Anonymous wrote:Goddard Bethesda was single-handedly the worst of the schools my kid ever went to. We started looking for new schools as soon as we started, and know so many families who have left or only stay because it’s convenient.

Anonymous wrote:OP make sure to visit. Look closely at how engaged the teachers are, and ask about turnover. Also ask about ratios as that is a key indicator of quality.

We have visited centers where the teachers were visibly bored and unhappy. We went with a low-frills center (not in Bethesda unfortunately) where the teachers looked happy and engaged with the kids. There has been very low turnover in the 4 years we have been there. Even those that have left for other jobs come back to fill in for aftercare/breaks. No center/preschool director is going to tell you that their teachers are constantly leaving, but they should be able to brag about their low turnover.

Check https://www.checkccmd.org/ for licensing violation history.

Also look at their accreditation (e.g. NAEYC) as that can be a sign of quality, though be aware accreditation is expensive to obtain so many centers don't have it, doesn't mean they aren't high quality.