A child’s education shapes his or her future. Beginning the learning process at a young age is crucial to development, but with countless preschools in the D.C. area, finding the right fit can be traumatic for little ones. Do your research to guarantee the right fit, but start here with the best and most affordable preschools in the area.

Photo Credit: BBCHmontessori.com

Broad Bunch Children’s House
5608 Broad Branch Rd. Northwest
Washington, DC 20015
(202) 232-2233
www.bbchmontessori.com

Price: from $11,500 to $15,000 annually
Hours: Mon To Fri – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

BBCH is a small Montessori school in Chevy Chase. Its size allows the staff to cater to each child’s individual needs. Its top goals are to cultivate independence, promote academic excellence and embrace cultural diversity. Montessori schools, created more than 100 yeas ago, are unique in that they allow children to create their own learning path. The BBCH is quaint, with three large classrooms and beautiful outdoor garden maintained by the students, and its academic program is 10 months, five days a week.

Related: Washington D.C’s Best Stuff for Preschoolers

Photo Credit: brighthorizons.com

Fingerprints Child Development Center
18th St NW & F St. NW
Washington, DC 20405
(202) 501-1945
www.brighthorizons.com

Price: Tuition varies by center, schedule and classroom.
Hours: Mon to Fri – 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The curriculum at this Bright Horizons preschool includes math, science, art, language, history and heritage, and nutrition. Fingerprints serves children a breakfast, snacks and a lunch daily. It offers photos posted online, a mom-to-mom blog and supportive family testimonials to keep parents engaged. The staff is trained regularly in CPR and first aid as well. Find locations in addition to the Foggy Bottom school in the D.C. area here.

Photo Credit: Nysmith.com

Nysmith
13625 EDS Dr.
Herndon, VA 20171
(703) 435-7711
Neighborhood: Northern Virginia
www.nysmith.com

Price: $19,000 a year for full-day preschool
Hours: Mon to Fri – 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Nysmith is a private school in Fairfax County, one of the top counties in the nation for education. The family owned and operated school is pricey, but has garners positive reviews. It offers a sibling discount on tuition and financial assistance. Personal tours allow prospective parents to visits classrooms, talk with teachers and learn more about the Nysmith philosophy. Instructors here work to increase students’ interest and understanding of the world, build self esteem, and teach compassion and respect. Nysmith employs some of the most innovative, involved teaching staff available in the area.

Photo Credit: keshetdcd.com

Keshet Child Development Center
758 23rd St. South
Arlington, VA 22202
(703) 535-5525
www.keshetcdc.com/

Price: from $2,000 to $5,000 annually
Hours: Mon to Fri – 9:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

In 2010 Parents Connect, a Nickelodeon-run parenting website, honored Keshet as the top preschool in the D.C. area. Keshet is a Jewish preschool, but welcomes and accepts all families in its Northern Virginia. Jewish values do not play a huge role in educating students, who range from ages 2 to 5. Keshet’s half-day program is offered in two, three and five-day options. Learning activities and interest centers are designed to allow students freedom and speciailization in the classroom. Children at Keshet participate in story time, playground fun, music classes, group enrichment and art.

Related: Best Schools for Young Artists In The DC Area

Photo Credit: washingtondcjcc.org

Washington DC JCC
1529 16th St. Northwest
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 518-9400
www.washingtondcjcc.org

Price: from $1,500 to 1,700 monthly
Hours: Mon to Fri – 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Although a primarily Jewish school, the preschool at DCJCC welcomes all faiths at its Dupont Circle location. The ratio of Jewish to non-Jewish families if 60-40. The DCJCC accepts children ages 2 to 5 years old, preparing them for kindergarten and beyond. A full-time schedule is the only option offered, with a 12-month, comprehensive program. Teachers email parents daily with details of their child’s day, a unique aspect that sets DJCC apart from the rest. Tuition is paid monthly and varies depending on age. Meet the preschool teachers here, and view a preschool daily schedule here.

Kelly Johnston is a freelance writer living in D.C. She is a soon-to-be University of Alabama graduate who hopes to have a successful career in fashion journalism. Her major is Apparel and Textiles with a Concentration in Fashion Retail and Merchandising and her minor is Journalism. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.