We’ve partnered with SPARK Expert Enrichment to bring Math, Reading, Yoga, Art, and Public Speaking directly to MCC after-school—no extra stops required!

About Us

Family Owned and Operated

Montessori Children’s Center (MCC) is a family owned and operated cluster of Montessori centers, situated across the Northern Virginia metropolitan area. Specifically, the centers are located in Herndon, VA, Centreville, VA and Ashburn, VA

​​Established more than thirty years ago, MCC has grown into Washington Metro area’s leading early childhood educator. MCC has constantly insisted on taking a holistic approach to delivering hands on pre-school education. 

Toddler Program Image

Events

Our Programs

infant image

Infant Program

(Ages 6 weeks - 18 months)

"The first few months of life is very essential, and the objective of the caregiver is to create a loving, safe, and secure environment. This is the most important period in your child’s life, and it is our goal to nurture your child’s abilities,"

ENHANCING TODDLERS MONTESSRI AT MCC

Toddler Program

(18 months–3 yrs)

"In our toddler classroom, your child will be surrounded by loving, nurturing teachers who are thoroughly trained in child development. They create a peaceful, supportive, and safe environment for our youngest learners."

MCC PRIMARY PRESCHOOL PROGRAM

Primary / Preschool Program

(Ages 3–5 yrs)

"The ages three to six are the initial stages of development. The individual personalities, interests, likes and dislikes of children are, at this age, fully expressed by the child themselves- in their own independent manner."

Kindergarten kid practicing math's skills

Kindergarten Program

(Ages 5–6 years)

"Montessori Children’s Center has a fantastic and a wonderful Kindergarten program. The kindergarten program in MCC emphasizes learning through discovery at the child’s own pace. Students will pursue all academic disciplines with concrete materials that will pursue abstract principles in the later part of the year."

Before and after care

Before & After School Care

(Ages 6–12 yrs)

"The MCC Before and After Program offer the perfect balance of fun, learning, and enrichment all within a safe and nurturing environment."

Kids enjoying the summer camp

Summer Camp

"Our Summer Camp runs from mid-June to mid-August at all our locations, providing FCPS and LCPS students with the opportunity to enjoy a fun and engaging summer experience and we’re open Monday through Friday, from 7 AM to 6 PM."

What Parents Say

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Amanda Roberts profile picture
Amanda Roberts
2968 days ago
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I toured several places for my infant daughter. Even though it was further from our home than other places we looked at, we decided on Montessori Children's Center because of the small classroom size, diversity in the students and teachers, and the attentiveness of the director. I am so impressed that the director takes the time to know each of the children and their progress. My daughter is now 18 months and has been going here for more than a year. She has really flourished in the toddler classroom and in the last three month has learned a lot of new words, activities, and songs. They also have a really fun and educational summer program for the children. I'm happy with our choice to send our daughter here and would encourage anyone looking for a reliable preschool to look at MCC.
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Abigail Murchison profile picture
Abigail Murchison
480 days ago
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Our kids have thrived at MCC and are so excited to attend each day. The teachers and staff have created a nurturing environment with ample time for play, learning, and creativity. MCC is very well-run and communicative; importantly for busy parents, drop-off and pickup are seamless. The teachers exhibit kindness and joy tirelessly, and I’m so thankful our kids can learn from them about what it means to be a good person. I highly recommend MCC!
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William Hawkins profile picture
William Hawkins
452 days ago
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This school is amazing. Our son was here from infant to two years old before we moved. They treated him and us like family, and they helped raise our son to be a moral kid, with a great attitude that is kind to others. Beyond that, he is advanced now in his learning and knows two languages going into years old. I highly recommend this school to everyone! Exceptional people that have high moral standards for themselves and our child!
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martha duguma profile picture
martha duguma
467 days ago
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The director is phenomenal. This place is clean, organized, and my son had so much fun here. I would highly recommend.
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John Charters profile picture
John Charters
4185 days ago
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I cannot say enough good things about this facility. I have three children(two girls and one boy) and each one of them attended MCC in Centreville from the time they turned 18 months until Kindergarten. I never had an issue. Everyone was extremely attentive and my children all had a huge educational advantage going into public school especially in reading! I highly recommend this center!
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Anamika Pushkar profile picture
Anamika Pushkar
489 days ago
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We are so incredibly grateful for this Montessori preschool—it truly felt like a second home for our child. He enjoyed every aspect of his time there, from the rich educational curriculum to the wide range of co-curricular activities offered. In addition to the Montessori learning environment, the school provided Spanish classes as part of the curriculum, and offered optional activities like soccer, basketball, and even Bollywood dance—all of which added so much joy and variety to his experience.They also provided an amazing experience with the educational and fun filled field trips. Although our child missed the public school cut-off date (September 30), he was so well-prepared through the kindergarten curriculum here that he was confidently accepted into 1st grade in the public school system. That speaks volumes about the dedication and effectiveness of the teachers and the Montessori approach. The environment fostered self-directed learning, building confidence, independence, and curiosity in such a peaceful and supportive setting. The school also made learning joyful through well-organized celebrations like Thanksgiving, Halloween parades, Diwali, Father’s Day or Mother’s Day and many more all designed with a thoughtful educational purpose behind them. Ms Smitha is amazingly a wonderful person, very supportive, welcoming and has always a smile on her face. The teachers are the heart of the school—super kind, patient, caring, and genuinely attuned to nurturing each child’s individuality. Ms Salmah was his classroom teacher along with Ms Manjeet and Ms Shelby. We are so very thankful to each one of them which can’t be expressed in few words. Ms Salmah, you will be forever in our heart. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING!!!It was amazing to watch our son grow both academically and personally, all while having fun. We couldn’t have asked for a better foundation for his early years. This school holds a very special place in our hearts.
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Jessica Colvin profile picture
Jessica Colvin
44 days ago
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Finding childcare where you feel 100% confident your children are safe, valued, and genuinely loved is rare, but MCC has given our family exactly that. Our oldest is in her second year in the primary program with Ms. Malika and Ms. Nawel. She is intensely curious and eager to help, and they have met her enthusiasm with so much grace and patience. They teach far beyond the academic basics of reading, math, and science—they’ve poured into her social development, manners, and emotional intelligence. She thrives there, and their summer adventure programming has been an absolute blast. Our youngest spent her early months with the incredible infant team—Ms. Nahida, Ms. Tela, Mrs. Attiya, Ms. Lyna, and Ms. Fatma—and is now confidently transitioning into the toddler room. The milestones she has hit with them are unbelievable: she sings songs, points out her facial features, and is already beginning potty training. What sets MCC apart is their attention to detail. The teachers notice the subtle shifts that even parents might overlook—spotting early signs of teething or sickness because a child ate one less bite of pizza, or recognizing a change in behavior on the playground. They don’t just watch our kids; they deeply know them. I will forever recommend MCC to any family looking for a place where their children will be nurtured, challenged, and loved as their own.
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Desislava Lyubomirova profile picture
Desislava Lyubomirova
497 days ago
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After spending one year searching for the right place for our child we found Montessori Children Center and couldn’t be happier. Class sizes are small and teacher engagement is incredible. Even at a young age the children are exposed to so many specials and field trips. The teachers understand normal child development and how to work individually with your child to maximize their potential. Our child loves school and we are so pleased with the social, emotional and educational opportunities this schools provide
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Swetha Dasireddy profile picture
Swetha Dasireddy
491 days ago
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The school has organized graduation so good.. can’t believe the teachers made the kids perform exceptionally well. It was such a memorable event and thank you to all the teachers and Ms. Smitha for working so hard and giving such good experiences. Special mention to Ms.Madhu and Ms.Sarola who are my sons class teachers. Thank you
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Pouyan Java profile picture
Pouyan Java
859 days ago
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Our experience at Montessori Children Center School has been exceptional. The individualized learning plans have allowed my child to progress at their own peace ensuring they are both challenged and supported. The hands-on learning materials make abstract concepts tangible and easier to understand. My child has developed a strong sense of responsibility and independence through the school’s emphasis on self-directed learning. I highly recommend MCC to any parent looking for a school that values individuality and fosters a love of learning. Miss Absi director of school and her team are very professional and kind and always ready to listen and support.
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Jamie Mendoza profile picture
Jamie Mendoza
1621 days ago
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As first time parents finding a school for our little one was an intimidating search. We really lucked out finding this school that is the perfect fit for our family. We feel like they have become part of our family ! We love this school for so many reasons. Our child thrives there and truly loves going to school. He is always happy to be dropped off in the morning and adores his teacher Ms Surma. I adore her too! She is so knowledgeable and expresses an interest in our lives - not just getting our son out of the classroom. The use of the brightwheel app is a huge win for us! We can easily see how our kiddos day is going and they send us the cutest pictures and videos of him everyday. Paying tuition through there is a breeze as well. It is very easy to get ahold of the school admins and their communication is top notch! As a side note, this school was more affordable than the other schools we toured, had smaller class sizes, better teacher retention rates and to be honest a better playground!!
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Silpa Kotha profile picture
Silpa Kotha
3868 days ago
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We have great experiences with this school. Started with our older daughter with their centreville branch and moved to Herndon when we moved to the area and she attended until she started elementary and now my younger one is with them. They care for the kids really good and best of all our family liked the montessori style of education.
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Khyati Patel profile picture
Khyati Patel
495 days ago
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Our daughter has been attending this school, and it's been a wonderful experience. The school provides a warm, nurturing environment where children can grow and thrive. The teachers are incredibly loving, patient, and dedicated—they truly care about each child’s development. Our daughter absolutely loved going to school every day and formed strong, happy memories here. Now that she’s graduating this year, we feel a mix of pride and sadness. We will deeply miss the school and all the amazing teachers who have been such a big part of her early years. Thank you for giving her such a beautiful start to her educational journey!
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kayachka profile picture
kayachka
187 days ago
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Our daughter attended MCC for pre-school and again during COVID when the public school closed down, and our son has attended daycare & pre-school there for several years. The staff are warm and friendly, the teachers are knowledgeable and engaging, and the student population is very diverse. The school also offers a variety of activities, such as yoga, Spanish and dance class. We highly recommend MCC!
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Aarthi Murugan profile picture
Aarthi Murugan
1862 days ago
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We sent both our kids to MCC and had good experience. MCC is a great school for anyone whos looking for friendly environment, focusing on good education from certified Montessori teachers and fun based activities. They are accredited, so they follow the protocols and meet standards to develop the kids ready for their next big step. The new management has made improvements like using the smart mobile apps that greatly helped us to know what kids have done today, the upcoming activities. They listen to parents feedback and incorporate it as needed.

Imagine, Think and Learn

Exploration Based Learning

Fulltime Preschool and Daycare

Teachers Orchestrate Learning

Our Locations

MCC Ashburn

MCC Centreville

MCC Herndon

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of Hot Lunch Program do you provide?

We have the option of children bringing lunch from home or they could choose the hot lunch program offered by the school from a catering company that most schools use. The food comes with an entrée, a side of fruit and a side of vegetables or salad.

Is MCC preschool accredited and licensed?

Yes, Montessori Children’s Center is Accredited and is a licensed preschool catering to the ages as young as 6 weeks old to 6 years old. We also have the privileges to cater to children up to 12 years of age in our Before & After Care and in our Summer Camp programs.

How do you select the right preschool for your child?

Montessori Children’s Center welcomes any family looking for a preschool for their child/children. We offer daily tours to the families. We try to gauge and understand the needs of the parents which helps us explaining those key points during the tour. During the time of the tour, we take utmost time explaining the process and the daily routine by giving them a tour of our school. The parents get to meet and greet the experienced staff, can interact with the teachers, take a closer look at the classroom, understanding the Montessori materials and the functioning of the classroom. and show them all about our school makes the process of selecting our school that will best suit their child/children.

Is potty training needed before joining preschool?

At MCC, children who are attending the infant program (6 weeks – 18 months) and toddler program (18months – 3 years) don’t have to be potty trained. However, the potty-training process starts anywhere between the ages of 18 months – 3 years of age entirely depending on the child and our staff follow the child. Our primary classroom’s requirement (3 years – 6 years) that the child must be potty trained. We do accept children who are not potty trained above the age of 3 years. but will start them in our toddler classroom to get potty trained to move to the primary classroom.

What is your School’s approach to Discipline?

Montessori Children’s Center’s takes a different approach to discipline, children do receive discipline, but they are also given freedom within limits. Grace and Courtesy is an important lesson plan incorporated in our Montessori curriculum. Grace and Courtesy lessons are essentially teaching the children what it means to be polite and how to appropriately communicate his or her feelings. MCC Teachers treat children with respect and trust them to learn from the mistakes that they make. Discipline is not obedience but self-discipline. That’s why we do not use time out chairs, color-coded behavior charts, demerits, treasure chests, or other rewards and punishments to control our students’ behaviors. Our goal for the children is to make the children understand what the problem is and the possible solutions to it all through verbal communications.