Reviews of The Goddard School of Fort Mill (Gold Hill) (Kindergarten)

Angie Vincent-Hamacher

We have had a wonderful experience at Goddard - Fort Mill. Ownership is directly involved in the day-to-day operations of the school. Management is extremely caring and hands on as well. There is a tremendous focus on academic preparedness. The teachers are educated and dedicated to the kids in the school. And the teachers stay long-term. There is a level of personal investment in the kids that the teachers make at school that I have not experienced at any other school. We actually recently moved our child to another school in Ballantyne after moving to the Indian Land area that would be closer to our residence and closer to our older child’s new elementary school. The new school did not compare. We took our child back to Goddard after less than 2 months. We are extremely high on Goddard.

Katy Jugan

Choosing the "right" preschool setting was a very difficult decision for my family. On top of the feelings of guilt that we were experiencing as new parents, we also struggled with how we had to prioritize the various components - location, price, curriculum, experience of staff, etc. My husband and I are both educators and we know what a difference the "right" setting can make for children as they enter into grade school. Unfortunately, our priorities at the beginning did not align well with our budget as a young family! Our son's first experiences in preschool were okay. He was loved dearly by the staff, but we did not feel that he was reaching his potential as he began to move up into the older classrooms. He began to get bored, and we soon realized that he needed more. When he turned two (and our daughter was first born), we decided to begin looking for a new preschool. When we first pulled information on schools, we immediately heard amazing things about The Goddard School. We consistently heard, "It's a little pricey, but it is DEFINITELY worth every penny." I remember having a conversation with my husband about the tuition and putting the flyer back down to keep looking. For some reason, we kept picking it back up and, one day, finally decided to go check it out! I am so thankful that we did because The Goddard School has truly been a blessing for my family. On the first visit the staff at Goddard was incredible. They answered questions with honesty, and engaged us in a conversation about what our children needed. We immediately felt like our children's experience would be tailored to their needs, and it was a very different conversation than what we had at previous schools. We visited several times before we signed our children up because we wanted to be sure that what we saw was a true example of the school. To best honest, we were more impressed each time we left! My husband and I laughed at one point because we walked in wondering what we missed the time before. It felt like we saw something else great each time we came in! When we registered, they welcomed our children with open arms into a loving, safe environment that had a defined emphasis on learning. Our son (who is ALL boy) thrived in his new classroom. The staff worked with us to make decisions about how to transition him and the appropriate teacher placement for his needs. Our daughter did incredible, too. One thing that I appreciate at this facility specifically that I did not feel like she had at other schools is that she is surrounded by positive female role models. The staff is so loving, but in such a professional and appropriate way. Our children have been at Goddard for several months now, and we continue to be impressed by what they are learning and how they are growing. The instructional components of the school, and within individual classrooms, are incredible, and my son talks about school all of the time! :-) They are consistently re-vamping the curriculum and adding new activities for the children. If we have ever had a question about something, Bill and his team have worked quickly to find an answer and have been incredibly accommodating. I feel confident that our children are safe, cared for, learning, and enjoying their time when they are at school. I have gone back to the people that recommended this incredible school to us to thank them! I am truly grateful for their feedback. If anyone reading this wonders if it is worth the extra penny in tuition, the answer is YES! I know it can be tough to work around the numbers sometimes, but this is one of the more important decisions you will make for your preschool-aged children, and we enthusiastically believe that this school prepares children for excellence in the grade school setting!

Leila O'Brien

My daughter has been at Goddard since she was 5 months old (she is now 2 and a half). We have been very pleased with our experience. Goddard was the only daycare that I visited where I left with a comfortable feeling. And that hasn't changed since she has been there. My daughter loves going to school and seeing her teachers and friends. She does so many enriching things everyday. The teachers and directors truly care about the children. I do not beleive that is something you can fake. We are very happy at Goddard and would highly recommend it to anyone.

Brad Hastings

We have had both of our children enrolled at the Goddard School for the past 4 years. We couldn't be happier with the education and attention that they receive. The teachers are incredible and the owners are highly engaged and responsive. Goddard is a great option if you are looking to give your children a head start going into kindergarten.

Archie Parent

Our daughter has been at the Goddard School in Fort Mill since 2011. We are very pleased with the school. The entire staff is amazing and absolutely top class. We wish there was a word/phrase, other than thank you, that describes our effusiveness for the role Goddard has played in our child's development. We would highly recommend Goddard to any new parents.

Amy Hillis

We could not be more pleased with our Goddard School experience. Our 3 year old son has been attending for about 2 months and the difference is clear between this as a preschool versus other centers that are a daycare. He is getting an amazing education and comes home excited to tell us about everything he is learning. He loves his teachers and so do we, as well as all of the staff. The facility is extremely safe and clean. I highly recommend Goddard School and we are so happy that we are part of such a wonderful educational family.

Chad Matthews

We have had 2 children at this school for over a year and are excited to welcoming our third soon who will also attend Goddard and we couldn't be more pleased. We have moved several times in the past 5 years and have had 3 different schools and a private nanny during that time. The Goddard school in Fort Mill is an ideal setting for our young family members. Our son and daughter are excited to go each day, and the teachers and staff are excellent. One deciding factor for us (the reason we moved from one school in Fort Mill to the Goddard School) is that they allow you to pack your own lunch daily for your children. The mandatory lunch at the previous school is everything you hear in the news about poor school lunches, and our son stopped eating any healthy food at home, instead choosing to hold out for the pizza and hot dogs served at school. Goddard also offers a well balanced curriculum of play and education which means our 2 year old is learning each day, and not just playing. Many people are shocked we wouldn't consider a nanny for 3 kids and instead send them to a school, but to us it is not a tough decision. The level of safety and eduction is unmatched.

Eduard Pershin

We have been so very happy with our experience at The Goddard School in Fort Mill. Both of our daughters attended daycare at Goddard from age 2 since the school opened and have attended all the way through their Junior Kindergarten program. Their staff of teachers are top notch, the owners are extremely flexible and very passionate about education. The time our kids have spent their has paid off tremendously and I believe the experiences and education they gained will pay off for many years to come.

Michelle Miller

My son has successfully completed the Junior Kindergarten Program at Goddard and I would highly recommend the program and school. He is at the Fort Mill/ 160 location and the teachers, staff and management are exceptional! He is very well prepared for Kindergarten and the extra programs like, robotics, soccer and so many special guest educators makes this the best school I have had my children at. If I would have only know of the caliber when my daughter was younger I would have had her here as well. The school is modern, well kept and the connection with the staff, teachers and owners is inviting and highly professional. If you are looking for a good school where you can trust your little one will get the best education. This is the place. My son loves going to school and has made so many quality relationships. In addition the school does Pre K and K testing so you know how they are doing and are more than ready for the K transition. It has been a pleasure and my rating is " Loved It!"

William Hillis

This is the second pre-school experience for our 3 yr old and definitely the best! We toured several facilities in the Fort Mill area and found this one to be the best fit for our son. The staff are engaged and knowledgeable. Classrooms and playground areas are very clean and well organized. Receiving daily reports and photos of him in action through their "Tadpoles" app and e-mail is the best part of our day!

Becky Seager

Our daughter has attended Goddard for the past six months. She had never attended a structured preschool, so we had a great deal of anxiety. However, within the first week we knew she was attending the best. Academically, we are extremely satisfied with her achievement. For example, she can identify all of her letters and the sound it makes. She is able to count to 40 and successfully count one-to-one up to 10. Socially, she is able to communicate her feelings and interacts with her peers in a positive way. She is excited to go to school and talks about her friends and teachers when she is not at school. She is safe, loved, and truly having fun, there is no where we would rather have her!

Cecilia Cruz

Enrolling our son at this school was one of the best decisions we have made for him thus far. The teachers give 100% everyday and the proof is in the children. Bill has been so accommodating since the day we came in for our tour. He truly put our son's best interest above all. I have no doubt in my mind that my son will enter kindergarten with confidence. I have had nothing but great experiences with every staff member since day one. And hearing the excitement in my sons voice when he tells me about his day makes my heart smile. If you are looking for the perfect preschool, I strongly suggest scheduling a tour with Bill. You will not be disappointed!

Monica Blasi

From the owners, to the directors, to the teachers, we LOVE this school. I am just sorry it took us so long to find them. My 4 year old son loves learning and this due to the love of education that this school has. He is excited to tell me about his day and looks forward to his next STEM Challenge.

Nilesh Patel

Our Son has been attending Goddard School at Fort Mill since past 8 months or so. We were initially worried on whether he will be able to adjust to day care / Learning Center environment or not. To our surprise, he was able to adjust very quickly. All the teachers are very friendly, always helpful, and have built very close relationship with him. We definitely recommend this school to every parent in the South Charlotte and Fort Mill area.

Will Jasper

My son has been with the school for two years and has excelled since the very first day. I knew he was a bright kid, but the work that the teachers have put in the last two years have allowed him to excel beyond by expectations. At 4, he's able to recognize several words and he's always excited to show his sisters when he sees a site work in public or at home. The daily feedback from the school allows us as parents to know what they see each day and its been very helpful. If we had another kid to send, we would...

Madeleine Morack

After touring Goddard Fort Mill we knew we wanted our high energy 2-year-old daughter to attend. All the activities that were happening were everything we have been looking for. We also wanted to make sure we did not miss out on having Ms. Kelly as a teacher. She is THE BEST. Our daughter did attend another nearby day school and we were having some issues where the children were not kept busy with learning activities and this causes frustration in children. Since our daughter has been attending Goddard Fort Mill she is happy, learning, and excited to go to school. It has been so nice to see that change in our daughter. We highly recommend this school. All the staff is helpful, friendly, and on-site. It is refreshing to see a school run so well.

Ashley Shave

Ava has been going to Goddard now, for nearly 3 years as a part time student. The hours of part time are better than any other pre school in the area in terms of drop off/pick up. We were looking for a safe, clean, friendly, and most importantly educational environment and found all that criteria at this school. The owners, Bill and Amy, have been fair and gracious and always friendly and positive. The staff and teachers are kind and loving and Ava has never had a negative experience with anyone or anything at this school in the last 3 years. She looks forward to going everyday. One of the things I most like about this establishment is that it is safe and clean. Cleanliness and safety is a big issue for us, as with most parents, and the Goddard school has excelled at this. Its bright, and tidy, and the classrooms are spacious, organized, and clean. The children are happy to be there and the teachers are eager to teach them. She always comes home having learned something new! These last few weeks she has learned the alphabet in sign language! Ava is going to kindergarten in the fall, and sadly we are moving on to bigger things, but we will always remember all the awesome memories and friends my daughter has made throughout the first years of her life here. Thank you for making this such a wonderful experience for her!

Krystion Nelson

Our children have had an amazing experience at the Goddard of Fort Mill. We enrolled our oldest child in the JK program and in only one year, he grew by leaps and bounds academically. I wish we had known about the school when we were first looking for preschools! Now our youngest has started at the school in the 2 year old class and again, I am amazed at his growth. As an educator, I am extremely impressed with the curriculum my children have received, the quality of teachers, and the constant communication with the parents. It is reassuring knowing that my children aren't just attending a "babysitting service" but are actually learning and engaging with science, math, and technology; developing socially and emerging as leaders. If you only knew the daycares/preschools we have experienced in the past, you would understand my passion for this wonderful school! Thank you Bill and Amy!!

Joanna Gasparovich

We are beyond happy with the school, teachers and directors. Our son is thriving and we couldn't be happier. We would recommend this school to anyone!

Ana Soper

We have had a wonderful experience since being here. My daughter loves Ms Kelly. What prompted me to write this review was that over thanksgiving break she said “I miss school and I miss the puzzles there.” Pretty amazing for a 2 year old who had always just wanted to be with mommy.

Greg Sova

Goddard has been a blessing for our family in the most important child development years. We have our 2nd child attending now because of the positive experience of our first child which far exceeded our expectations. Our first child came out of Goddard Preschool and was able to complete 1st grade cirrcumlum at Pleasant Knoll even though she was starting kindergarten. The staff is fantastic and completely in control and in-tune to the children's needs everyday (of all ages). Goddard provides great periodic conferences and constant communication about your child's progress - strengths, weaknesses, etc. Our daughter made so many great friends that she/we still interact with today even though they go to different elementary schools now. Just an absolute great environment for child development which is so precious as we only get 1 shot as parents. We love it, love it and Goddard is part of our everyday life!

Matt Johnson

We absolutely loved the Goddard School in Fort Mill. Our daughter enrolled when she was one. The faculty/staff from the top down are excellent and always seemed to really care. As someone in the tech industry, I also valued their emphasis on STEM. I also really appreciated the small tech details such as the tablet sign in/out app, fingerprint scanner and their use of the Tadpoles program, all of which I didn't realize how much I appreciated until we moved. Pulling our daughter out of this school was probably one of the more difficult decisions we had to make when we decided to move and the bar they set has made our transition to a new day care all the more difficult. I would highly recommend Goddard School in Fort Mill to anyone in the area in need of child care!

MJ Covelli

I can't say enough good things about The Goddard School. We went to another school in Charlotte prior to Goddard, and did not have a good experience. I was admittedly a little jaded, but after visitng Goddard, touring the school, meeting the teachers, etc. I had high expectations. I am happy to say that all of my expectations have been met and exceeded. My children are thriving. The communcation between the school and parents is very strong and I always feel very informed. The school is warm and inviting, the facility is always clean and everyone is pleasant and smiling. Looking forward to a great school year. Thank you Goddard!

Elizabeth Holloway

My husband and I have one child currently enrolled in The Goddard School and one child that has already graduated from the pre k program there. We could not be happier with the care our children received and still do receive there! We moved here in 2010 from Richmond, Va. which is where all of our family currently reside. My kids had never been in child care before and we were nervous about the prospect of leaving them with unfamiliar people in an unfamiliar place. We have had an extraordinary experience with the whole staff at The Goddard School. My children have LOVED every one of their teachers. Not only did we find a place for them to go but we also found a facility that cares about them and teaches them the life and educational skills needed to move forward. Our son that graduated from the pre k program was testing on the first grade aptitude level when he left. I would love to take credit for this but I owe it all to The Goddard School. Our three year old daughter continues to amaze me with her capabilities. She can already write her name. Again, I attribute this to her teachers at school. The owners are amazing and are so involved in the everyday care of the children. I highy recommend this school to anyone who wants an excellent beginning to their childs life!

Tiffani Murray

As any new parent, I was so nervous even thinking about dropping my baby girl off with people I didn't know. My husband and I planned on going to several schools before we made any decision. I thought it would be a long process, but thankfully, it wasn't! The Goddard School was the first and only place we looked at. After our tour, my husband and I sat in the car and immediately realized that we had found the perfect place. The Directors and staff are AMAZING! The Directors are easily accessible and always present. They even knew our daughter's name after only meeting her once! It was impressive to see that they actually called EVERY child by name! The teachers are also fantastic. Everyday, I get a full report on what my child did (what they learned, songs they sang, even a special moment of the day). But, above and beyond that, you can tell that they truly care about your child. My daughter has learned so much while she has been at The Goddard School and I look forward to continuing her early education there.

Kristie Flynn

My husband and I noticed a difference in our 3-year old daughter's vocabulary and sentence structure within her first week at Goddard--it was exactly what we needed and were looking for in a preschool. Goddard Fort Mill is safe, organized, clean, thorough, detailed and has a wonderful educational curriculum for children that is always challenging but never pushy. Emma thoroughly enjoyed her experience here and made friends immediately. Bill, Amy, Lindsay and all of the staff we had contact with were always warm, helpful and professional. We were so impressed with the educational programs and all around standards at Goddard that when we decided to move across the country, (as much as we hated to leave this school), we enrolled our daughter into another Goddard. My husband and I can't recommend this school enough and think very highly of the owners!!

Rachy Rach

The owner is super friendly, straight-forward and honest. What I loved most about this school, is that it carried a "at home" feeling, because the relationship the owner had with her employees, was geniune.