If I could give 1000 stars, I would! I have four children and have had experience as a board…read moremember, employee and mother at preschools. I love this school. The director is amazing- she loves the children and is true to her mission. The teachers are full of love and go beyond their duties to love and teach and make children comfortable and happy while following their curriculum.

I have never posted a review of anything before but I feel moved to say how incredible this school…read moreis. Our 2 year old son started at Kids Kollege 2 years ago and it has been an absolute joy ever since. The staff is truly amazing. They have a heart for their kids and do so much to help them grow and learn each day. A lot of places have high turn over with staff. This is the opposite of Kids Kollege their teachers are so dedicated and most have been there for many, many years. The owner Mrs. Jane(cousin) is a true gem. She loves each student so much and goes out of her way to develop a special bond with each one. Kids Kollege is such a special place and we feel so lucky that our son is able to spend his days there. I confidently tell my friends to send their kiddos there. We love you Kids Kollege thank you for everything you do!!

My children have been students here for around five years. We have always loved staff and the…read moremanner in which they apply the Montessori method. They are understanding and patient and use differentiated instruction to each child. There is diversity among students that is unusual to see. Parents across cultures seem to really be attracted to the Montessori approach. MCH recently come under new ownership and we are equally pleased with Kathy's new ideas, implementation of STEM curriculum, as well as continuing to make MCH a place where I feel my children are nurtured, cared for, educated and challenged. I recently read a short, negative review and, while I have no idea what the situation was, I have always felt like my concerns were fairly and appropriately addressed. I wish for everyone's sake that if you have an issue with any school or teacher that you'd attempt to address it with them instead of posting vague negative reviews. (No affiliation to the school except that my children attend, I was not asked or compensated in any way for this review.)

Absolutely love this place! Our daughter started here in the Fall and she has learned so much! Her…read morevocabulary has improved significantly, he fine motor skills hav improved, and she is very happy! Staff is friendly, welcoming, and communicative.

I really do adore this daycare! The staff is wonderful and they truly care about the children. My…read moreson loves going to school. He has learned so much during his time there! It's so much more than a daycare , it is a learning facility! If you want your child to start off on the right foot and get an excellent education, this is the place to go! Thank you WKA for all your hard work, it does not go unnoticed!

My son attended HFDS for 3K and 4K and had a wonderful experience. The teachers were kind,…read morethoughtful, and patient with him. The day school's Director was professional, well organized, and considerate. Everyone made us feel welcome and valued. I always felt comfortable with their policies and procedures and I knew my son was well cared for while he was at school. I especially appreciated the school's communication with parents during the onset of COVID, the temporary Spring 2020 closing, and their robust and well-thought out plan for reopening that fall. HFDS has a great program for young children and I highly recommend it.

HFDS has been an amazing school for my family! 3 of my 4 children have gone through the preschool…read moreand my youngest, who is 2, will start next year. The atmosphere is just what we were looking for in a preschool - a loving, caring, nurturing environment where each of my children had such individually special experiences and gained so much confidence from their time there. I only wish HFDS went through middle school!

My 2 children have been students since pre-k. We have had an absolutely amazing experience and we…read moreare attending again for the 2018-2019 school year. The teachers and staff love the kids. The curriculum is top notch and the facility is great.

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.

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.