pre-k schools recommendation

[Anonymous]

Lowell takes 3 year olds and the Pre-Primary school is a gem. Wonderful community and school.
Good luck with your move!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You mean soul-crushing, right?

Perhaps not, if they plan to walk!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Concord Hill or Primary Day are good options, depending where in Bethesda you end up.

Definitely recommend Primary Day School in Bethesda! We had two children go through from Pre-K to 2nd and loved it! Both are now at Big 3 schools in the DC area. Look at their website for school placement info, over 90% placed in their first choice school!

[Anonymous]

Concord Hill is near Bethesda and a wonderful school for 3 years to 3rd grade.

[Anonymous]

Echo the recommendations for Concord Hill. Based on our experience thus far, they've handled the pandemic as well as any school could and provide a wonderful nurturing environment for its students. Small class sizes provide more flexibility and ability to do in-person learning, and apparently they have great outplacement if you're looking at privates post 3rd grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You mean soul-crushing, right?

Yes. Good old talk-to-text program. It's like Apple autocorrecting every pluralized weekday to a possessive weekday. Honestly, how many times is Monday's the correct answer over Mondays?

[Anonymous]

Oneness-Family School in Bethesda!

[Anonymous]

river, grace episcopal, harbor, NCRC, Lowell, Geneva day these schools take 3 year olds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1

Also with kindergarten. Don’t romanticize it too much.

[Anonymous]

St. Columba's Nursery School in Tenleytown is wonderful. They have a school dog. They have three chickens in their big, fun playground. I believe their outplacement has a good record (yes, for nursery school). Many teachers have been their for decades.

SCNS gives admissions preference to families living nearby. Entrance is competitive for three year-olds but not for four year-olds since DCPS becomes a free option.

[Anonymous]

We virtually toured NCRC a few weeks ago and we like it (although tuition is expensive).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

DC River mom here, this has never been an issue for us and have only actually ever gotten close to other DC families and some Bethesda folks. Sure some of this is luck of the draw, but given most of the families are in DC or MD, wouldn't want to leave OP with the impression River is a VA-centric place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any experience with the pre-k program at Norwood or lowell?

Experience here at Lowell for pre-primary. Great program and wonderful primary and middle school also.
Very warm community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We virtually toured NCRC a few weeks ago and we like it (although tuition is expensive).

It’s okay but not as great as St John in Georgetown IMO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St. Columba's Nursery School in Tenleytown is wonderful. They have a school dog. They have three chickens in their big, fun playground. I believe their outplacement has a good record (yes, for nursery school). Many teachers have been their for decades.

SCNS gives admissions preference to families living nearby. Entrance is competitive for three year-olds but not for four year-olds since DCPS becomes a free option.

I have also heard wonderful things about this school. Temple Sinai nursery school is also amazing ( and we are not Jewish) fyi