Arlington Daycare Feedback

[Anonymous]

Looking at daycare options for my infant daughter. Does anyone have feedback on A+ Kids 2 on Garfield Street, Clarendon Child Development Center, Arlington Children’s Center or Merit School (Pershing or Clarendon locations)?

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Hi OP, any chance you are on MONA? If not, I recommend joining if you are able and asking there as there will be a lot of information and responses. I've looked at a lot of the daycare around here and never heard of A+ Kids. Not sure if that means anything but I just looked it up and am surprised I haven't. Clarendon Child Development Center is incredibly well regarded and I've only heard wonderful things from other parents, but they only start at age 2.5 and have a very long waitlist. If you want to consider it for preschool, get on the list now. I don't think I've heard anything negative about Arlington Children's Center. I've heard some not great things about Merit Schools (some on this board) but also seen some parents post that they are happy there so may be good to get reviews from the exact center from current parents. That is something that MONA is helpful with.

FWIW we started with my infant in a center and moved to a home daycare and preferred that setting for the infant up until preschool years so that's an option to consider too.

[Anonymous]

PP, OP here. Thanks for the feedback, I will look into MONA! A+ kids is at the intersection Washington and Garfield. Any chance the in home daycare you looked at was Fablis Daycare or another in the Lyon Park area?

[Anonymous]

My infant was at Merit for a little over a year. There were some great teachers, but we didn’t love the management. There was high turnover among directors/staff, and poor implementation of covid policies. Just felt like a lot of unnecessary drama (though we were really happy with the care in the younger infant rooms).

FWIW I toured Clarendon CDC before covid and loved it. We almost switched. Waitlist length depends on age and is longest for younger infants. We were on the waitlist for the Arlington Children’s Center, but since they give preference to county employees I think getting a space is tough.

[Anonymous]

I witnessed rough playing and also a 1 year old being tossed on the classroom floor by a teacher and left on the floor crying. It was reported to the director and instead of taking action she gave the employee a day off because the employee stays to close and she feels like she was probably overwhelmed was her justification.

(The merit school of Clarendon)