, education, and experience you get for your child is unmatched by any other daycare I've seen. If you can get a spot here I highly recommend it!

This review is for the owner and director of the school- I…read morehave never had so much disrespect from another person. I had an issue with a teacher. I tried to discuss it with the teacher, that did not work so I went to the director. She not only did not hear any of my concerns, she was belittling and dismissive throughout every conversation. When I went to the OWNER of the school to discuss how the whole situation was being handled and how rude her staff was, I received the response that is attached below: "Staff members, including our management team, are not up for a discussion with parents." The facility is nice, the actual teachers really do seem to care about the kids, anyone else behind a desk was never a good experience and always made things difficult.

It's really good I'm in 5th grade and the teachers there are nice they have cool stuff at PE if…read moreyour me I would put your kid in this school!

Coming to this school I was already worried due to the reviews alone (that they now have turned…read moreoff). As a parent of a child with a disability, I am deeply concerned about the way Hermitage elementary school has handled my son's right to access education. Since August 25, 2025, my son has been denied safe transportation to and from school despite repeated requests and documentation from his doctors. On multiple occasions, I provided photos, videos, and medical notes showing why the assigned bus stop was unsafe. The elemenatry school has refused alternate transportation options and admitted at one IEP meeting that cost was the reason, even though IDEA does not allow affordability as a reason to deny accommodations. I requested interim educational services (such as homebound or virtual, sending work home) while transportation is resolved, but these were also denied. As a result, my son has been out of school since September 3, 2025, with no access to his education. At my son's IEP meetings, staff often omitted my concerns, changed documentation, or fabricated records in Prior Written Notices. In one case, they started the IEP meeting without me present & continued when I requested to end & leave. The school also sent a social worker and threatened unenrollment of my children after I began filing complaints -- which I believe is retaliatory. They also Moved my other child around to different buses without prior notice or clarification of where they'd be at and didn't want to clarify regardless of my safety concerns and principal urged social worker involvement again. That same child that is also identified gifted btw who always had ap/p when transferred to this school got dps on report card with no explanation and no response to why in the same categories that had ap/p prior at other school in the same district. Every child is entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under federal law, but VBCPS hermitage elementary school has failed to meet that obligation in my son's case. Families deserve transparency, accountability, and equal treatment -- not stonewalling, discrimination, and retaliation. I am currently pursuing my case with the Virginia Department of Education, OCR, and more because this situation has gone too far. They unlawfully unenrolled my child.. Parents should not have to fight this hard just for their child to have safe access to school. What makes matters worse is the mistreatment of African American students/families, compared the high proximity of Caucasian students. If you are an African American family especially one with a disabled child, you need to look into the other schools this by far from my experience is the worst. I do not recommend this school at all.