Clara Barton vs. Harbor School for Preschool

[Anonymous]

Please give me any current feedback on Clara Barton Center for Children and Harbor School. We are new to the area and have heard great things about both schools. My child will start as a 2 years old and attend full day, five days a week. Clara Barton is slightly closer to our house. Cost is relatively similar.

[Anonymous]

Clara Barton was our number-one choice and we didn't get in. Maybe it's changed since the pandemic, but unless you live in Cabin John proper or have a sibling at the school, it is very difficult to get in. There is no child assessment, so I know it wasn't us!

[Anonymous]

Agree you are very lucky to get in CB as the size makes it very difficult. What you get with CB, assuming you are in the neighborhood, is having your kid come up with a cohort. My kid went to ES with kids he knew from there. It binds you to the neighborhood in that those are the families you see and perhaps possibly make friends with. Also these are the same families you see at the community pool and the rec center events and on the trails. It's a way to build community. That being said CB seems to have this sense of itself as something very special and I don't think that's true. It's a good preschool but it's not the magic place the administration seems to think it is. I don't know what you get with Harbor but if there's lots and bells and whistles in terms of enrichment that's very different than what CB offers.

[Anonymous]

I know this is an older post but figured I'd give a little feedback in case anyone is currently searching for feedback on Harbor. This is our 3rd year at Harbor and my daughter started in the 2/3's class and it's been the best decision we've ever made. We found them during the pandemic and previously at been in a daycare where our plan was that she would stay until it was time to go to Kindergarten. Fast forward, the pandemic hit and she turned 2 right as the world shut down and we pulled her out of daycare.We later found Harbor through our local facebook parent group and we were very impressed by their covid safety protocols back then and we decided to enroll our daughter. My husband and I always say, one of the best things to come out of the pandemic was to have found Harbor and enroll there. My daughter LOVES going to school, I kid you not every weekend she asks if its time to go to school. Even at the 2/3's level, through all the play there was so much learning. The teachers are the most caring and nurturing, making for such a warm environment. Our favorite thing about Harbor is how it's so individualized, they focus on each child. In each class there are 2 teachers ( a lead and an assistant) and this helps with group instruction but most importantly with working with each child individually, they truly get to know your child. Administration is wonderful and communicative and always so responsive. It's an overall small school (intentionally) which is a big plus, allowing for small class sizes. My daughter loooves the big playground and the specials are an added plus (PE, art, music, Spanish). We are currently in the Junior Kindergarten class and it's been fantastic. It's truly a gem of a school!