We love Congressional School! Our son started in preschool, he is now in 6th grade and he couldn't be happier. It has strong academics and a nurturing and safe environment. The teachers are very knowledgeable, kind, and they give special attention to each student. Congressional School also has a wonderful sense of community, it is a great school to be a part of.
We are very happy with Congressional School. The quality of the teachers and faculty and the individual attention that each child gets are the top reasons I like the school. I find that the school challenges children academically without overwhelming them. The campus is gorgeous; it would be impossible to find another school with such beautiful outdoor space (stream, woods, pool, horses, ropes course, outdoor classes) that the kids get to use all of the time. It is also a very warm community, both parents and faculty.
Before attending Congressional, our son was in a traditional daycare setting. We were very pleased with our experience and felt the staff cared for him as if he was their own child. While there was a curriculum framework, we recognized he would benefit from more formal and deliberate instruction for preschool.
As an October birthday, it would be challenging to enroll him before turning 3. At Congressional, they accept students at this age with the understanding that they will likely have a second year of preschool, which we were very comfortable with.
For us, a major differentiator at Congressional is that all of the preschool and junior kindergarten teachers have degrees in early childhood education, and some have advanced degrees. This is very different from the traditional center where only the director may have a post-secondary degree.
On the first day of school, I think we were more nervous that he was. At the end of that day, we knew we had made the right decision. He was more animated, engaged, and conversant than he had been in some time. He continued to flourish throughout the first few weeks and over the entire year.
Even on days when he wasn t at his best as it is with any young child the teachers met him where he was at and found ways to channel his energies in a constructive way. Now in his second year, we are thrilled with his growth and the empathetic leader he is becoming. We look forward to his continued social, emotional, and intellectual growth at Congressional.
PS it s an amazing community, too. There are great programs, events, and activities throughout the year geared for students, families, parents, grandparents, and extended family, too. That will have to wait for another review . . .
We have had an amazing experience at Congressional. My children are in preschool and junior kindergarten. The teachers are amazing, and the campus is beautiful. I strongly encourage anyone to check it out.
We wanted our son to form positive, healthy emotional bonds with other kids, faculty, and staff by feeling valued enough to be vulnerable. There s plenty of time to learn to have your emotional guard up. Kindergarten should be a place where emotions are recognized, supported, and shared, not attacked and protected. Also, you can t learn how to have good relationships; you can only be shown. We wanted a place where good relationships based on respect, trust and warmth was modeled as a matter of fact.
Intellectual experience was the least of our worries. Every kid learns to read, write, add, subtract, multiply, and divide in due time. Some do it a few months earlier than some others. It doesn t really matter in the larger scheme of things. But we did want a school that constantly experimented with its own curriculum and is always asking the difficult, probing questions about its own performance.
What we really wanted for our child is to meet a collective mentor that would lead, guide, share, and grow as our son journeys through his maturity.
So, the question that we were really asking was, Who can we best partner in order to provide our son with the tools to develop a positive relationship with the world that he will feel honored and privileged to actively participate in?
Congressional has been that partner.
Congressional is an amazing school. I have 3 children at Congressional and have been extremely pleased with every aspect of the school. The education is top notch and the curriculum is very advanced. At the same time, the teachers are extremely passionate about their jobs and take the time to really know the children. The athletic program and other extracurricular offerings has is also exceptional. We had the choice to attend several of the private schools in Northern Virginia and this was our top choice. We could not be any happier.
Congressional has been absolutely wonderful to my daughter. The teachers give feedback and truly care about their students. When at Congressional it is truly like a family, which is extremely important to my husband and I. The school is heavily involved in the community, which helps to build upon the relationships they make with each student. We look forward to each school year here at Congressional.
We are very happy at Congressional! My daughter started in K and is now in 6th grade. Congressional has provided a wonderful early learning experience in a warm & supportive environment. I love that each of the teachers, support staff, after school counselors, etc. really know my daughter - her strengths, challenges and individual learning style. The teachers are fantastic at ensuring that the academics are challenging and engaging. Often the curriculum crosses subjects. It's great to see the students really dig into questions in this way. My daughter has also had the opportunity to participate in team sports, the school play and many other leadership and social activities. Because of this, I'm confident that she will leave Congressional prepared and well-rounded.
We are so happy at Congressional. We started in the preschool and didn't initially consider staying for the K-8. However, after one year at what was advertised as a fine public school, we are back to stay. The teachers and staff are dedicated and passionate, the curriculum is rich and flexible and the campus is wonderful. With two working parents, we feel good about sending our girls there everyday and they love being there. I cannot overstate what a difference it makes to have such a strong support community for our girls and family.
We love Congressional! This is our second year here and we cannot think of a better place for our daughter. The environment is safe and fun. The teachers and administrative staff are very attentive and willing to work with you and the teachers love to teach! It is a great environment academically and socially and we are very grateful to be part of this amazing community.
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