The Goddard School of Washington DC (The Wharf)

Reviews

• PT

  Portia Trice

  Nov 7, 2025
  5.0
  I'll start by saying this is a mother's or parent's most intense decisions to make, placing our little ones in the care of others. You see so many negative reviews and social media clips about daycare mishaps; it puts a mother in fear. But we have to trust the process and we move forward off of energy. The energy that I received on day one was phenomenal. I suffered postpartum and my EBF baby was attached to me as much as I was attached to him. It was a hard transition to get him on the bottle so that I can return to work. I addressed my challenges and concerns with the administrators and they told me, "No worries". Once they evaluated my baby after day 1 with them, they were able to identify what needs to be done to correct the matter. We helped one another and they worked with me. They had the patience that was required and they remained consistent. All of the teachers that my son has encountered show my son genuine love and care. I can work at peace, knowing he is well taken care of. The staff does a great job communicating in advance when they recognize a matter that needs to be addressed. I am never caught off guard so far. My baby is now trying to crawl (correctly) lol and standing up. The teachers are working tremendously to ensure that my baby meets developmental goals. I see, feel, and sense the love and care. Ms. Vanessa will be missed. She is AMAZING. I thank her, Ms. Haley and Ms. Martha, for working together to introduce my baby to the new environment. There's nothing like seeing a big smile on your baby's face. He normally cries once I am out of his presence, now he has done a whole 360. I have to give credit when credit is due.
• TL

  Tranquility Ridge senior living

  Oct 6, 2025
  5.0
  My child has been attending the 7th street location since March. I love the environment of the school. I have seen a big improvement in my daughter’s behavior since she began. I have toured a lot of schools but so far this has been good for her. The teachers are very thorough when it comes to educating, concerns that may come about and keeping you updated on everything. I love the faces my daughter makes now when I drop her off and pick her up from school and the happiness shows and that let’s me know that this is a great fit. Thanks to there BOMB administration team and teachers 🙌🏽
• IB

  Ishata Billingslea

  Sep 11, 2025
  1.0
  Our son currently attends The Goddard School of Frederick, where we have experienced true Goddard excellence. As our family relocates to Southern Maryland, we hoped to continue with Goddard and toured the DC location(7th street location). Because I work for DCPS Central Office, this site would have been ideal for pick-up and drop-off. Unfortunately, I left the tour extremely disappointed, as this school does not reflect the Goddard standard I know and trust. Upon entering, I was greeted by the Director, Ms. Nita. She was kind and personable, but first impressions matter. Her attire was very casual and unkempt, and many of the teachers were dressed in sweatpants and headscarves. This conveyed a lack of professionalism and seriousness. The front office was crowded, with piles of paper and even a bag of chips stacked on the desk. This raised immediate concerns about organization and cleanliness. In the infant room, I noticed at least two diapers on the classroom floor, which was unacceptable from both a cleanliness and safety perspective. I was then shown what was described as a “state-of-the-art gym,” which turned out to be a small outdoor space—far from what was pictured online. Ms. Nita also explained that children are required to go outside if the temperature is 32 degrees or higher and said “ Dress your child for the weather outside not for the car to the door”. The thought of a 12-month-old, who may not yet walk and cannot express discomfort, being required to go outside in near-freezing weather left me deeply concerned. As the tour continued, I observed a maintenance worker in a classroom bathroom without a name tag or any visible Goddard identification. Combined with the fact that I was not asked to show ID or sign in upon arrival, this pointed to very weak security measures. Ms. Nita simply asked my name, despite never having met me, which would not be considered a sufficient safety protocol in any school environment. Finally, I was told that in the 12–18 month classroom, bottles are not permitted because there are no refrigerators. This means children must transition to cups before enrollment, not based on readiness but due to a lack of resources. That is not in line with Goddard’s commitment to meeting children developmentally where they are. For tuition of $2,900 per month, I expected a clean, safe, professional environment with practices that reflect Goddard’s reputation for excellence. What I observed was far below that expectation. For comparison, we also toured the Old Town Alexandria location, which stood in stark contrast. The owner personally introduced herself and shared her educational philosophy. The school was spotless, security was rigorous—we signed in and wore name badges—and accommodations were available for children’s individual needs, including refrigeration for bottles. Children were not required to go outside simply because the temperature permitted it. That school reflected the Goddard name and standard of care. Ultimately, we have decided to enroll our son at the Old Town Alexandria location. Although it is out of my commute, this decision reflects just how important quality, excellence, and security are to us as parents. Even with a “Fall Frenzy” discount and no annual fees, based on what I saw at the DC location, I would pay double tuition rather than place my child in that environment. My husband and I do not mind paying for tuition, but the Goddard name alone does not justify the cost. Families are paying for excellence, professionalism, safety, and quality—all of which were lacking in the DC location. I urge you to address these issues promptly and align this location with the standards upheld at other Goddard schools. As it stands, what is being offered is unacceptable and risks damaging the reputation of the Goddard name. Parents dont be fooled. Tour other locations and you will see true Goddard Excellence.
• JD

  jevonnie dunbar

  Sep 5, 2025
  2.0
  I've been deeply disappointed and worried about the recent changes at The Goddard. The decision to split subsidy families from regular paying families feels unfair and divisive. Many parents, including myself, have expressed concerns about how this impacts the quality of education and the sense of community within the daycare. I had no other choice but to withdraw my daughter from the school because of the decision to split the children up and the change of hours of operation. I WANT TO CLEARLY MENTION THIS CHANGE WAS ONLY FOR SUBSIDY FAMILIES. Additionally, I've noticed that the staff members have become increasingly strange and unprofessional. Their attitude often feels dismissive or disrespectful, which makes me question their trustworthiness and dedication to the children’s well-being. As a parent, I expect respectful communication and a nurturing environment, but unfortunately, those expectations haven't been met here. Overall, this change has caused a lot of frustration and worry about my child's care and education. I hope the management takes these concerns seriously and makes improvements for the sake of all parents and families. I have reported my concerns and issues to DHS and also OSSE , they were not aware now an active investigation has started .

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