I like HMCDS.

Very affordable.

Very flexible staff.

Big emphasis on physical activity and getting outside.

And while they love to talk about their "learn through play" and downplay the academics, they DO teach kids a lot there. Just they mostly emphasize the socialization aspects of learning.

Lastly, the only drawback is the physical building is pretty old and needs more than a facelift. Luckily, they are building a new addition which will fix that one minor gripe.

My son goes to HMCDS, and we love it. He has been there for about a year. They use a play to learn based style of teaching. We chose this school because our son's favorite place to be is outside, and they spend quite a bit of time outdoors year round. There are two very large playgrounds (split up by ages), farm animals (including a pony--the kids get weekly pony rides), and even a small ampitheater used for the kids' end of the year concert and a spring fundraiser (Rocknocerous typically plays).

I also love the flexibility in scheduling--you can choose the days of the week your child is going to attend and whether he/she will go all day or half day.

I believe the waitlist is quite long, so if you're interested you should check it out sooner rather than later!

Any opinions on Hunter Mill Country Day School?