As part of its Continuous Improvement Commitment, Hopkins House recently surveyed parents to find out if they have observed any change in the behavior, and verbal and social skills of their children enrolled in its preschool academy. 

• Of the 97 parents who responded to the survey -- representing 58% of the 168 families with children enrolled at the Hopkins House Preschool Academy -- 90% (87 respondents) reported that they have observed improved behavior, and verbal and social skills in their children since they have been enrolled at Hopkins House.      

• Of the 53 parents (55% of respondents and 31% of academy families) with children enrolled at the preschool academy for one or more years, 92% (49 parents) reported improved behavior, and verbal and social skills in their children since they have been enrolled at Hopkins House.   

• Forty-one parents, out of 82 families (50%) with children enrolled at the James L. & Juliette McNeil Preschool Academy (Fairfax County campus) participated in the survey.  Of the 23 parents (56% of respondents and 28% of academy families) with children enrolled for one or more years, 91% (21 parents) reported improved behavior, and verbal and social skills in their children since they have been enrolled at Hopkins House.

• Forty-one parents, out of 55 families (74%) with children enrolled at the Helen Day Preschool Academy (Alexandria campus) participated in the survey.  Of the 28 parents (68% of respondents and 51% of academy families) with children enrolled for one or more years, 96% (27 parents) reported improved behavior, and verbal and social skills in their children since they have been enrolled at Hopkins House.

Although parents of the Innovative Preschool Academy (Herndon campus) participated in the survey, their responses are not included in the summary above because the academy has been open for less than one year.

Among the skills critical for success in kindergarten and beyond are positive behavior, and good verbal and social skills. Self-managed positive behavior, as one of these critical skills, has enormous implications for school and life success. According to early childhood experts, a child's ability "to form and maintain styles and strategies of coping with the social environment in the early school years are important factors in establishing a trajectory of academic and behaviorial performance."

Early development of these skills is a key indicator of the effectiveness (i.e. quality) of the preschool experience. Behavioral and cognitive changes in academy students are closely monitored at Hopkins House both to help tailor services to individual student needs and to assess the overall effectiveness of the academy’s educational program in improving overall child performance outcomes.

>> Click here to see Survey