Preschool recs in Springfield / Burke area?

JKM416 · February 2012

It looks like we may be moving back into the townhouse we own in Springfield this summer (long story). I hate to leave our current house in MoCo and will seriously cry if DS1 can't go to the preschool DD's using (we love it so much; it's a huge factor in whether we do move or not). I just put in his application at our current school, so I know that time is of the essence to get him in a lottery. It's not easy for me to work around DD's school schedule to attend open houses with two little boys tagging along. So if anyone has any place they love, or that their friends love, or they've heard good things about, or anything at all...please help. Send a PM if you'd prefer.

FYI, Our current school has a play-based curriculum, is about $300/month for two-year olds (though he might qualify for three-year old class depending on the birthday cut-off), and isn't a co-op. It is perfect. Is there anything in NoVA like that?

Hey Jellisy · February 2012

We didn't look at any part time programs, but it seems to me that a lot of the local churches have part time play based programs. Check out the our-kids.com list.

Artslvr · February 2012

I only looked at full day/full time preschools, but I know there are a TON of half day - part time preK choices in Springfield, Annandale, Burke, etc. I think you'll have lots of choices.

BirdGirl01 · February 2012

Rest assured, there are a lot of preschools like this in NOVA. I know about schools in Alexandria, which won't be very helpful for Springfield, but I'm sure you'll find plenty of choices there as well.

AgrippaRidesAgain · February 2012

I live in Woodbridge, so I don't know about Springfield, but the church preschools down here all fit your qualifications list. I would check those out up in your area if you haven't already.

Artslvr · February 2012

I just remembered, back when I was looking for preschools for DD #1, I didn't realize that going about finding full day programs and half day programs were two totally different strategies, bla bla bla.

Anyway, I signed up to attend a preschool fair that covered Burke, Annandale and Springfield or thereabouts. The fair took place during the work day, so my mom attended for me - and it was not helpful for us (again, we needed full day) but it was all half day programs.

Now - I'm trying to remember who sponsored the fair. I want to say it was a "mom group" of some kind. Maybe if you Google you can put some key words in and see if they're having another fair this year - that way you could hit many birds with one stone and not have to attend a bunch of open houses.

Hmmm - just googled and the one I'm thinking about may have already happened. https://autumnchase.org/editor_upload/File/11thAnnualCommunityPreschoolFair.pdf Maybe you can contact that group and ask them for the list of 25 schools that came to the fair? That would maybe get you started. I looked at preschools in March and April the year I visited places - I'd say by May spots were starting to close up. I didn't ever hear of a lottery anywhere, but I suppose some places do that.