I usually do not provide online reviews for anything, but since it is something that involves our…read morechildren, I've decided to write this post. HPS is a lovely school and our son was happy there. Unfortunately, the school ended up leaving us with a very bad impression. We initially enrolled him two days per week, half time. When we enrolled, they told us that if he was happy, we could move from two to three days and eventually to full time three or five days. One month in, when we saw how happy he was, we moved him from two days half time to three days half time. It went great. One month later, we wanted to move him full time three days a week. Then the problems began. The school manager gave us conflicting and sometimes false excuses for refusing our request. Finally, after we insisted about half a dozen times she summoned us to her office. In essence, she said that if we wanted to have our son spend more time in the school we would need to hire an occupational therapist to spend all day with him at school. Our son has a speech delay (started speaking at three) and he does not follow instructions or adjust to routines as easily as fully verbal three year olds. HPS ended up using the challenges associated with his spech delay to demand that we basically hire another teacher exclusively for our son. We found this request innapropriate. I have doubts as to whether it is even legal. All told, they simply did not want our son there and were unwilling to work with us to navigate his speech delay and related challenges. This is all very sad to us. We have now enrolled him at another school, five days a week, full time. Many people are very happy at HPS and they may never encounter any similar issues. I just want to leave this review out there for parents to carefully consider HPS before enrolling, especially if you are thinking of increasing throughout the year the number of days your child is there or if your child has a speech delay or any other developmental delay.

We could not be happier with the care given to my child at The Hill Preschool as it far exceeded…read moreany expectations I had. The teachers and administrators are all loving, attentive, and passionate about the care and education of young children. This passion is apparent with the significant high level of engagement every single day. The Hill Preschool is a positive and enriching environment for children, and my child is healthy and happy every single day, gaining confidence and knowledge that has set a foundation for the rest of his life. The teachers are selfless, kind, and dedicated. The facility is clean and full of enriching activities. The teachers are also great at communicating with parents daily both in person and online with a portal that outlines the activities for the week and pictures so you can keep up with what your little ones are doing. Not only do I feel comfort in knowing my child is cared for and safe, I also know my child is receiving a holistic approach to early childhood education. The children have routine and stay active, and the teachers build a curriculum for the children where they learn about their community, art, science, architecture, biology, music, and more. The teachers take the children on several field trips that coincide with their curriculum visiting the Botanic Gardens, the Natural History Museum, National Gallery of Art, and local businesses to enhance what they are learning every day. I could not recommend the Hill Preschool enough, and I only wish I had found it sooner.

My daughter started earlier in the year the Capitol Hill location and from Day 1, it was a…read morewonderful experience. The environment is both living and educational. The focus on self reliance for the children is great, making them well prepared for entering school. The added bonus of an additional language being learned in the classroom is amazing! The staff knows each child and cares for them individually and treats them as little individuals with feelings. That has made me feel so comfortable and confident as I leave my child each day for work. I know she's well taken care of. We have truly enjoyed our time and look forward to rounding our year before school starts in the Fall.

We have been at Kiddie (now University for Kids) since our oldest kid was very young. We started at…read morethe H street location and moved to the F street location when our oldest moved to the preschool class. Our youngest started in the baby room at the F street location. Overall, we've been happy with our experience at both locations. The teachers clearly love the kids, and my daughters have always been happy to go and happy when we pick them up. And importantly, we feel that our kids are safe. Kiddie isn't as fancy as some other daycares, but my girls have still flourished; in particular, my very shy oldest kid really thrived and developed socially and emotionally while also learning other things like her ABCs. They were fantastic during COVID. Even when shut down at the beginning, they set twice daily zooms to give weary parents even a brief break, and they remained open for kids of essential workers. They reopened for everyone far earlier the most daycares, and have been careful but also less strict than many (kids must be 24 hours fever free, can't have more than one symptom, but they won't send you home with a runny nose, so we've actually had child care). And while they follow OPM, they have also reopened when possible if OPM makes a judgement call about inclement weather but then snow doesn't materialize. The communication from the location director could be better and isn't always the most professional, but it is improving. and April who oversees all of the Kiddie locations has been very responsive when we need help resolving billing issues and issues related to reimbursement for dependent care.

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.

TOTH is an amazing Montessori style facility. The teachers are caring, warm, knowledgeable and…read morefriendly. Most of the teachers have been there for years and they do a great job at retaining teachers year over year. My daughter absolutely loves the teachers and runs into the classroom when we drop her off. She talks about the teachers and friends at home often. My daughter's vocabulary, speaking ability, social interactions have improved so much since she joined TOTH. They also help with potty training from day 1 and at 2.5 my daughter is potty-trained and almost entirely independent with the bathroom. They also did an awesome job at navigating COVID and had minimal classroom closures and no major outbreaks in her classroom. TOTH also has an attached playground and they prioritize spending time outdoors, which my daughter loves. They go on long walks and do not use any carriers which is awesome because we can now go on short hikes or museums without a stroller. We couldn't ask for a better learning facility, TOTH is her home away from home.

We've sent two of our kids to TOTH and look forward to sending the third in a couple years. The…read moreteachers are extraordinary -- they truly embrace each child for who they are. Each of our (very different) kids has thrived at the school and felt totally loved and seen. The chill Montessori vibes have been good for our parenting and for our whole family. TOTH has given our kids a great foundation of self-confidence, independence, and love of learning to carry with them as they transition into DC schools.

This review is based on a tour. I met with Carolina this morning, who was very nice and…read moreprofessional. My bottom line is that they are doing the best with what they have. It's a small space without natural light, but it does feel bright. It's clean and the children seem happy and well cared for. We are likely not pursuing a spot for two main reasons: the lack of natural light and the lack of a dedicated playground, or playground nearby. We feel strongly that we want our daughter to have outdoor education incorporated into her day, and I wasn't thrilled with the idea that she would have to walk on busy DC streets to get to a park without playground equipment meant for her age. In short, I think it seems like a perfectly nice place, but I don't think it's the right fit for us.

We are very Happy with our son's first Kindergarten! In a…read morecaring and professional atmosphere, our son loved going there and felt at home form the first day! The facilities are new, clean and very welcoming. Mrs. Mattingly and her staff made sure all our needs are met and questions answered. Highly recommended!

My children are still enrolled!! I truly love this place EVERY teacher in the building CARES, they…read moreare respectful, responsive, very nice and my children just love them and so do I! The academics are important and they have my babies on track!! I love it!!!!!

This is a great school! Staff is extremely caring. They always welcome you with an upbeat attitude…read more(I don't know where they find the energy at the end of the day!). They are so well organized and fill the kids days with fun and educational activities. They take the older kids on great field trips. The summer program is more like camp than day care, and my kids absolutely love it - water play or pool every week, a weekly theme, magic show, reptile show, etc. etc. They go out of their way to have family events throughout the year (Thanksgiving feast, Christmas program, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Kick Off to Summer, Fall Festival etc), which make you feel part of the family. They provide all the meals and snacks, usually including a hot and healthy lunch. I always feel confident going to work that my kids are safe and well cared for. It's not easy leaving your little ones all day, but Loving 2 Learn made it so much better! We're really going to miss this school and the staff and other kids now that my little ones are moving on. Recommend highly to anyone looking for child care in the area.

Our daughter loves Primrose at the Parks. As a early toddler she is learning so much from the…read moreteachers and comes home every day with a new word or number or phrase. The staff is caring and knowledgeable. The facility is clean and well organized. The front office staff is quick to respond and so very pleasant to work with. I know my daughter is well cared for, safe, and happy when she is at Primrose and there is nothing better than that.

I am so pleased to have my child at Primrose at the Parks. He has been there a year and we've…read morereally seen him thrive. He kicks his legs with excitement everytime we pull into the parking lot. The staff are experts. Dr. Noveno the head of school is so loving with the kids and very involved in every classroom. The teachers in the toddler room plan amazing lessons. They treat each kid like a little artist and everything is very project based. The facility is clean with great toys for learning. And the playground is safe and wonderful for the very youngest of learners. They use an app which provides updates including photos and videos. As a new parent, leaving my child at daycare made me very nervous. But the staff has my full trust and their stellar communication has given me great confidence. I see my child being social and exploring at such a great pace. I really think it takes a village to raise a child and I consider Primrose a part of ours. We are very grateful.

We transferred here from another day care and our child went from disliking Mondays to asking if he…read morecould go to school on weekends. It seems to be just what childhood learning should be. Would highly recommend!

My daughter has been at TCS since we moved to the area 6 months ago and I can't speak highly enough…read moreof the supportive, caring, and fun environment she's been welcomed into. The play-based Reggio Emilia inspired approach is perfect for her and she loves the "rain or shine" mentality to outside play. She's often reluctant to leave school at the end of the day as she doesn't want to leave her friends or miss out on any of the excitement!

We have absolutely loved River Park for our little one. The play based model has taught him social…read moreskills, and he loves going to school each day. Highly recommend!

Two Rivers PCS, My…read morechild's first and last year. One would've thought after the new principal came onboard it would've got better, it got worse. First, Two Rivers starts at 8:15, and after 8:30 a student is considered late. You get15-minutes grace, but you'll sit on Benning Road for an half-hour just trying to get through the very busy, high- construction, congested intersection where all the schools in the area start at the same time. Two Rivers staff could do a better job with either starting school earlier, or having their staff to stand on 4th Street that will aid in a smoother traffic flow. There's one way in and one way out, and in the event of an emergency, time would definitely be a factor of life or death. Second, Ms. Chelsea, the new principal. Where do I begin? She has never formally introduced herself to the school-body. She's rarely at the school on-time, never accountable or available. She has failed many parents and is a disservice to the school. She's new to being a principal and it's more than evident that she was hired off familiarity. She probably was great in her other position at Two Rivers, but that's certainly not the case at Young. Maybe because she had two small children who knows, but she's way above her head in this position and the Two Rivers Community will suffer, because she'll never have enough integrity to own the fact that it's too much. Instead the school/students will fail. Third, the schools report card system. It's very subjective and holds no merit to the student or what's needed to excel with the standards of area public charter schools. It's evident that something is wrong, check out Two Rivers Report Card. No real preparation towards achieving in Science, Math, and Reading. What the teachers don't undertake, when their students fail, so do they! Fourth, the school is very racist! The schools grading system is in a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highest. Very rare do children of color ever score 4-5s while for children of other races it's a norm. During showcases, the African-American children receive small parts while other children receive larger. Fifth, the school use Wednesday's for teacher-development days. It not only causes a very expensive after-school bill for parents. The teachers have not used the time wisely to improve themselves or students to become academic achievers. Basically, Wednesday's has become just another day and nothing has changed! In Two Rivers you'll get diversity, but that's it! Send your child(ren) to a school that'll challenge them academically and learning is fun. A school that'll challenge them to want to know/learn more because it's that exciting. A principal who will always go above and beyond to service the students, parents, and staff. A principal that is dedicated and accountable. All parents wants what is best for their children and their schools should mirror that! The same as parents should enjoy all of the comforts of being home, they should have this the same hidden nugget of cultural treasure within their school.

I visited my friend who is a teacher there and I was really impressed. Working in a middle school…read moremyself, I noticed some of the differences right away. Two Rivers, is a smaller than usual middle school that services a very diverse student population. The fact that they are smaller is a great benefit to the child as a whole. The teachers are very in tune with what's going on with each child there. They work in a "family-like" environment where the old adage of "it takes a village to raise a child" holds truth. The staff seemed very much in sync and appeared to be glad to be working there unlike other schools I have visited before. The building itself lends itself to be inviting and comfortable. From the types of desks they use to the color of the wall, this entire building stimulates you to want to learn. The walls are painted with a very warm blue so soothing and calming. each classroom has a teacher and a teacher helper which makes the student-to-teacher ratio very small. I took a tour and was impressed by the aesthetics such as the partial glass walls! But overall, everyone was very inviting and nice as I walked through the halls with my friend giving me a tour. From what my friend tells me everyone works very hard to get to know each child at a personal level and everyone is concerned about the child's well being. I would recommend parents who are looking for schools in the area to visit and maybe ask for a small guided tour to see the building. As someone who works in a middle school with about 1,100 students, I believe smaller settings are crucial especially at the middle school level and if you are looking for that then you need to go check out Two Rivers.