My son is about to start his second year at Franklin and we couldn't be more thrilled with the…read moreprogram. We were new to montessori, and we love the format--mixed ages from 3-5, intimate classrooms, beautiful, updated materials and facilities---great choice for our family. TEACHERS Although our teachers from last year left, we are really pleased with the way the school has handled the transition and we really like the new teacher. All but one teacher we have interacted with we really love (the one teacher is nice enough, just not overly warm and comes across a bit snobby) but this is one out of many, many teachers. Franklin has at least one certified montessori teacher in each classroom, and at least one teachers assistant. Many of the teachers have been there for many years, and the administration has been there for a long time as well. The philosophy is excellent, and it is really consistent among all staff FACILITY The facility has been recently updated, and they have 4 playgrounds, in addition to a wildlife preserve in the back where a special teacher, Amy, will take them exploring and on nature walks. The classroom sizes range from 20-25 students, and the classes have little tables and chairs, in addition to shelving with their "work" (lessons) beautifully placed. The environment is perfect for a little kid! The playgrounds are well built and emphasize different skills. They have a train playground with a sandbox, a second playground that has a track with trikes and bikes, and two other playgrounds with special yet fun equipment. PROGRAM They offer a wide range of options. The regular schedule is from 9-3, but they have early care starting as early as 7am and aftercare as late as 6pm. The aftercare is not a typical aftercare/daycare setup though, which I love! My son was in his regular class from 9-3 and then with his classmates who stayed until 6, went to a different class with its own regular teachers, regular program, etc. you can select a schedule and add additional hours for $10 per hour if needed. For example, this year my son will only be there 9-3, but I am glad to know that if I have to work late or something, he can stay until 6 for just $10 per hour. The kids circle up around 9-9:15 and talk about the day of the week, sing songs, and talk about what they will do that day. They do work, which consists of several stations that include math, science, practical life, etc. Each work is on its own tray, and the kids take the tray to a table and work on their lesson/skill. It is great because the teachers teach them how to do it, but it is rather child-initiated. Also, the older kids learn leadership because they help the younger kids, and the younger kids receive mentorship and learn from their peers. The kids have a snack in the class (more on this later) and then go outside to one of the four playgrounds. They come back in, do more work, eat lunch (more later) and then the 3 year olds go to the nap room and the older kids stay in. They have some reading time and then typically engage in "sound work" (reading skills). At 3pm students go to carpool, or if they are staying, to their afternoon class. In the afternoon, they do crafts, go outside, explore, read, play games, and do more "work." Evening carpool runs from 5:45-6pm and the teachers bring your child to your car. Morning carpool runs the same way--a teacher picks up your kid from the car and walks them into school. FOOD Franklin provides a morning and afternoon snack for your child. This is actually the biggest negative for me. I think they could improve the snacks substantially. Many are good choices: fruit, cheese and crackers, veggies --great choices. However, they do cereal, which is great because it reinforces the spooning technique, but why do they choose a sugar cereal with marshmallows? And Mondays they do cookies. What 3 year old needs a cookie? They also do bread and butter, which again, is good because they can practice spreading, fine motor skills, etc. but butter? With all the great food choices out there I just think that they could probably do a better job with this. For lunch, you can purchase a catered lunch monthly or bring your own. I think all the kids in my son's class last year brought their own. Kids sit at tables of 4-6 kids and are encouraged to have conversations only with kids at their table, to wait until all the kids are done before being excused, etc. I love that they reinforce such good manners. ADMINISTRATION I am really incredibly happy with the administration. They genuinely care about the kids and the parents, and their teachers. They listen, take input, and are very kind, good people. One negative is that the school does not have buses, and since MD changed its laws requiring that kids may only ride in the car with a parent, they don't do field trips. The school is pricey---one of the most expensive in the area, but I truly believe it is worth the money.

Beware of this company! Our kids were at a sister school owned by the same parent company, Metro…read moreMontessori, which was SHUT DOWN on only a few weeks notice, leaving parents, teachers, and kids scrambling. It was discovered that company had known for a long time that the school would have to close (bc so many families left due to unaddressed safety issues that enrollment was too low to continue operation). But, Metro hid this from everyone until mid-July. By that time, many other schools were full, primary positions for teachers were already full, etc. We literally only had days to find a replacement school placement. This company doesn't care about your kids - they just want your money. Think twice before giving it to them!

My husband and I toured Whole Kids Academy when I was 4 months pregnant with our first child. Upon…read moreentering the facility, I immediately knew I wanted our son to attend! The Environment: Every staff member from the front desk, teachers, and administration was so welcoming! As a result, our oldest child attended Whole Kids Academy from Infancy through Pre-K. Additionally, our youngest attended from infancy through Early Preschool. Both of my boys have always felt loved and adored! It seemed that every teacher knew our kids' names, even if my husband and I didn't know them. Any time occasional concerns arose, the administration handled them promptly! Every staff member is eager to support, listen, learn, and educate! The Curriculum: Wow! From the infant room to Pre-k, WKA truly fosters an environment where children develop a love for learning!! I have pictures of my 3-month-old painting with corn during Autumn, exploring textures by painting on bubble wrap, enjoying music class, engaging in circle time, and learning about the outdoor environment through daily walks...and that was just the beginning! Recent Pre-K lessons included meteorology, biographies, and space, just to name a few! Each day, the lesson plan is intentionally crafted to develop each learning domain! Both of my boys are such curious learners, and people are genuinely impressed by their knowledge base. Our oldest just started kindergarten, and he's extremely ahead in all subjects. We absolutely love WKA and were sad to leave due to a cross-country move. If you're looking for a nurturing environment for your kids to fall in love with learning, WKA is the place!

My son's been going to WKA since he was 6months old, he's almost three years old now…read more We had to use the infants and toddlers program to help our son learn to speak. He's advancing now. WKA is a Spanish immersion program, our son only speaks in English from what we've learned to teach him. My son has also had several accidents at this school and when I've reached out to the administration for future preventative measures, they simply do not respond. I would not recommend anyone trust this school with their children

With all of the choices in the area for childcare, my wife and I chose to enroll our 6-month old…read moreson in Top Hat Montessori. We were initially drawn to Top Hat because of its location...it's about an 8-minute drive from Gaithersburg MARC train station. We visited the school to check out some of the tangibles in person. We were impressed by the infant-to-teacher ratio of 3:1 and the consistency of caregivers (high employee turnover was one of our non-negotiables). Another impressive attribute about the school is the overall atmosphere. At some daycare facilities, you get the feeling that you're in a zoo with kids yelling and running around with little supervision. Top Hat is very orderly and pleasant. We decided to enroll and fortunately, there was one open slot for an infant. From day one, our little one was very comfortable at Top Hat. The infant staff, led by Patty, is extremely warm and caring. They are very engaged with the kids taking them on walks, reading books, listening to music, swimming and much more. At the end of each day, Patty writes a brief summary of his day, which really makes my wife and I feel connected to his development. After 45 days at Top Hat, our son has really flourished. He is crawling at 7 months and talking up a storm. Sure his vocabulary is limited to "ma ma", "da da" and other random "words," but we believe that the combination of the staff, curriculum and classmates has helped him develop in such a positive manner. As far as cost goes, the tuition is competitive with other daycare facilities in the area. We could not be happier with our decision. Top Hat gets an A+ from our family :)

Our daughter started in the Primary class at age 4, and after a year and a half is now thoroughly…read moreready for kindergarten. Top Hat gave her an excellent reading foundation -- she's so proud of being able to read to herself now! -- and a wonderful opportunity to socialize with kids her age, older, and younger. The teachers are warm and caring, and the administration is great at keeping parents involved and apprised of what's going on at the school. We've recommended it to other families, and met family friends here we hope to stay in touch with for a long time.

Winchester has been a godsend for my son and truly a hidden gem. He's grown up here at Winchester,…read moreand all of his teachers have provided a perfect blend of flexibility and challenge to help him grow. Incredibly accommodating while always believing and reminding him (and us!) that he can work at and try new things even if they seem intimidating at first. They've taken the time to know and understand him, and know when to push and when to just let him do his own thing if that's what helps him. Love the small class size and the fact that most of its teachers have been there for over a decade and are clearly committed to the school and its students. It's also a family-owned business whose owners are actively involved and clearly doing the work they do because they care about children and their families, not to try maximize profits. Prices are very reasonable compared to many of the other schools in the area that charge way more, and with much more affordable aftercare and summer care options that we need as working parents. This school is definitely worth a second look, especially if your kid needs flexibility and some extra attention.

We've been part of The Winchester School family for a long time -- our older child started here…read moreover ten years ago, and now our younger one is having the same amazing experience. What's incredible is that so many of the same teachers and staff are still here! It really shows how much they love what they do and how strong the community is. The teachers are caring, patient, and make every day fun and engaging. I also love that the school uses a monthly tuition model instead of big lump payments. It makes things easier for families and feels very thoughtful as a way to ensure everyone has access to quality early childhood education. For anyone in the Silver Spring or Aspen Hill area looking for a school that truly feels like home, Winchester is a wonderful place to be.

Absolutely LOVE this school!! My son is so happy here and the environment is so loving and…read moreattentive. I could not imagine him going anywhere else. He loves Norbeck and we love it too. Its a hands on and positive learning environment.

We love Norbeck Montessori. Both of our children went to Norbeck Montessori starting in the 2 year…read moreold class and then graduating from the kindergarten class. Norbeck really helped them thrive academically, develop emotionally and grow socially. We're so glad we kept both children there all the way till kindergarten. They graduated from Norbeck as confident and emotionally strong with a strong academic foundation in math, reading and writing with enthusiasm and curiosity for art, creativity, music, science and geography. It was a very positive environment with highly experienced teachers focusing on the overall development of the children. The head of the school, Melissa Matthews, does an outstanding job managing the school and the teachers ensure that the kids are not just on par with but are also excelling beyond expectations in several elements. Discipline and kindness towards others are strongly encouraged and the children really have a lot of fun while learning. We highly recommend this school and glad that our family had the Norbeck experience.

Very excellent school for learning and interacting!!! Great teachers. Great students and…read moreenvironment.

My little girl is in the pre-school here and she LOVES it. Like runs to school when she gets there,…read moretalks about wanting to go on the weekend loves it. The teachers there are so wonderful and caring, and it has been a delight for our whole family and so enriching and positive for my little girl. The school as a whole has the smaller, family oriented feel and there are two teachers per classroom for pre-k. It's a great transition for kiddies who haven't been in daycare before, and our teachers Mrs. Young and Ms. Glerum are the best!

We have had 2 girls attend Goddard and both were very positive experiences. Our girls were overly…read moreprepared for kindergarten and beyond. The school, administration, and especially the top notch teachers have made our experience exceptional. Thank you Goddard!

We've loved Goddard! Both kiddos went there and we would do it again. Teachers are caring and…read moreadministration is responsive.

If you're looking for a Montessori School for your Pre-K to 6th Grade child, look no further than…read moreMater Amoris in eastern Montgomery County in Ashton, Maryland. The beautiful, 13-acre campus encompasses a large meadow, wooded nature trails and a butterfly garden and is conveniently located near Olney, Burtonsville and Silver Spring, as well as Clarksville, Columbia and Laurel in Howard County. Our 4th grade son has been at Mater Amoris since 1st Grade. In that time, we are grateful to have seen him develop a quiet confidence, intellectual independence and a true love of learning. The Montessori teachers, curriculum and collaborative learning environment have allowed him to focus on his unique interests and learn at his own pace. He has excelled at math and science, while spending additional time on his reading and handwriting, which would not have been encouraged in a public school system. Highlights of the Mater Amoris program are an annual holiday performance, musical and Science Fair for 1st-6th grade. Additionally, 3rd-6th grade students have the option of attending a week-long trip to the Echo Hill outdoor school on the Eastern Shore, as well as the Cal Cup international field hockey tournament at Moorpark College, north of Los Angeles, California. The school also participates in an annual Swedish Exchange Student program. My favorite event of the year is the 6th Grade graduation, which requires each graduating student to write, prepare and deliver their own short commencement speech, something many 12th graders would have trouble doing with the same poise, confidence and individuality I've seen showcased by the caliber of student Mater Amoris consistently produces. Although the school itself and the Montessori curriculum are not a fit for every child, we've been pleased with our son's progress and have had our younger daughter attend the school for Pre-K and now Kindergarten. We've also found the parent community to be active, warm and welcoming along with a small, family-friendly atmosphere, with Fall Picnics, Silent Auctions and Spring Fairs organized by the Parent Council on the school grounds.

If you think something is fishy, it's because it is…read more Buyer beware: do not evaluate Mater Amoris solely by its beautiful grounds, polished messaging, or carefully crafted philosophy statements. Speak with current families. Speak with former families. Speak with former staff. Ask what happens when concerns are raised. Ask how incidents are documented. Ask how behavioral patterns are tracked. Ask what standards govern intervention. Ask whether difficult questions are welcomed or merely tolerated. Ask academic questions, too. Ask for specifics. Ask how reading progress is measured. Ask how parents know benchmarks have been met. Ask how classroom disruptions affect learning. Ask about staffing levels, turnover, support for guides, and the frequency of school closures, staff workdays, and other interruptions to instructional time. Ask whether the educational experience being delivered consistently reflects the tuition being charged. Most importantly, ask yourself a simple question: if a school cannot clearly explain how it protects children, measures academic progress, documents incidents, responds to legitimate concerns from parents, and delivers consistent instructional time, what exactly are you paying for? I ignored that one bad review about bullying and safety a few years ago when we enrolled. Thinking it would not be our experience, and here I am writing this review today.