Rockville Community Nursery School

If you're looking for an early preschool for your 2-4yo, Rockville Community Nursery School (RCNS) is SUCH a hidden gem! Both of our daughters went there and have absolutely loved their experience there.

We had to withdraw our older daughter from the an expensive, well-known preschool in our area because she kept coming home with unexplained injuries. Our concerns were not taken seriously, and our normally-cheerful daughter was nervous about going to school.

When a wonderful soul recommended that we look into co-ops, we felt that RCNS aligned with us so much better than all of the other preschools in the area. It has everything that we were looking for: small class sizes, compassionate teachers, great communication, a sense of community, and an absolutely stunning campus.

Our kids were able to freely explore and learn through play. There's a wonderful balance between creative activities, outdoor/nature play, sensory, reading/writing/math, music, movement, and art. Just take a look at the art from this school, and you'll see that every child truly gets to express themselves: every work is unique to each child!

When it comes to discipline, they're all about calm, gentle redirection. The teachers and staff are all very consistent with implementation. They're also very good about quickly and clearly communicating any issues that may arise.

We can't sing enough praises about RCNS! We interviewed and toured nearly every major preschool in the area, but there's something truly special about this school.

The price is incredibly affordable, especially if you plan on getting involved with the school, and I think it really says something about the school when all the staff were former parents who sent their kids to RCNS.

The worst thing about the school is that they only go to pre-K. Unfortunately, I don't think they'll be expanding to a K-12 by next year, so our Plan B is probably to have more kids so we don't ever have to say goodbye to this wonderful place.

RCNS is the only preschool I found in the area that had everything I was looking for: a diverse, play-based, secular preschool where parents are encouraged to be involved (it’s a co-op and the co-op options are customizable so families can be as involved as they want to/have time to be but it’s not a requirement). The teachers are warm, welcoming, and caring. The grounds are beautiful and surrounded by woods and nature. All the classrooms have big windows and everything is always clean and organized. It has a wonderfully loving, safe feeling that is just what I wanted a preschool to be. The school community is wonderful, very involved and inclusive. My family spent 5 years here and we are so grateful to have found this wonderful preschool.

Our son started at RCNS when he was three years old. We had never experienced a co-op preschool before, but quickly realized how much we love this school, the parents, and especially the teachers! Lessons are thoughtful and challenging, yet fun. The teachers are loving and dedicated. The parent community is out of this world - a support system that we never anticipated that we needed right when we DID need it! Our older child is now 5 and totally prepared for kindergarten - socially, emotionally, and intellectually - thanks to RCNS. We plan to enroll our younger son in the 2's class when he is old enough!

We were drawn to this school because of the diversity, nature surrounding the school, level of parent involvement, play-based learning style and the fact that they offered a Parent/Child class for younger children to transition into pre-school. After attending the Parent/Child class and now the 2s, we have found that not only does the school offer the attributes I mentioned above but we are now part of a community of caring and supportive families and staff. It is such a wonderful experience to see these children (and families) grow together in such a well rounded environment. We highly recommend this school.

As an elementary school teacher, I really wanted to be involved in my daughter's first school experience. I thought about home schooling, but worried that she would not get enough of the social interaction that is so important at her age; plus, I didn't know how I'd manage it with a second child on the way. Then I learned about cooperative preschools and thought that sounded like the perfect solution. I visited the three local co-op preschools and decided on RCNS for several reasons:

Curriculum: I like that the curriculum is not overly academic. Play-based learning is developmentally appropriate and allows children to move at their own pace based on their own particular interests while also learning valuable social skills.

Setting: RCNS is not on a main street. When the kids go out to play, they hear nature, not traffic. There is lots of green space to run around, surrounded by trees. The building is above ground, so there is lots of natural light. While some of the rooms are smaller than at other schools, the teachers really take full advantage of every inch of space to make it visually stimulating and engaging for students.

Safety: I like that the outdoor play area is not visible from the street. Aside from drop-off and pick-up times, the building is kept locked. When it is unlocked, there is always someone either in the office right by the entrance or in the hallway, so people can't just wander in unnoticed. There are always at least two adults in the classroom at any given time: the teacher and a co-oping parent or school aide. Also, there are only two people who are allowed to change diapers: the Director and the Assistant Directors. This was very reassuring, for both me and for my daughter.

We are halfway through my daughter's second year at RCNS, so now I can include the following reasons why I love this school:

Co-oping: I love being in my daughter's classroom every month! It gives me the chance to see what she is learning, to get to know her classmates and teacher, and to learn more about child behavior and development. My daughter is always so excited when it is my turn to co-op. It's a great opportunity to bond with your child and shows them just how much you value their education.

Teachers: My daughter was in Ms. Sofya's 3s class and Ms. Rana's 4s class, and I have been very pleased with both teachers. I have also heard great things about the other teachers from other parents, and we parents should know since we have all spent time co-oping in our children's classrooms!

Community: One of the best things about my experience at RCNS is being part of the school community. At a non-cooperative preschool, there just isn't much opportunity to get to know other families when the only time you see them is at drop-off and pick-up. I have loved getting to know the other RCNS families while participating in the various school activities. And since the preschool is parent-owned and parent-run, I know that I have an important role to play in this community and that my voice matters. I have gotten a lot of support from other parents since having my second child. Another really neat thing about RCNS is the diversity. It is truly an international community. I love learning about other countries and cultures and I am so happy that my daughter also has that opportunity through her preschool classmates.

In closing, there are lots of good preschools in this area, but if you want one that emphasizes developmentally appropriate learning, allows you to participate directly in your child's educational experience, and provides a diverse, supportive community of families, then RCNS is the right preschool for your child!

What a wonderful co-op preschool! My son is in the 3's class with Ms. Sofya this year and we couldn't be happier! What we love about this school is that they offer a 5 day/week program with an aftercare "lunch bunch" option. (They also have a 2, 3, or 4 day per/week option). So, my son has school from 9:30 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. Monday-Friday. I don't think that any other co-op in Rockville has this much schooling for the 3's age group.

Another great thing about this preschool is that they have the option to BUY OUT of the co-oping duties! This year is especially busy for my family because we also have an 8 month old baby and we are very limited on time. (I love this school's flexibility!!)

RCNS' location is beautiful. It is surrounded by wonderful green space and a fun playground! My son enjoys playing there with his friends when his aftercare is finished. (During this time, I enjoy socializing with the other parents!)

In all, I would highly recommend this preschool for parents looking for a co-op with a more flexible schooling option! We are so happy that we decided to come here!

We love this school! The teachers and staff here are all so friendly and helpful! The classes are great. I love how interactive the classroom is and how they connect projects to the children's interests. I also really like that they are not just teaching academically(which is also very good) but they are teaching them to be well rounded kids. Even the simple things like washing your hands after using the bathroom and before eating. Taking a deep breath when they are upset about something maybe someone did and then using their words to tell that person how that made them feel. All of these things are so wonderful! I can't say enough about RCNS preschool. This is a wonderful place for children to grow!

The teachers, staff, and community are very warm and welcoming. I have two RCNS alums and my youngest just started in the 2s program. I cannot imagine having my kids anywhere else. If you are looking for an opportunity to participate in your child's first school experience and have your voice matter in the school, look no further than RCNS.

This is the most wonderful place to send a child for their first experience with school! I think I toured every school in Rockville, but I couldn’t ignore the bright, warm, safe feeling I got from the building and teachers at RCNS! Now my kids are moving on to elementary school well prepared.

My daughter has attended Rockville Community Nursery School since she has been in the Friday 2s. Next year she will be in the 4s class, and we are so excited! Our experience at RCNS, with my oldest who is an alum and with my youngest, has only been wonderful for so many reasons:

The teachers! What a fantastic group of teachers do they have! Ms. Rana with the 2s exercises so much patience, shows so much love, and is unbelievably tender and caring. Ms. Sofya with the 3's class is wow! Her energy and creativity shine every month with the change in theme. She even likes to switch around the furniture! I have not had the pleasure yet of having Ms. Levy, but I only hear great things. I can honestly say that the teachers put in so much work, energy, effort and creativity into designing and implementing a curriculum that is child-appropriate, dynamic, and fun! They have such a wonderful support in Ms. Mahoney, the director. She was once a teacher at RCNS for many years.

Co-oping! Co-oping (or volunteering) in the classroom is so much fun. I love getting to know my daughter's tiny classmates, playing with them, and making art projects with them. I honestly truly consider it such a privilege to be in the classroom with my child and her little friends. I am the type of parent that likes to get in the mix with the kids, so I love to sing, dance, roll balls out of playdough. It's like stress relief for me, seriously.

Community! The community of families at RCNS is truly amazing. From the fall picnic to the class potluck, the pumpkin patch field trip, and the Yellow Balloon Fair in the Spring, parents at RCNS understand the value of spending these first years before kindergarten actively involved in the education and formation of their child. And the sense of giving is without parallel. Parents generously donate their time in various ways through administrative work on the Board or taking on other positions to make the school function. Parents give the best of themselves to the community and the school because they *want* to. It is just awesome.

I love RCNS.

I and my son participated in Parent/Child Class. It was very good experience for us. My son was able to get accustomed to the preschool environment. The teacher , Ms. Eliza ,she is very nice and kind. Other moms were also very nice. I strongly recommend this school for your child.

My 3 year old daughter loves RCNS. She looks forward to preschool and is thrilled to see her teachers and classmates. I am so thankful that RCNS has fostered her love for school and learning.

Two of my children have attended RCNS and we could not be happier with the school, teachers, community, and co-op experience. We'll definitely be sending our youngest to RCNS.

This is a wonderful school...... Caring teachers, happy kids, great involved families. It's a wonderful, supportive community. We couldn't be happier.