The Merit School of Old Town Manassas

Merit School of Old Town Manassas

Address:8757 Signal Hill RoadManassas, VA, 20110

Ages: 3 weeks - 12 years

Hours: 6:30am - 6pm

Phone: (703) 361-5113

Email: oldtown@meritschools.com

Accredited by COGNIA

Merit School Old Town Manassas Google Map placeholder

The Merit School of Old Town Manassas provides caring, quality daycare and preschool in Manassas VA Old Town. Established in 1980, The Merit School of Virginia has built a reputation for excellence in educational childcare. The City of Manassas community trusts The Merit School of Old Town Manassas to offer children a safe, nurturing environment in which they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We have served hundreds of families in the historic Manassas area through the years, and we’d love to welcome your family into ours!

ON THIS PAGE:

↓ Quick Reference↓ Facility Features↓ Programs↓ Team↓ Reviews

The Merit School of Old Town Manassas: Quick Reference

Features at This Facility

A developmentally appropriate curriculum

A literacy-enriched learning environment

Age-appropriate outdoor playgrounds

Field trips

Hot, nutritious meals and snacks

Math, Art, Music, Foreign Language

Secure keypad entry systems

Transportation to and from area public schools

Winter, Spring, and Summer Camps

* Meals / snacks are not included for children with food allergies. This is the safest approach. Meal / snack exclusions do not affect tuition costs.

Programs Offered

Childcare

Baby Steps: Infant Daycare

Toddler Explorers: Toddler Daycare

Preschool Explorers

PREP – Preschool Readiness Enrichment

Youth Zone – Before and After School Care

Summer Camp

Schools Serviced

Baldwin Elementary

Bennett Elementary

Signal Hill Elementary

NOTE: The Schools Serviced are subject to change based on number of students enrolled from each public school.

Features of Our Clean, Secure, and Conveniently Located Facility

We are located on Signal Hill Road, just minutes from the historic area of Manassas, Virginia. We are proud to be accredited by Cognia, the gold standard of early childhood education accreditation. Nutritious USDA-approved meals are included* at no extra cost. Transportation to and from area public schools (listed above) is also available.

Our colorful, well-lit classrooms are designed to inspire your child’s creativity. Our furniture and classroom storage solutions were chosen or custom-built with your child’s safety in mind. Outside, our play areas are bordered by expansive lawns and child-planted gardens. Kids can ride a tricycle on our sports court, play a game of ball, climb on our two play spaces, dig in the sandbox, rock back and forth on the swings, or play tag on the play field.

Northern Virginia Magazine Best Preschools 2024 badge

Childcare Assistance for Military Families

ChildCare Aware / NACCRRA

Merit School of Old Town Manassas is proud to support our military families and partner with the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA). NACCRRA’s program, Child Care Aware of America works with U.S. Military members to find and afford child care that suits their unique needs.

More Than Daycare: We Offer Safe and Caring Childcare, Preschool, Before and After School Care, and More!

From infancy through preschool and into the crucial school-age years, The Merit School of Old Town Manassas is committed to fostering a love for learning that lasts a lifetime. Our programs, curriculum, classrooms, play areas, toys, and learning materials cater to a variety of ages and developmental stages. We actualize our “Knowledge, Character, Achievement” motto by placing a strong emphasis on building character and instilling values such as kindness, respect, and responsibility. Students learn the importance of cooperation, empathy, and good citizenship through interactive activities and positive reinforcement. If you’re looking for daycare in Old Town Manassas VA, check out our programs below!

Baby Steps: Infant Daycare in Manassas, VA

Infant Care Baby Steps childcare and newborn daycare - baby crawling on colorful, soft mat

The Baby Steps program focuses on the growth and development of infants through nurturing and individualized care. It fosters language development and trust between infants and caregivers with activities like singing, reading, and playing. The program emphasizes real-time communication with parents and uses a literacy-rich curriculum to support infants' social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth.

Learn More:
Infant Daycare

Toddler Explorers: Toddler Daycare in Manassas, VA

Our Toddler Explorers program caters to children aged 16-24 months, providing a nurturing and safe environment. Individualized lesson plans, designed by early care professionals, support social-emotional, physical, and cognitive development. The program emphasizes daily communication with families, ensuring parents are informed about their child's activities and progress. Classrooms are thoughtfully arranged to create a home-like atmosphere, with age-appropriate materials and outdoor play spaces to encourage exploration and learning.

Learn More:
Toddler Daycare

Preschool Explorers: Preschool in Manassas, VA

Preschool daycare childcare - smiling child sitting at table eating a peeled orange

The Preschool Explorers program provides a nurturing and creative environment for two and three-year-olds. Children engage in age-appropriate activities such as filling containers at the water table, stacking blocks, and working on puzzles in large, bright classrooms designed to stimulate exploration and learning. The program emphasizes individualized lesson plans, daily teacher-family communication, and the development of social, creative, and self-help skills. Teachers create structured yet flexible schedules that support each child's developmental needs.

Learn More:
Preschool Explorers

PREP - Preschool Readiness Enrichment in Manassas, VA

PREP Preschool Readiness Enrichment daycare childcare - children practicing writing letters on individual chalkboards

The Preschool Readiness Enrichment Program (PREP) is designed for three- and four-year-olds to develop essential language, math, and social skills. Using curricula like More Story Stretchers and Count On Math, children engage in group activities that build confidence and foundational knowledge. The program includes STEM learning and social-emotional development to prepare children for future educational experiences. Classrooms are structured to encourage exploration and creativity, with regular parent-teacher communication to track progress.

Learn More:
Preschool Readiness Enrichment

Youth Zone - Before and After School Care in Manassas, VA

Braemar kids-playground-Excellent - Youth Zone 600x600

The Youth Zone provides before and after school care, offering a safe and supportive environment for children during the hours before and after their school day. The program ensures children can spend time with friends in a fun, friendly, and relaxing setting. Activities are designed to keep children engaged and entertained, promoting social interaction and relaxation. This service is ideal for working parents who need reliable care for their children outside of school hours.

Learn More:
Before and After School Care

Summer Camp in Manassas, VA

Summer Camp at The Merit School - kids having fun in swimming pool

Summer Camp at The Merit School makes it easy for parents to keep their routines by providing an exciting, safe, activity-driven place for their kids when school is out. Our summer camp program begins at the conclusion of the school year and continues through June, July, and August. Outdoor activities are a mainstay of the program, including swimming! We also have camps for winter and spring breaks!

Learn More:
Summer Camp

Our Directors, Teachers, and Staff Are Dedicated and Well-Trained

Our team embraces the philosophy of learning in a loving environment by creating a nurturing environment where learning is fun and exciting! At The Merit School of Old Town Manassas, we are proud to employ a culturally diverse, highly trained, and caring staff. Our teachers and management engage our children in activities and experiences that propel them to grow and learn. These childcare professionals provide a “home away from home” for your child with stimulating social, emotional, and physical learning opportunities.

Director

Carey Michalowski, AA/ECE
About Me

My name is Carey Michalowski, and I would like to introduce myself as your Director for the past 12 years. I am originally from Erie, Pennsylvania and my family is spread out all over the East Coast. My husband and I have been married for 20 years. I met him after college on a summer trip to Virginia and never went back home! My little family lives in Sumerduck, VA. We love being able to grow a garden, play with our son in the yard, and make a campfire at the end of a long week to relax. I attended Mercyhurst College and received my Associate in Early Childhood Education. I have 22 years of experience working with children. I have taught children age two to school age as a teacher, a School Age Care director and School Age Care field director. At the Merit School of Old Town, we are all there for each other, the kids and the parents, with the goal to have the best learning environment and campus. I love handing the children their diplomas at Kindergarten graduation; it has been amazing. It is also great to see happy families that genuinely become friends from the relationships made here. I enjoy the feeling of community we have as we have been in this community for 45 years and each family is part of our history. We have parents that attended and now send their children here.

Assistant Director

Alethea Hunter

District Director

Chantel Clayborn, BA/Organizational Mgmt; M.Ed.

The Merit School of Old Town Manassas Reviews

What Parents Are Saying About Us

Merit School Of Old Town Manassas

4.4

Based on 27 reviews

Amanda Franceschi

We absolutely love and cannot say enough wonderful things about The Merit School of Old Town Manassas. We enrolled when we moved to the area in February 2020. I had dropped my children off (2yo and 6mo at the time) at a very well-reviewed in-home daycare and immediately felt uneasy, even though our previous daycare was also in-home. I spent the day researching and touring other centers in the area, quickly finding comfort and ease at Merit of Old Town.Four years later, my children are now 5.5yo in the Pre-K class and 3.5yo in the Prep class. They have met all milestones, and my daughter is incredibly prepared to enter Kindergarten this fall; all credit goes to the staff at Merit of Old Town. They provide a safe, clean, welcoming, encouraging and supportive environment for my children to succeed.The administration and staff at Merit of Old Town are excellent. They are open communicators about the curriculum, the path your child is on, how they are excelling and if any issues come up. I never have to pry for answers, they are very transparent.They also host a couple social functions throughout the year, which we love as they encourage my children to view "school" as a fun place to be and has allowed our family to connect and form friendships with other families.We cannot say enough positive things about Merit of Old Town and highly recommend if you are looking for childcare that feels like family!

Emily Rollins

We have been part of the Old Town Merit School family for almost four years. We currently have two children enrolled (infant and toddler). Merit School of Old Town has been nothing but outstanding for the care of our children. Trusting others outside of your immediate family with the most important things in your life is not an easy task….merit school of old town has proven to make that difficult task a lot easier. They treat our children with love and care. They make you feel like part of the merit family!The director and administration communicate with parents about issues that may arise and are quick to respond with any questions or problems parents may have. The school puts on numerous social functions throughout year. This is exceptional for families who would like to interact with some of the other families in the school.Both of our children have developed and exceeded their milestones because of the advanced curriculum offered at the merit school. I feel confident knowing my almost 4 year old will be beyond where he should be when he enters kindergarten. As our son has progressed thru each class, he has been fortunate enough to have teachers that utilize creative lesson plans. These lessons keep my son engaged which is not an easy task. In the infant room our daughter is active in various sensory activities and already bringing home art projects.Safety is top priority at Merit School of Old Town Manassas. The school is a safe environment with security precautions in place that makes the parents feel at ease knowing the children are in a protected environment.For anyone thinking of joining The Merit School of Old Town our family highly recommends becoming part of such a fantastic school.

Ashley Moore

As a mother, one of my biggest concerns is that my children are safe when they are not with my husband and me. The Merit School of Old Town has given us peace of mind that our children are safe, taken care of, happy, and learning when they are there. The staff are professional and reliable, and they communicate effectively daily. They listen to our concerns and suggest developmentally appropriate practices for the home. I HIGHLY recommend this location for your child/children’s daycare and early childhood education needs.

Debbie Alexander

Can not say enough about how great the school and teachers are. We have gone from never having any kids to now having 4 children. All under the age of 5. They helped us not with just school but where to get started with everything. Even donated clothes from there kids and family's from the school. Thank you for everything.

Kellyn May

We have been taking our daughter there since she was 12 weeks old. This is one of the best day cares we visited. They also offer the opportunity for a flexible schedule which we really needed.

Naga N

My 3 year old started going to this school for few months now. This is her first school and she enjoys going to school because of all the fun learning activities. We don't speak English at home however in just 2 months my daughter is able to communicate well in English. Her teacher Ashleigh is her favorite and wants to share with her everything she does at home. The teacher student interaction is very good. I would definitely recommend this school.