The Mayapple School, Blacksburg | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

My family’s overall experience with Mayapple was disappointing. My 4 year old son started there after leaving a different type of daycare setting. I thought Mayapple would offer more for him so we decided to switch. He started there later in the school year and had a very difficult transition. Within one week of starting I received such a negative and unexpected phone call that it left me in tears. My son had previously never gotten a bad report and was clearly experiencing big emotions he needed help with.

The negative comments about his behavior continued, including while he was present, which did not help him feel more comfortable there. The roller coaster of anxiety my family experienced during the short month he was enrolled there was totally unnecessary. After speaking with his previous daycare where he was enrolled for 1 1/2 years they reported no such behavioral issues and said they would love to have him back. Mayapple was obviously not a good fit for him and the mutual decision was made to unenroll him.

Mayapple is not the right environment for every child. If your child fits a certain mold and blends into their culture then I’m sure they can succeed. If your child struggles with their transition then they will be given minimal time to adapt and you will be made to feel there is something wrong with them.

I would caution any parent to take their time before deciding to enroll there. The broad generalizations made about my child during the short amount of time they knew him is really disappointing. This may not be the normal experience for most parents, but I wish I had known it was a possibility and I would have never chosen to enroll him.

At least one of our daughters has attended Mayapple since the fall of 2021. For both children, we have found Mayapple to be a very enriching and supportive environment with a nature-based curriculum focus.

When we first visited Mayapple prior to my eldest daughter’s enrollment, I knew right away that it would be a good fit for our kids. The classroom itself has a very calm and warm atmosphere. Children are clearly encouraged to use their imagination and are presented with ample opportunity in the form of crafts and items to create and explore.

For both of our kids, this has been a perfect environment to learn and grow.

Outdoors, though, is really what sets Mayapple apart. The children are encouraged to play outdoors, playing without traditional modern play structures. They often go on nature walks and can identify poison ivy with ease.

The teachers are patient and kind, while also encouraging the children to explore their independence.

I would highly recommend the Mayapple School for your 3-5 year old.