Merritt Academy

Posted: July 8, 2026

I’ve had 3 children at Merritt and it is a fantastic school. The teachers care deeply about the students and get to know many students for years before they actually get the teach them because the community is so close-knit. Education is individualized and tailored to the child’s needs. Children who are advanced can get enrichment in reading and math comparable to AAP in Fairfax, and kids who need help are helped in every possible way by the excellent teachers, counselors and admin. I have a special needs child and get so much assistance and care from Merritt. My child has absolutely flourished at Merritt as a result, as have my other kids.

The admin and leadership have been 100% supportive in our experience.

Many after school clubs, favorable bell schedule starting at 8:30, and some partnerships with activities in the area lighten the burden on parents’ work schedules. Option to pay up for before care and aftercare on site for those who need is reasonably priced (no endless SAAC.

School-wide Spring performance at NOVA community college, field trips, school store, nature walks—this place has it all.

It is private school, so yes there is a cost, but the tuition is also far more affordable than other privates schools in the area. The academics at Merritt are better than FCPS, the environment is supportive, and the community is tight and diverse.

Posted: July 8, 2026

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Posted: March 16, 2026

My experience at Merritt has been great. Our kids have flourished here. They have great relationships with the teachers and other kids. I love how everyone is greeted by name. We have experience with their leveled enrichment in math and have been thrilled with how our youngest has excelled and is now in math in the grade ahead. While teaching is a hard job (I'm always in awe of teachers), the teachers of my children seem to have good relationships and speak highly of their admin. The classes are small and the kids have had to work through some friend things, but the teachers are always very communicative about what is going on. They are asking for feedback, but so is every other company I integrate with so I don't find that unusual. I have felt supported by the principal and the teachers when I've had questions about my kids and love the field trips they get to go on. They have great foreign language program and I love the way the big kids and little kids interact so much. I am very thankful we have this community and would highly recommend them.

Posted: March 16, 2026

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Posted: March 11, 2026

After many years attending Merritt Academy, we are looking for better alternatives. Teachers seem overwhelmed despite small class sizes, the administration tends to belittle families and students alike, and a good number of families have decided to look for better alternatives. I've also heard that the school has encouraged families to write good reviews, which is not a bad thing in general. But I believe a small number are writing good reviews, and those that are dissatisfied are just not bothering to write "bad" reviews. It's unfortunate, because the school has a lot of potential.

Posted: March 11, 2026

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Posted: February 18, 2026

There really is not reason to pay for tuition at this private school when you can get a similar experience for free in public school.

Posted: February 18, 2026

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Posted: August 24, 2023

Merritt Academy was wonderful for our children over the past 5 years. We started at Merritt in the Infant room all the way to Kindergarten and we had an amazing experience! Our 2 boys enjoyed the staff and teachers, it was a little community.

Posted: August 24, 2023

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Posted: August 23, 2022

My 3 year old has been attending for the past 2 years, and our 1 year old has been in the infant class for several months. We cannot say enough great things about Merritt! The curriculum for infant/toddlers is outstanding - my 3 year old knows the alphabet very well, and has started writing her name. She comes home singing new songs, and shares about her many activities and friends. The classrooms are spacious and playgrounds/fields allow tons of space for field day! They do so many organized fun activities and water play.
I love that we get updates on tadpoles and shutterfly photos. The teacher communication and enthusiasm have been great and we know our kids are extremely well cared for, as well as taught so many things. It truly is an incredibly caring community. There is a reason there's a waitlist!
I also want to commend the school and director on their transparency during the past 2 years of Covid and the incredible safety precautions they took. We are so happy our kids are thriving here!

Posted: August 23, 2022

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Posted: May 27, 2022

I am glad that we were able to enroll our child at Merritt. It has been a positive experience and the teachers have nurtured her personal and academic development, especially in mathematics, sciences, and language arts.

Posted: May 27, 2022

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Posted: March 25, 2022

I'm very surprised to read some of the negative reviews on here about Merritt Academy, enough that I felt I should write a review myself. I have 2 children at Merritt and they have had a wonderful experience. The teachers have been attentive and caring. We have regular communication from their teachers more than once per week. They both really love it at Merritt and even requested to stay longer in their after-school program so they could spend more time with friends. Have never had any issues with bullying. The homework is not excessive and is purposeful. My older one was in FCPS for 2 years and Merritt definitely has a higher academic standard.

Posted: March 25, 2022

Posted: March 25, 2022

My so was bullied with administrative consent. We signed him up for camp and hoping to enroll him at the school. We lost a lot of money as we paid for the summer camp in advance. We withdrew our don when the situation became untenable and the principal agreed to reimburse. She changed her mind and quoted something from the ‘contract’. This school has contracts that absolve them of negligence to your child in their care. Do yourself a favor and do not trust your child to this ridiculous school situated behind a nursing home in the backwater of Washington DC. There’s no accountability the school is run like a fiefdom.

Posted: March 25, 2022

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Posted: February 15, 2022

With service to families and character as core values at our school, we believe every child and family deserves compassion and respect. Merritt Academy’s Code of Courtesy sets out clear expectations for all adults and children about following the Golden Rule. We strive to teach as well as model, respect and courtesy. We understand how it can hurt when students need redirection when learning how to follow these important societal rules. It is always our hope that a child who feels they have not been treated respectfully by a classmate or other member of the school community would report this to their teacher or other adult in charge.

When we witness inappropriate student behavior at school or if it is brought to our attention by anyone, we address it as a teachable moment. Direct communication from child, parent, teacher or other observer goes far to help us respond swiftly and avoid situations that may be uncomfortable for a child.

It is always our goal to partner with families, along with our staff, to optimize strategies for a positive experience for each child. And it is always our hope that by working together to resolve differences, we emerge as stronger as individuals and a community.

Posted: February 7, 2022

The students here are mean and horrible for a character school the students here do not show it at all.

Posted: February 7, 2022

Posted: October 29, 2021

Posted: October 29, 2021

Posted: October 29, 2021

the leadership staff are rude and do not care. teachers can be rude. kids bully each other badly. especially not worth the money

Posted: October 29, 2021

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Posted: October 10, 2021

Merritt Academy is proving again that it cannot hold onto well-qualified teachers and is entering another school year at a loss. If their focus was based on caring for children as they say they do, then they would raise their standards instead of their tuition. It seems like their mission is centered around making money and moving kids through to pacify parents rather than preparing children with a solid academic foundation. From a parent's perspective, I do not personally recommend Merritt Academy and will not re-enroll my children for the next school year.

Posted: October 10, 2021

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Posted: February 22, 2021

The administration of this school is horrible. They give mixed messages to parents. They seem overwhelmed and not able to give coherent answers. These are their two main concerns - getting enough paying heads and protecting their school. They really don’t have “values” other than the above.

Posted: February 22, 2021

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Posted: June 18, 2020

Our 2-year-old daughter has attended Merritt Academy since she was 6 months old, and we would not dream of sending her anywhere else. Our experience has been magical. Merritt is not only her school; it is her second home. We truly feel that her teachers love and care for her as if she were their own child. 
Looking back on the past two years, we realize that we as parents have learned as much from our daughter's teachers as she has. With their wisdom and patience, they helped and continue to help us through all the transitions of babyhood and toddlerhood.
The environment at Merritt is as enriching as it is loving. Even for babies and toddlers, teachers treat the experience like school -- in the best sense of the word, with endless activities and experiences that are fun, creative, engaging and educational. Every day when we take our daughter to Merritt, we know that she is in a place where she will be cultivated and loved. 
On a practical note, the hours and holiday/inclement weather closures at Merritt are better than any day care or school we have heard of. Merritt prides itself on serving working families, and it does. We have a somewhat unusual weekday schedule, and Merritt has consistently accommodated us so that we can maximize time with our daughter. We send her to Merritt first and foremost for the loving and enriching environment, but the practical aspects have also helped us more than we can say.  

Posted: June 18, 2020

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Posted: March 7, 2020

Posted: March 7, 2020

Teachers protect the school... Not the students when issues come up.

Posted: March 7, 2020

Awful... Do not send your children to this school

Posted: March 7, 2020

Posted: March 7, 2020

Lots of turnover... Admin can't keep the good teachers from leaving

Posted: March 7, 2020

Posted: March 7, 2020

Awful administration from the top. Needs to be completely changed out.

Posted: January 18, 2020

Merritt Academy has been wonderful, we've had our daughter at Merritt since preschool and she is now enrolled in kindergarten. She was given a head start in preschool because of the advanced curriculum and learning environment.

As of her first 6 weeks in kindergarten, she was writing sentences and explaining to us what the solar system was and how organs in the human body work. By 3 months in, she had read 100 books on her own at home.

This school offers hands-on learning for all students and field trips to the world-famous Smithsonian museums. Merritt offers character building and teaches students how to be good citizens. Merritt offers many extra curricular activities/clubs including STEAM, computer/gaming lab, art club, cheerleading, sports such as karate and tennis as well as character club.

The elementary school also puts on dances and pep rally for the children as well as provides the "Tiger Store" wher students bring $1-$3.00 and are able to make purchases on their own learning how to budget and purchase things for themselves, family and friends. Merritt invites all families for festivals, and family-fun events throughout the year.

The classrooms are equipped with smart boards to help teach students about technology but are also taught basic fundamental skills such as cursive writing (as they get older). Students are taught multiple languages and are given the opportunity to sign up for extra lessons (for more advanced learning).

Tuition includes breakfast and lunch, which provides very healthy and delicious meals that our very picky daughter loves.

The cost definitely hits the piggy bank compared to public school and we weight our decision to send our daughter here regularly, but between the teachers, the administration, the staff, the school's commitment to character and what our daughter comes home saying every day, our answer is a resounding "yes" and we know in our hearts that it's absolutely worth it.

We just can't say enough good things about this school, our experience and the education our daughter is receiving. We'd recommend Merritt to anyone.

Posted: January 18, 2020

Posted: January 18, 2020

The teachers are caring, thoughtful, nurturing and also make sure the kids are learning and sticking to the curriculum. The 12:1 ratio is very helpful in allowing for teachers to carefully and thoughtfully review each child's progress.

Posted: January 18, 2020

This is a school of character, clubs are offered in addition to the standard curriculum of character building. Students are taught daily how to be a good citizen, and are given hands-on opportunities to help the community and each other.

Posted: January 18, 2020

Posted: January 18, 2020

Gifted children are offered more advanced programs and those with slight difficulties in certain subjects are given extra support and guidance. All students to very well, parents and teachers are truly engaged.

Posted: January 18, 2020

Posted: January 8, 2020

Merritt Academy has been a wonderful fit for my preschool children. They love going to school, and I can see a real difference in their development.

Posted: January 8, 2020

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Posted: August 22, 2019

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Posted: August 22, 2019

Posted: August 22, 2019

All this school cares about is making money. They don't care about the students, parents or the teachers.

Posted: August 22, 2019

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Posted: May 23, 2019

I've had two children go to this school. The eldest was misplaced during summer camp and none of the counselors could tell me where she had gone. It turned out she was at an extracurricular activity but somehow they lost track of her. My toddler was bit 6 times in her toddler room by recurrent biters despite my attempt to have her changed from her room and my request that consequences be implemented for repeat biters. My eldest had sand thrown in her face and one of her belongings broken by a bully that wasn't adequately disciplined despite multiple behavioral issues. We leave our children with daycare providers to keep our children safe and to protect them when we cannot. Merritt is clearly not fulfilling that expectation. After being with Merritt for 5 years, I'm disappointed to say that the good things it has to offer are being outweighed by the bad.

Posted: May 23, 2019

Posted: May 23, 2019

Many of the teachers sincerely care. However, there are support teachers that may not be well-equipped to manage large classroom sizes.

Posted: May 23, 2019

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Posted: May 23, 2019

The strategy for bullying seems to be to repeat that the bully's behavior is not acceptable with perhaps a timeout. But the teachers are not empowered to take any more significant action. Without that empowerment, neither the child with behavioral problems nor the parents, face any tangible consequences.

Posted: August 23, 2018

The principal has her finger of the pulse of the entire school. The dedication to knowing each student is evident by the location of her office — it’s in the middle of the student traffic.

Posted: August 23, 2018

I have 2 children in Merritt- both with different learning styles. Merritt has been able to adapt the teachings to each of my children and also provide guidance on how I can help at home.

Posted: August 23, 2018

Posted: August 23, 2018

Excellent— the communication between teachers, administrators and parents are very valuable and has helped make this an ideal learning environment for my kids. They not only focus on academics but the emotional development of my kids.

Posted: August 23, 2018

They have a balanced approach to homework where they have study hall for homework which leaves more time at home for family activities.

Posted: August 23, 2018

Posted: August 23, 2018

Merritt’s values are incorporated in the teachings of the school and class assignments.

Posted: March 1, 2018

We had a great experience with the pre-school and initially at the Kindergarten. We had to leave the school, half way through Kg, since teacher was over reacting to the things that are totally normal for a 5 year old kid. Unfortunately there was no communication from teacher and she just filed incident reports one after another. This was pushed to the point that my kid was losing the confidence and thinking that he can never make a good choice again. No parent wants this to be curved in a 5- year old brain!

Posted: March 1, 2018

Posted: March 1, 2018

Well, I should say that teacher is effective, but what if the effect is so negative? In our experience at Kindergarten, the teacher was so overthinking and over reacting to every single behavior of our 5 year old kid, that pushed us out of the school; even though our kid was so advanced from academic stand point.

Posted: March 1, 2018

Posted: March 1, 2018

The principal is experienced, but she cannot be present in every classroom to see what is happening in there.

Posted: March 1, 2018

They did support us when we asked for enrichment programs and my kid started receiving extra curriculum material after initial assessment was done.

Posted: March 1, 2018

We never had this issue. Kids have been respectful and thoughtful.

Posted: June 14, 2017

Our daughter attended kindergarten at Merritt Academy and it was a wonderful experience. The staff is extremely kind and friendly. Because it is a small school, everyone knows everyone. There is a big emphasis on character education and it is clearly reflected in the children as they progress through their time at this school. Highly recommended! The only negative I can think of is that tuition includes lunch but the lunch does not accommodate vegetarians. If parents of vegetarian children are paying for the lunch, it seems a bit unfair to not provide vegetarian options. A better option would be to let parents opt out of paying for lunch.

Posted: June 16, 2015

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Posted: June 5, 2015

Our children have attended Merritt Academy for two years both in preschool and elementary. It's been a wonderful experience for each of them! The teachers are caring, the curriculum is challenging and the administration supportive. There is always plenty of activities and initiatives going on: field trips, visit to an elderly home, volunteering, etc. The PTO is also very good, they go out of their way to fund new classroom equipment or teacher training. We have to leave FFX due to a professional relocalisation and we will deeply miss the school.

Posted: May 16, 2015

The exsperience ever! We love so much Merritt Academy and all teachers team, we will miss so much this scool. Thank you so much Merrit

Posted: May 15, 2015

Theachers are dedicated, well educated, responsive to parents questions. Our daughter felt happy and welcomed from the first day. Merritt provides an exceptional education

Posted: May 13, 2015

Merritt is always evolving and stay ahead of the curve in their curriculum. Kindergarten-6th: They stand out from other private schools because of the amount exposure they give to children through their STEM initiative, community awareness (through senior home visits and a plethora of field trip opportunity [at least 5-6 per year]), special celebrations throughout the year that support their academics called Hallmarks. Preschool: Is the very well run and organized. Although the previous Director left, the new Directors are supportive and ready to help families. The teachers appear happy and content with their jobs. The program is so focused on the children's best interest. My children never want to leave! It has been a great experience. I would recommend this school to any family. It is a place where children can grow up in through middle school years.

Posted: May 11, 2015

Hello- I wanted to briefly address some of the concerns raised in the March 31, 2015 review. Regarding the qualifications of our staff, Merritt Academy strictly meets or exceeds state regulations for preschool teachers, and every member of our elementary/middle school faculty holds a BA, with many holding a MA degree as well. Our average class size in our K-6 classrooms is 13 students, which is well below FCPS's reported average class sizes for 2014-15 of between 21.8 and 23.1. Our preschool classes are staffed at or below the required student to teacher ratios for the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS). Our Administrators, including our Executive Director, Preschool Co-Directors and School Principal all maintain an open-door policy, where we seek to address parent questions, comments or concerns in a timely and complete manner, and to partner with parents in seeking resolution. We welcome the opportunity to answer any questions you may have and look forward to sharing our school with you and your family. Sincerely, Amy Pernick Director of Admissions amyp@merrittacademy.org

Posted: March 30, 2015

If you are looking for poor administration, high turnover, unqualified teachers, this is it. Good teachers are gone. Period. Classroom are getting bigger due to mid year enrollments. If the class size is same as public school, what's the point??

Posted: September 28, 2014

As a new Merritt Academy family, the teachers and administrators have gone above and beyond to help me and my child feel comfortable and welcomed from the day we registered. Each morning when I drop him off, I feel completely secure in knowing that he will be well cared for, and engaged in fun, stimulating activities far beyond what I am able to offer at home. I also appreciate the detailed communications and photos that his classroom teacher posts, which help me stay "in the loop." One of the things I most appreciate about the school is the sense of community that is fostered here- everyone already knows my child and says "hi" when I walk him onto campus every morning, he has already bonded with his teachers and the administrators were accessible and helpful when I had a question. I am so grateful to have found a school that feels like home, and I look forward to a great year, and hopefully many more!

Posted: September 12, 2014

We saw tremendous racial bias against minority students and that's not something we expected from a elementary school. Disturbingly, 99% of the teachers (and principal) pay more attention to Caucasian students and even favoritism in the classroom and stage performances. If you are a minority and do not planning to speak up (if you do, they don't like it, and will avoid you in the hall way), you don't belong here. Find a school in somewhere, where you will be treated fairly. We needed to pull out our son and put in another school. Now, he is very happy and treated same as everybody else. By the way, Executive Director is full of herself.

Posted: October 29, 2013

Our granddaughter has attended Merritt for two years although she is only five years old she is in the first grade Merritt offers a challenging curriculum and a gifted program that they tailor to fit the students needs and capabilities Their teachers are dedicated ,well educated and responsive to parents and even grandparents inquires and concerns. Merritt offers numerous clubs and activities such as chess, music ,dance ,foreign language,art and basketball to name only a few . In short Merritt provides a exceptional education .

Posted: September 22, 2013

BIG MISTAKE!!! I am very disappointed with the parking arrangement. They should do something to improve this area. All parents need to go to work after dropping off their children. Parking should be easy for them. I am not sure if I want to continue here. I can't be late for work everyday.

Posted: September 22, 2013

PARKING is the worst thing I am dealing with here. I am a new parent to this school and I did not know parking is that hectic. If I knew it before, I would not enroll my child for sure. They said "quick pick-up", but not that quick. Cars are line up and taking forever. Quick-drop-off?? Funny thing. If you are early (08:25??) they direct the child to go to playground which is up on the hill and need to take stairs. They are not allowed to go to classroom until 8:30. Children are on their own to go to play ground or go to the classroom by themselves. Not personally accompanied by a teacher. Young kids should be accompanied by someone. My daughter is not familiar with school campus and doesn't know how to enter the code to open the doors. I need to park illegally on the street and walk (about one block) my DD to classroom to make sure she is safe. I can't imagine in winter time walking one block and leave my child at playground (she hates cold and easily get sick). I wish they allow children to stay in the classroom if they do not want to go to playground.

Posted: August 5, 2013

As the parent of two boys who happily attended the summer program Merritt had to offer, I would like to share my experience as well. With a clear understanding that kids will always be kids, accidents happen even to the best of us, and even I can t defend my boys from all the scratches and bruises childhood has to offer, this school did the best they could and even went the extra mile to make sure I took my kids home not only in the same condition they were dropped off every morning, but also very happy and with stories to share for hours afterwards. The staff is not only professional, but is very well selected and just like the activities they are matched with the right age groups. Compared to the other reviewer, I am very happy my children are kept with children the same age; I truly don t want my kids playing, watching and learning from older kids. I could not afford Merritt regularly, but summer camp is a true saver: from the great hours of operation, to the entertaining program, to the amazing activities and projects they work on every day, not to mention the insanely attractive trips they take twice a week, I even consider myself a very happy camper at the end of each day.

Posted: July 27, 2013

Overall Merritt Academy is an above-average day-care/preschool. Its students are mostly good-mannered and well-taught. Parents are generally well educated. However, during the four years when my kid was there, its quality has significantly dropped, primarily because of its relentless expansion in the last 4 years or so. For each grade, the number of classes more than doubled during the period. Experienced teachers are stretched and many temp/inexperienced teachers have been hired, with high teacher turnover rates. Many new students join the school every year even in the middle or the end of a school year, and so classes become more heterogeneous in terms of academic and social preparedness. Student fighting and injuries have escalated, teasing have become frequent, and my kid learned racial slurs from school. Nevertheless, the school is better than average academically and in terms of the variety of activities offered.

Posted: July 23, 2013

My child attended the infant room. We have not been happy with our experience either. A bunch of us parents got together and complained to the director. She did not do anything. The management seems very weak here. We are looking at other day cares too, Winwood is one of them. Their director has since stepped down..

Posted: July 23, 2013

Just a word of caution to parents. Most of these great reviews seem to have insider language and sound pretty much the same. Perhaps they are too good to be true? Please Be cautious with this institution ....in addition to poor administration, Bad teacher quality, this academy will also rip you off. I agree with the previous 2 posts....look elsewhere for your child's education.

Posted: July 22, 2013

Hello In response to your posting of July 15, 2013 ... are you sure it wasn't you who was the main issue? The rest of the reviews on here seem to be quite high - there had to be something more to the issue and it was probably you, in need of a nanny or to stay home with your own child ... only a suggestion. My experience has been highly positive. My children love to come to school and the teachers have been incredibly involved and informative! It has been a pleasure having my kids here, at Merritt. I am a parent of a toddler and k4 student. Maybe our kids were in the same room. Would love to hear the negativity, in which you have endured.

Posted: July 15, 2013

I have 2 children in Merritt-an infant & a 5-year who has been at Merritt since he was 1. We have had an overwhelmingly positive experience. Highlights: *Very well organized. I get daily reports for both my kids (obviously more detailed for baby). I know when they ate, how much, when they slept, etc. I get an incident report if my kid gets hurt on the playground, If another kid comes down with strep it's posted. It's alot of information but all very helpful. *The lessons are great & age appropriate. They have a weekly focus for every class- from infants up. The themes combine topical (holidays, seasons, etc.), educational (colors for little ones, letters, etc-age appropriate) and value based (thankfulness, politeness, etc.) activities. *Lots of special events (visit from local fire departments, nature walks, pretend grocery shopping, dress up, etc.) *We've had really great success with the teachers. *Very careful & focused on safety. They have MAT certified teachers & processes in place for medical issues. *The kids spend a lot of time outside- Preschoolers go out 3x/day or to the gym if its raining or below freezing. *They have great hours that accommodate all schedules.

Posted: July 14, 2013

Hello In response to your posting of July 10, 2013 I did voice my concerns with the director of your school. The administration did not help us at all. No action was taken. Infact the lead teacher was rude with us and we had to leave. My son is very happy now in his new daycare. I don't have stress of worrying about my child everyday. I have moved on and thank god I listened and paid attention to my child and not to what these people were saying.. Thank you God for showing me the way..

Posted: June 17, 2013

My child has been attending Merritt since she was a year old. I am a teacher in Fairfax County and very critical of the environment that I put my child in for most of the day. I have been extremely happy with the program, teachers, and administration. My child is about to enter the K4 program and she is thriving socially and academically. There are always art projects, specialties like music & foreign language and more. Parents are always invited into the classrooms at any time and every administrator has an open door. Whenever I have had a question or concern I have received an appropriate response in a timely manner. The teachers, full time and part time, are wonderful with the children and truly love what they are doing. They are professional and well trained. I am aware of the excellent quality of FCPS but even as a teacher I want my child to continue into grade school at Merritt Academy because the program is full of rigor and engaging activities and the class sizes are small so each child gets what they need. I would recommend this school to anyone looking for a quality education for their child(ren).

Posted: June 17, 2013

We have 2 sons at Merritt and we couldn't be happier with the eduction they have received for the past three years. Our oldest son was entering 3rd grade when we discovered Merritt and he was coming from FCPS where we were not happy. It was a difficult transition for him academically because he was very far behind his peers at Merritt. His teachers for the past 3 years have been fantastic and have all taken the time to teach to his strengths. The beauty of Merritt, for our family, is the small class sizes which enables the teachers to work more closely with each student. Both of our boys are thriving and happy at Merritt and I know they are academically ahead due to the advanced curriculum being taught. The only thing that could make us happier would be for the boys to be able to continue at Merritt beyond 6th grade.