Our son was born just before the Covid pandemic started in 2020, this left us with a lack of…read moreoptions for childcare and also a big sense of unease about sending our baby to daycare/preschool. It took me almost a year to build up the courage to send him and in the summer of 2021 he started at Goddard. Now it's the summer of 2022 and both of our children attend Goddard. Our son is a little timid in large groups and likes to play independently, in each class his "style" has been respected. We get regular updates on his days and when a little extra attention is needed from us, his teachers have been gracious enough to help us reinforce positive behaviors at home. He loves his school and his teachers, every day he has a "great day" (his words). Navigating school and childcare in the post-pandemic has not been easy but we are always thankful and appreciative of the communication and cautiousness that Goddard places on the safety of the students and teachers. I would encourage any family looking for daycare/preschool to explore Goddard!

Very sketchy place. They don't have a lot of staff who are actually experts in Early Childhood…read moreEducation. Mrs. Valentina has a bachelors in linguistics and is the Lead Teacher? I find that odd and weird. All this money this daycare wants you to pay yet it is troubling that someone in such a critical early education role does not hold a degree in Early Childhood Education. The Goddard School is not simply a time for play--it is a foundational academic daycare that supports essential cognitive, social, and emotional development. Educators in this space should have specialized training in early childhood development, instructional strategies for young learners, and knowledge of age-appropriate curriculum standards. A degree in Linguistics, while valuable, does not provide the pedagogical framework or developmental understanding required to teach effectively at this level. This situation raises concerns about the standards being upheld in early learning environments. Recognizing someone as "Teacher of the Year" who lacks a degree in Early Childhood Education not only undermines the value of that credential but also sends the message that passion alone qualifies one to lead a classroom. Passion is important--but it must be paired with relevant, formal education to ensure children receive the quality instruction they deserve.

I cannot say enough good things about BBMS. The staff care so much about the kiddos and create a…read moresafe space where learning is fun! My daughter recently had a birthday, and her teachers went all out. Set up special decorations, sent me tons of photos and videos, etc. She felt all the love. It's nice going off to work knowing your child is in the best hands possible. Thank you broad bay, for being the best!

Our children have both gone here for years. Great teachers and great curriculum, especially for…read morekindergarten.

This school is a great atmosphere for children. Teachers care about their students! In Home…read moreschool Unlimited students get the individual attention they need for success. There so many extracurricular activities that appeal to children, again small groups where they can participate and succeed. My experiences include first grade and sewing classes.

Just attended mommy & me and music school for the first time this morning with my 15 month old…read moredaughter. She had an excellent time, and I can tell that she will learn a lot as we continue classes. Thanks Virginia!

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.

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Overpriced, however considering the public school system it's either pay me now or pay me later…read more Let's face it the educational system in this country has been ruined by folks with 'perceptual errors' that tend to get nearly everything and everyone backwards. Unfortunately our public school system and kids have paid the price. Cape Henry is a fine school with good teachers the high tuition is probably a good thing because it keeps out the undesirables. I'm not saying they're aren't some rotten apples here, but they're capped and somewhat isolated whereas in the public schools the rotten apples often own the place.

My 9-month old daughter has been attending Thalia Day School in the infant classroom for about 7…read moremonths (started there when she was 2.5 months old). This is our first child so we were extremely anxious about entrusting others to care for her while we work. That anxiety quickly dwindled when we saw how they care for our daughter and how happy she is to be there. I consider our family very fortunate to have found TDS and their wonderful teachers and staff there! We would recommend to other parents.

Our son has been going to Thalia since he was 2 months old and we have loved every minute of it!!!…read moreHe is in the infant room and they do a wonderful job with him! They love him so much! Even the teachers in other rooms know him well! The admin (Ms. Diane and Ms. Katie) are fantastic and incredibly helpful! Would highly recommend Thalia to anyone!

I love Courthouse Academy! I have a 1 year old and a 2 year old who have been enrolled here since…read morethe last week of September in 2017 and I cannot put into words the growth that I've seen from my kids. I never refer to this as daycare: this is a school that starts teaching at a young age. My 2 year old knows colors, shapes, how to count, how to say some words in Spanish (because this is a Spanish immersion facility) and several nursery rhymes. How advanced is that?! The faculty are great. I can't say enough about how friendly and supportive the front office is and EVERYONE knows everyone. Despite having hundreds of kids, they all know my kids and say bye to them by name every day. It's amazing. I can't say enough good things about Courthouse Academy and how it's worth it. Thanks, guys!

I'm writing this as parent with a child that had been recently enrolled, because I wish I had more…read morecurrent reviews before deciding to enroll my child in The Court House Academy. This school is not what it used to be. Years ago, it had a strong reputation and long-standing teachers who had been there for 20+ years. Unfortunately, since the administration changed, there has been a clear decline. All those experienced teachers are gone, and the turnover now is extremely concerning. The biggest problem is the constant teacher turnover during the school year. Teachers leave in the middle of the term, and the classrooms never seem to have stability. This has seriously disrupted the curriculum and, more importantly, it has made my child feel uneasy. Children need consistency to feel secure and ready to learn. When my child kept seeing new teachers every few weeks, it created confusion and a lack of trust in the classroom environment to the point that drop offs went to a happy and smooth process to a nightmare because she didn't want to be there. In our case, my child had five different teachers in just the first quarter of the school year. Since then, the Spanish teachers were continued rotating with no clear continuity. Because of this, my child did not learn Spanish at the level the school promotes. Honestly, she learned more Spanish during a one-month visit with her grandparents than she did the entire year at this school, which was very disappointing. What makes this even more frustrating is the lack of communication from the administration. Parents are not properly informed when these teachers' changes happen. We always find out after seeing the new teachers when we drop off, which does not build trust and leaves us feeling out of the loop. Based on our experience, I cannot recommend this school. The instability in staffing, poor communication, and overall decline since the administration change have had a real negative impact on our child's learning and sense of security.

POPP is absolutely amazing!! My son was in the threes class and everyday he was excited about going…read moreto school and was just as happy when I picked him up. He flourished while attending and learned so much in their program. It is a play based program and all of the kids are having fun while learning new things and experiencing nature. They go to music class and dance class and also get a lot of outside time. That was really great because my son has a lot of energy and doesn't do well in an environment where learning is repetitive and not interactive. But their program would be wonderful for any child because they really challenge them to think and to learn by experiencing new things.

Prince of Peace is phenomenal. We love their play-lead learning philosophy and collaborative group…read moreprojects. Our children have benefited tremendously from this approach and the qualified and dedicated staff. It's also one of the only schools in the immediate area that provides a younger two's class. I'll be sad when my children are too old to come here anymore!