Rockville Community Nursery School

My son had a speech delay at age 2 and the recommendation was to enroll him in pre-​school to help with his speech development (He was at home alone with a sitter for most of his life to that point). I wanted a school environment that would allow him to freely explore and develop on his schedule. My child not only found a comfortable space but he truly flourished. The teachers are patient and kind. the program is play-​based and stimulates learning. My son was never rushed. the teachers made helpful suggestions and encouraged us every step of the way. It’s been a wonderful 1.5 years here. looking forward to our final 1.5 years before kindergarten.

After visiting many area pre-​schools, I chose to send my daughter to RCNS. She started as a two-​year old and has just completed her second year. The school offers a nurturing, creative environment that also helps her cultivate skills in socialization ensuring future academic & life success. Parent involvement is encouraged and the staff are great about listening to any concerns I’ve had about my daughters development, then coming up with an action plan as necessary. The grounds are beautiful (trees, gardens, flowers, fields) and tucked back away from the busy roads of Rockville — making it an ideal place for a small child to grow and learn. Next year is her last year and I know we will really miss the school and the families we have grown so fond of!

Every parent knows how difficult it is to find a school that has great environment for their child to grow and learn but at the same time make parents feel involved! RCNS does that and much more. The teachers and parents combined have created a warm and supportive environment at school and outside.
RCNS has play based curriculum which works great. Small class size helps build a more personalized experience as well. As a cooperative school RCNS not only gives us parents an opportunity to see our child in class but see the interaction of all the children and it is very rewarding to part of all the children in such an amazing way.
RCNS has a great outdoor space and equipment. Lots of place for the children to run around without being worried about traffic or people walking by.
RCNS also has great fun family nights to give families and parents a chance to make new friends and the kids enjoy meeting with their friends outside of school settings.
Our little one has enjoyed and grown so much in past year we are looking forward to the fun years ahead.

As an elementary school teacher, I really wanted to be involved in my 3-​year-​old 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 (Aspen Hill, RPCNS, and RCNS) and decided on RCNS for several reasons:
Curriculum: I like that they actually have one (unlike Aspen Hill) but that it isn’t too academic (like RPCNS). Play-​based learning is developmentally appropriate and allows children to move at their own pace based on their own particular interests while also gaining valuable social skills. For more info on play-​based learning, check out this article on
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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. Also, smaller rooms means smaller class sizes, which means more individualized attention per student. Finally, because the church that rents the building to RCNS is Unitarian Universalist, there is little in the way of overtly religious décor in or around the building, which is significant for people who want a secular education for their children.
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 (which happened to me at Aspen Hill). 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 school aide. This is very reassuring, for both me and for my daughter.
Now that my daughter is just finishing up her first year of preschool, I can add the following reasons why I love RCNS:
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. Co-​oping is a great opportunity to bond with your child and shows them just how much you value their education.
Teachers: RCNS teachers are awesome! My daughter was in Ms. Sofya’s class, and I really couldn’t have asked for a better first teacher for her. Ms. Sofya has so much energy, creativity, and patience as well as a deep understanding of child development. I have heard equally good 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 last November, e.g., watching my older one while I have a conference with her teacher or taking care of the baby when I co-​op. 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!