With so many households having both adults working and placing their bundles of joy in the hands of day care providers, we here at Northern Virginia Magazine want to help parents make informed choices. We sent over 950 surveys to state-licensed day care centers in the Northern Virginia area asking for information about their staff, curriculum and facilities. The centers on the Top Day Cares and Preschools listing are centers whose staff and facilities go above and beyond both the state’s licensing requirements and the average center in Northern Virginia.
Grading: From the responses we received, we graded each center in five areas, using both the Virginia Quality Program and NAEYC standards as a basis for our own grading scale.
Teacher Certifications: Each center was ranked on a scale of 1-20 for the certifications the directors, lead teachers and assistant teachers held from master’s degrees in early childhood education to high school diplomas.
Teacher-to-Student Ratios: Centers were asked to supply the teacher-to-student ratios for each age group (in year increments) as well as maximum class size. Those with the smaller ratios and class size were awarded higher grades.
Parent and Teacher Communication: We asked each center how often they perform the conferences, activity logs/schedules and assessments as well as what tools they offer parents: translators, unannounced parent visits, videotaping of classrooms and parent volunteer opportunities.
Curriculum: Centers were given a checklist of 10 curriculum standards (formatted daily schedule, individualized learning practices, rest/nap time, art time, literacy time, language, math, science, computer and free play) and were given points for each addressed in the center’s program.
Facilities: Centers were given a checklist of 10 items: individualized space for children’s things, dramatic play/dress-up area, sensory materials, playground equipment, bike area, ball area, open space, swings, book area and computer area.
• Accotink Academy Preschool
6215 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152
703-451-5797
9 a.m.-2 p.m. (after care available)
Part-time programs
$290-$565/Monthly
2.5-5 years
• Alpha-Bet Cooperative Preschool
10047 Nokesville Road, Manassas, VA 20110
703-361-8689
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Part-time programs
$245-$340/Monthly
3-4 years
• Animated Child Enrichment Center
5167 Waterway Drive, Montclair, VA 22025
703-763-0003
6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Both
$180-$280/Weekly
24 months-4 years
• Annandale Cooperative Preschool
8410 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003
703-978-6127
9 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Part-time programs
$226-$404/Monthly
24 months-4 years
• Aquia Harbour Preschool
1106 Spain Drive, Stafford, VA 22554
540-659-5771
9 a.m.-noon; 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Part-time programs
$100-$120/Monthly
3-4 years
• Browne Academy
5917 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA 22310
703-960-3000
7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Both
$15,720-$23,980/Annually
3-4 years
• CA Montessori Children’s Center (Military only)
2291 Wood Oak Drive, Herndon, VA 20171
703-708-3699
8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Full-day programs
$340-$399/Weekly
Birth-5 years
• Capital Kids Preschool & Learning Center
8758 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309
703-360-3668
6 a.m.-11 p.m.
Both
$265-$315/Weekly
Birth-12 years
• Carousel Children’s Academy
9151 Centreville Road, Manassas, VA 20110
703-365-7622
6 a.m.-6:45 p.m.
Both
$180-$240/Weekly
Birth-12 years
• Centreville Preschool Inc.
13916 Braddock Road, Centreville, VA 20120
703-830-5656
8:50 a.m.-3:10 p.m.
Both
$100-$335/Monthly
30 months-5 years
• Children’s International School of Alexandria
25 S. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA 22314
703-751-7266
7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Full-day programs
$1,160-$1,290/Monthly
2-4 years
• Christ Presbyterian Preschool
12410 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax, VA 22033
703-691-9120
8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Both
$215-$1,170/Monthly
24 months- 4 years
• Classroom of Discovery
201 E. Frederick Drive, Sterling, VA 20164
703-927-3333
9 a.m.-noon
Part-time programs
$600-$6,100/Annually
18 months-4 years
• Creative Learning School
8331 Washington Ave., Alexandria, VA 22309
703-799-0335
6:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Both
$140-$310/Weekly
16 months-12 years
• Creative Play School
845 N. Howard St., Alexandria, VA 22304
703-751-3388
6:45 a.m.-6 p.m.
Full-day programs
$1,225-$1,465/Monthly
16 months-5 years
• Emmanuel Lutheran Preschool
2589 Chain Bridge Road, Vienna, VA 22181
703-938-6187
9 a.m.-noon
Part-time programs
$190-$390/Monthly
30 months-4 years
• Fairfax Presbyterian Preschool
10723 Main St., Fairfax, VA 22030
703-273-4333
9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Part-time programs
$225-$425/Monthly
24 months-4 years
• Fairfax United Methodist Church Preschool
10300 Stratford Ave., Fairfax, VA 22030
703-591-3177
9:15 a.m.-noon
Part-time programs
$185-$360/Monthly
3-4 years
• Freedom Montessori School
4229 Lafayette Center Drive, Chantilly, VA 20151
703-955-7920
7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Both
$750-$1,175/Monthly
18 months-6 years
• Helen Day Preschool Academy – Hopkins House
1224 Princess St., Alexandria, VA 22314
571-480-4088
7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Full-day programs
$328-$388/Weekly
6 weeks-5 years
• Innovative Preschool Academy – Hopkins House
200 Fairbrook Drive, Suite 103, Herndon, VA 20170
571-441-0962
6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Full-day programs
$313-$363/Weekly
6 weeks-5 years
• James L. & Juliette McNeil Preschool Academy – Hopkins House
8543 Forest Place, Alexandria, VA 22309
571-480-4282
6:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Full-day programs
$305-$355/Weekly
Birth-4 years
• Linton Hall School’s Little Sprout Preschool
9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA 20136
571-428-2565
9 a.m.-1:45 p.m.
Part-time programs (with extended day option)
$285-$525/Monthly
24 months-4 years
• Little Acorn Patch at Springfield
6226 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152
703-451-7071
6:45 a.m.-6:15 p.m.
Both
$287/Weekly
12 months-4 years
• Living Savior Preschool
5500 Ox Road, Fairfax Station, VA 22039
703-352-4208
9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Part-time programs
$232-$406/Monthly
3-4 years
• Lord of Life Preschool – Fairfax
5114 Twinbrook Road, Fairfax, VA 22032
703-323-5581
9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Part-time programs
$205-$390/Monthly
24 months-4 years
• Loudoun Montessori School
21690 Red Rum Drive, Suite 182-192, Ashburn, VA 20147
571-291-2875
7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Both
$659-$1,236/Monthly
24 months-6 years
• Loving Arms Academy
8 Dorothy Lane, Stafford, VA 22554
540-602-2647
6 a.m. -11 p.m.
Both
$50-$225/Weekly
Birth-4 years
• Merit School of Garrisonville
664 Garrisonville Road, Stafford, VA 22554
540-659-5290
5:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Both
$52-$225/Weekly
30 months-5 years
• Merit School of Prince William
14308 Spriggs Road, Woodbridge, VA 22193
703-670-9650
6 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Both
$150-$250/Weekly
24 months-4 years
• Monarch Christian Montessori
15120 Enterprise Court, Suite 100, Chantilly, VA 20151
703-961-8281
7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Both
$435-$1,210/Monthly
18 months-9 years
• Mothers’ Day Out at JBC
Jerusalem Baptist Church: 5424 Ox Road, Fairfax Station VA, 22039
703-278-8166
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Part-time programs
$100-$315/Monthly
20 months-5 years
• MTB Early Enrichment Center
825 23rd St. S., Arlington, VA 22202
703-979-2229
7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Full-day programs
$385-$475/Weekly
Birth-5 years
• MVBC Preschool
935 23rd St. S., Arlington, VA 22202
703-892-1001
7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Full-day programs
$1,325/Monthly
30 months-5 years
• Parkwood Weekday Early Education (WEE) Center
8726 Braddock Road, Annandale, VA 22003
703-978-0640
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Part-time programs
$250-$415/Weekly
12 months-4 years
• Primrose School of Ashburn
44830 Lakeview Overlook Plaza, Ashburn, VA 20147
703-724-9050
6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Both
$250-$450/Weekly
Birth-10 years
• Primrose School of Ashburn at Broadlands
21367 Shale Ridge Court, Broadlands, VA 20147
703-724-4200
6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Both
$250-$450/Weekly
Birth-4 years
• Primrose School of Bristow
9101 Balaton Lake Lane, Bristow, VA 201336
703-479-7918
6 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Both
$245-$370/Weekly
Birth-4 years
• Providence Baptist Preschool
8980 Brook Road, McLean, VA 22102
703-893-6286
9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Part-time programs
$400-$525/Monthly
12 months-5 years
• Rainbow Road Preschool
716 S. Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22204
571-225-9189
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Both
$400-$650/Monthly
24 months-4 years
• Spring-Mar Cooperative Preschool
10125 Lakehaven Court, Burke, VA 22015
703-239-1213
9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Part-time programs
$218-$355/Monthly
24 months-4 years
• St. Francis Creche
9220 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066
703-759-2522
9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Part-time programs
$325-$725/Monthly
24 months-4 years
• St. Joseph’s Preschool
203 N. Spring St., Falls Church, VA 22046
703-533-8441
6:45 a.m.-6 p.m.
Full-day programs
$1,080/Monthly
2-5 years
• St. Luke’s Day School
8009 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria, VA 22308
703-765-6699
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Part-time programs
$235-$450/Monthly
24 months-4 years
• The Curious Minds Montessori School
24963 Ashgarten Drive, Chantilly, VA 20152
703-722-1428
6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Both
$800-$1,700/Monthly
Birth-4 years
• The Goddard School of Ashburn at Belmont Greene
42885 Orchard Oriole Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147
703-362-5786
6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Both
$700-$1,735/Monthly
6 weeks-12 years
• The Goddard School of Herndon
2400 Dulles Town Blvd., Herndon, VA 20171
703-653-0337
6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Both
$320-$404/Weekly
Birth-10 years
• The Merit School of Manassas
8485 Plantation Lane, Manassas, VA 20110
703-369-7942
6 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Both
$100-$275/Weekly
Birth-5 years
• The Merit School of Prince William
14308 Spriggs Road, Dale City, VA 22193
703-670-9650
6 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Both
$145-$245/Weekly
24 months-4 years
• The Mulford School
15105 Lee Highway, Centreville, VA 20121
703-266-3633
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Both
$215-$695/Monthly
24 months-4 years
• Tysons Corner Children’s Center
1600 Springhill Road, Suite 160, Vienna, VA 22182
703-761-7161
7:15 a.m.-6:15 p.m.
Full-day programs
$1,612-$2,174/Monthly
8 weeks-6 years
• Westminster Weekday Preschool
2701 Cameron Mills Road, Alexandria, VA 22302
703-549-5267
9 a.m.-noon
Part-time programs
$310-$570/Monthly
24 months-4 years
• Willowcreek Academy Centreville
6100 Redwood Square Center, Centreville, VA 20121
703-815-3000
6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Part-time programs
$290-$565/Monthly
4 weeks-12 years
• Willowcreek Academy Gainesville
8171 Linton Hall Road, Gainesville, VA 20155
703-754-7767
6 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Both
$77-$339/Weekly
4 weeks-12 years
• YMCA Arlington
3422 N. 13th St., Arlington, VA 22201
703-525-5420
9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Part-time programs
$304-$594/Monthly
3-4 years
