Hopkins House - Helen Day Preschool Academy
1224 Princess Street, Alexandria, VA
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American Day School #3 is a licensed child care center in Alexandria, Virginia. It is licensed by the state, for up to 62 children, serving toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.
It is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM. It describes its programs: infant care, pre-k, preschool and summer camp.
Virginia Department of Education, Office of Child Care Health and Safety made 8 visits in the last 3 years and cited 24 rules across 6 of them. The visit list, in the state's words, is below.
Hours
| MondayToday | 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM |
| Thursday | 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM |
| Friday | 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM |
| Saturday | Not listed |
| Sunday | Not listed |
Programs
| Ages | Toddlers, preschoolers and school-age childrenFrom the state license |
|---|---|
| Programs | Infant care, pre-k, preschool, summer camp and toddler care |
| Enrichment | Daily introduction to Spanish, fitness program |
| Licensed capacity | 62 childrenFrom the state license |
Cost
American Day School #3 has not listed its tuition.
State record
8 visits in the last 3 years · Last visit Sep 21, 2026: no rules cited
Rules cited on 6 of 8 visits · 24 rules in all
For comparison: 91% of Virginia daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 8.
A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.
Own this daycare? Add your response to the state record
8VAC20-780-280-B
“Hazardous substances such as cleaning materials shall be kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children. Hazardous substances were found in an unlocked cabinet and accessible to children ages 16 months and older in one classroom. An item labeled keep out of reach of children was found in an unlocked closet and accessible to children ages 2 years and older.”
8VAC20-780-550-P
“The center shall maintain a written record of children's serious and minor injuries that includes date and time when parents were notified and documentation on how parent was notified. The date, time and method of how a parent was notified was not included in at least half of the 15 injury reports during the month of February 2026.”
8VAC20-780-245-A
“Staff shall complete annually a minimum of 16 hours of training appropriate to the age of children in care. Staff #2 and #3 did not complete a minimum of 16 hours of training annually. Staff #2 completed a total of 3 hours of training annually and Staff #3 completed a total of 1.5 hours of training annually.”
8VAC20-780-510-P
“When an authorization for medication expires, the parent shall be notified that the medication needs to be picked up within 14 days or the parent must renew the authorization. Medication for Child #6 was onsite, but the medication authorization had expired two days ago. The medication had not been administered past the expiration of the authorization. The authorization had not been renewed and the medication was not returned or disposed of as required.”
8VAC20-780-350-B-3
“The required ratio for 2 year old children is one staff per 8 children. Staff #7 was left alone with 12 children(2 children 2 years of age), while Staff #8 left the classroom for approximately 30 seconds.”
8VAC20-780-70
“Documentation to demonstrate that the individual possesses the education, certification, and experience required by the job position shall be maintained in the staff record. Staff #6 is the program director. The record for staff #6 does not include documentation of the required education for the job position.”
8VAC20-780-350-B-2
“The required ratio for children ages 16 to 24 month is one staff per five children. Staff #5 was observed alone in the classroom with 10 children between the ages of 16 months to 24 months for approximately 1 minute.”
8VAC20-780-190-B
“Program directors without management experience shall have one college course in a business-related field, 10 hours of management training, or one child care management course that satisfactorily covers the management functions of planning, budgeting, staffing and monitoring. Management experience is defined as at least six months of on-the-job training in an administrative position that requires supervising, orienting, training, and scheduling staff. Staff #6 is the program director has less than six months of management experience and has not completed a business management course.”
22.1-289.035-B-4
“The center is required to obtain background checks from any state in which the individual has resided in the preceding five years. Staff #1, employed for more than 8 months, did not have documentation of requesting an out of state child abuse and neglect search.”
8VAC20-780-520-A
“Over-thecounter skin products shall not be kept or used beyond the expiration date of the product. A topical skin product for Child #1 expired in November 2025.”
8VAC20-780-430-B
“Equipment available shall be age and stage appropriate for the children. Manufacturer's age guidelines for the playground equipment is for children ages 2 years to 5 years. A child under the age of 2 years was observed on the playground equipment.”
22.1-289.036-B-3
“The center must request a search of the central registry prior to employment and by end of 30th day obtain a copy of the results of a search of the central registry Results of a Central Registry search was not obtained for Staff #1, who had been employed for 8 months.”
8VAC20-780-80-A
“The center shall maintain a written record of daily attendance that documents the arrival and departure of each child in care as it occurs. There were a total of 12 children present in a classroom. The attendance record for this classroom documented only 11 children in attendance.”
8VAC20-780-270-A
“One area of the center and 2 pieces of equipment were not maintained in a safe condition. The area of the wall behind the trashcan in the Preschool 1 classroom has peeling drywall. This area is accessible to children in care. Two tricycles located outside on the playground had peeling paint and rusted areas on the handlebars.”
8VAC20-780-500-B
“Disposable diapers shall be disposed in such a way that neither the staff member's hand nor the soiled diaper touches an exterior surface of the storage system during disposal. The step on pale used for diaper disposal in the Toddler 1 classroom is broken, requiring staff to use their hands to open the pale.”
8VAC20-780-510-L
“Medication was not kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children. Two medications for Child #3 were stored in an unlocked bag inside a backpack.”
8VAC20-780-60-A-8
“A written care plan for one child with a diagnosed food allergy did not include instructions from a physician. The written care plan for Child # 3 was not completed by a physician.”
8VAC20-780-510-E
“Based on review of medication, the center did not follow their own procedures for administering medication. Evidence: 1. The center's procedures for administering medication must include methods to prevent use of outdated medication. 2. One liquid medication for Child #1 expired in January 2024.”
8VAC20-780-160-A
“Based on staff record review, documentation of TB screenings were not obtained prior to hire. Evidence: 1. Staff #2 was hired on 03/13/23. The TB screening for Staff #2 was dated 03/22/2023. 2. Staff #5 began work on 05/24/24. The TB screening for Staff #5 was dated 05/30/24.”
8VAC20-780-510-F
“Based on review of medication authorizations, one authorization was not available to staff during the time it is effective. Evidence: A medication authorization for a medication for Child #2 was effective through December 2024. This medication was not found onsite.”
22.1-289.035-B-2
“Based on staff record review, one background clearance was not obtained prior to hire date. Evidence: Staff # 1 was onsite completing orientation on 05/24/2024. The fingerprint clearance for Staff #1 was not received until 05/28/2024.”
8VAC20-780-80-A
“Based on review and observation, the facility did not ensure that a written record of daily attendance documents that arrival and departure of each child in care as it occurs. Evidence: reviewed the attendance log in the preschool 1 classroom and found it documented 9 children in the classroom, but confirmed through observation and classroom teachers that there were 10 children in the room.”
8VAC20-780-40-J
“Based on review and staff statements, the facility did not ensure that they maintained an injury prevention plan that was updated at least annually based on documentation of injuries and a review of the activities and services. Evidence: reviewed the facility's records and found that it did not have documentation of an annual review or udpate.”
8VAC20-780-280-B
“Based on observation, the facility did not ensure that hazardous substances were kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children. Evidence: observed that there was shaving cream marked "keep out of reach of children" in an unlocked lower cabinet accessible to children.”
8VAC20-780-280-B
“Based on observation, cleaning materials were not kept in a locked place. Evidence: Cleaning spray was located on the changing table in the "Toddler 1" room.”
8VAC20-780-550-D
“Based on record review, the center did not implement a monthly practice evacuation drill. Evidence: Evacuation procedures were not practiced in January of 2023.”
8VAC20-780-560-G
“Based on observation, food brought from home was not labeled. Evidence: Two lunch bags located in the "Pre-K" room were not labeled with the name of the child and today's date.”
8VAC20-820-120-E-2
“Based on observation, the findings of the most recent inspection were not posted. Evidence: The findings of the post recent inspection were not posted.”
8VAC20-780-250-C
“Based on observation, a notice regarding the presence and location of asbestos containing materials and advising that the asbestos inspection report and management plan are available for review was not posted. Evidence: An asbestos statement was not posted in the facility.”
8VAC20-780-280-B
“Based on observation, hazardous substances such as cleaning materials, insecticides, and pesticides were not kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children. Evidence: 1) The closet which kept cleaning supplies was unlocked in the "Preschool 2" classroom. 2) Cleaning supplies were located above the changing table in the "Preschool 1" classroom.”
22.1-289.035-B-4
“Based on record review, a staff member whom has lived outside of Virginia within the last 5 years did not have a complete out of state central registry search. Evidence: Staff A has lived outside of Virginia within the last 5 years and an out of state central registry search was not complete.”
8VAC20-780-550-I
“Based on observation, a 911 or local dial number for police, fire and emergency medical services and the number of the regional poison control center were not posted in a visible place at each telephone. Evidence: 911 and emergency phone numbers were not posted near the telephone in the "Preschool 2" room.”
8VAC20-780-60-A
“Based on record review, the records of children were missing required information. Evidence: The records of Children A and B were missing their father's employer phone number.”
8VAC20-780-70
“Based on record review, staff records did not contain required information. Evidence: The records of Staff A, B, C,and D were missing a verification of age.”
8VAC20-780-245-J-3
“Based on review of medication, children with emergency medication was not always in the care of a staff member with current medication administration training. Evidence: Two Auvi-Q injectors were onsite. No staff were present with current Auvi-Q training.”
8VAC20-780-510-E
“Based on review of medication onsite, the center failed to follow their own procedures on medication administration. Evidence: A parent medication authorization for Child #1was not renewed after 10 working days.”
8VAC20-780-510-G
“Based on review of medication onsite, one medication was not properly labeled. Evidence: A bottle of ibuprofen located in the Toddler 1 Classroom was not labeled with the child's name.”
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FAQ
Yes. Virginia Department of Education, Office of Child Care Health and Safety lists it as licensed and operating.
Virginia Department of Education, Office of Child Care Health and Safety lists the most recent visit on September 21, 2026, with no rules cited. It lists 8 visits in the last 3 years.
Yes. Inspectors cited 24 rules across 6 of 8 visits in the last 3 years. For comparison: 91% of Virginia daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 8. A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.
62, the licensed capacity on the state record. It is licensed to serve toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.
The state record does not list it as accepting subsidies. Ask the provider directly.
Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM. These are the hours on the state record. Holiday hours can differ.
It has not listed its tuition. Call (703) 837-0099 to ask.
(703) 837-0099.
1108 Oronoco Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. The nearest other daycare we list is American Day School 2, under 0.1 miles away.