Arlington Area Full-Day PreK 4 Recommendations

[Anonymous]

Recommendations for a 2 or 3 day a week full-day PreK (daughter born summer 2016) in the Arlington, Falls Church, or Vienna area for September 2020. I would love something that is like an 8 - 2 pm or a normal school day time frame. I'm looking for a place that is structured but play-based and led by early-ed teachers (not something daycare-like). We're flexible on price, at this point, but, only want 2 or 3 days. We are moving to the area this summer, so, we don't know anything at this point.
Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Early Years Preschool in Arlington is 9:30-2:30. I'm not sure what days they offer but might be worth checking out.

[Anonymous]

I think Arlington Community Preschool might meet your needs well - they have different day and time options that align with what you’re looking for and most kids don’t go past 3pm I don’t think. I’ve only taken a tour but have heard good things from a couple parents in the neighborhood. Definitely a small church preschool vibe in that they don’t have a set approach, but each teacher kind of has their own approach. Small which seemed nice and I’ve heard it’s a caring place which is mostly what matters of course. Website is pretty thin on info, I had to visit to get more but you could email them. Kids do have to be potty trained there. https://arlingtonalliance.org/admission-tuition

You might also check out Columbia Baptist cdc which is a really wonderful school right on the edge of Arlington/falls church - they offer a variety of half day to full day programs and it looks like you can extend the half day with lunch bunch to 2pm. I toured a lot of preschools in the area and they had the best outdoor play space by far and I’ve heard wonderful things from parents. I would have definitely sent my child there but didn’t work for my commute. The outdoor area is under construction for the next few months I believe but it’s really amazing in my opinion.

https://www.columbiabaptist.org/child-development-center/programs/half-day/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Arlington Community Preschool might meet your needs well - they have different day and time options that align with what you’re looking for and most kids don’t go past 3pm I don’t think. I’ve only taken a tour but have heard good things from a couple parents in the neighborhood. Definitely a small church preschool vibe in that they don’t have a set approach, but each teacher kind of has their own approach. Small which seemed nice and I’ve heard it’s a caring place which is mostly what matters of course. Website is pretty thin on info, I had to visit to get more but you could email them. Kids do have to be potty trained there. https://arlingtonalliance.org/admission-tuition

You might also check out Columbia Baptist cdc which is a really wonderful school right on the edge of Arlington/falls church - they offer a variety of half day to full day programs and it looks like you can extend the half day with lunch bunch to 2pm. I toured a lot of preschools in the area and they had the best outdoor play space by far and I’ve heard wonderful things from parents. I would have definitely sent my child there but didn’t work for my commute. The outdoor area is under construction for the next few months I believe but it’s really amazing in my opinion.

https://www.columbiabaptist.org/child-development-center/programs/half-day/

Just read about play-based and early Ed not daycare like, I would say both of those above meet that for sure. Columbia Baptist is Reggio Emilia inspired so very play based, but a long standing very well run and structured program from what I’ve heard (weirdly I actually went there was a child for a couple years but that seems too long ago to report! ) Arlington Community Preschool definitely operates like a preschool more than daycare, but I feel like the teachers experience seemed more varied - the director is a former mom of kids there, I will be honest she didn’t strike me as the most experienced of early childhood Ed directors but I’ve had one mom in the neighborhood whose been to multiple schools in the area through multiple kids say it was her favorite for its small, low ratio classes