As a first time mom and right after Covid started slowing down I was terrified to send my child to daycare for the first time!! I did my research and visited different schools and just like any new mom nothing seemed to make me feel comfortable, until I walked into the Goodard location off Hammond dr. I know my child is loved, I can tell by just walking in the door and the fact she doesn't want to leave most days! As I have gotten to know the parents over the years. Yes we talk! and all the teachers are amazing! As a current teacher myself I think it's only right to mention the curriculum and my child is excelling in pre-K. But of course the love is what keeps my child at Goodard. read more

All of my kids ages 6 yrs to 3 months have and are at Goddard. They enjoy their time and always come home and talk about what they learned and their friends. The staff all way from the teachers to the front desk are friendly and know each of the students. I enjoy the convenience of my kids being able to participate in soccer and ballet during the school day which allows us more time to do other things on the weekend. Highly recommended Goddard School for your little ones. read more

We have had a great experience in the infant classroom at Goddard Sandy Springs! Our child is learning and growing, and the teachers have been so helpful and supportive in nurturing her development. This is a top notch facility that is very clean and welcoming! read more

We love the Goddard School and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a loving environment, excellent teachers, and great care and attention. We just moved from California and are so happy to see the positive changes the kids exhibited during their short enrollment. The preschool teacher, Ms. Lexi, is incredible. As full-time working parents, we must be assured that our children are in a safe environment and, at the same time, they are given every opportunity to learn and discover, which is done very well at Goddard. read more

Our one year old goes here and we couldn't be happier. The curriculum is fantastic, our son knows English, Spanish (small words like agua) and ASL!!! Everyone knows him and says hello and goodbye when my wife or I pick him up. We're so glad to have found this place!! read more

As a new mom, I searched high and low for childcare for my toddler. I was really nervous about him starting school. I'm so thankful we found this Goddard school. We had a great tour with Diana. She was very nice and knowledgeable. The kids seemed happy and engaged. These were all good signs. What convinced me was the head of operations Thonja and director Noemi. Our first meeting, they answered all my questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. They made me feel very at ease and comfortable with enrolling my son. Fast forward and these ladies are still incredibly helpful. They've played a major role in our positive experience with this school. If I have any questions, they are quick to address and act. They are very supportive of parent involvement and welcome any suggestions. They are gems! But not the only ones. The teachers are fantastic too. My son loves his teachers and is greeted daily with hugs. He runs to school so I know he's enjoying it. As parents we're enjoying witnessing the new things he's learning and knowing he's safe and happy. Other things to mention: The facility is well kept and clean. Safety protocols are followed. The daily reports are timely and helpful. There are even fun events for the whole family. The trunk or treat is awesome! read more

My Niece goes here and not only does she absolutely love it, but we love it as well. The teachers are so kind and caring to the children... and we are so lucky to have their assistance during the day while we are all working. I recommend this school to all of my family, my friends and my coworkers! read more

We enjoy the Goddard School and our toddlers love it! Both of our kids have been thriving after starting at the Goddard School around 10 weeks old. The teachers genuinely care for our children on a personal level and partner with us to assist in their development. Couldn't imagine going any where else! read more

We love it and so do our kids! I've been impressed that they've been able to maintain the same front office and many teachers through the pandemic. They are consistent and kind, and I know my kids will be ready for kindergarten after going to Goddard! read more

I want to thank the Goddard School for the exceptional care of my grandson. The team takes great care of him on a personal level allowing my family to feel secure in his care. read more

Goddard School of Sandy Springs is great. Love the front office and the teachers in the toddler room!

We love The Goddard School of Sandy Springs (Hammond Drive)! Our baby has been so loved and cared for in the infant classroom. We are pleased with the small class size and low infant to teacher ratios. The teaching and administrative staff have gone above and beyond to provide a safe and welcoming environment! We cannot say enough about how wonderful this school is. read more

We have trusted our babies to these caring teachers for the past six years. I have no concerns about the curriculum or the care they provide. My son was well prepared for Kindergarten this year when he moved on from Goddard. read more

Our toddler was a student at this Goddard until we moved out of the area. She was her first daycare experience, and she loved it. The front staff is friendly and engaging, and the teachers our toddler had were great. She learned a lot, and they did a nice job of mixing learning and playing. They also use the Tadpoles app, which gives you daily reports of how well they played, learned, ate, pooped, and slept. It also sends a few pictures, which are great for memories (you still get access to the app even after you leave the school). They allow outside food, which is an added bonus if your kid is a picky eater and doesn't like the school lunches (lunches are not included in tuition, but you can order them). Security is handled via fingerprint reader. Another nice thing is that there is garage parking, so it makes loading and unloading very easy when it's raining. Unfortunately tuition is very high, but I guess that's expected when there are a lot of high-income jobs nearby and not many daycares in the area. On the plus side, they accept credit cards, so it's a solid way to build up a bunch of miles or points. Overall though, this is a great daycare option in the Perimeter area. read more

We have had three children go to the Goddard School Hammond Rd location in Sandy Springs. I would highly recommend it. I often have to drop off fairly early and pick up fairly late. The front desk staff in the morning are so kind and welcoming. Our older two, now in private elementary school, are still excited to go see them and are still greeted by name when they walk in. There are wonderful teachers there and both of our children that have started elementary school were well-prepared and ahead of many of their classmates. Ms Maureen, in particular, is so fantastic and does so much for the kids in her care. Even through COVID protocols, the teachers and staff did a great job making parents feel involved with daily zoom calls to see the classroom and outdoor parades and parties. I appreciate that they have a summer camp program even our older kids can attend and get excited about. The Goddard School has been a great choice for our family. read more

Our son was well taken care of at the Goddard School for over 3 years. Very friendly and patient teachers who loved him and kept him engaged. The daily reports were super detailed and some teachers would even write personalized recaps in addition to thorough daily logs. Director always looked after him, super responsive with us parents, and also genuinely helpful. read more

From time to time I'll think back to a couple of years ago when I put my daughter in this school and I can't help but cringe with regret. I was a new parent and Goddard Sandy Springs was the very first school I had enrolled my daughter in. In the beginning, everything was great but then things got progressively worse and the red flags just kept coming. The Director, Thonja, went from extremely friendly to all of a sudden, very cold. When my daughter was about to transition to the next class and I asked her about it, her response was "I don't know, there are too many students to keep track of". Once she got upset with me because I dropped my daughter off at school a little past 10am and she had sent a teacher home before my daughter was dropped off so her ratios were off. Her demeanor was unprofessional but I apologized anyway. It felt as though the school is run more like a business. They were always short staffed and the good teachers would leave. The worst was when I started seeing behavioral changes in my daughter at drop off. This was after she had transitioned into her third classroom. She's usually talkative with everyone, always smiling, and a total extrovert. I started noticing she would stop talking as we got closer to school and lay her head on my shoulder. She looked so sad. I would take her into her class and set her down at her seat and she would just look down at the table. I would say bye to her but she wouldn't even look at me or talk to me. My heart was breaking for her. She was so different at school, she would just shut down. She used to get so excited for school but why was she suddenly dreading it? Then one day she came home with a bruise on her face that I didn't notice until after her bath. When I contacted the school they said they forgot to tell me about it. I knew I had to get her out of that school ASAP. Since then, she's gone to three different schools (three, because we moved and then COVID) and all three schools have been so wonderful that I can't believe I sent my child to such a horrible school like Goddard Sandy Springs. It's taken me so long to write this review because I hate writing bad reviews but I still to this day can't stop thinking about how miserable my daughter was here. I had to let other parents know so they don't make the same mistake I did. read more

This daycare is absolutely not worth the money you will spend to send your child there. My biggest issue was the lack of leadership and care by the Director. She is very inauthentic and when you have concerns like your child being bitten for the third time by the same child in the past two months (yes this happened here), your concerns will be dismissed as kids are just exploring at this age. I fully understand that but there should be standards and an action plan to address the safety of other children if it's the same pattern. What is triggering the biting, how are you addressing it, etc. are questions left unaddressed. Further, I had issues with teachers mispronouncing my son's name that I took up with the director. I will never forget how this situation was handled. I was told that I was making it a big deal and they know how to say his name when my husband and I witnessed multiple teachers mispronounce his name. This is a big deal when your child is forming their first words and are being called the incorrect name at a place they spend hours at. She verbally attacked me for even asking the question. I can only imagine how she is behind closed doors if she treats parents publicly in such a manner. What a poor role model for teachers and children alike. Some of the teachers here are great and seem really maternal and into helping your child develop. Majority however seem overworked and uninterested. I blame this again on the lack of leadership. The amount of money you pay here there needs to be rigid oversight in this department to make sure you're taking care of your staff. Lastly, this is just a daycare. Don't let them fool you into thinking it is a "school." Their daily sheets will say your child learned independence and patience because he had to wait for his bottle and food - seriously?! We transferred our child immediately when our spot at Dunwoody prep opened up and it is night and day. The director and owner alike are responsive to concerns (which there aren't many), his teachers will hold him and kiss him as if he was their own, the teachers have been there 10+ years and our child comes home very clearly having learned new skills and milestones. And, it's cheaper. Go figure. read more

We could not have been more pleased with the Goddard School. There is no way to express how strongly I DISAGREE with the prior review. We had two children go through the Junior K (Pre-K) class, and one through the kindergarten class. Our son could only read a few sight words when he entered Pre-K, but left kindergarten above expectation and reading on a first grade level. The children loved the teachers and learned so much. The prior review absolutely inaccurately represents the quality of learning and education at the school. Each day, a progress report was emailed about exactly what was learned and all the activities conducted. We watched our children develop and grow at exponential rates since joining the Goddard School. Our children were at the school from approximately 8:00am-4:30pm. At the end of the day, YES, the children were often dancing and doing free play because it was the END OF THE DAY, and curriculum was complete. The roof-top playground was covered and there was always structured games being conducted when I picked up my children. The prior reviewer seems to forget that this is an URBAN area, and the playground was, I believe, well-orchestrated considering that this was in the middle of a highly busy area. Also, I believe it is a function of PARENTING to ensure that our children get exercise and play and learn outside the hours of school. read more

My daughter was in this school for 2.5 years and my son was there from 20 weeks - age 2. This is an AMAZING daycare, but it's also so much more. I was so impressed with the curriculum and how much my daughter learned as she rose up through Pre-K. Her test results have been fantastic. The teachers are absolutely delightful. So loving, nurturing and organized. The front office staff is also great -- extremely organized and responsive. Also, I love how clean the school is -- makes me worry less about germs or getting sicknesses. We've been in several different daycares/preschools and this has been our best experience by far. It is well worth it! read more

Few classrooms have very poor quality teachers who believe in tiring your kids to get their energy out by making them dance to music and playing games on I-pads all day long. Every time I picked up the child, they were either dancing or playing on Ipads. No emphasis on really teaching the kids. These children at this age are like sponges who can learn so much more, if taught and guided well, but the teachers feel their job is to babysit the kids till the parents pick them up- not teach and grow the child intellectually. Why not call them babysitters, why teachers???? By providing a terrace space as a substitute for a playground, especially for older kids with no play structure- just wide open, hot-sunny area covered with turf. The kids are left with couple of balls to figure out how to play imaginatively while the rest just pretend play. No attempt on the teachers' part to ensure the children are behaving well with each other... The worst thing I heard from the teacher was "The kids have a brain of their own...". Really?? Is that how you get off the hook for a misbehaved child! read more

My infant son attends the Goddard School Sandy Springs and I am very pleased with the quality and service that this school provides. Every encounter I have with Mr. Jay (owner) and Mrs. Thonja (director) is always pleasant. I know that my child is in a safe, nurturing and loving environment because everyday at pick up he is always happy. The teachers smiles are genuine and they are ready to give exciting updates on my son's progress daily. I highly recommend this school because of its great care and wonderful staff! read more

While I enjoy the teachers and Jay there needs to be something done about the director Thonja. I have personally seen her be very rude and unprofessional with several of the teachers as parents are coming and going picking children up. If that is how she behaves in front of company, I can't imagine what she is like behind closed doors. She also is very dismissive of parental concerns and is a bit over the top about miniscule issues. She tries to mask it with her phony politeness but I see right through her. I know Jay is not always there but please take a look at who is representing your school. Ontanee should be the director as she is more pleasant and genuinely happy to help with anything the kids or parents need. I have several friends who loved how much I raved about my daughters school, but I cannot promote sending their children to Goddard Sandy Springs because of Thonja. They would tell her exactly where she needs to go and pull their kids out of there. read more

Let me start by saying that this daycare is extremely expensive, but we justified the cost by believing we would receive a high level of quality and service, as they claim. Unfortunately, that's not the case at all. I had one child enrolled here, and things went from great to really bad within about a year until we finally withdrew our child. We also decided not to enroll our second child here after she was born. To begin, the owner is clueless about what's going on, and is rarely there. Good luck trying to reach him. The director is dismissive of concerns, and it's clear there is tension between her and the teachers. Operationally this daycare is a mess. There is also a high degree of teacher turnover as a result of the director. Too many issues to warrant paying so much. I mistakenly thought I would get great quality at that hefty of a price tag. read more

This daycare is terrible and there is a complete lack of respect and accountability. I enrolled my child here because I knew another parent who raved about the school when her daughter was enrolled three years ago. Wow, what a difference three years makes! The director, Mrs. Thonja, is rude and disrespectful, and puts her own interests above those of the (paying) parents and children enrolled at the school. For example, she routinely asks teachers to brush her daughter's teeth and get her dressed during morning drop off, which is the busiest time of the day. So many parents were floored when we saw and heard this happen! I personally saw it happen three times. There is typically only one teacher in the classroom in the morning and to ask that teacher to brush her daughter's teeth is absolutely inappropriate, especially when there are kids who are clinging to their parents who are in a rush to get to work on time. The teacher is unable to tend to the (paying) children and parents because she needs to brush the director's daughter's teeth. That shows a complete lack of respect for the parents, children and just as importantly, the teachers. The way she speaks to the teachers is condescending and borderline hostile, and it's obvious that there is significant tension. Not at all a suitable environment for children. The teacher turnover continues to increase. Shortly before we removed our child from Goddard, I stopped by throughout the day and the classes were always having "free play" -- essentially this means unstructured activities and the kids do whatever they want. On several occasions the teachers would simply be speaking to one another while the kids ran around. If you want an academic program, there are much better options. Check out the more recent reviews for this daycare on GreatSchools.org. I wish I had sooner. Those reviews are spot on. read more

Immaculate, warm and vibrant environment. Excellent and caring staff! My children were so well prepared for kindergarten after attending Goddard in Sandy Springs. I will always remember what an excellent staff, director and group of people Goddard had! read more

I've written before but cannot find my review so, I'll review it again. My daughter attended Goddard from the time she was a year and half until she was 5. The director/owner is a super nice guy and knows all the children by name. The lady who coordinates everything is also very nice. When my daughter was 1 and a half years old I got a job offer (after staying at home with her from the day she was born). I was panicked to find quality daycare at 2 weeks notice until my start date. My husband and I were lucky enough to be able to afford the best childcare Atlanta has to offer. They worked with me and had her there for 2 days a week until a full time position opened a month later. I had her at Goddard Austell 3 days a week for that month. My husband and I did not want at home care because of all the babysitter nightmare scenarios you hear about from time to time. Her safety was our number one priority. We also wanted her in a school setting where teachers could teach her and know what she is ready to learn at each age. I am not an educator and I feel unqualified to make the maximum use of her potential at such a young age. My husband and I are engineers with master's degrees so, we feel education is extremely important. We also knew when she was born that our goal was to get her into an excellent private school when she turned 5. She just misses the cut off date for this year, but in the fall we will begin the process and we have little doubt she is ready for the testing required to be accepted, directly attributable to Goddard SS. My only complaint is that teacher turnover is a bit high. Some of the best teachers are headhunted aggressively. My daughter adored her 3 year old teacher Ms. Maureen. I am surprised she has not been headhunted. My husband and I loved her too, as well as every child it seems. But, she is still there and I truly hope she is compensated financially well. She is a rarity. So, when a teacher leaves, there is a gap that take s a long time to be filled, sometimes the entire 6 months a child is in the classroom. It happened twice while my daughter was there and those were the times she didn't enjoy going to school. She loves to learn and it showed in her reluctance for me to leave when the learning was sub-par. (Again, never had this problem with Ms Maureen or Ms Diana). You do pay a premium for this school, but when the teacher is good it is entirely worth it. It is almost impossible to get a 5 star rating on anything from me and this one is more like a 4 and half star one, but I can only do 4 or 5. read more