Academy Child Development Center is a non-profit organization with six locations in the area, two of which are in North Potomac. Marilyn Fleetwood founded the organization in July, 1981 and the Dufief location opened in 1990. Located on the campus of Dufief Elementary School, this center offers preschool programs as well as extended day programs for school-aged children.
The Dufief Center has both part-day and full day sessions for preschool and pre-kindergarten students. Classes have an average of 20 students with at least one teacher and one teaching assistant.
The center also offers a before school and after school program for school-aged children during the school year. The program includes a 45 minute homework time and tutoring support as well as recreational, snack and outdoor playtime each day.
The Jefferson Montessori School provides toddlers, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten-aged children with a foundation in all core learning areas with an emphasis on intellectual and artistic development. The school focuses its curriculum on educating the "whole child" and on developing children cognitively, emotionally, physically and socially. The school offers various programs based on the age and development level of the child, and each class takes place in a prepared classroom complete with Montessori learning materials. The core curriculum is composed of language, math, practical life, science, social studies and sensorial learning with art, music, physical education and Spanish lessons mixed in. Before- and after-school programs are also offered. To learn more, please visit the website, plan a tour or call the number provided.
Located on the campus of Stone Mill Elementary, this center offers child care and after-school programs for infants to school-age children. Academy Child Development Center is a nonprofit organization founded by Marilyn Fleetwood in 1981. The Stone Mill location features an Infant/Toddler/Tiny Tots program individually tailored to children ages three months to three years. Teachers assist with potty training when necessary. Nursery school and pre-kindergarten programs are offered in both part-day and full-day sessions. Classes average 20 students. The center also offers a before-school and after-school program for school-age children when school is in session. The program includes homework time and tutoring support, as well as snack time and outdoor play time each day. Summer programs and field trips are available for each age group.
Epworth Preschool offers a beneficial starting education to young children ages 2 - 5. Small class sizes and caring, knowledgeable instructors provide a full day of activities for students enrolled in this program. Playground time is a highlight of this pre-school program as children can interact with each other in their own social manner outside of the classroom under the supervision of instructors.
Epworth is affiliated with Epworth Methodist Church of Gaithersburg.
The NIST Child Care Center offers affordable, full- and part-time child care, kindergarten instruction and before- and after-school care programs to the children of employees of the National Institute of Standards and Technology government agency. It programs aim to improve children's physical, emotional, social and academic development.
Thomas Jefferson Preparatory is a private school located in Darnestown that serves students in preschool through eighth grade. With class sizes of no more than ten students, the school promotes itself as similar to a home-school education but with the social benefits. Currently Thomas Jefferson has about 30 enrolled students. There is one class for each grade from first through eighth. Class size and distribution is adjusted each year depending on enrollment. Thomas Jefferson will offer a Pre-K/K class for the first time in the 2010-2011 school year.
Thomas Jefferson first began as an elementary school in 1998 and held classes in Jefferson Montessori School in Gaithersburg. In 2006 it moved into its current location where it rents space at the Fairhaven Methodist Church. Despite being housed in a church, there is no religious affiliation.
Technology is a focus at the school and all students take a regular technology class. Students in third through eighth grade are given a personal laptop to be used in the classroom each day. Each classroom has an interactive white board and teachers post assignments on classroom websites to keep parents informed.
With small class sizes and a student-teacher ratio of 1:6 or less, teachers tailor lessons to the needs of each individual child. All students are required to wear a uniform of blue pants or skort, white polo or button-down shirt and red vest or sweater. On occasional dress-up days boys are required to wear ties.
Gaithersburg Presbyterian Preschool and Kindergarten is a school affiliated with the Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church. The school offers education for children ages three to five years, including a full, age-appropriate curriculum designed to teach the students about music, art, math, science and language. Visit the school's website for information about tuition rates.
Mother of God Community is a Catholic church and private school in Gaithersburg. The community is canonically recognized within the Archdiocese of Washington and holds a number of events monthly, including special events for women, men and children.
Chesterbrook Academy Preschool understands the imperative role parents play in the education of children and that is why teachers reach out to parents to create a strong bond and to get them involved through classroom activities and periodic updates of children's progresses. The school programs aim to nudge kids in a direction that'll allow them to discover and learn about their full potential, and to develop academic, social and emotional skills that they will be able to use through kindergarten and beyond.
This child care and montessori pre-school operates out of a single house in North Potomac. The experienced staff of two part-time and two full-time caretakers provide services for children throughout the entire workday, from 7:30 in the morning until 6:30 at night. Though the house is currently at capacity with 12 children for the coming school year, a wait list is available for admittance in June/July of 2011.