Choosing a preschool for our child was very hard, especially coming from overseas. Today we are…read morevery happy with our choice of Full Circle Montessori School. The teachers and staff have consistently exceeded our expectations in making our child adjust to the new environment and making learning fun and engaging. Adjustment time was needed (very sensitive child)to fit into a new environment. But with a welcoming and comforting environment, our child adjusted to school very well. Also, with the thoughtfully designed curriculum that promotes both academic readiness and essential social-emotional skills, our child is very excited about going to school every day now. Communication with parents is superb; the scheduled updates and photos make us feel connected and informed about her activities. The facility itself is bright, clean, and safe, offering a wonderful space for the children to explore and play. We highly recommend Full Circle Montessori School for families seeking a positive, enriching, and high-quality early childhood education experience.

We started our son in public school for kindergarten, but halfway through the year, we became…read moreunhappy with the experience and began looking into other options. The lack of communication, heavy screen time, and the way our son was feeling about himself made it clear that we needed a change. He would often come home saying he was a "bad kid" because he kept getting in trouble at school, which was hard to hear as a parent. Switching to Full Circle Montessori has been one of the best decisions we've made for our family. The difference in our son was noticeable within a few weeks. He's much more regulated coming home from school, and we've seen a noticeable boost in his self-confidence. One of the first things he told us after starting at Full Circle was how nice the teachers are he said they actually talk to him instead of yelling. That shift alone was huge for him, and for us. Academically, he was at the top of his class in public school, but that often led to boredom. Since he wasn't being challenged, he would try to socialize, which would get him in trouble. At Full Circle, he learns at his own pace with a hands-on approach that keeps him curious and engaged. If you have a child who isn't thriving in a traditional school setting or struggles with the sit-still-all-day model, we can't recommend Full Circle Montessori enough. It's been a truly positive and empowering experience for our son and for us as parents.

My son has been at AMH for the past three years and we could not be happier. He is a second…read moregeneration AMH student - both of his uncles went in the early 90s. While to school is a bit larger today then it was in the 90s, the core values and overall feeling is still the same. Ms. Christine has been wonderful for our son and helped him grow both academically and socially while still allowing him to be his true self. We feel he is ready for elementary school and that is a true testament to AMH level of education.

This is a wonderful Montessori school. We love the intimate atmosphere, the beautiful home-y…read moreclassrooms, and the fabulous Guides, assistants, and staff. It is the only AMI certified primary Montessori program in Arlington and, as the AMI certification reflects, it is a very high quality program. Since starting the program, our child has thrived and learned so much. We appreciate the focus on independence, concentration, and following the child so they learn at their own pace. It is such a great school!

Our two year old daughter has attended Chesterbrook and all three of us absolutely love the school…read more She has been attending since she was about 19 months old, and she has made Tremendous progress with independence and developing her vocabulary. She loves to read, speak, and learn new words. Her learning there astounds me and my wife and I are in awe of what Ms. Lisa and her staff do to encourage these little loves every day. The Montessori method is effective. They teach them everything from changing their own clothes, community eating etiquette, toilet training (!!), interpersonal skills, and respecting their teachers. Could not recommend a school more highly. Well run and highly communicative with the parents via email.

Chesterbrook Montessori is such a special place! From the very beginning, the application process…read morefeels personal and thoughtful, with family involvement and a home visit. Ms. Lisa, the lead of the toddler program, worked patiently with us throughout each step from inquiry to first day; offering 1-1 calls and was very responsive to questions via email and phone. The teachers are incredibly kind and truly care about each child, making sure they feel comfortable and supported as they adjust to the classroom. The space itself is always clean, calm, and beautifully organized, creating an ideal environment for nurturing and learning. It's hard to put into words just how wonderful this program is-- it's clear that Chesterbrook Montessori is a place where families are welcomed and valued; and where children thrive.

We've had two children attend Children's House. One began in the preschool program at age four (now…read morein first grade), and the other started in the toddler program for a summer before transitioning into preschool just before turning three. Despite their very different personalities, both of my daughters have had wonderful, nurturing, and growth-filled experiences at CHMS. From an administrative standpoint, I've appreciated the clear communication and guidance provided to families around scheduling, including drop-off and pick-up procedures, school events, birthdays, and conferences. As someone who tends to worry about logistics, this structure has been incredibly reassuring. We also appreciate their early (but wide) drop-off window and their EP (after school) program. Our schedule as a family is different every day, so we've enjoyed a lot of flexibility with pick-up and drop-off times. Also would love to shout out that they worked hard to open up the school during the aftermath of the ice storm this year DAYS before APS was even open. I've also felt supported and encouraged through conversations with administrators about my children, including times when they've struggled at school or at home. Mr. Jad, Ms. Denise, and all of the guides are approachable and responsive, and it truly feels as though their door is always open. CHMS has felt like our village. This sense of community was especially meaningful during the post-COVID period, when my older daughter had limited opportunities for social interaction outside of school. From an environment perspective, the guides at CHMS have shown genuine care for my children and created a safe, joyful setting in which they can thrive. I've been continually impressed by the skills they've developed, many of which I previously associated with kindergarten or first grade. My younger daughter walks into school each day excited to see her friends and teachers, and she comes home eager to share what she learned, what she hopes to work on next, and stories about celebrating her classmates' accomplishments. My older daughter, now in first grade, is frequently praised for her love of learning and ability to focus, both of which are skills she developed during her time at CHMS. I attribute so much of my older daughter's independence, empathy, and confidence to her time at CHMS, and it has been special to see those same qualities taking root in her younger sister. We've also met friends through CHMS who feel like family, and I'm forever grateful for the school's focus on community and the events that bring families together.

This school markets itself as nurturing and child-centered, yet somehow thought it was okay for my…read more2-year-old to sit in poop long enough to come home in soiled clothing. Not once. Multiple times. Accidents at this age are NORMAL. Ignoring them is not. When I raised concerns, I didn't get accountability--I got philosophy. I was told this was about "independence" and "body awareness." Let me be clear: a 2-year-old in poop is not Montessori, it's neglect. Between the constant dirt, lack of supervision, and disturbingly casual attitude toward hygiene for toddlers, this place felt chaotic and unsafe. If you're okay with your child being uncomfortable, unclean, and your concerns being brushed off with buzzwords, this may work for you. I wasn't--and neither was my kid.

Our daughter has been at CHMS for 1.5yrs. We've watched her become more confident and enjoy…read morelearning. What we appreciate most is how the school nurtures her independence, she takes real pride in doing things for herself. Watching her walk in each morning with such assurance tells us everything we need to know. We're grateful for the teachers for giving her such a solid foundation.

We feel so fortunate to have been part of CHMS Alexandria's inaugural class this year. You'd never…read moreknow it was their first year--the transition was seamless! When we began searching for a preschool for our then 2.5-year-old son, CHMS stood out due to its strong focus on values and excellent leadership. Among so many options, it truly set itself apart, and it has exceeded our expectations. From day one, our son has eagerly walked into school without hesitation, and comes home each day with a big smile. Every aspect of the school is carefully designed to support the students in the best possible way. The weekend playdates, where new students can meet their peers and staff, helped ease the transition and made him feel welcome right away. The classroom is bright, calm, and welcoming--an ideal environment for learning. The teachers are not only knowledgeable and caring but also incredibly responsive to both the children and parents. The sense of community among the students and parents has been an added bonus, and we have loved getting to know so many wonderful families. We've seen our son flourish in his empathy, focus, and overall learning. CHMS Alexandria has become such an important part of our village, and we are deeply grateful for the amazing first school experience it has provided for our son.

My first just graduated from FCM and it is unbelievable all that he has learned while being in the…read moreloving care of these fantastic teachers. The teachers love our children as their own and you can feel it. FCM strikes a wonderful balance between learning and playing. Your child learns key life skills all while having so much fun. Lastly, it's great that the school has their own private playground vs other centers in this area that have to take kids on long unsafe walks on main roads to get to an outdoor play area.

I consider myself so lucky to have stumbled upon this wonderful Montessori school! We enrolled my…read moreson in the school about a year ago and he quickly felt at home there. At first we were nervous because he had a nanny before (who he loved), but they made the transition so easy for us. He comes home with new knowledge each day and I can tell that the teacher truly care about him. My son is the type of child who really likes when everything is in order, and the classroom is always calm and under control. He also loves the outside playground! I am so happy we made the decision to go with Falls Church Montessori!

MSNV is an amazing school from pre primary up to upper elementaty. Our three boys attend and it's…read morebeen wonderful, loving and the teachers and community are great!

Best Montessori school in the DC region. Hands down. Wonderfully run business, lovely families,…read moregreat teachers, beautiful setting, value for money. Authentic, Accredited, and Awesome!

An absolute gem in the heart of Georgetown. The teachers are incredible and balance being nuturing…read morewhile encouraging independence. My daughter attended for three years and was not only incredibly competent but very self-assured starting Kindergarten. My son currently attends and has grown by leaps and bounds year over year, he loves going to school every morning--the most important indicator of an amazing establishment! The teachers are tenured and the parent group is inclusive and fun! We consider ourselves very fortunate to be a part of the GMS community!

Amazing school with dedicated, experienced teachers who create an ideal place for preschoolers to…read morelearn and develop life skills

Serious delay in security deposit refund. My daughter graduated from Guideposts West Alex, VA…read morelocation in July 2025. Nine months later, we still have not received her refund despite countless phone calls and email follow-ups. At one point they claimed a refund check had been issued and mailed, but they could not provide any documentation when asked. After that, they stopped responding entirely. We never received the check. Now it appears they are switching ownership and are using that as an excuse not to issue the refund. This level of unprofessionalism and stonewalling is infuriating -- we trusted this company and they have betrayed that trust. What a shady, irresponsible company.

We've had an incredibly positive experience with Guidepost West Alex…read more Our daughter has thrived in both the Toddler cohort, and now since turning 3, in Children's House. The guides foster an environment of curiosity and learning, and I love hearing our daughter talk about the activities and conversations she has throughout the day. Interactions are positive and numerous. This ranges from warm greetings in the morning to getting updates via Smart Classroom to weekly email updates to 1:1 meetings with the guides. We always feel included and in-the-loop on what's going on in the school broadly and how our daughter is doing specifically. From a leadership and administrative perspective, there has been a positive shift since Ms. Mary started in the Summer of 2022. There is a strong sense of community throughout the school, including after-school and outside-of-school events and meetups. She and her leadership team are always accessible and open. If you notice all the sub-par reviews are old and are from prospective parents. I want to recognize that we experienced some of those same challenges too, however the caveat is that this was with the prior leadership team and during COVID when admissions had a modified onboarding process. As a current parent I have full trust for the guides and administrative team to do what's best for our daughter's physical, emotional, and cognitive safety and development.

It's a safe environment for your kids. Foxhall is a lovely family friendly neighborhood. I love the…read moreconstant pictures and videos we get throughout the day from the school. Also, I love that the children have a great outdoor field/nature space to explore. Indoors- the science, math, and reading are top notch. I love how my daughter's confidence has soared here.

I love MSOW! The owner and staff take great care of the little ones and the academia is top-tier! I…read morehighly recommend this school in a heart beat!