pre-k schools recommendation

[Anonymous]

Beauvoir was great for our family!

[Anonymous]

We’re at Woods and love it! We plan to stay beyond the Montessori years.

[Anonymous]

British International School in Georgetown

[Anonymous]

NCRC will be a brutal commute from Bethesda/Potomac.

The River School, in NWDC (Palisades neighborhood) is easily drivable from Bethesda and some parts of Potomac.

[Anonymous]

I don't care how good the pre-K is; nothing is worth spending two hours a day in your car when the kid is only 3, unless you don't care because it'll be the nanny doing the driving. Prioritize location.

[Anonymous]

Even if it's the nanny doing the driving, having your kid strapped into a car seat for that long every day is torture for the kid. Location is really important. Keep in mind, too, that the current low levels of traffic can easily cut commute time in half of what it will normally be.

[Anonymous]

Definitely consider The Harbor School in Potomac! It's a very small, tightknit community, Preschool 2s through 2nd Grade. Warmest, most nurturing place ever!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even if it's the nanny doing the driving, having your kid strapped into a car seat for that long every day is torture for the kid. Location is really important. Keep in mind, too, that the current low levels of traffic can easily cut commute time in half of what it will normally be.

Thank you very much for the suggestion! We haven't decided where to live, but would like to take school options into consideration when we make the decision.

[Anonymous]

Another recommendation for the Harbor School in Potomac! We have been exceptionally happy there and more importantly our son is! If you move to the Potomac/Rockville area it’s the best choice. Good luck with your move!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hands down, NCRC (National Child Research Center) in Northwest DC is one of the best preschools in the area (if not the best).

Best of the luck with the move!

Agree! I visited a number of preschools and was struck by what a special place NCRC is. And our DC, who entered NCRC with developmental delays, has progressed tremendously and loves going to school. We've also been impressed by how they've managed COVID this year. Highly recommend but agree with others that you should figure out where you'll be living first. There are a number of great preschools throughout the DC area; there's no need for a long commute.

We thought NCRC was lovely.

We ultimately chose Lowell for our daughter. Now in our fourth year there, and we couldn’t be happier. It’s a diverse, down to earth community. Parents are largely reasonable about the limitations of school amid a pandemic. Lowell has worked tirelessly to make things safe and equitable. We are just so pleased with it. They truly support the social/emotional well being of each child, and I can’t think of a better place for my daughter to be during such a challenging time. It’s made us better parents, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NCRC will be a brutal commute from Bethesda/Potomac.

The River School, in NWDC (Palisades neighborhood) is easily drivable from Bethesda and some parts of Potomac.

Bear in mind, a significant part of River community lives in VA, bc it’s relatively easy commute wise. Think about that for play dates.

- Lowell mom from previous post with DC friends at River.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hands down, NCRC (National Child Research Center) in Northwest DC is one of the best preschools in the area (if not the best).

Best of the luck with the move!

Agree! I visited a number of preschools and was struck by what a special place NCRC is. And our DC, who entered NCRC with developmental delays, has progressed tremendously and loves going to school. We've also been impressed by how they've managed COVID this year. Highly recommend but agree with others that you should figure out where you'll be living first. There are a number of great preschools throughout the DC area; there's no need for a long commute.

We thought NCRC was lovely.

We ultimately chose Lowell for our daughter. Now in our fourth year there, and we couldn’t be happier. It’s a diverse, down to earth community. Parents are largely reasonable about the limitations of school amid a pandemic. Lowell has worked tirelessly to make things safe and equitable. We are just so pleased with it. They truly support the social/emotional well being of each child, and I can’t think of a better place for my daughter to be during such a challenging time. It’s made us better parents, too.

If you started your daughter in preschool at Lowell- that means she is anywhere from 1st through 3rd grade- which is all remote! Not sure how equitable it is to have 1-3 grade remote while bringing back older children who can do distance learning much better.

[Anonymous]

Another recommendation for Norwood here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another recommendation for Norwood here

Does Norwood take in 3 years olds?

[Anonymous]

Harbor School if you're closer to Potomac. Concord Hill in Bethesda.
NCRC is really the gold standard in preschools in this area and has a decent number of Bethesda/ Chevy Chase families, but a bit too far from Potomac for a 3yo. If Crestview Montessori is convenient you could also consider Chevy Chase Montessori or Washington Waldorf's preschool.