We went to a non-profit daycare for DC#1 and ended up switching to a nanny. Trust me, money can be diverted away from anything that benefits your child and mismanaged at a non-profit to benefit the top administrators quite easily. This place was the most expensive in the area around $400+ for an infant several years ago yet the teacher turnover was abyssmal because they only paid $10 an hour.

We sent our kids to Franklin in Rockville for preschool and really liked it. The extra teachers for the enrichment classes like drama, art, music, and languages make a big difference.

Anonymous wrote:Current Franklin Parent. I would never pick a for-profit school again.

I would also be curious to know more about this. How does this manifest itself? I'm deciding between Aidan (non profit) and Franklin and like Franklin better but would like to hear more about this.

Franklin mom here. I am surprised with all the negative posts. We cannot be happier with Franklin. I did not notice that the teachers were uncaring. I trust my daughter's feedback and she regularly tells me she loves her teachers. She is very happy there, she wants to go even during week-ends and could not wait to go back to school this summer.

My advice : Go observe a class. Do not let this forum decide for you.

Wow, I'd only read and heard positive feedback on Franklin. This is disappointing to hear, since it is one of the only full-day preschool options for 2s.

Having worked there, I will also tell you that the "for profit" is even more disturbing because they do not have a health plan for their employees.

Yes , I do not like this as well.
Very strange to me. We are from Boston , and it was different there . Met the class teacher, and was comfortable before leaving the child.
Well, this is my view.
Shall find another Montessori School.

17:52 could you explain why? What does the for profit part have to do with it? Sorry if I sound naive. I'm not the OP but a FTM just trying to figure out preschools in DC.

Current Franklin Parent. I would never pick a for-profit school again.

sharpa wrote:We're considering Franklin Montessori for our two children, but are concerned about the class sizes and student:teacher ratios. We'd love to hear more from current parents about their experiences.

My shy child is in a room with 3 teachers and about 30 kids and she does very well. It depends on the teacher though, no matter how great your student teacher ratio may seem. If you want Montessori, you have to get used to their ratio. It seems to work well though in our case. Our child is doing great socially and is learning tons. She loves Franklin.

We're considering Franklin Montessori for our two children, but are concerned about the class sizes and student:teacher ratios. We'd love to hear more from current parents about their experiences.

Anonymous wrote:I disagree. Very warm, loving and pays great attention to the kids. My daughter is in room 3. I love the school, my daughter loves the teachers.

My kid is in a different room. The room 3 teacher seems really great and warm, perhaps more so than the teacher in my kid's room. It's not a deeply warm-and-fuzzy environment, but they do a lot with the kids and my child definitely enjoys it there. I have some reservations about a class of 30 students with 3 teachers, given the energy that goes into sheer behavior management of so many kids, but there are benefits to the mix of ages.

Anonymous wrote:There to do a job--not to love your kids. Not the place for warm, fuzzy or caring.

Were you referring to Franklin or Aidan? And did your child go to that school, or just observation?

I disagree. Very warm, loving and pays great attention to the kids. My daughter is in room 3. I love the school, my daughter loves the teachers.

There to do a job--not to love your kids. Not the place for warm, fuzzy or caring.

So, one hears a lot about at least some Aidan teachers/instruction, but in the tour of Franklin Montessori, there was no interaction with the parents and teachers, so I couldn't get a feel for that. Can anyone comment on the teachers and how they are there?