We feel so fortunate to have our daughter enrolled at Evergreen School -- it is a local gem. She…read moreattended the toddler program and is now enrolled in the primary program. We have seen her blossom in terms of her language and math skills, and perhaps more importantly her sense of confidence, love of learning, and caring and respect for others. A previous poster complained about the summer camp, and we also observed that in the past it could have been organized better. The school recognized this problem and brought in a new camp director. Our daughter enjoyed the new summer program last year and we plan to enroll her again for summer 2017.

My son is in the Primary program (ages 3-6) at Evergreen. He has been at Evergreen for 3 years. I…read morehighly recommend Evergreen School! My son loves his teacher and looks forward to going to school. In the small school community all the teachers know you and your child's name. The lead teachers at Evergreen are experienced, knowledgeable and caring. The individual attention that the children receive has been crucial to my son's academic and social development. His joy of learning is genuine and intrinsic - I attribute this to Evergreen. I am confident that he will carry this love and curiosity for discovering new things throughout his life. Evergreen also has a robust art and music program. The Montessori implementation at Evergreen is unmatched in this part of Montgomery County. Evergreen School is truly a gem. You should definitely put it on your list of schools to visit when considering preschools, kindergarten and/or elementary schools.

We absolutely love LCYC!…read more My son started in the Two's program and is now in the Three's classroom, and we've had such a wonderful experience every step of the way. The staff is incredible--many even have their own children enrolled or previously enrolled, which really shows how much they believe in the program. LCYC truly feels like a community of parents and teachers working together to help the kids learn and grow. The smaller class sizes make such a difference and really allow for personalized attention. My son has become so much more independent, and he's thriving academically and socially. It's been amazing watching the relationships he's built with both the staff and the other children. We couldn't be happier, and I highly recommend LCYC to any parent looking for a nurturing, high-quality early learning environment.

We love LCYC, the staff, the kids, the parents. Everyone is very involved. You can tell that the…read moreteachers care about the children and vice versa. It's important for me to know that my son isn't just another number on their roster. My son has really enjoyed LcYC the last two years and we are very happy with the program and curriculum. Next year my Daughter will be attending as well and u can't wait for her to learn and grow with the great teachers and staff that LCYc has. The new director Mrs Rana has also done a lot of great things with the school and I know from other parents comments that they are very happy with the new direction the school is taking with her in charge.

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!

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.

This is for the Bright Horizon Harbor at Station Place (near Union Station)…read more We have two kids enrolled since they were both 4 months old and our experience has been an absolute delight. The staff and administration are incredibly organized and provide a great deal of communication, everything from monthly and weekly lesson plans, an up-to-date daily photos and captions, and great verbal updates each day when we pick up our babies. I couldn't be more pleased with the educational track. They begin each new transition with a one-one meeting to discuss schedules, teaching philosophy, and provide an opportunity for parents to provide input. Throughout the child's stay, they provide detailed input of his/her progress through a true educational and physical standards -- showing milestones and next steps. I am certain that a large reason for my oldest was preparation and familiarity with PreK was from his days at the Harbor. Lastly, but just as important, I have observed that the leadership is incredibly supportive of their staff -- which is why we have had such a low turnover of teachers. At the same time, we have seen several teachers grow into expanded roles. We are so pleased that it's such a great family environment at The Harbor.

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.

Such a wonderful school. I had two children attend, and we still stay incredibly connected even as…read moreAlumni. The teachers are so warm and welcoming. They have a way of making my child and me feel like I'm their absolute #1 priority. The emphasis on outdoor play had a huge positive impact specifically on my daughter who can get a little restless indoors. It was everything we were hoping for and more in a preschool!

It's a great space. And I'm sure it's good for many children. On principle I like what they have to…read moreoffer. However, they lack direct and clear communication about their decision making process. I think much of what they communicate is disingenuous or is in coded speak that requires reading between the lines which is fine if you are good at that, but I am not.

I love Dee Dee's Place. The daycare has a warm and inviting environment my children thrived there!read more

Please do not send your child to this "child care" center if you love your child. They lack…read moretransparency, professionalism, and compassion. Jen, Carla, and crishenda were very impatient with my child. I've witnessed one of them use profanity in front of the children. That same woman treated my daughter with much hatred. It took me a while to figure out why my daughter refused to go in whenever we went to drop her off. Avoid this place like the plague that it is.