Greater Washington Preschool Programs
Looking for a high-quality, loving preschool for your child? Explore the Jewish early childhood programs in Greater Washington as well as resources for parents below.
Please note that this list is still in formation and subject to change.
For more information, contact Sharon Sherry, Director, Community Outreach and Education at [email protected]
PRESCHOOLS
WASHINGTON DC
Edlavitch DCJCC Preschool
1529 16th St NW
Washington, DC 20036
Ages: Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 7:45 AM – 6:00 PM
Edlavitch Tyser Early Childhood Center at Washington Hebrew Congregation
3935 Macomb Street NW
Washington, DC 20016
Ages: 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 8:50 AM – 3:00 PM
Gan HaYeled Preschool at Adas Israel Synagogue
2850 Quebec St NW
Washington, DC 20008
Ages: Infant, Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 8:30 AM – 5:50 PM
Gan Shalom Cooperative Preschool
212 East Capitol St NE
Washington, DC 20003
Ages: Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: Full day 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Part-day 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation’s Capital
4715 16th St NW
Washington, DC 20011
Ages: Pre-K
Hours: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM Monday — Thursday, 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM Friday, enrichment programs available on Tuesday until 4:30 PM, aftercare until 6:30 PM
Temple Sinai Nursery School
3100 Military Rd NW
Washington, DC 20015
Ages: 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 8:15 AM – 9:00 AM Boker Birds early drop off, 9:00 AM – 12:15 PM Core program for 2s and 3s,9:00 AM – 2:30 PM Pre-K, 12:15 PM – 2:30 PM Afternoon Enrichment for 3s
New in 2025: Extended day until 6:00 PM
MARYLAND
Alef Bet Montessori School
6125 Tuckerman Lane
North Bethesda, MD 20852
Ages: Infant, Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
B’nai Israel Schilit Nursery School
6301 Montrose Road
Rockville, MD 20852
Ages: Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Bender Early Childhood Center
6125 Montrose Road
Rockville, MD 20852
Ages: Infant, Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Berman Hebrew Academy Preschool
13300 Arctic Avenue
Rockville, MD 20853
Ages: 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM, After Care until 5:30 PM
Beth El Preschool
8215 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
Ages: Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: Core Program 9:15 AM – 12:00 PM, optional early bird
Lunch Bunch 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Enrichment 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Beth Sholom Early Childhood Center
11825 Seven Locks Road
Potomac, MD 20854
Ages: Infant, Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM Monday – Thursday, 8:00 PM – 4:00 PM Friday
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
1901 East Jefferson Street
Rockville, MD 20852
Ages: Pre-K
Hours: 8:15 AM – 3:30 PM, aftercare until 6:00 PM
Early Childhood School at B’nai Shalom of Olney
18401 Burtfield Drive
Olney, MD 20832
Ages: Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Gan Ami at Temple Beth Ami
14330 Travilah Road
Rockville, MD 20850
Ages: 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Greenzaid Early Childhood Center
10621 South Glen Road
Potomac, MD 20854
Ages: 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Ohr Kodesh Early Childhood Center
8300 Meadowbrook Lane
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Ages: 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM; Close early on Fridays during winter for Shabbat (1/2 hour before sunset)
Rabbi Joseph Weinberg Early Childhood Center at Washington Hebrew Congregation
11810 Falls Road
Potomac, MD 20854
Ages: Infant, Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Shaare Torah Early Childhood Center
1409 Main Street
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Ages: Infant, Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM, or 9:15 AM – 1:00 PM Monday-Friday
Sherman ECC at Har Shalom
11510 Falls Road
Potomac, MD 20854
Ages: Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Shomrai Preschool
813 University Boulevard West
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Ages: 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Silver Spring Learning Center
1401 Arcola Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20902
Ages: 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Simcha Educational Center
1501 Dufief Mill Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Ages: Infant, Toddler, 2s, 3s
Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, extended care available
Temple Emanuel Early Childhood Center
10101 Connecticut Avenue
Kensington, MD 20895
Ages: 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
The Rabbi Mark and Morah Renée Panoff Preschool at Temple Isaiah (TIPS)
12200 Scaggsville Road
Fulton, MD 20759
Ages: 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 9:15 AM – 2:00 PM, Extended hours 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Temple Shalom Early Learning Center
8401 Grubb Road
Chevy Chase, MD 20902
Ages: Infant, Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
The Gan Montessori
519 Lamberton Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20902
Ages: 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 7:45 AM – 5:00 PM
Tikvat Israel Early Childhood Center
2200 Baltimore Road
Rockville, MD 20851
Ages: Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
NORTHERN VIRGINIA
Adat Reyim Preschool
6500 Westbury Oaks Court
Springfield, VA 22152
Ages: 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 9:15 AM – 1:15 PM
Agudas Achim Preschool
2908 Valley Drive
Alexandria, VA 22302
Ages: 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, half-day and full-day options (close at 4:00 PM on Fridays)
Beth Emeth Early Childhood Center (BEECC)
12523 Lawyers Road
Herndon, VA 20171
Ages: Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM, before care and after care available
Congregation Etz Hayim Preschool
2920 Arlington Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22204
Ages: Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM full-day, 9:30 AM – 13:30 PM half-day
Gan Israel Preschool
2929 Prince William Drive
Fairfax, VA 22031
Ages: 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Gesher Jewish Day School
4800 Mattie Moore Court
Fairfax, VA 22030
Ages: Pre-K
Hours: 8:10 AM – 3:30 PM Monday-Friday, aftercare available until 6:00 PM
J-Care of Alexandria
3830 Seminary Road
Alexandria, VA 22304
Ages: Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Olam Tikvah Preschool (OTPS)
3800 Glenbrook Road
Fairfax, VA 22031
Ages: 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, MoEd offered 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM a 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Monday-Thursday
Pozez JCC-Beth El ECLC
3830 Seminary Road
Alexandria, VA 22304
Ages: Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Pozez JCC Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC)
8900 Little River Turnpike
Fairfax, VA 22030
Ages: Infant, Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
RUJEC
19357 Evergreen Mills Road
Leesburg, VA 20175
Ages: Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Temple Rodef Shalom Early Childhood Center
2100 Westmoreland St
Falls Church, VA 22182
Ages: Toddler, 2s, 3s, Pre-K
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday-Thursday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Friday
QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CHOOSING A PRESCHOOL
Schedule a time to tour the school and meet with the director.
Before the tour:
- Make sure that the school’s hours, costs, sick policy, and location work for your family logistically
During the tour:
- Observe the relationships, activities, and space
- Is the school warm and inviting?
- Is the atmosphere exciting with lots of learning opportunities and activities for the children?
- Are the teachers involved with the children?
- What kind of work is up on the walls?
- How do you feel when you enter the school?
- How do you feel when you exit the school?
Questions to ask the director:
- Ask about the school’s educational philosophy
- Ask about the curriculum and what a typical day looks like
- Ask about communication and community involvement
- Ask about the teacher-student ratio
- Ask about how the teachers help the children resolve conflicts
- Ask for parent references so that you can hear another perspective and gain additional insights
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
Five Important Things to Consider When Choosing a Preschool By Sharon Sherry, Director of Jewish Education Initiatives, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
The Importance of Connection (Growing Minds)
Five Key Elements of Parent-child Connection (Growing Minds)
Navigating Screen Time (Growing Minds)
Social/Emotional Learning Book List (Growing Minds)
Toys that can Promote Emotional Regulation and Self-soothing (Growing Minds)
A Traffic Light for the Parents Working from Home (Growing Minds)
A Self-care Wheel for Parents (Growing Minds)
PJ Library® Jewish Values Guide (PJ Library)
Jewish Disability Inclusion, Acceptance & Awareness Month Resources (Federation)
Short Picture Stories to Help Young Children Manage Life Transitions and Everyday Challenges (Meredith Polsky)
Visual: Help your Family Communicate More Easily About Their Feelings (Gateways)
Shabbat Resources for Kids (Gateways)
Recommended Reading for Preschool Parents
List compiled by Ora Cohen Rosenfeld and Miryam Buchler.
No Bad Kids by Janet Lansbury: a collection of Janet’s most popular and widely read articles pertaining to common toddler behaviors and how respectful parenting practices can be applied to benefit both parents and children.
Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky: Galinsky brings the work of more than a hundred scientists into a form that parents everywhere can use, showing parents not only what children are capable of, but specifically how to develop those capabilities in their children from birth up until age eight.
Elevating Child Care by Janet Lansbury: Eschewing the quick-fix ‘tips and tricks’ of popular parenting culture, Janet’s insightful philosophy lays the foundation for a closer, more fulfilling parent/child relationship, and children who grow up to be authentic, confident, successful adults.
The Blessing of a Skinned Knee by Wendy Mogel, Ph. D.: The beloved bestseller that offers a practical, inspiring new roadmap for raising self-reliant, ethical, and compassionate children.
How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish: This bestselling classic by internationally acclaimed experts on communication between parents and children includes fresh insights and suggestions, as well as the author’s time-tested methods to solve common problems and build foundations for lasting relationships.
The Secrets of Happy Families by Bruce Feiler: New York Times bestselling author Bruce Feiler has drawn up a blueprint for modern families — a new approach to family dynamics, inspired by cutting-edge techniques gathered from experts in the disciplines of science, business, sports, and the military.