One of the most important investments, which parents can make today, is to ensure that their…read morechildren have a good educational and moral grounding. As such, I believe the Hopkins House is playing a significant role in the development of children. In developing children today, the belief that "it takes a village" to do that, is absolutely correct. The Hopkins House is that village. Given the many challenges and stresses, which children face today, parents must be strategic and partner with those organizations, which have proving records of being extremely successful in the development of children. I have found that there is no better organization to take on this critical task, than the Hopkins House. It is the high quality of the staff and teachers at the Hopkins House, which makes this all possible. The Hopkins House is not only making a "high standard" impact in the lives children, the Hopkins House is also making a significant impact in the development of our community. When it comes to the Hopkins House, the engine of developing children, is working efficiently and properly. In addition, the world is changing and we, as parents, must realize that things will never be the same again. In this regard, the Hopkins House is playing an important role in ensuring, that children become capable of taking on all of the challenges, they will be faced with in the future.

This is the BEST Preschool anyone can think of when looking For Early childhood education. It's…read morevery family oriented and a safe, loving and learning environment for all children

As a military family, moving frequently means we're often starting from scratch when it comes to…read morefinding trustworthy childcare. It's one of the most stressful parts of relocating--until we found Braddock Road KinderCare. I can honestly say this center has been an absolute gift to our family since starting in the summer of 2023. From the start, we've felt welcomed, supported, and truly cared for. The director, Susie, is amazing--she's engaged, responsive, and really listens to families. Anytime we've had questions or concerns (which has been rare), she's communicated clearly and compassionately, and always worked with us to find the best path forward. She truly leads by example. Belkys (and Nancy, before she transferred) have also been incredible--warm, professional, and clearly invested in the well-being of every child. The teachers are phenomenal--Nisha, Uregi, Rose, Taliah, Anita, Melanie, and Shagofa have all played key roles in our kids' lives. They create classrooms that are safe, fun, and full of learning, and it's clear how much they care about each child as an individual. They've even reached out when our kids were sick or recovering from surgery, which was so touching and thoughtful. Even staff who haven't directly taught our children are kind, friendly, and clearly passionate about what they do. It's such a warm, caring environment all around. I recommend this center to everyone looking for childcare. Our kids are happy, thriving, and well cared for--and as a parent, there's nothing more valuable. This place is truly something special.

I was abused here by the counselors. This was way back in the 2000's but let me just tell y'all. I…read morewas refused food, locked in the bathrooms and in the nursery. I have been forced to have an accident many many times, when I would go to time out they would make me go with the lunch ladies, help them make lunch, and then made me sit all the way across the room while everyone ate. The older kids once put me in a bin and rolled me down a hill, I was left there for an hour outside in like 80 degree weather. It might have changed since I was like a small child because I'm an adult now, but it was not good when I had attended.

We are so LUCKY to have stumbled upon this gem of a preschool!! Finding affordable day care with…read morehours that allow for commutes and full-time jobs is tough on its own. Finding that in an engaging, education-minded center with staff who truly partner with parents and love the children is kinda like a unicorn ride to the leprechaun's gold under a double rainbow. Grow and Blossom has been a life-saver for our family, offering us the flexibility we desperately needed during a tough childcare transition, with the added peace of mind of a Center our 2-year old simply LOVES. The Director and the Owner are both kind, welcoming, intelligent, and professional educators and care providers. We love the Montessori-esque curriculum, the warm and stimulating environment, and the deliberate attention paid to diversity and multi-cultural exposure and appreciation. Go check it out for yourself!!

I have had multiple children attend throughout several years and would recommend it to everyone! We…read morelove the serene, short walk to Rock Spring from our house and my children have had exceptionally patient and dedicated teachers during our years here. It seems like every weekend at an Arlington family festival or local library storytime, we are always running into other Rock Spring kids and parents. It is truly a small neighborhood school where you can make lifelong friendships and feel connected to other nearby parents in the same stage of life! Incredibly compassionate and qualified staff.

This is a Cooperative Preschool, if you are like myself, when I started working at this school last…read moreschool year, I was amazed to find that my assistant teacher would be the parents of the children in my classes. What a wonderful learning experience. The children who are 1.5 through Pre-Kindergarten have their parents interacting and being very involved in the early learning years. I have worked in various types of preschools and school environments and can really appreciate and love the way this school teaches its children. The teaching staff works together and loves the children. I stopped working at the school because of personal reasons, which if they had not come up, would have stayed at the school for many years. Each family is giving, friendly, and wants not only the best learning environment for their children but experiences to remember throughout their life.

Our son started at CIS in August 2024 after our VERY beloved in-home daycare closed. He was 3 at…read morethe time and we knew the adjustment would be tricky. We visited several full-time preschools in the area, with location/convenience of drop-off/pick-up being a top priority for us. CIS was the only one we visited without a personal reference, and we were referred to it through friends who checked it out but didn't ultimately attend CIS because they moved out of the country. On our initial visit, we were immediately impressed with the diversity and warmth the school provided. Many of the teachers (great ones!) have been there for decades. The materials also referenced a "conscious discipline" approach to managing behavior, which my husband and I wholly support. We also loved the way the rooms were arranged, with photos to show where everything belongs. And although there isn't much green space, CIS has on-site two small playgrounds. The preschool also coordinates with a local organization to provide spring and fall soccer lessons once a week, at an additional cost. For music, CIS arranges for a talented, local musician to come on-site once a week to get the kids singing and dancing. Once we made our choice, our son had a bit of a rough transition, which is to be expected at 3 years old. One of the veteran teachers, with a perfect balance of compassion and no-nonsense, spent at least three weeks personally helping our son say goodbye in the morning with as few tears as possible. After that initial transition period, our son has really loved CIS, and has thrived there. He loves his teachers, has made some great friends, and generally enjoys going each day. The school communicates coursework and activities, and shares the lunch/snack menus monthly. Although it's not a big fancy center, CIS is warm and the staff clearly care about the kids. They take medicine administration seriously and the space is clean and welcoming. There has been some turnover in directors during our time there, but the current director seems great so far! Our son will head to kindergarten this fall and we will genuinely miss our connection to CIS (for now). We highly recommend CIS as an affordable, full-time preschool option in Alexandria.

We love CIS! My first kid started during the pandemic, and we toured all the nearby schools. This…read moreone was a no-brainer: teachers who'd been there for years, dedicated playground, dedicated parking lot, fun and welcoming space. Now, our second kid just started there this year and it's just as good as I remember. There is one teacher who wasn't even her main teacher at the time who just had the magic touch getting her to calm down after drop-off. The teachers are all so loving and caring towards the kids. I'm really grateful we found a place like this for our kiddos.

My family has been with goddard for over 3 years and my sons (age 4 in June; age 2 in July) are…read moreabsolutely thriving at Goddard! Where do I start?! The activities the teachers do throughout the day, the organization and routine (which I have learned is super important for toddlers) professionalism of the staff, communication with parents, and even catered lunches... are just a few of the things that make the experience at Goddard Alexandria unparalleled. As a mom who always felt I would prefer to spend the day with my kids, I know that my children would be missing out on so much if they were not at Goddard... it gives them a great education, confidence, nurturing caregivers, fun activities, and social skills. The biggest thing of all is the staff. Ms. Zaida , Ms. Helen and Ms. Kassie in first steps are amazing. They are so detail oriented and organized - as a mom of two active boys 2 years apart, I'm constantly forgetting something, and when this happens, they are always on top of it (and they never make me feel bad.) My son LOVES going and happily goes into their arms, and is even attached to them! Sometimes he doesn't look back! All of the wonderful photos they send are so appreciated and also show how me what a great time he is having. They truly love the children as though they are their own. My son has learned so much and is always doing something new at home like ASL or learning animal sounds. They even get the 18 month old kids to get in a circle, read books, and sing a welcome song! All 3 teachers are so sweet, positive, and somehow never seem stressed or overwhelmed. It's an amazing environment. In the rare instances my adventurous son falls or bumps his head or gets sick, they immediately call to let me know. In addition to the report in the app, also give me a great rundown at pickup of his his day went. I would trust them with my life! My older son is loving Ms. Lindsey and Ms. Jennifer in Preschool 2! He has learned so much, his speech has improved, and he's always excited to go tell his teachers something funny in the morning. He is very sensitive and does not handle transitions well, and both teachers have helped us teach him coping skills and learn regulate. A few times this week he has even said "let's go back to school"! Ms. Lindsey also used to be a behavioral specialist, so having her working closely with him has been so nice. Both teachers treat my son like their own child. He also doesn't eat as much as he should, and they are always trying new ways of encouraging him to eat. I never have to worry about his safety or happiness, and they always communicate immediately if something seems off with him that day. At pickup, they give me such a detailed rundown and spend as much time with me as needed to chat about his day. A few months ago, I was worried about his transition into this older class, but Ms. Jennifer and Ms. Lindsey have been a blessing and he (and I) could not be happier. I also want to shout out Ms. Shantel and Ms. Becky, my older son's previous teachers. They are so loving and my son felt so nurtured under their care as well. They were instrumental in providing him with coping mechanisms, improving his speech, and giving him the love and attention he needs. They still say hi and talk to him regularly and you can tell they still care for their kids previously in their class! They put my son's anxiety at ease and always made him feel better if he was having a tough day. I still love seeing them!

As parents of a newly enrolled student this school year, we feel that our daughter is enrolled in…read morean exceptional school. She learned so much in PreK 1 with Mrs Gabby & Mrs Nina. It didn't take long for us to see her start to blossom & grow scholastically at Goddard. Mrs Gabby along with Mrs Nina have created an atmosphere full of enrichment. Her positive influence and guidance has become so infectious to our little one that she pretends she is Mrs Gabby at home and my husband and I are her students. And it shows in how Kendall pretends & plays Mrs Gabby so well. She really has such a genuine love for Mrs Gabby and her teaching. It shows in how she is truly inspired by her and loves attending class so much it's hard for her to leave school. And this warms our hearts to see. Our daughter already had basic prek knowledge of the complete alphabet, numbers and counting from 1-20 and could recognize alphanumerics visually. She also knew her shapes and colors at an early age of 2. Goddard has met and exceeded their promise to promote STEM and 2nd language arts and it shows. Our toddler now speaks Spanish with numbers, counting and knows colors as well. My daughter also came to love Ms. Nina. Mrs Nina is a welcome addition to The Goddard School in late 2023. She is such a treasure and a wonderful educator with decades of experience and knowledge. We'd like to give Special thanks to Mrs Traleece, Mrs Andrea & Mrs Sarah. These professionals are at the heart of what makes our school among the very best that Alexandria has to offer. As Directors and Executive Staff at The Goddard School they have shown such an eye for excellence & attentiveness to the needs of the children and parents. These are the hallmarks that makes them such an excellent academy. And to the many member's of The Goddard School educators and supporting staff, Mrs Michelle, Mrs Jennifer, Mrs Kiki, Mrs Lindsay, Mrs Maria, & Marley's Mom, and to so many we weren't able to name. We can't thank you enough for the passion & endless love you bring to The Goddard School every single day. The Graham Family

Our kiddo has thrived at Primrose - both academically and emotionally. The teachers are…read morecompassionate and patient, and my kiddo is genuinely excited to be dropped off in the mornings. We have been with the school for three years and would recommend it to others. Other things to note: there are new owners as of this year (they seem great). The open hours (7:30 am to 6 pm) are some of the longest as compared to other daycares in the area which has been especially helpful with the return-to-office traffic and the struggle to get out of DC. The school is receptive to feedback and problem solving when specific issues arise. They were able to accommodate my kiddo's allergies (the school offers breakfast, lunch, and snacks a few times a day). And the curriculum has a great mix of activities, including science projects, gardening, other play-based learning, and intro to very basic reading and writing skills for the older classes.

If you are looking for a daycare where your child is not just watched, but genuinely known, taught,…read moreand loved, Primrose is it. My daughter, Kathani, has been here for about 15 months and the growth has been incredible. Ms. Shakia is truly a baby whisperer. I'm not kidding -- she has taught my kid things I couldn't get her to do at home, and then all of a sudden Kathani comes back like she's been practicing choreography in secret. She is also the ONLY person on this planet who got my child to wear her Trolls headband. Miracles happen in that classroom. Ms. B, Ms. Kyra and Ms. Shanica have been so kind, supportive, and patient with her. Drop-offs used to be emotional in those early months... and now my child literally runs to them and gives everyone hugs. That kind of trust is earned. And they earned it. The front desk team, Ms. Dorsa and Ms. Abby, are the kind of people you actually want to see before you've had your coffee. Warm, friendly, never rushed. And Ms. Megan gets the big high fives at pickup -- a whole routine at this point. And the admin leadership, Cidney and Celia, deserve a real shoutout. The communication, the consistency, the tone of the whole school -- that comes from the top. They have built a culture that feels safe, joyful, and intentional. As a first-time mom, I needed somewhere that would support my daughter and make this whole working-mom-life possible. Primrose has done that and more. I'm so grateful we found this place. They have become part of our village -- the good, dependable, loving part. Highly, highly recommend.

My almost-four-year-old son currently attends Griffin Academy. We are working parents and needed…read morefull-day care, and we did a pretty exhaustive search in the area for an affordable preschool. I cannot BELIEVE how lucky we are to have found this place. Let me tell you why you should send your kids here. Even before I talk about my son's experience, I need to mention how well this program is run. Kristine Lee, the preschool director, is one of the warmest, kindest, most competent and professional humans with whom I've had the pleasure of interacting. She was so responsive and helpful throughout our enrollment process that we felt like we were already family members from the first contact. This was not our experience with other preschool programs. Many private preschools, like the one our older daughter attended, have strict arbitrary rules, parent work hour requirements, and intimidating admission processes that (for us) made us feel a tiny bit unwelcome. None of this from Westminster. This private school, with its classical focus, has managed to wrap us in its arms and surround us with a community of funny, warm, and down-to-earth people. It feels EASY, not stressful, to attend school here. As private school first-timers, we had to adjust to uniforms, but it's been no sweat. Teachers. We knew that our son liked his teacher, and that she (and all of the Griffin teachers) had been kind to him, and patient as he adjusted to a full day of school. We were so incredibly impressed when we met her in person at back-to-school night. Beyond having exactly the personality you would want for a preschool teacher (gentle, nurturing, and understanding), Miss Horner brings incredible expertise and professional knowledge to her job as classroom teacher. I myself am a board-certified teacher, so I have some clue about what they do, and my son's teacher is at the top of her game. Literally every aspect of her students' experience seems to have been designed with their development in mind. Everything in the classroom is accessible to the children, with the goal of fostering their independence, improving their fine and gross motor skills, and promoting harmony. The children are taught to greet each other respectfully, refer to their classmates as "friends", and express appreciation frequently. We toured other schools in our search, and at some well-known schools, we were dismayed to notice that the teachers did not seem to have a loving relationship with their students. My son's teachers LOVE him, and it shows. This was the single most important thing that we as parents were looking for. Every child deserves to experience preschool in a class like my son's, and we cannot overstate how fortunate we feel to have landed here. Here are some other fun things that we love: - They go on field trips (on the Westminster bus!) on almost a monthly basis. That is so many out-of-class experiences! - Each classroom has an imaginative play area that changes monthly (post office! garden! cave! grocery store!). - You can pack your child's lunch, OR order hot lunch from their service! Or both! - Excite Soccer offers a short after-school class on Thursdays, and our son goes to this and LOVES it. - French. Library. Music. Science. Our preschooler's schedule is as varied and rich as our 1st-grader's. My son is a wiggly little boy. Was I worried that he wouldn't have enough opportunity to move and play in the course of his rigorous classical education? I was. I've got one word for you: GYMNASIUM. If you can show me another preschool where kids get to run around a huge gym first thing every single morning, I'll be astonished. My guy comes home happy and tired every day. I'm typing all of this because when we were looking for preschools, there weren't a lot of parent reviews to read, and parents need to know that this wonderful option is available. Look no further!

Our son went to Griffin Academy for preschool and he attended some of the Griffin camps (winter,…read morespring, summer.) Griffin Academy is part of the Westminster School, however, it is on a different campus and it is run by a different headmaster. So first, I must say that this review is for Griffin Academy not Westminster as we do not have any experience with Westminster directly. The best part of Griffin Academy is the teaching staff (actually, all of the staff) and the facilities. If you take a tour of the facilities I have no doubt you will be very impressed. Having an indoor gym-type of space in the winter was hugely beneficial. Also, the teaching staff was excellent, and I mean really excellent. My son had a primary teacher who he adored and then he did rotate through other teachers who teach specialty subjects, and they all got to know him and I was really impressed with all of them. The expectations, educationally, were set very high which works well for my son and our family because I felt that he was pushed just the right amount. The class sizes are small so the teachers are really able to work with the kids at the level that they are at. They also worked a lot on his manners and his social interactions. My son came out of Griffin at age 4, able to sight read entire books on his own, silently, to himself. So educationally, I cannot fault Griffin at all; I was very impressed. Our son was definitely not bored, which is a big thing for us. The hours that they provide childcare/school for are also very good for working parents, as they provide a variety of options to allow the parents to be able to choose and manage the hours of school and childcare that they need. The price was also surprisingly much more affordable than a lot of other preschools. The only reason I am not giving the school 5 stars is because, just out of bad luck, is our son really didn't have that many other boys in his class, so unfortunately a lot of the stereotypical boy activities, he was not able to partake in to the fullest extent of what he would have preferred, so I ended up having to enroll him in some outside extracurricular activities (karate, etc.) just to kind of make up that deficit. The class he was in was almost all girls. However, as I say, I realize that experience was probably just unique to us and unfortunate due to the way the classes broke down. The reason that is a big deal to me is my son needs a lot of physical activity to get his energy out and that really requires him basically running around like a maniac playing soccer, etc. He is already at the age where he doesn't want to play what he thinks of as girly games so that was a bit of an issue during the school times, was not having enough physical activity for his liking. (***During the camps sessions it was a better mixture of boys and girls so this problem actually completely went away for us during all of the Griffin camp sessions.) The only other pretty minor complaint I had about the school was at times I felt they were a bit too strict on some things that I myself am pretty relaxed on - especially the "clean your plate" mentality, I am not really that into. On the flip side, his manners were much improved and he is able to do a lot more on his own and for himself than he was when he went into Griffin, so I have mixed feelings about that. All in all, I would really recommend Griffin, it is a very good preschool, and when our daughter is old enough we will probably be sending our daughter there.