Harbor School

7701 Bradley Boulevard

Bethesda, MD 20817

9 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-2
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on April 19, 2019

The Harbor School has exceeded our expectations. The school combines a very good academic program with warm and supportive approach. Kids are provided challenging projects and allowed to excel/go beyond their grade level in many areas, while being supported in other areas. The teachers get to know each child very well and work with the child’s needs and learning style, while still teaching the whole class structure and responsibilities. The classes are very small and each class has two teachers. The school is inclusive and celebrates uniqueness.Above all, Harbor School looks for the best in each child and supports their growth and learning. As a result, the children feel safe to express themselves, explore and even make mistakes. Teachers foster students’ natural curiosity, creativity and imagination. The kids are encouraged to think outside the box.The curriculum incorporates a lot of structured and unstructured movement. Teachers expects kids to focus and work hard, but they understand their natural need for movement and activities. As a result, the school’s curriculum is much more “hands-on” and interesting than many programs.
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2018

We have been so happy with The Harbor School. You couldn't ask for a warmer, more nurturing environment that really lets the children discover who they are as learners and people, building friendships along the way. We wish it went past grade 2!
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2017

We have been very happy at Harbor. When our older child graduated and moved on, we truly realized just how great we had it at Harbor!
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2016

Our son was diagnosed with ADHD around 3, and had been through 2 other pre-K schools before we found a home at Harbor, just in time for Kindergarten--what a miracle! He is now in his last year (2nd grade), and has blossomed into a happy, well-adjusted, kind, and smart student, thanks to the dedicated, nurturing, and loving teachers and administrators. Their small classes (2 teachers: 12-14 students) enable the teachers to really focus on each child and his/her needs. They were there to work with us every step of the long and difficult road to finding what works best for our son with his ADHD, and it never felt contentious, but rather always collaborative, even in the toughest of times! We are so grateful that we found Harbor when we did, as our son wouldn't have become who he is today at any other school. It's the kind of school I wish I could have attended as a child, where the kids can learn in a safe and supportive environment, and as a result, develop a love of learning. We are now looking at schools for 3rd grade next year, and only wish they would expand through the rest of the elementary grades. Highly recommend to any parent who wants their kids to have a joyful, fulfilling early childhood education.
Submitted by parent on August 30, 2015

Our child was a student for 1 year. It was a nightmare. Teachers that do not care, a Head of school who is buddy buddy with staff, facilities and resources are very poor in spite of what was advertised. The most scary part is the unwillingness to change or take advice. The teachers have a blank stare when communicating with the children like they are in another world. A truly poor school. Look carefully before you sign your young child up.
Submitted by parent on December 06, 2011

Harbor provides an incredibly nurturing environment that takes the discipline of early childhood education seriously. This is not a warehouse for little kids, occupying their time until they get to the older grades - this is a school that believes early childhood education not only is a building block, but central and critical to the child's overall development and future educational achievement. There is also an increasing body of work that suggests that you really don't know how a child will learn, and what sort of scholastic environment suits them until they are 7 or so. Since I ascribe to that line of thought, observing our child in the early years and making an educated choice about future schooling after the second grade makes sense. Finally - Harbor's reputation is stellar, so placement after 2nd has proven to be as painless as it can be. I can't say enough about this place.
Submitted by parent on October 09, 2011

I am sorry about the experience posted by the Sept. 22 review. Our experience with Harbor School, however, has been truly wonderful. The school has embraced and loved our special needs son and has done such incredible work with him that he no longer needs one-on-one assistance at the school. The director is a brilliant and amazing leader, and has successfully promoted inclusion and communication to ensure all of our children's successes at the school. We cannot say enough positive things about the school (for all of our kids), and only wish it continued through high school.
Submitted by parent on October 09, 2011

I also am very sorry for the feelings from the parents posting of 9/22. Our daughter has only been at Harbor for a month and I cannot say enough about the INCREDIBLE way that leadership, faculty and students EMBRACE, not tolerate (as with many other school), children with special needs: it is very much part of the fabric and culture of the school and, honestly, it will produce imply better kids, complete with empathy, tolerance, compassion, and understanding - things that seem to be in somewhat short supply out there these days. An experience to illustrate the amazing culture and the effect is has on the kids: 6yo special girl child as a breakdown in class and needs to leave the classroom - comes back 5 minutes later and apologizes to her classmates - unsolicited by teachers or anyone, the rest of the class gives her a standing ovation and then runs over to hug her! I feel this is one of those paradigm-shifting stories that needs no further explanation and illustrates the power of what Dr Wise and her staff are doing with the inclusive model at Harbor. If the school is a good fit for your child, there is no better place to be regardless of your child's situation.
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2011

This school espouses inclusiveness, diversity and child-focused learning, and yet is unwilling and ill-equipped to accommodate children who need any extra special needs. Spent many hours exploring the school and being led to believe that our child's needs were not an issue, only to be declined later. We were welcomed with open arms at another fabulous school and are ultimately pleased that things worked out as they have, but don't lead people on (it's a waste of everyone's time)!