DAY CARE CENTERS OLD TOWN

[elleraphael]

Good Afternoon,
My husband and I are looking at day care options for our infant baby girl. We have looked at the following schools:
1. Bright Horizons Old Town-- 9 month wait
2. Bright Horizons Innovation Station --/2 year wait
3. Madison Day School -- about 9 month wait
4. Blue Bird II -- no wait period

We were also thinking of visiting American Day School and possibly St. Anthony's (although their is a 2 year wait period).

We are hoping to get into Madison day school by the time our baby girl arrives. Although our tour of blue bird II was very pleasant, I am taken aback by the negative on-line reviews.

This is so difficult! Does anyone have any recommendations or thoughts about any of these places.

Thank you!!

Elle

[Anonymous]

We are at Madison and very happy. Two close friends who are at American Day School are as well. We toured Bright Horizons in Crystal City but it felt a little too centralized corporate for my taste, and we didn't feel good about the teacher turnover rates.

My advice would be get on a few lists of places that feel acceptable now and see what comes through when you actually need care.

[Anonymous]

We're happy at St. Anthony's and have friends who are happy at Madison Day School. I've heard good things about the others on your list except Blue Bird II. I'd also suggest getting on the Old Town Moms listserv, if you're not already, because sometimes daycares post unexpected openings there. Depending on your commute you might want to look into ones just outside of Old Town (e.g., Crystal City Children's Center).

If you haven't already seen this, here is a recent thread about severe violations at Blue Bird II:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/801666.page

[Anonymous]

Yes please look at the issues at blue bird posted above. I strongly recommend against sending your child there as I think that wasn't the first issue.

[Anonymous]

PP again. The list in the sticky at the top of this forum might also be helpful even if some info is outdated:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/450007.page

[elleraphael]

This is SO helpful! Thank you so much! It is very disturbing to hear about that horrific incident at Blue Bird. That REALLY gives me lots of reason to Pause about this choice. We didn't realize that pciking a day care would be so stressful, but it is. Again, thank you for your feedeback, it has shed light on some of our concerns.

[elleraphael]

How do I get on the old town moms list serve? I tried to join a discussion group via Yahoo, but was unsuccessful. Is there another group.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

elleraphael wrote:How do I get on the old town moms list serve? I tried to join a discussion group via Yahoo, but was unsuccessful. Is there another group.

Thanks!

I think that yahoo group is the one - someone may have to approve the request

[Anonymous]

Since Innovation Station prioritizes USPTO and federal employees, it is very hard to get off the waitlist there unless you are one or the other.

I know a couple people who used BH Old Town and were very happy.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone tried Everbrook in Crystal City?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since Innovation Station prioritizes USPTO and federal employees, it is very hard to get off the waitlist there unless you are one or the other.

I know a couple people who used BH Old Town and were very happy.

You can honestly forget about the infant room at Innovation Station unless you are USPTO (the USPTO gets first priority, followed by Federal, followed by everyone else).

[Anonymous]

PP here. Also, St. Anthony's infant rooms are basically ALL younger siblings, so you can forget about that.

It does get easier to get a spot for a 3 or 4 due to higher ratios and kids that move to other schools. A lot of times what happens is an older sibling gets a spot in a 3s room, and then a second child gets an infant spot when s/he is born.

[Anonymous]

Seconding that the Innovation Station isn't going to work out unless you are USPTO. Even employees have over a year wait.

My friend had her son at BH Old Town and loved it.

Avoid Blue Bird like the plague. If you read employee review pages (some of which are in Spanish) they seriously mistreat their employees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone tried Everbrook in Crystal City?

My daughter is at Everbrook. She was never in an infant room, but we’ve been so happy with our experiences there.

It took us about a year to get off the waitlist.

[Anonymous]

Anyone have experience with Children’s International on Quaker Lane? I would appreciate recent feedback! Thanks