The Goddard School of Grand Rapids (Cascade)

The Goddard School in Cascade has been an incredible part of our family’s journey. All three of our children have attended over the years, and I cannot speak highly enough about the care, love, and high-quality education they each received. From the nurturing infant and toddler rooms to the creative, engaging preschool and pre-K programs, every stage of our children’s development was supported with thoughtfulness and intention. The teachers are not only warm and deeply committed but also incredibly skilled at meeting each child where they are and helping them grow socially, emotionally, and academically. What sets this school apart is the relationships. We have always felt like true partners with the staff—communication is consistent, and they go above and beyond to build strong connections with both children and parents. The portfolios, the daily updates, the intentional activities—they all reflect a deep care for each child’s individual experience. Our kids were not just prepared for kindergarten; they were excited, confident, and curious learners, thanks to the foundation Goddard helped build. We are forever grateful for the role this school has played in our lives and will always carry such fond memories of our time here. If you’re looking for a place that treats your child like their own while giving them the tools to thrive, The Goddard School in Cascade is the place.

We had a great experience at Goddard! The teachers truly care about the kids and do a wonderful job keeping them engaged. Our son was well-prepared for kindergarten after four years there, and our daughter is ready for preschool. That said, we noticed a high turnover rate among staff, likely due to low pay—which is disappointing given the high tuition. Also, once our kids turned 4, they seemed ready for more variety and outdoor time. For older preschoolers, we found other care options offered more enrichment. Goddard is fantastic for babies and toddlers, but we’d recommend reevaluating after age 4.

So we recently placed 3900$ deposit for tuition for our 2 small children, and had to cancel a few weeks prior to starting. Their website is pretty clear that there is a 500$ non refundable deposit. After cancelling we were then told that the 3900$ was also forfeited. Not sure how that works but I would be very weary of this school. Sounds like they are after 1 thing $$$$. More to come as I will ask my lawyers about this practice....I’ve since left my number with your receptionist multiple times and have never received a callback from the director.

We’ve had a wonderful experience sending our child to Goddard. The teachers and staff are awesome and it gives us peace of mind that our child is well taken care of while we are working. We love getting daily updates of what our little one did throughout the day and the family events make it really feel like a community. We are happy with our choice to send our child to Goddard.

We trusted Goddard with both of our kids for over 3 years, and they exceeded our expectations. The care, curriculum & organization / cleanliness is the best around! The teachers were excellent, and the management was helpful & always responsive to questions and concerns. Getting kids to and from daycare can be very stressful, but Goddard did a great job minimizing the stress - and I always felt great about where my children were spending their time. Great job and thank you Goddard GR!