McLean Preschools

[Anonymous]

I'm new to the area and am starting to look into preschools for my 3 year old for next fall in McLean. Does anyone have recommendations for a preschool which has caring stafff / warm environment and also has an 'academic' component to help prepare kids for kindergarten? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Have you done a search on this site? McLean has some good options, but forget the academic component. Play-based is what three year olds need more than anything. A morning program will be best, then home for lunch and nap.

[Anonymous]

Highly recommend Westgate Child Center in McLean, which has a fully day option, and new this year, half day option! They are in between buildings right now (state of the art new facilities coming in 2020) but they are outfitted in brand new, temporary learning cottages that are specified to meet all child care licensing standards (similar to what you will find with public schools in the area, but better because they are brand new). The average teacher tenure at Westgate is over 10 years! It's really a great place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Highly recommend Westgate Child Center in McLean, which has a fully day option, and new this year, half day option! They are in between buildings right now (state of the art new facilities coming in 2020) but they are outfitted in brand new, temporary learning cottages that are specified to meet all child care licensing standards (similar to what you will find with public schools in the area, but better because they are brand new). The average teacher tenure at Westgate is over 10 years! It's really a great place.

Learning cottage = trailer. I drive by there daily.

[Anonymous]

also depends on which part of McLean and how far you are willing to travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Highly recommend Westgate Child Center in McLean, which has a fully day option, and new this year, half day option! They are in between buildings right now (state of the art new facilities coming in 2020) but they are outfitted in brand new, temporary learning cottages that are specified to meet all child care licensing standards (similar to what you will find with public schools in the area, but better because they are brand new). The average teacher tenure at Westgate is over 10 years! It's really a great place.

Learning cottage = trailer. I drive by there daily.

Welcome to Fairfax County where most public schools have a trailer component! Better get used to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Highly recommend Westgate Child Center in McLean, which has a fully day option, and new this year, half day option! They are in between buildings right now (state of the art new facilities coming in 2020) but they are outfitted in brand new, temporary learning cottages that are specified to meet all child care licensing standards (similar to what you will find with public schools in the area, but better because they are brand new). The average teacher tenure at Westgate is over 10 years! It's really a great place.

Learning cottage = trailer. I drive by there daily.

Welcome to Fairfax County where most public schools have a trailer component! Better get used to it.

I don't care if they have trailers or not, I'm just clarifying because learning cottage just sounds so dumb. Call it what it is - a trailer.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies. Any part of McLean is fine as I'm willing to drive and travel time won't be a determining factor.

[Anonymous]

country day school

[Anonymous]

The Langley School is one of the more academic options but its expensive.

[Anonymous]

Ridgemont Montessori is a wonderful school.

[Anonymous]

Redeemer Lutheran has a fantastic program. I've heard equally good things about Trinity (on 123).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Highly recommend Westgate Child Center in McLean, which has a fully day option, and new this year, half day option! They are in between buildings right now (state of the art new facilities coming in 2020) but they are outfitted in brand new, temporary learning cottages that are specified to meet all child care licensing standards (similar to what you will find with public schools in the area, but better because they are brand new). The average teacher tenure at Westgate is over 10 years! It's really a great place.

Learning cottage = trailer. I drive by there daily.

NP here. I have a kid there and I decided to stay when they announced construction plans.

Yes it's a trailer. But think about it. What are you worried about? The trailers were brand new. New AC, walls, floors, bathrooms, vents, all that goes in a building. It looks f'ing ugly from the outside but what is your kid missing out on by being in a trailer? Inside it just looks like a classroom (like those trailers at many Fairfax County elementaries).

Most of my kid's 25+ classmates stayed. My main reason for staying was the teachers. Warm, loving, teachers, many with very long tenures, as in more than 2 decades, 15 years, 12 years, 8 years. About 3 teachers were hired the past year, they expanded classrooms (opened up a PT option). Westgate is also a nonprofit. Their tuition would have been much higher if there was an owner that needed profits.

I don't regret staying one bit and I actually enrolled my younger child there too. Kids being in trailers had no bad effects that I can perceive.

Post got long, but I just wanted to say the teachers there make that place a gem.

[Anonymous]

Adding to the post above. I don't claim to know which Mclean preschools have the best "academic" component you ask about. I can see my older child's progress (knows how to spell some words and read a few words at age 4) but I have no way of knowing if she would have ended up more advanced in reading skills had I placed her in a Montessori, a chain center, or an inhome daycare. I think from 3-4, focus on a warm loving environment, I don't think the curriculum matters. For the 4-5 crowd, yes, as some kids might start showing strong interest in trying to read and practicing writing out words. You have time if your kid is 3.

[Anonymous]

We've been very happy at Dolley Madison. The teachers are all very warm and kind and it has been a great environment for my children.

It's a play-based preschool, but there were a number of children in my child's 4s class last year who could read by the end of the year.

We sent our older child to another McLean preschool prior to Dolley Madison and the difference between that school and Dolley Madison was significant. The teachers at Dolley Madison are very caring and interested in the children and the children are happy. At our prior preschool this was not the case.