The Goddard School

We have been with this school since our daughter was 8 weeks old. She is now in Pre-Kindergarten and loves it. Each class she has gone through has had dedicated teachers who have helped her reach and exceed all developmental milestones. She loves to learn and is well prepared for Kindergarten next year. There are so many familiar faces with the staff and the children that have grown with her that we can honestly call it a home away from home. We are excited to see how our younger children will grow and the experiences they will have. We couldn't be happier with our choice of school not only for the education our children will receive, but for the warmth we feel every time we walk through the door.\t\n

Unfortunately, and with regret, I have to agree with the reviewer above and I have some knowledge since my child goes there (but possibly not for long). Since the new owner has taken over, the School is run like a business with little regard for the student's well being. I understand he is in the business to make money but the Goddard School prides itself on being an educational institution that advances the interests of students. This school is eventually going to harm that reputation. There have been allegations of teachers hitting a child, which was swept under the rug without ever sharing the information with the parents, a teacher who came to school intoxicated (again not shared with the parents) and a general erosion in the quality of the teaching staff. The teachers are no longer degreed, so they can pay them less, and the classrooms are too full, meaning students that have been there for long periods of time are not transitioned timely to their next learning level, delaying their developmental milestones. The owner has spent some money on the aesthetics of the physical building but is scrimping on the learning aspects of the program, which is the real reason parents spend the extra money for Goddard. They are even doing fundraisers from the parents for books for the classrooms, when the parents already pay a huge tuition to send their children there. Shouldn't we assume this monthly tuition includes books for our children? It is truly becoming a run of the mill day care rather than a learning institution.

Run 100% as a business. Cold, calculating, and underhanded. Max kids per instructor ratio (perhaps beyond the limit?). Apparently verbal arrangements are fine until the owner changes his mind and can't recall specifics. We were told repeatedly by the owner that "he's running a business" when discussing a point of contention in their contract vs. a verbal conversation. \t\n\t\nMaybe you'll have a better experience, but I'm going elsewhere (and being as verbal about my mis-adventures as possible). \t\n\t\nI'd stay clear.