Mater Dei School

Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church Nursery School is a play-based preschool at 6601 Bradley Blvd in Bethesda, MD (20817). It operates on a traditional September to May school year and is licensed by the state (MSDE License #71228) and Montgomery County (PEI License #29679). The program is built around the idea that young children learn best through play, so classroom time mixes free choice (block play, easel, manipulatives, playdough, pretend play, sand and water play, a quiet corner, and writing or cutting stations) with circle time, snack, outdoor play, music, and movement. Supplemental enrichment in art, science, singing, and music rotates in throughout the year. Classes are grouped by age. Cub Club is a caregiver-and-child class for children roughly 12 to 30 months, where families play alongside peers and join teacher-guided activities. The two-year-old program runs 9:00 am to 11:30 am, while the three-year-old and Pre-K classes run 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and include lunch (children bring food from home and the school provides organic milk). A child must be the age of the program by September 1st of that school year. The Pre-K class leans into group activities that build interpersonal and leadership skills as children get ready for kindergarten. For families who want a longer day, the school adds Breakfast with Bradley Bear (8:00 to 9:00 am), Lunch Bunch (11:30 am to 12:30 pm for the two-year-old program), and Stay & Play (12:30 to 2:30 pm) with enrichment classes, all available Monday through Friday. Schedules are adaptive to each child's developmental needs and to recommendations in an individualized learning plan. The site gives concrete examples: a child who needs to stand during circle time is allowed to, and a child with fine motor delays is guided toward activities that build those skills. Monthly tuition for 2025-2026 ranges from $405 for a two-day two-year-old schedule up to $935 for five-day three-year-old and Pre-K schedules, with several day-count options in between. Need-based scholarships are available through the Alla Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund established by the Nursery School Board; applying for aid does not affect an admission decision, and applications are confidential. The office can be reached at 301-365-2909 or info@bhpcns.org.

Cedar Lane Nursery School (also called Cedar Lane Cooperative Nursery School, or CLNS) is a parent-run preschool on the Bethesda/Kensington border in suburban Maryland, at 9601 Cedar Lane, 20814. It is housed in the Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church beside Rock Creek Park, though the school is not affiliated with the church. The program is play-based and screen-free, with a wooded outdoor setting and an open-ended playground that supports child-led, hands-on learning. As a cooperative, families participate directly in the classroom, and the school notes that its three teachers average more than 15 years at Cedar Lane. Classes are grouped by age, and children must reach the relevant birthday by September 1st to enroll. The 2s class meets Tuesday and Thursday (9:30 to 12:00) with up to 8 children at a 1:4 adult-to-child ratio. The 2/3s class meets Wednesday and Friday with up to 8 children, also 1:4. The 3s class meets Tuesday through Friday with up to 12 children (1:4, sometimes 1:6 by spring), and the 4/5s class meets Monday through Friday with up to 18 children (1:6, sometimes 1:9 by spring). A Monday Bonus Day can be added for the 2s, 2/3s, and 3s classes when enrollment supports it. For the 2026-2027 year, monthly tuition runs from $325 (2s) to $340 (2/3s), $545 (3s), and $630 (4/5s), with an optional Pre-K Enrichment add-on at $365 per month for the 4/5s class. Annual fees include a $75 equipment fee plus $120 to $150 for field trips and music. Optional afternoon programs for children ages 3 and up include Lunch Bunch (12:15 to 12:45, $10/day) and Extended Day (12:45 to 2:30, up to $100/month per day). The school offers a limited number of partial, need-based scholarships, with applications requiring tax returns and recent pay stubs. CLNS also runs Summer Fun Camp, open to children ages 2 to 6 whether or not they attend the school during the year. The camp runs five days a week (9a to 2p, with a 1p early option for naps) across five themed two-week sessions covering cooking, science, global cultures, performing arts, art, and more. The school is certified by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and Maryland EXCELS. Admissions tours begin in October, with an early-bird application deadline of January 15; inquiries go to admissions@clns.org.

Fernwood Montessori School has operated in Bethesda, Maryland since 1981, and it is accredited by the American Montessori Society. The school serves children ages 2 through 6 years and offers both full-day and part-time schedules. Programming is divided into two groups. The Toddler Program covers ages 24 to 36 months, runs with a 6 to 1 child-to-teacher ratio, and centers on practical life skills, self-care, and grace and courtesy. Toileting independence is not required to enroll at the toddler level. The Primary Program covers ages 3 to 6 in mixed-age classrooms, with half-day options available for 3 and 4 year olds. Toileting independence is required in the Primary Program, and physical education is part of the weekly curriculum. Instruction follows the Montessori method, and the school publishes a Metro Montessori scope and sequence document outlining what children work through across the years. Primary students follow an individualized education plan, and classrooms use the prepared-environment approach typical of Montessori settings, where children move through hands-on materials at their own pace. The school describes its days around independent discovery and self-directed work with concrete learning materials. Admissions run in four steps: a required in-person tour booked through an inquiry form, an online application with a non-refundable application fee (credit card only), acceptance and enrollment paperwork, and submission of state-required forms before the first day. Enrollment is finalized through the school's online portal and includes a $500 new student fee and a $1,200 tuition deposit, with tuition payments handled through a FACTS account. A reserved spot is not held until the enrollment contract is signed and the new student fee is paid, and families are asked to complete enrollment within 7 days. On affordability, Fernwood offers need-based tuition assistance reviewed confidentially through FACTS Financial Aid Management. The school participates in Maryland EXCELS and accepts Maryland Child Care Scholarships (CCS) for eligible working families. It is also a licensed provider with ChildCare Aware of America, so eligible military families can apply for fee assistance. Current tuition rates and the school calendar are published as downloadable PDFs for the 2026 to 2027 school year.