The Goddard School of Alexandria - Old Town

Hours

Hours change without the licence record changing. Call before you plan a drop-off around these times.

From Google

Recent parent reviews

• ★★★★★

  We had 2 children at Goddard from the day they opened until earlier this summer. The school started as a wonderful environment but as it grew, they seemed unable to maintain that environment. What we hoped were just growing pains proved to be systemic problems that got worse over time rather than improving. My biggest concerns were with 1) Teacher turnover; 2) support for our children through the near constant turnover and transition; 3) front office communication, transparency, and honesty; and 4) the slew of violations the school received from state licensing. To me, this all stems back to the ownership. They are not first-time childcare facility operators and should know how to provide a stable childcare environment. All in all, we felt that most of the teachers were caring and trying to do their best in less-than-ideal circumstances. 1) Teacher and administration turnover was constant. In our son's class in particular (3-4 yr olds), he had somewhere in the range of 5 teachers in the course of 6 months (we lost count). As this occurred, the parents often weren’t kept informed of changes, making us unable to help our kids navigate this uncertainty. Also, not knowing who was taking care of our children on any given day is not acceptable. It became abundantly clear from the amount of turnover that the teachers were stretched too thin, not supported, and put in positions they were not equipped to handle. I know for our family, and others, this proved very challenging for our kids. 2) As the school sought to increase enrollment, they were constantly moving kids to different classes, even after assuring us that the children would be in one class for the full school year. The office insisted on moving my son up to an older classroom where he was the youngest child and away from his friends. They insisted he was meeting the readiness milestones, though they didn’t tell us what these milestones were. As it turned out, he was clearly NOT ready and he did not meet even the most basic readiness milestones. This felt to me like they were moving him to make more space for other children (and therefore, more money) rather than doing what was best for him. The teachers then failed to support him in what became a very challenging transition. What transpired was one of the most heartbreaking situations I have been in as a parent, where my 3-year child was bullied and villainized by a teacher. This same teacher also blatantly lied to us when we asked her about a relatively benign situation that took place. We brought this to the attention of the administration and ownership with no resolution and, even worse, no follow-up or response to us. 3) The management’s communication was horrendous, despite them constantly stating that they were operating with trust and transparency. We would have to ask about what teachers were in the classroom with our children, the serious violations from state licensing and what they were doing to remedy, and countless other seemingly basic things. What communication they did provide often felt canned, insufficient, evasive, and not transparent and only occurred after repeated requests. 4) I highly encourage anyone considering attending this school (or any school, really) to review the Virginia DSS reports. Violations such as employing teachers for MONTHS that never underwent registry checks, not having staff present with children who can conduct CPR, and not having staff properly trained in emergency medication administration (just to name a few) are deeply troubling and indicative of deep, systemic issues. I’m sad for our family, and all others who attend Goddard, that what started as a wonderful place turned so negative. There are fewer things harder as a parent than having your children in an environment that you do not feel is safe or healthy for them physically, mentally, and emotionally. For the sake of the children still attending Goddard, I hope that they are able to make significant changes to truly live up to providing a safe, healthy, caring, educational environment.

  Lauren GordonJul 15, 2026
• ★★★★★

  We enrolled our son at The Goddard School of Old Town Alexandria because of our positive experience with another Goddard location and the reputation associated with the brand. We traveled daily from Fort Washington, MD because we believed the program would provide the consistency, communication, and quality of care we were seeking.Unfortunately, our experience did not meet those expectations. Throughout our time at the school, we experienced constant staff turnover in the toddler classrooms, recurring staffing shortages, inconsistent communication when regular teachers were absent, delayed notifications regarding illnesses affecting multiple children, and discrepancies between posted snack calendars and what was actually being served. One ongoing concern involved food storage in the Toddler 1 classroom. The refrigerator appeared overcrowded with children’s food and drinks. I raised concerns multiple times with administration and ownership regarding the need for additional refrigeration or even labeled bins for each child. Rather than adding another refrigerator, a large cooler was placed on top of the existing refrigerator, which did not seem like an adequate long-term solution. Families also received communications regarding HVAC failures affecting multiple toddler classrooms, including notices that early pickup might be necessary due to rising classroom temperatures. Shortly thereafter, families were notified that rodent activity had been identified in the facility. After reviewing Virginia child care licensing inspection reports, I learned that evidence of mice droppings had reportedly been found in multiple areas of the school, including classroom areas. While the school communicated the corrective actions being taken, learning this significantly impacted my confidence in the school’s facility oversight and preventative maintenance practices. There was also a period when our son and several other students were out sick with vomiting and diarrhea. Communication regarding the extent of the illness appeared delayed, and learning about the rodent issues shortly afterward only added to our concerns about communication and overall oversight. Was this why the children were sick? Were the mice on their belongings? Another concern was the lack of meaningful instructional activities we observed when picking up our son at various times throughout the day. Much of what we saw appeared to be free play or unstructured time, which left us questioning how consistently the curriculum was being implemented. As a certified teacher, I was also troubled when a staff member speculated about another child’s potential developmental needs. I found that conversation inappropriate and unprofessional. There were also instances that raised concerns about the level of attention being given to our son’s daily care. On one occasion, we discovered the snack we had packed from home untouched in the trash at pickup. Additionally, when we withdrew our son and collected his belongings, we were returned three nearly full containers of Vaseline that had been provided for use during diaper changes. But they were no longer in his cubby. Given that these containers were intended to be used daily, their condition left us questioning whether they had been used consistently as instructed. What was most disappointing was that many of these issues occurred despite the visible daily presence of ownership. As a family enrolled in a premium early childhood education program, we expected stronger communication, greater consistency, and more proactive problem-solving. I do want to acknowledge that several of our son’s teachers were caring, attentive, and genuinely invested in the children. Our concerns were not with the classroom staff, but with the overall operation and management of the school. We hope the school addresses these concerns for the benefit of the children, families, and staff who remain. Overall, I would encourage parents to do their research and explore all available options before choosing this location.

  Ishata BillingsleaJun 13, 2026
• ★★★★★

  Goddard Old Town has become so much more than a school for our family. It’s a place where our toddler is genuinely seen, loved, and celebrated every single day. From the moment we first walked in, we felt the warmth. The teachers greet the children with such joy and familiarity that it feels like dropping off with extended family rather than staff. What stands out most is how deeply the teachers and every member of the staff care. They don’t just supervise, they connect. They learn each child’s quirks, comforts, fears, and little victories. They notice when something is off, they celebrate every milestone, and they create an environment where kids feel safe enough to explore, try, fail, try again, and grow. Our toddler has blossomed here just after 2 weeks. Socially, emotionally, and even in confidence. We see it in the way they run into school with excitement, the stories they bring home, and the comfort they feel in their teachers’ arms. It’s rare to find a place where you can drop off your child and feel complete peace, knowing they’re surrounded by people who genuinely love what they do and love the kids they care for. We are endlessly grateful for this community. Goddard Old Town is truly a second home, and the teachers and staff are the heart of it. Five stars hardly feels like enough.

  A NJun 13, 2026
• ★★★★★

  The last issue I want to address is the enrichment fee. I am paying extra for enrichment services, and I was informed by Rebecca that all enrichment programs in Richmond are supposed to be provided by outside vendors, not staff members. However, my child is not receiving any actual enrichment services at all — no Spanish, Mandarin, music, chess, yoga, or anything else that was promised. It does not make sense for me to continue paying an additional $200 each month for services that are not being provided. This situation is unacceptable. In addition, there are serious health and safety concerns at the facility. There are mice running all over the place. There was even a dead mouse found in the refrigerator. While the children are sleeping, mice are walking on top of them, including on my son and his bed sheets. This is extremely disturbing and unsafe for the children. I need these concerns addressed immediately.

  Sandra WilsonMay 25, 2026
• ★★★★★

  My son started at Goddard and it was a tough transition since he’s always been home and only spoke Spanish, through the transition we had mornings where he would not want to go in to school and where he would have a tough time leaving us. Now, he urges us to take him to see his favorite teachers Ms. Daniela and Ms.Maria. He has learned so much in the time with the class and I love the creativity and encouragement that they show each child. My son has reach so many developmental milestones and he has came out of shell since joining Goddard. The staff is amazing and the teachers are superb, shout out to the Pre-K1 class they are truly great at what they do. I would recommend all friends/family to consider this location. Definitely worth it and so organized , makes life easier for a working family.

  Jessica GuerraMay 7, 2026
• ★★★★★

  We truly cannot express enough how grateful we are for The Goddard School in Old Town. The school is consistently clean, nurturing, and welcoming, and both of our boys feel genuinely happy and comfortable walking in each day. A special thank you to the incredible teachers who have made such a lasting impact on our children. Ms. Muloma and Ms. Ayana bring such bright, joyful energy to the classroom, our son Asher doesn’t even say goodbye anymore, he simply runs in excited to start his day. That alone says everything. Ms. Daniela and Ms. Maria are truly the kindest, most encouraging souls. We’ve watched Noah grow so much under their care. He is learning, he’s confident, and he feels supported. We especially love that they incorporate Spanish into the classroom. As a Hispanic family, it means so much to us to see that part of our culture reflected and nurtured in his daily experience. We also want to recognize the incredible leadership. Ms. Anu is always warm, compassionate, and supportive. I’ve had emotional moments as a parent, and she has met me with nothing but kindness and reassurance. Ms. Madu was the very first person we connected with, and from that moment, it felt like we had known her forever. She listened to every concern with care and sincerity, and it was clear how deeply she values the children, families, and staff. She and Ms. Anu are truly the reason we chose to enroll our boys here. Before joining Goddard, we had a difficult experience at another daycare when Noah was younger, and it left us feeling uncertain and uneasy. Literally scared of people watching our children. Goddard completely changed that for us & it restored our trust and gave us peace of mind we didn’t think we’d find again. For that, we are incredibly thankful. We wholeheartedly recommend The Goddard School in Old Town to any family looking for a safe, loving, and enriching environment for their children. We apologize if we’ve unintentionally missed anyone. Ms. Lamiz, Ms. Selena, Ms. Roxanne, and Ms. Rebecca, and to all the teachers that we pass by the hallways saying hi to our sons, you are all wonderful. Thank you, Goddard Old Town, for everything you do. 💛

  Alba FuentesMay 6, 2026

Reviews shown verbatim as published on Google Maps.