Preschools & Day Care in Bethesda, MD

Bethesda has 51 preschools and day care centers, all in Montgomery County, and a notable share are cooperative nursery schools, church preschools and small home programs rather than chains. Cabin John and Glen Echo have one business each on this page. Many programs here have a long history. The Family Academy of Bethesda began in 1975 as a family daycare for infants and still runs from its original house. The Children in the Shoe started in 1977, and Bethesda Country Day School has run a preschool at 5615 Beech Ave since 1983.

Cooperative nursery schools, where parents work alongside the teachers, are a Bethesda specialty. Suburban Nursery School has operated for over 65 years, with Yellowbirds for 2s, Bluebirds for 3s and Redbirds for 4s, and is rated 5.0 from 29 reviews. Cedar Lane Nursery School, at 9601 Cedar Lane, runs a 2s class, a 2/3s class, a 3s class and a 4/5s class, plus an afternoon pre-k enrichment program for children 3 and up. It is rated 5.0 from 20 reviews. Glenbrook Cooperative Nursery School Inc is rated 5.0 from 4 reviews.

Church-run preschools add another layer. Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church Nursery School is rated 4.9 from 37 reviews and builds its day around stories, music, physical movement and indoor and outdoor play, with online classes offered as well. Beth El Preschool is rated 5.0 from 1 review. The Y offers child care too: YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase, on Old Georgetown Road, runs Early Learning Programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, plus before and after school care for kindergarten through 5th grade, and is rated 3.5 from 111 reviews.

Featured preschools and day care centers in Bethesda

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Best preschools and day care centers in Bethesda

Bethesda Reggio

4.6(61 reviews on Google)

8008 Newdale Rd, Bethesda

  • Preschool program
  • Pre-K class
  • Infants and toddlers
(301) 310-8008

MeliLand Childcare

5.0(12 reviews on Google)

7320 Bradley Blvd, Bethesda

  • Preschool program
  • Infants and toddlers
  • Early drop-off or late pickup
(202) 423-3047

Dina's Child Care

5.0(6 reviews on Google)

Wyngate neighborhood, Bethesda

  • Infants and toddlers
  • Accepts child care subsidies
  • Meals provided
(202) 510-3140

Full-day centers keep hours built around commuters. The Goddard School of Bethesda, at 6400 Goldsboro Rd, Suite 100, is open 7:00 am to 6:00 pm and is rated 5.0 from 66 reviews. Primrose School of Downtown Bethesda is rated 4.8 from 60 reviews. Rock Spring Children's Center is a nonprofit that has served Bethesda and Montgomery County since 1987, taking children from six weeks to five years old. English Village Early Learning Center, at 7730 Bradley Blvd, and Wilson Lane Children's Center, at 7009 Wilson Lane, both take children from 6 weeks. Wonders Early Learning at Edgemoor sits next to the Bethesda Metro Station, is NAEYC accredited and holds a 5 quality rating with Maryland Excels.

Language and teaching method differ widely from one school to the next. Bethesda Reggio is a Reggio-inspired, dual-language Spanish immersion preschool in Lynnbrook Park for children from 12 months through age 5, rated 4.6 from 61 reviews. Tolstoy Preschool is a small, family-style program with a Russian-English bilingual curriculum for ages 2 to 5. Cubbies is a private at-home preschool for ages 1 to 4 that blends Montessori and Reggio Emilia, with a teacher to student ratio of 1 to 3. The Family Academy of Bethesda is a Validated Montessori School with two classrooms for ages 2.5 to 6.

Group operators and home programs round out the area. The Children in the Shoe now has centers in North Bethesda, Bethesda, Olney and Rockville, and its East West Towers center is licensed for 118 children. Bright Horizons runs the Democracy Center location with ten classrooms for infancy through pre-K. MeliLand Childcare is a licensed home-based program at 7320 Bradley Blvd for children from 6 weeks to 6 years. Clara Barton Center for Children is based in Cabin John and is rated 4.3 from 10 reviews. Chevy Chase, Kensington, Wheaton, Potomac and Rockville each have their own page next door.

Common questions about preschools and day care centers in Bethesda

Which Bethesda preschools are cooperatives?

Suburban Nursery School, Cedar Lane Nursery School and Glenbrook Cooperative Nursery School Inc are cooperative nursery schools. In a co-op, parents work alongside the teachers. Suburban Nursery School runs classes for 2s, 3s and 4s, and Cedar Lane Nursery School adds a 4/5s class and an afternoon pre-k enrichment program.

Who teaches in a second language in Bethesda?

Bethesda Reggio is a dual-language Spanish immersion preschool for children from 12 months through age 5, and families do not need to know Spanish before enrolling. Tolstoy Preschool teaches with a Russian-English bilingual curriculum for ages 2 to 5. Cubbies offers Spanish immersion in a private at-home preschool for ages 1 to 4.

Where can I find infant care in Bethesda?

Rock Spring Children's Center takes children from six weeks to five years old. The Family Academy of Bethesda begins with infants at 6 weeks and moves into Montessori classrooms. English Village Early Learning Center and Wilson Lane Children's Center both enroll from 6 weeks, and MeliLand Childcare is a home-based option from 6 weeks.

Which Bethesda programs are close to the Metro?

Wonders Early Learning at Edgemoor is next to the Bethesda Metro Station and is a nonprofit center for children from infants through pre-K. Bright Horizons at 2 Bethesda Metro carries the Metro in its name and is rated 5.0 from 8 reviews. Call either one to confirm the current address and openings.

Is there a Montessori choice in Bethesda?

The Family Academy of Bethesda has two Montessori classrooms for ages 2.5 to 6 and is a Validated Montessori School. Cubbies combines Montessori and Reggio Emilia for ages 1 to 4 in an at-home setting.

Which smaller towns share the Bethesda page?

Cabin John and Glen Echo each have one business here. Clara Barton Center for Children is based in Cabin John, and Playgroup in the Park is based in Glen Echo. Glen Echo Family Daycare also works in the area.

Preschools & Day Care near Bethesda