With the welcome return to (mostly) in-person schooling, we once again face tough decisions about which preschools will be the best for our children.
Fortunately, our region is home to some of the best preschools in the nation. From free Pre-K3 in some public schools, to charter schools, private schools, and more, there is an awesome, accessible preschool program for everyone.
We’re created this comprehensive list of local preschools to help ease the decision-making process for you. Read about some of our sponsored schools, and take a look at the tabs below for a list of all of the wonderful preschools in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
AIDAN MONTESSORI
With the innovative and proven Montessori Method at our core, Aidan prepares children to learn confidently, think independently, and succeed wherever they go.
Aidan Montessori School is a co-ed, independent private school for children ages 18 months through grade 6. Founded in 1961, Aidan is the only school in DC that holds accreditation from the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools and American Montessori Internationale.
Aidan follows the highest standards of Montessori pedagogy to prepare children for successful and fulfilling lives. Everything at Aidan revolves around how children learn best. Aidan students grow into independent thinkers, confident learners, effective collaborators, and responsible citizens.
Student Ages:
18 Months to Grade 6
Open Houses:
November 17, 2021 – 7:30-9:00 PM
December 3, 2021 – 9:30-11:00 AM
January 7, 2022 – 9:30-11:00 AM
January 13, 2022 – 7:30-9:00 PM
Application Deadline:
January 14, 2022
GREEN HEDGES SCHOOL
Green Hedges School is an independent coeducational day school for students with a
Montessori program for children ages 2 through 5 and a traditional preparatory program for Grades 1 through 8. The moment you step on to our campus nestled in the Historic Windover Heights neighborhood of Vienna, VA, you will feel the energy and warmth generated by our diverse community of children and adults.
For 79 years, Green Hedges School has honored and nurtured the mission of our founders, Frances and Kenton Kilmer, to provide a challenging academic program steeped in world languages, the arts, and athletics, while supporting the healthy intellectual, social, and emotional growth of our students. The result is a dynamic school environment in which preschool, elementary, and middle school children flourish.
Students at Green Hedges get the care, the personal attention, and the guidance they need to thrive as learners and as young people. And thrive they do. The vast majority of graduates matriculate to their top-choice high school, prepared to thoughtfully and confidently meet new challenges and succeed. The foundation they gain at Green Hedges School stays with them for the rest of their lives.
Student Ages:
2 Years through Grade 8
Open Houses:
Monday, November 8, 6:15 p.m. – 7 p.m. : Middle School (Virtual)
Wednesday, November 17, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. : Lower School (Virtual)
Wednesday, December 1, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.: Montessori (Virtual)
Saturday, December 4, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Visit Green Hedges In-Person
Thursday, January 13, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.: 2-year olds (Virtual)
Application Deadline:
February 15, 2022
WHOLE KIDS ACADEMY
Whole Kids Academy is a Spanish-immersion preschool that serves a community of families who value a warm, loving environment and holistic approach to education.
Student Ages:
Infants – Kindergarten, plus K-5 After School Enrichment and Summer Camps
Open Houses:
January 11, 2022
April 5, 2022
Application Deadline:
Confirm Fall 2022 Enrollment by March 30th!
BASIS INDEPENDENT MCLEAN
At BASIS Independent McLean, an age 2–grade 12 private school, students are empowered to explore, discover, and create as they learn at the highest international levels.
The world-acclaimed BASIS Curriculum combines top education systems worldwide, resulting in a spiraling liberal arts program with advanced STEM offerings. Students engage in Mandarin, engineering, mathematics, logic, fine arts, and much more, all taught by passionate Subject Expert Teachers who bring high-level content to life and empower students’ full potential.
The vibrant learning community is centered around the school’s core values: show respect, take responsibility, and make improvements.
Student Ages:
2 years – Grade 12
Admission Deadline:
Rolling
Open Houses:
January 22, 2022
March 26, 2022
8000 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, VA 22102
703.854.1253
BRIGHT HORIZONS EARLY EDUCATION AND PRESCHOOL
Bright Horizons® knows childhood is a treasured time and they believe it is their responsibility to provide environments and experiences that capture the joys of childhood, nurture each child’s individual growth and development, and pave the way for success in school and life.
Bright Horizons’ exceptional educators have been providing high quality early education and care to children in the DC area for over 20 years. Find a Bright Horizons center near you at brighthorizons.com/washington-dc.
Student Ages:
Infants to Kindergarten Prep
Application Deadline:
Rolling Admissions
Multiple Locations throughout DMV
877.624.4532
ROCHAMBEAU THE FRENCH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Starting at 2 years old and continuing through 12th grade, students at Rochambeau receive instruction in both English and French, and can start a third language as early as elementary school (Arabic, Spanish). Students represent more than 80 nationalities and communicate in over 25 different languages.
As the only accredited French school in the Washington, DC, area, Rochambeau proudly enrolls children without any knowledge of French until the 4th grade. Graduates of Rochambeau go on to study at top universities in the US, Canada, UK, France, and all around the world.
Students receive their US high school diploma at the end of 11th grade and the French Baccalaureate at the end of 12th grade. Rochambeau also offers the IB dual language diploma program for 11th and 12th grade students.
Student Ages:
2 years through 12th grade
Application Deadline:
January 19, 2022
Open House:
November 20, 2021
9600 Forest Rd
Bethesda, MD 20814
301.530.8260
SAINT ANN CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Welcome to Saint Ann Catholic School Preschool! Our Christ-centered family provides a loving and nurturing environment where students flourish as their unique gifts and talents emerge and develop. Our teachers love and care for each individual child, who is created in the image and likeness of God. We are proud to offer an educational program that nourishes the mind, body, and soul as we work with parents to prepare their children for kindergarten.
This nurturing environment fosters confidence and the ability to achieve class and individual goals. You won’t believe what students from our small and mighty school go on to do after they leave Saint Ann’s – rocket scientists, doctors, lawyers, engineers, foreign service officers, teachers… the list goes on and on.
The Saint Ann Catholic School family believes, achieves and inspires. We believe in the Gospel teachings of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. We achieve personal excellence in an academic community that nurtures mind, body and soul. We inspire one another to glorify God by embracing his call to love and serve.
Student Ages:
3 years through 8th grade
Application Deadline:
Applications open November 15, with rolling admissions afterward
Private Tours:
By Appointment
980 N. Frederick Street
Arlington, VA 22205
703.525.7599
ACORN HILL WALDORF KINDERGARTEN & NURSERY
At Acorn Hill Waldorf Kindergarten & Nursery, we strive to encourage and protect the sense of wonder and gratitude nourishing the child’s imagination, and to provide a warmth-filled place to work, play and create. We believe that play is the serious work of childhood, and that learning by doing provides the foundation for critical thinking, problem solving and a lifelong enthusiasm for knowledge.
Developed by Rudolf Steiner in 1919, Waldorf Education is based on a developmental approach that addresses the needs of the growing child. Waldorf teachers strive to transform education into an art that educates the whole child—the heart and the hands, as well as the head.
Student Ages:
3-6 years
Application Deadline:
February 1, 2022
Open Houses:
December 2, 2021
December 16, 2021
January 13, 2022
January 27, 2022
9504 Brunett Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20901
301.565.2282
ST. JOHN'S PRESCHOOL
St. John’s Preschool is a Reggio inspired program serving children from 2.5 – 5 years old in three classrooms. We celebrate children’s depth of wonder and joy in the world, and to engage with them and their families in their explorations. In a rich environment, children collaborate with experienced teachers to extend their thinking and to develop their unique abilities.
We believe that learning and teaching require opportunities to create deep relationships with people and materials. We offer children the “Hundred Languages” with which to express themselves.
Student Ages:
2.5-5 years
Application Deadline:
January 31, 2022
Open House:
December 6, 2021
3240 O Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
202.338.2574
OUR LADY OF VICTORY SCHOOL
Our Lady of Victory is a dynamic and diverse Catholic school located in the heart of Washington, DC, with 225 students in PK3 through 8th grade.
OLV is well known for its academic excellence, superior staff, small student/teacher ratio, well-rounded graduates and its recognition as a two-time National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
Student Ages:
PK3 – 8th grade
Application Deadline:
January 31, 2022
Open Houses:
November 17, 2021
December 1st, 2021
January 12th, 2022
February 2nd, 2022
February 16th, 2022
4755 Whitehaven Parkway NW
Washington, DC 20007
202.337.1421
BARRIE SCHOOL
Barrie School inspires excellence, intrinsic motivation, and responsibility through innovation in learning. Serving a diverse and inclusive student body, our intentional educational throughline—from Montessori (12 months to Grade 5) to Project-Based Learning (Grades 6-12) —cultivates learning that lasts.
Our community fosters a deep sense of belonging and honors student voice and responsibility, coming together to create engaged citizens with diverse and inclusive worldviews who are confident to be and advocate for themselves.
Our extraordinary learning environment on 45 acres also houses the world-renowned Barrie Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies, and Barrie Camp, a D.C. area tradition since the 1950s.
Student Ages:
12 months – grade 12
Open Houses:
January 8, 2022
April 23, 2022
13500 Layhill Road
Silver Spring, MD 20906
301.576.2800
CONCORD HILL SCHOOL
A leader in early childhood education since 1965, Concord Hill School nurtures and inspires children to embrace and enjoy learning during the early childhood years.
Our Five Core Values guide our dynamic academic and social curriculum, anchoring our teachers, students, and parents in an inclusive and joyful community.
Student Ages:
Age 3 through Grade 3
Application Deadline:
January 31, 2022
Virtual Open Houses*:
December 8, 2021 – 9:30-10:30 am
January 8, 2022 – 9:00-10:00am
*RSVP to [email protected] to receive the Zoom link
CHARLES E. SMITH JEWISH DAY SCHOOL
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School’s Gurim Junior Kindergarten balances academics and play in a developmentally appropriate setting. The program focuses on real world experiences, structured fun, learning through play and song, and building community.
The Gurim classrooms promote children’s learning in all developmental domains, including cognitive, communication, physical, social-emotional, and ethical-moral development. Students are nurtured in a values-rich environment, while benefiting from the characteristics of a larger school including: a roster of specials with dedicated expert instructors, older students as reading/STEM buddies, and enhanced facilities.
Student Ages:
Gurim Junior Kindergarten is CESJDS’s early childhood program. We also serve K through 12th grade students.
Application Deadline:
January 15, 2022
Open House:
November 7, 2021
SCHOOL FOR FRIENDS
School for Friends is a Washington, DC preschool that provides a loving, caring, and supportive program for children ages 18 months to five years.
For over 39 years, our curriculum has reflected the Quaker values of cooperation, equality, and nonviolence. Our developmental program focuses on helping children solve problems together, resolve conflicts, think independently and make choices.
School for Friends is accredited by NAEYC and is a member of Friends Council on Education.
Student Ages:
18 months – 5 years
Application Deadline:
March 1, 2022
Open Houses:
October 20, 2021
November 10, 2021
December 8, 2021
January 12, 2022
February 9, 2022
February 16, 2022
LITTLE FOLKS SCHOOL
At Little Folks School, children learn through active exploration and interaction with teachers, other children, and materials in a carefully prepared environment.
Small class sizes and low teacher-student ratios allow for individualized and differentiated instruction focusing on each child’s strengths, needs, and affinities. We focus on educating the whole child, including physical, social-emotional, and cognitive growth and development of our students.
Little Folks School serves children, ages 18 months-5 years old, in a mixed-age classroom environment that provides a unique space for inspiring a child’s natural curiosity and creative expression.
Student Ages:
18 months – 5 years old
Admission Deadline:
February 11, 2022
Open Houses:
October 13, 2021
November 10, 2021
December 8, 2021
January 12, 2022
February 2, 2022
3247 Q St NW
Washington, DC 20007
202.333.6571
PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF ARLINGTON
Primrose® Schools – The Leader in Early Education
90% of brain development occurs by your child’s 5th birthday. Maximize potential with our Balanced Learning® approach. Primrose School of Arlington is an accredited childhood education center offering full-day care for children ages six weeks through six years of age.
Our program includes STEAM based learning, meals, snacks, and ancillary programs all developed exclusively to help create active minds, healthy bodies, and happy hearts. Admissions are rolling, so schedule a tour to learn more: https://www.primroseschools.com/schools/arlington/schedule-a-tour/
Also enrolling for our 2022 Junior Explorer Summer Camp and our Summer Adventure program for 5-12 years of age.
Student Ages:
Infants through Kindergarten
Admission Deadline:
Rolling
Open Houses:
Once a Month – Please Refer to Website Calendar
2107 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington VA 22201
703.565.9800
BROWNE ACADEMY
Browne Academy began as one of the first integrated schools in Virginia. Today that spirit of inclusion endures, as our core values – excellence, diversity, character, and community – are an integral part of our school’s tapestry.
We intentionally keep our class sizes small to nurture each child’s academic, social, and emotional growth. Our inquiry-based program helps students and teachers approach topics by focusing on the process, not simply the end result. From preschool-8th grade, teachers challenge students to ask thoughtful questions to guide conversations, allow for deeper dives into topics, and be the catalyst for new and more sophisticated world views.
Student Ages:
Preschool through 8th grade
Application Deadline:
February 1, 2022
Open Houses:
November 11, 2021
December 5, 2021
January 12, 2022
April 14, 2022
May 21, 2022
THE GARDNER SCHOOL OF HERNDON
The Gardner School of Herndon is now accepting new students! An academically-focused preschool for ages 6 weeks to 5 years old, The Gardner School offers a year-round full and part-time early childhood education program in a secure, stimulating, and educationally-engineered space. Our research-based program is designed to encourage students’ emerging sense of self while nurturing intellectual growth, exploration, and socialization.
The Gardner School of Herndon also offers a S.T.E.A.M.-focused summer program, Camp Gardner. For more information, please visit www.TheGardnerSchool.com.
Student Ages:
6 weeks through 5 years
PALISADES MONTESSORI
Palisades Montessori is a Montessori school located in the Palisades community of Washington, DC. We have two beautiful classrooms in close proximity to each other. Our Primary Program provides school-year care and education to preschoolers from ages three to five years. Our Infant and Toddler Center provides full-year care and education to infants and toddlers from age three months until their entry into the Primary Program.
Palisades Montessori is a warm, loving learning community that has been serving families since 1984. We look forward to welcoming you to our community and nurturing your child during these early days of tremendous possibility.
Student Ages:
3 months to 5 years
Admission Deadline:
Rolling
Open Houses:
December 5, 2021
January 9, 2022
ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
Through an increased understanding of early brain development, we know a well-balanced preschool curriculum rich in unstructured free play, self-guided discovery, and academic instruction helps establish a strong foundation for learning and prepares young minds for the rigors of academic life.
The benefits of a St. Andrew’s Episcopal School preschool experience include:
- A highly trained, experienced teaching faculty who receive ongoing education in the Responsive Classroom approach, social-emotional learning, and Mind, Brain, and Education Science
- A loving, supportive learning environment
- An inquiry-based curriculum and student-centered pedagogy that includes music and movement, art, science, physical education, Spanish, religion, mindfulness (Peace of Mind curriculum), and formal yoga instruction
Student Ages:
2 through Grade 12
Admission Deadline:
January 14, 2022
Open Houses:
December 7, 2021
January 11, 2022
Acorn Hill Waldorf Kindergarten & Nursery
Beauvoir, The National Cathedral Elementary School
British International School of Washington
Broadcaster’s Child Development Center
Children’s House of Washington (C.H.O.W.)
Embassy Row Child Development Center
Montessori School of Washington
National Child Research Center (NCRC)
Saint Albans Early Childhood Center
Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center
The Franklin Montessori School Forest Hills Campus
Washington Hebrew Congregation
Aspen Hill Cooperative Nursery School
Barnesville School of Arts & Sciences
Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church Nursery School
Camp Olympia Country Day School
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
Children’s Manor Montessori School (CMMS)
Glenbrook Cooperative Nursery School
Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School
Montgomery Montessori Institute / Teacher Education
Rochambeau – French International School
Saint Luke Christian Day School
Sandy Spring Friends School (SSFS)
Spring Bilingual Montessori Academy
Spring Valley Montessori Academy
TLC’s – The Katherine Thomas School
Children’s House Montessori School
Children’s House of Washington (C.H.O.W.)
Children’s Manor Montessori School (CMMS)
Montessori School at Goose Creek Preserve
Montessori School of Alexandria
Montessori School of Cedar Lane
Montessori School of Holmes Run
Montessori School of Northern Virginia
Montessori School of Washington
Montgomery Montessori Institute / Teacher Education
Spring Bilingual Montessori Academy
Spring Valley Montessori Academy
Sunset Hills Montessori School
Hi! You missed Children’s House of Washington Montessori in Georgetown 🙂 They’ve been around for nearly 40 years with rave reviews. Both of my kiddos attended. Truly amazing school!
Thank you for letting me know, and so glad to hear about your positive experience! Nothing better than testimonials from parents. I just added them to the DC and Montessori tabs 🙂