We enrolled our daughter at Virginia Beach Friends School for her 6th grade year, drawn in by the…read morepromise of small class sizes, individualized attention, and a school culture built on kindness. Sadly, our experience fell far short of those promises, and we made the difficult decision to withdraw her mid-year. Small Class Size Individualized Attention Our daughter's class had only six students -- something we believed would mean more personalized instruction and closer teacher-student relationships. In practice, that was not the case. Teachers were not proactively communicating with us about our daughter's academic performance or classroom participation, despite the fact that there were only five other students in her entire grade. A Serious Bullying Situation That Was Never Communicated to Us: The only other girl in our daughter's class made daily threats -- including saying she wanted to break our daughter's spine and throw her out of a window. This same peer also openly discussed self-harm in the classroom. These are not minor social conflicts. They are serious, ongoing threats that any school should be obligated to communicate to parents immediately. Our daughter started the year strong, finishing Q1 with all A's and B's. As the bullying continued, her grades began to slip in Q2. It wasn't until we proactively reached out that a meeting was arranged with the head of school, the educational director and the admissions director. During that two-hour meeting, we learned that the school had already been aware of this student's behavior, had met with her family, and had issued consequences such as silent lunch -- multiple times. We were well into late January and had never received a single call, email, or notification about any of this. That meeting produced a clear action plan: teachers would make a greater effort to connect with our daughter, and the educational director would meet with her individually each week to help get her academics back on track. Neither of these commitments was ever followed through on by the school. In the weeks after that meeting -- and after we informed the school we would not be re-enrolling for the following year -- our daughter began receiving write-ups for minor infractions: breaking a pencil, tearing up a piece of paper, not asking for help. We also received her Q2 report card, which included a D in PE. Not once had her PE teacher reached out to share any concerns about her performance or participation. In a class of six children, there is simply no excuse for that lack of communication. The pattern of events that followed our meeting, combined with our decision not to re-enroll, felt deeply retaliatory rather than supportive. We ultimately pulled our daughter from Virginia Beach Friends School mid-week and transitioned her to a public school to complete the remaining 2.5 months of the school year. It was not a decision we made lightly, but it was the right one for her wellbeing. TLDR: Virginia Beach Friends School markets itself as a place where children feel safe being uniquely themselves, and where kindness is the school's number one value. Based on our family's experience, those values did not translate into action. Our daughter did not feel supported, seen, or protected for a single day she attended. If you are considering this school for your child, we strongly encourage you to ask hard questions about how they handle bullying, how they communicate with parents, and how they follow through on commitments -- before you make your commitment.

We're in the middle of our second year at VBFS. Our daughter is thriving! She loves going to school…read moreevery morning, and is sad to leave each afternoon. The teachers and staff are all fully engaged and committed, and it shows. The teacher/student ratio is fantastic, with lots of individual attention. The only drawback for us is that there is no dedicated drama teacher or yoga this year. Our daughter loved the plays last year, and the yoga instruction, and misses both this year. But she has LOVES music, art, technology, P.E., square dancing, and Spanish, as well as her regular academics. We look forward to continuing at Friends School.

Finding an authentic Montessori environment is rare, but Marie, the Head of School at Organic…read moreBeginnings Montessori, has curated a phenomenal program from toddler through elementary. Her unwavering dedication to true AMI methodology is evident in every detail. Marie hasn't just built beautiful, intentional spaces; she has also hired an exceptional team of teachers and staff who clearly share her vision for a high-fidelity, child-centered education. This is a genuinely wonderful community. Highly recommend!

I would encourage prospective families to ask very specific questions about Organic Beginnings'…read moreadmissions and waitlist process before paying application fees. We were on the waitlist for approximately two years. We paid an application fee in 2024 and then another $50 application fee when we were required to update/reapply in 2025. Both of my older children attended Montessori school, so our family was already familiar with Montessori philosophy and we genuinely hoped Organic Beginnings would work out for our youngest child. After waiting that long, I was invited to a separate meet-and-greet with the guide who was leaving and the new guide who would be taking over. My child was not present and was never met or observed by the school. After that meeting with me, Organic Beginnings informed us that they had decided not to move forward with enrollment. Organic Beginnings has also publicly described its family tours as providing "a comprehensive look into Dr. Montessori's philosophy and how our values align," and notes that those events are adults-only so the school can "focus on you." I did not attend one of those tours, but that wording became especially relevant to me after our experience. Because the decision not to move forward was made after meeting only with me, and before anyone had ever met or evaluated my child, I was left with the impression that the decision was based on the school's assessment of our family rather than on any assessment of my child. I repeatedly asked for clarification about why they were not moving forward, but I never received a clear explanation. Instead, I was given vague language about "classroom composition," "program needs," and whether the placement was an appropriate fit. I later learned that Children's House was not full. Organic Beginnings publicly stated that there were still "a couple of spots available." When I questioned how we could have spent approximately two years on the waitlist and then not be offered a spot while openings remained, I was again told that having an opening does not guarantee enrollment and that the school considers whether a placement is an appropriate fit for the classroom. I completely understand that a private preschool may have discretion over admissions and that being on a waitlist does not guarantee acceptance. My issue is the lack of transparency about how selective and discretionary the process actually is, especially when families are paying application fees and remaining on a waitlist for years. Because my child was never met or evaluated, I was left unclear about how the school could determine whether the placement was an appropriate fit for the classroom. The timing made it appear that the decision was based on the school's assessment of our family after meeting with me rather than an assessment of my child, and the school never provided a clear explanation that resolved that concern. The financial side of the process was also frustrating. We paid application fees in two separate years while continuing to wait for placement. When I requested a refund, I was initially told that application fees were nonrefundable. After I provided documentation showing both payments, the school ultimately refunded both fees in full, which I appreciate. My biggest issue is not simply that my child was not accepted. It is that the admissions process was not transparent enough for us to understand that, even after years on the waitlist and even when spaces became available, the school could decide not to offer enrollment without ever meeting our child and without clearly explaining why. I'm sharing our experience so other parents can make an informed decision. Before paying any fees, I would strongly recommend asking exactly how the waitlist works, what criteria are used to determine whether a family or child is considered a "fit," what the school means when it refers publicly to whether "our values align," whether the child will actually be evaluated before an admissions decision is made, whether available spots are offered in waitlist order, and what happens to the fees if the school ultimately decides not to offer enrollment.

Hey Mamas with kids at WAVE DAYCARE. Our 7 month old came home with matching thumbprint bruises on…read moreher arms in September. CPS reviewed all footage from that week in her classroom (infants). My husband and I were finally able to see it after a 2 month investigation. They found multiple instances with ALL teachers in her classroom, involving multiple children, where there is excessive force being used and negligence of the children, including my daughter. The instance of my daughter, one of the most tenured teachers in the classroom, Jhamica, was feeding her in an activity center and becomes frustrated by her not eating fast enough. She grabs a bouncer (clearly pissed) and yanks my daughter out of the activity center and proceeds to throw her down into the bouncer. I could not believe my eyes. Especially because we had so much trust for Jhamica and never saw her behave with this type force or anger, ever. This was night and day from how she behaved when we as parents were present. We were told by CPS that there was far worse treatment witnessed in their review of all the footage of this infant classroom. The "teachers" are routinely snatching the babies up by ONE ARM and tossing them onto the floor. CPS mentioned specifically in our discussion yesterday, the roughest treatment and one-armed snatching / throwing involving a boy who wears a helmet in the classroom and a girl who started walking. The "teachers" were referred to CPS as lazy, sitting in the rocking chairs almost all day long, completely ignoring the kids until absolutely necessary. There's a special place in hell for these people.

My daughter is currently in Elementary school. She has been a student at Wave since she was three…read more She LOVES the teachers & Admin team. She entered kindergarten full of confidence as a result of all the support she received from them.

This school is a great atmosphere for children. Teachers care about their students! In Home…read moreschool Unlimited students get the individual attention they need for success. There so many extracurricular activities that appeal to children, again small groups where they can participate and succeed. My experiences include first grade and sewing classes.

Just attended mommy & me and music school for the first time this morning with my 15 month old…read moredaughter. She had an excellent time, and I can tell that she will learn a lot as we continue classes. Thanks Virginia!

Our son was born just before the Covid pandemic started in 2020, this left us with a lack of…read moreoptions for childcare and also a big sense of unease about sending our baby to daycare/preschool. It took me almost a year to build up the courage to send him and in the summer of 2021 he started at Goddard. Now it's the summer of 2022 and both of our children attend Goddard. Our son is a little timid in large groups and likes to play independently, in each class his "style" has been respected. We get regular updates on his days and when a little extra attention is needed from us, his teachers have been gracious enough to help us reinforce positive behaviors at home. He loves his school and his teachers, every day he has a "great day" (his words). Navigating school and childcare in the post-pandemic has not been easy but we are always thankful and appreciative of the communication and cautiousness that Goddard places on the safety of the students and teachers. I would encourage any family looking for daycare/preschool to explore Goddard!

Very sketchy place. They don't have a lot of staff who are actually experts in Early Childhood…read moreEducation. Mrs. Valentina has a bachelors in linguistics and is the Lead Teacher? I find that odd and weird. All this money this daycare wants you to pay yet it is troubling that someone in such a critical early education role does not hold a degree in Early Childhood Education. The Goddard School is not simply a time for play--it is a foundational academic daycare that supports essential cognitive, social, and emotional development. Educators in this space should have specialized training in early childhood development, instructional strategies for young learners, and knowledge of age-appropriate curriculum standards. A degree in Linguistics, while valuable, does not provide the pedagogical framework or developmental understanding required to teach effectively at this level. This situation raises concerns about the standards being upheld in early learning environments. Recognizing someone as "Teacher of the Year" who lacks a degree in Early Childhood Education not only undermines the value of that credential but also sends the message that passion alone qualifies one to lead a classroom. Passion is important--but it must be paired with relevant, formal education to ensure children receive the quality instruction they deserve.

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.

I love Rainbow Station! I don't know that I can express myself well enough in words to explain how…read moregrateful I am that my son is now at Rainbow Station and not at his previous school anymore (see my review on the other pre-school for more information). Rainbow Station has been everything that a pre-school should be and my son has done nothing but flourished. His teachers Patty and Mallory are amazing! Anthony loves them both and will tell me that he wants one of them by saying, "Mommy I want Patty or Mommy I want Mama (as he calls Mallory)". The front desk ladies are so warm and genuinely happy to see us every day, Anthony blows them a kiss as we leave and waives bye. The Director, Ms. Jada is awesome and always available to answer any questions. She is silly and fun too, which I personally love because I like to be silly and prefer a happy environment as opposed to a stale and sterile environment. Ms. Hazel the owner is gracious and kind. Ms. Joyce always knows everyone's names and is always ready to snap a picture at one of our family events. The school even has a babysitting list that has the teachers that are willing to babysit beyond school hours, which has been such a blessing and made me feel better when I have to leave him for work events, because I know that he is in great hands! The curriculum is amazing and my son, who is newly two, has been speaking in full sentences and able to communicate effectively with me (as long as it is not right before nap or bed time). Since my son has been at Rainbow Station he has not had one single negative incident report! Which goes to show that Rainbow Station knows how to care for kids of all kinds and does not lay blame on a child like their counterparts in the industry. Instead they seek to understand and find a solution if need be. And did I mention that they have a ratio of 1 to 6 instead which is better then the required 1 to 8 that their competitors maintain. My son is happy when I go to pick him up every day and does not want to leave he is having so much fun. I know what he is doing each day and I would be able to tell even if they did not write it out in detail because Anthony shows me each night what they learned. I.E. When they were studying bugs, he went around the house and pointed out to me all of the things that looked like bugs. He may have also grabbed a spider and tried to give it to me, which of course was hysterical and not so at the same time! :-) I believe he did the same thing to his teacher while they were outside (I'm sorry Ms. Mallory my son has no fear). And I can go on and on with how awesome the entire Rainbow Station community is and how they treat us like family! Thank you so much for letting us be a part of your family! And for helping me to raise a strong and kind young man!

My niece goes here and the school is great! It's very secure and her teachers are very involved…read more She comes home happy. I like that it focuses on child development and is not just a babysitting service.

After calling a dozen of preschools inquiring about availability and asking all of the questions…read morethat a first time mom would have, I was more than anxious about sending my little one to school. That was until I called Heather at Oak Grove Preschool. By the end of the phone call not only was I confident that sending my 2 year old to school would be a good thing for him but that I found the PERFECT school to send him to. Heather spend 45 minutes on the phone with me. Not only did she answer all of my questions but she answered questions that I didn't even think to ask! My son is now in his second year at Oak Grove and I have been more than impressed! All of the staff here are absolutely wonderful! If you are searching for a place for your child to attend, here it is!

First and foremost, I am sitting here and drinking my coffee without a worry in the world, because…read moreof this school. Courthouse Christian Preschool & Kindergarten came at a recommendation from my daughter's occupational therapist where she is seen for Sensory Processing Disorder. The staff, and my daughters teacher are phenomenal, kind, understanding and knowledgeable We are in the third week of school, and I have seen two extra "out of the way" articles and opportunities to teach the staff, and parents about SPD. They are a very forward thinking school, that is safe. My daughter has made some great friends so far, and she is having so much fun! When she broke her collar bone the first week of school, and we sent her back to school the following week, the school made accommodations so that she stayed safe but felt included. My husband and I are sure happy we found this school. I know my daughter loves it too!

Amazing directors , teachers and classrooms! I have been to almost every preschool in Virginia…read morebeach and never felt comfortable leaving my son. This place has a wonderful summer camp and the preschool program is great. Could not be happier! Schedule a tour right away you won't be sorry.

Wildwood Academy is affordable, hands-on, clean/ tidy, and I'm so glad we found them. The owners…read morewere kind, down-to-earth, and willing to listen to my past experiences and answer all of my questions. They have small ratios for kids to have the ultimate learning experience and every time I've been in, I see them playing on the floor with the kiddos. Definitely recommend giving them a try if you are looking for a safe, happy place for your kids!

From the owner: At Wildwood Academy, our Mission is to provide personalized childcare focused on the highest…read morequality of care and education of children. Our children are valued as individuals and will learn through discovery and experimentation. Furthermore, they will experience a caring, warm, and safe environment to develop socially, physically, emotionally, and cognitively under the care and guidance of highly trained professionals and within a faith-based approach to child development. We aim to nurture children's God-given talents in an environment where learning is fun, so that the love of learning is the foundation for your child's life.