A team of caring and intelligent educators and leaders. We…read morehave been at The Springs for near a year now. We started the application process pre COVID and entered during the summer program which secured our slot for the fall, so my experience is limited to the Toddler Program (my child started at 22 months old) during the pandemic. For background, I have had my now toddler in a chain daycare (Kindercare) and a great in home daycare but those are true daycares vs a Montessori school so they are completely incomparable. I only have laudatory remarks about the professionalism and care of The Springs. Mr. Dan, The Head of School (HoS), and Ms. Katelyn the Assistant HoS are absolute leaders. Incredibly responsive to any request and communicative on all aspects of the school, I trust their judgment and appreciate all the efforts to remain operational during COVID. Our teacher Ms. Katelyn D., and her assistant teachers Ms. Belkin and Ms. Ethel are amazing with the children and my tot is THRIVING! I have sent emails late on a Friday or Saturday night to Ms. Katelyn D.,not expecting a response until the next working day, only to find a reply in my inbox within hours. Professional and dedicated, I feel a sense of team between the educators and parents as all focus is on the child. The Springs Montessori has me a true believer in the Montessori methods and although yes, it is more expensive than the other daycares my peace of mind for the well being of my child and results of my happy kiddo worth the price tag. Some perks: -A daily report of diaper changes/ what was eaten/ nap length so you can plan your evening -Catered lunches- no oops I forgot the lunch box on the table moments, such a time saver -Parent teacher conferences- yes for a TWO year old, it's awesome -Weekly photos of your child engaging in activities at school -virtual learning options -online portal to track your child's milestones and communicate on routine admin requirements Things to consider: -It's a school, not a day care, school schedules include seasonal breaks -when things get back to normal the kids wear a uniform, I love this but it does add cost -the parking lot is not great, it's busy! Between the parking lot and COVID mitigation, allot extra time for drop off/ pick up Bottom line- I love this school and my child loves this school too.

Would not recommend. They were not very approachable and do not try to work with the parent. They…read morewould always call me wanting me to pick up my child, because they claimed my child had a tummy ache or was sick. Upon arrival my child was completely fine. I was told once my child had pink eye. After picking them up, my child's eyes were NORMAL. Took them to the pedi. just in case, and was told nothing was wrong with their eyes. Not worth the crazy amount of tuition they charge. Find somewhere else, you DO NOT GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

I sent my two youngest kids to Montesshare several years ago and they still have positive memories…read morefrom their time there. The Wilder family really invested in my family through years of extra patience during the morning and pickup rush, invites to play at the park, and dad's/mom's nights out. I still attend these manly get togethers well after the kids stopped attending. I dare you to try their school and not love it!

The staff here are very professional, responsive, and courteous. They are very passionate about…read morewhat they do and it is a very comfortable, homey environment. I definitely recommend this montessori school.

As a military family, finding a school where the students were welcoming was very important to us…read more In additional to the best group of students, the teachers are dedicated to growing leaders and thinkers. Our daughter loves starting her say with yoga and has grown in her ability to identify emotions and self regulate. This is an excellent choice for any family!

From the owner: Progressive Education As a progressive school, River Farm…read morefollows in the footsteps of educator and philosopher John Dewey, who embraced hands-on learning, critical thinking, and a belief that education should prepare children to become active citizens in a democracy. For that reason, social justice is an important value to the River Farm community. The Cooperative Culture A cooperative educational model is based on the premise that both parents and children are integral parts of a school community of lifelong learners. By incorporating parents into the school day, students place a higher value on their education, family bonds are strengthened, and a true community is fostered. To this end, parent involvement is not only encouraged in the cooperative model, but also required. Please read more about our parental and/or guardian requirements here.

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!

This wonderful gem of a School is tucked away in a neighborhood in Alexandria. My children (3…read moregirls) all attended school here through 6th grade. The experiences they shared and the knowledge they gained was immeasurable. All successful adults now, I feel I owe a forever debt to their early education and the staff at MSA. The school has been beautifully refreshed and it looks better than ever!

Both my children have attended Montessori School Alexandria (MSA). My eldest went there from 2001…read moreto 2004, finishing in kindergarten. He had a excellent teacher and had a great education. When he entered first grade in the Fairfax County public school system, he was ahead in his reading. Flash foward 11 years later when my youngest enters MSA's primary program. I will be the first to admit that she is not the easiest of children. In her second year of the primary, we started having serious discussions regarding our child's behavior which included striking teachers and outbursts of anger. Preliminary diagnosis pointed to ADHD. While our daughter was about to come off a wait list at reputable local children's hospital for further assessment--at the encouragement of MSA--the school informed us that she could no longer attend the school because she posed a danger to the other students. I would advise that while MSA does an outstanding job of teaching children who are compliant and on point with their emotional and educational development, the school is not equipped to handle a child that would require an IEP at a traditional school. Nor are they patient for a child to receive the care they need, despite being in a community where there is a long wait time for providers who can assess conditions such ADHD. Just be warned that if you think your child is ADHD or has other behavioral issues, the staff may not have the resources to assist your child.

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!!

From the owner: All children will grow and blossom in our center. Grow and…read moreBlossom Preschool center serves children from 2 years to 12 years of age in developmentally appropriate spaces in classrooms as well as offering plentiful outdoor play areas. Our daily interactions and activities are based on age-appropriate developmental expectations and individual goals established for each child in conjunction with the family. We also offer before and after care for school aged kids. Discounts are available. Please contact us for more info!

We have had two children at Hope Montessori, starting when my daughter was 2 and we kept her there…read morethrough kindergarten. We plan on keeping my son there as well through kindergarten. The staff is wonderful, loving, and nurturing and our kids have learned SO much! They also have before and after care that you only pay for what you need. I can't give enough praise for the teachers and staff. If you are looking for a home for your kids, this is the place!

Absolutely amazing school. The teachers here are top-notch, first rate. I could not be happier with…read morethe education my twins are receiving. Highly highly recommend. The teachers are exceptional, abundant with feedback, and great communicators. I love this school- had heard great things but being there has really exceeded my expectations. The kids are so thrilled to go to school every day. Great after care program as well.

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.

We just had my son's birthday party here with under the sea glow party. It was definitely one of…read morethe most special birthday party for us. Science experiment, glow in the dark face/hand painting, as well as learning about sea animal. Wow! The kids were all so excited!!! Staffs are all wonderful and very attentive!!! Helping us to decorate and serving food. The Science Place has so many different themes and we will definitely have another birthday party here and my son will love to take some classes from the Science Place as well.

Had twins 4 year old bday party there with their classmates. Everything was so much fun the kids…read morecouldn't pull themselves away from the activities for pizza and cake! Staff was super helpful and organized. They had four science related activities tailored to the twins interest in dinosaurs and space. Everyone got a chance to participate. Moms and dads were happy because it was educational but the kids were super stoked going from one adventure to the other. Super clean and spacious. First time for us but won't be the last- considering them for our summer camp.