Golden Path Academy

"GPA is by far the best run daycare in all of Northern Virginia. My kids have been enrolled for the past 3 years and between them we have been through the toddler class all the way through to private Kindergarten. I have never felt more comfortable leaving my kids in the care of all of the amazing staff here. They are truly like one big family and they make all of their students feel part of that family. There is virtually no staff turnover which is unheard of at daycares. Lindsey (the director) is so amazing at her job she really does care for each and every student and parent. The communication on a day to day basis is great you can always message the teachers and check in at any time alongside receiving pictures/activity updates. I also wanted to mention the summer camp for K and older is an amazingly run program from the camp staff to the activities- they went on so many field trips and my son had the time of his life. So if you are looking for daycare, private K, or an afterschool program- GPA is by far the best choice!!!"

"Our two sons have attended GPA for 4 years until we sadly had to move away. We always knew we picked a good school but touring other childcare places has been truly eye-opening. The level of professionalism, clear communication and effectiveness in and outside of the classrooms is simply outstanding and hard to find. A few things that are great at GPA: - There is always someone (often two people) at the front desk and more administrative staff in the office room. Emails and the phone are always answered promptly. I called them so many times to check on my baby and they always immediately phoned the classroom to see. - The facility is safe (noone unauthorized would have been able to pick up our kids or enter the playground or get past the desk). A lot of places we are looking at right now are relying solely on the pin for the front door. It's not enough. - The food is fresh and healthy. No chicken nuggets or frozen/canned stuff. - There are cameras in the classrooms that record (not for the parents to watch all the time but for the staff to review if there ever should be the need). We never cared about this much when we were still with GPA because there was such a high level of trust but now we wish every school had this. I remember there was a biter in the toddler class at some point that struck almost daily and they would call in the teachers to review what happened on video and talk about how to best prevent it happening again. - All teachers we ever met were great. There is little turnover as far as I could tell. They were regularly invited (and attended) children's birthday parties. They would check in by text or app message if my kids were sick. - Kids are in some kind of structured activity almost all the time. They are really learning their ABCs and numbers. My son regularly came home talking about 'nocturnal animals' and 'volcanos in Iceland'. My 18 month old does 'circle time' without fussing which is not a thing at other schools apparently. They both brought home an enormous amount of arts and crafts. Teachers are always involved in whatever activity is going on. They don't just 'babysit'. They also really enforced and stuck by rules. Kids were given little room to disrupt whatever lesson was going on. - Technology is used in a sensible way. If something is shown, it is usually short and educational. There were one or two times a year where they would do a summer movie and we got an email beforehand to see if we'd like to opt out. Same for birthday cakes or popsicles. We were always informed and could opt out. - We were one of the few families that stayed enrolled all through Covid and it was handled very professionally. They really did their best and managed to stay open. - The app they use to communicate throughout the day is great. There are always lots of pictures, videos and summaries of whatever lesson is taught that day. Messages are answered quickly. - Everybody always knew my kids' names and greeted us. My son was always so excited to show Kaitlyn his car of the day every morning. I will add that we are not very religious. They do chapel once a week for the older kids and my son loved it. GPA is truly a special place and we miss it dearly."

"Started a week ago, and I love all of my son’s teachers! Ms. Margaret is the sweetest in the pre-K class. She is knowledgeable, attention to detail, and was very sweet with my little one on his first week. Thank you to the ladies on 6:30 am train doing an awesome job at drop off We love Ms. Teresa!"

"My family is extremely grateful to have found GPA. I cannot say enough about the quality of their program, staff and overall atmosphere. In late 2017 we moved into the NoVa area and needed care for our then 5 and 3 year old. GPA’s modern facility, welcoming staff and structured play/learn/faith program made our initial decision easy. My children immediately felt comfortable in their new setting thanks to the welcoming arms of every single GPA staff member they interacted with. Since we started the program continues to grow and strengthen with regular Spanish classes, soccer and dance options, holiday celebrations and more classroom options. The faith based undertones of the program are welcomed in our family and have helped my children understand their developing faith. Over a year and a half later I still tell my family one of the best “finds” in our move to NoVa is GPA."

"I have 3 children at Golden Path Academy (GPA). They have truly flourished since moving over from their prior school. The staff at GPA is amazing, the style of learning is perfect for our kids, and the Biblical aspect helps them love God and others around them. Could not be happier and highly recommend!"