A Brilliant Place For Your Child To Shine

Outdoor Play, Welcoming Teachers & Top Quality Care

A Brilliant Place For
Your Child To Shine

Outdoor Play, Caring Teachers, & Top Quality Preschool & After-School Care

Preschool & Childcare Center Serving Gaithersburg, North Potomac, Potomac, Rockville & Silver Spring, MD

DUFIEF CENTER

Nurturing Teachers With Decades Of Experience

Teachers have been helping children here soar for decades, so your child benefits from consistency and nurturing expertise. This tight-knit team loves what they do, and your child feels happy, safe, and loved.

Perks Like Parking Make It A Smooth Day

Lots of free parking and large setbacks away from street traffic make pick-up and drop-off as comfortable and safe as possible.
Perks Like Parking Make It A Smooth Day

Near Essentials & Parks
For Family Convenience

Near Essentials & Parks For Family Convenience

Zip through your errand list with grocery shopping and retail spots nearby. Choose from one of the many parks closeby to wind down after a busy day and catch up on the fun your little one had.

Outdoor Play Every
Day Grows Muscles

Your child climbs, runs, and jumps with friends outside on the playground, challenging growing muscles. Children also tend to onsite gardens, which provide them with hands-on fun and learning about nature and life cycles.

Deep Cleaned Daily
To Safeguard Health

Your child’s spaces, classrooms, and bathrooms stay clean thanks to a dedicated, onsite cleaning staff who takes great care in keeping your child safe from cold and flu-causing germs. 

Knowing Your Child Is Safe Is Paramount

Security features like limited access entryways and security cameras assure you of transparency and a commitment to safety. Attentive teachers are always nearby and carry walkie-talkies to communicate with team members and ensure safety. 

FAQ

    • Preschool
    • Kindergarten
    • School-age before and after school care
    • Year-round, 7 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
    • Full and part time available
    • Yes
      • WPA and POC vouchers accepted – The guidelines for the Working Parents Assistance Program have recently changed.
      • Pre-Kindergarten expansion grant: Call or email Debbie Sullivan at 301-424-6282/ prekforall@academychild.com

Our DuFief Center Staff

Meet the staff that go above and beyond each day to ensure your child care experience is of the highest quality. The level of safety, training, and FUN Academy staff deliver each day is unmatched. It takes a village to raise children, let us be yours!

Luis E.

School Age Director

Hsu K.

School Age Teacher

Maria G.

Preschool/PreK Director
Eleanor J.

Eleanor J.

Preschool/PreK Teacher

Two Sought-After Accreditations Indicate High-Quality Care

FAQs

Academy provides one morning snack and one afternoon snack depending on your child’s daily schedule. All families are required to provide a healthy lunch for your child(ren).

 Please refer to the Academy Family Handbook for healthy food choices in the classroom.
Click here

Academy’s operating hours vary based on location. Please visit your preferred center’s location page.

Each center is equipped with trained staff to facilitate the sanitation of toys and manipulatives throughout the day in addition to frequently touched surfaces. Professional cleaners clean school buildings top to bottom every evening after pick-up.

Each age group and program have their own capacity guidelines provided by the Maryland State Department of Education. Please click here for state guidelines: https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/system/files/filedepot/3/staff-child_ratio_chart_-_child_care_centers.pdf 

Space permitting, part-week and part-day schedules are available at most of our locations for select programs.

how old is your child?

Preschool and Pre-K children must be 3 and 4 years old on or before September 1st as part of the MSDE age requirement.

2 - 18 months

24 - 36 months

3 - 4 years

4 - 5 years

K-5th grade

K-5th grade

how old is your child?

Preschool and Pre-K children must be 3 and 4 years old on or before September 1st as part of the MSDE age requirement.

2 - 18 months

24 - 36 months

3 - 4 years

4 - 5 years

K-5th grade

K-5th grade

K-5th grade

Set Your Child Up On The Path To Success Now