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Who We Are
Every family hopes to find a school where their child feels safe, understood, and genuinely excited to arrive each morning. You want to know that the people caring for your little one will learn what makes them laugh, recognize when they need reassurance, and celebrate the small steps that gradually become meaningful milestones.
We believe your child’s early years should offer far more than preparation for the next classroom. This time should be filled with trusting relationships, imaginative play, outdoor discovery, creative expression, and opportunities to build confidence through real experiences.
When your child feels secure, encouraged, and free to explore, learning begins to happen naturally. Your little one asks more questions, takes greater pride in their work, forms meaningful friendships, and becomes more willing to try something unfamiliar. This is the foundation we work to create each day, helping your child grow into a curious and capable learner while reassuring your family that they are known, supported, and exactly where they belong.
Parent Reviews
Matthew L.
February 14, 2025
They have these two girls Michaela brown and mykaya weisnforth that are just amazing they engage with kids and the girl that runs the place Taylor I think her name is she is wonderful and also very engaging to ppl and kids and staff
Olivia K.
February 5, 2025
The teachers are amazing!
Jennifer G.
February 5, 2025
My daughter has been at Starmaker for almost three years. Communication with her teachers is always quick and easy. I get pictures of her throughout the day and updates through the app. I feel like she is in a safe and enriching environment. I love that she is exposed to music and learning some Spanish. Highly recommend.
Brandon C.
February 5, 2025
We love the small classroom size, the focus on independent play and the attentiveness of the teachers. Starmaker provides everything we were looking for in a daycare.
Our Story
Starmaker Learning Center was established in 1994 with a belief that still guides us today. When your child feels safe, valued, and supported, they gain the confidence to explore their surroundings, express their ideas, make mistakes, and discover what they can do.
Your little one’s earliest years are filled with moments that may seem small at first. Picking up a new object, joining a friend in play, asking an unexpected question, or completing a task independently can open the door to important learning. We create an environment where those moments receive the time, attention, and encouragement they deserve.
This philosophy can be seen throughout our Campus at 23443 Cottonwood Parkway in California, Maryland. Starmaker is located in the peaceful woodland surroundings of Wildewood Technology Park, giving your child space to learn both inside and outdoors. Nature trails and a large outdoor play area invite movement, observation, imaginative play, and discoveries that often begin with something as simple as a changing leaf or a sound in the trees.
Inside, thoughtfully arranged classrooms give your young learner access to books, building materials, art, music, sensory activities, imaginative play, and age-appropriate learning experiences. Rather than expecting every student to learn in exactly the same way, our teachers observe your child’s interests and development before planning activities that encourage their next step.
Today, as part of the Endeavor Schools family, Starmaker continues to build on the close relationships and community spirit that have shaped our school for more than three decades. Our goal reaches beyond preparing your child for the next academic year. We want your little one to leave us with confidence, independence, kindness, and a love of learning that continues long after their time at Starmaker.
Mission
Our mission is to give your child a caring, engaging, and developmentally appropriate place to learn through play, relationships, movement, and hands-on discovery. We support the whole child by creating opportunities for academic, physical, social, emotional, and creative growth throughout the day. Your little one receives the freedom to explore ideas while benefiting from the guidance of teachers who understand when to step in, when to offer encouragement, and when to give them time to work something out independently.
Vision
We want every young learner to leave Starmaker Learning Center, Maryland with something that reaches well beyond academic readiness. Your child should believe in their own abilities, feel comfortable asking questions, and approach new experiences with curiosity rather than fear. When your little one feels valued and capable, they become more willing to solve problems, connect with others, and continue learning. Our vision is to build that confidence during the early years so it can support your child throughout school and life.
Values
Our school community is built around relationships, respect, independence, curiosity, and care. These values guide the way teachers speak with your child, plan classroom experiences, work through challenges, and communicate with your family. We respect that every young learner develops differently. One child may walk into a new classroom ready to explore, while another needs more time beside a trusted adult before joining the group. Both responses deserve patience and understanding.
Curriculum
Our play-based curriculum meets your child at their current stage of development and builds on what they already know. Our teachers plan meaningful activities that support language, early literacy, math, science, problem-solving, creativity, movement, and social and emotional development. Play is not separate from learning. It is one of the most natural ways your child makes sense of the world.
Your preschooler may explore measurement while building a tower, practice early writing while creating a sign for an imaginary store, or strengthen language skills while planning a game with friends. Art develops fine motor control and creative thinking, while music and movement support listening, coordination, memory, and self-expression.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children describes developmentally appropriate practice as a strengths-based, play-based approach that supports joyful and engaged learning. Our teachers use this same understanding to create experiences that feel exciting to your child while supporting clear developmental goals.
What Makes Starmaker Learning Center Different?
The first thing many families notice about Starmaker is our peaceful woodland setting. Nature trails and a large outdoor play area give your child room to move, investigate, imagine, and enjoy fresh air as part of the daily experience.
Outdoor time is not treated as an occasional break from learning. A walk through the trees can lead to conversations about weather, animals, colors, sounds, patterns, and the changing seasons. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also notes that regular physical activity can support attention, memory, brain health, muscular fitness, and bone strength.
What families remember most, however, is the way our teachers get to know each young learner. Your little one deserves more than a place to spend the day. They deserve adults who understand their interests, recognize their strengths, and notice when they need a little more time, comfort, or encouragement.
Our Infant/Toddler Program maintains a 1:3 staff-to-student ratio, giving your baby or young toddler responsive attention during an important stage of development. Teachers work with your family to understand your little one’s routines, personality, preferences, and changing needs.
Families also appreciate the balance between close personal care and clear educational standards. Our teachers create warm classroom relationships while planning purposeful experiences that support your child’s continued growth.
Communication remains an important part of that partnership. Through daily conversations, the Procare app, school updates, and family conferences, you can remain connected to what your child is learning, enjoying, and working toward.
Early Childhood Leadership & Staff
The adults who care for your child shape how safe, confident, and welcomed they feel at school. That is why we look for teachers who bring patience, warmth, knowledge, and a genuine interest in understanding each young learner. Our educators meet Maryland training and licensing requirements and receive preparation in health, safety, classroom practices, and your child’s development. Required background checks and CPR and First Aid training help ensure that teachers are prepared to support your little one responsibly. Professional learning continues throughout each teacher’s time at Starmaker. Ongoing training gives our team opportunities to strengthen their classroom skills, remain informed about early learning practices, and better support the individual needs of each family.
Haley Mitchell
School Leader, Starmaker Learning Center
Haley Mitchell brings more than 10 years of early childhood education experience to Starmaker Learning Center. She believes meaningful leadership begins with relationships. By supporting teachers, listening to families, and keeping the needs of each young learner at the center of school decisions, Haley helps maintain the warm and personal community that families value at Starmaker.
Achievements, Approvals & Licensing
Starmaker Learning Center has served families in California, Maryland, and the surrounding St. Mary’s County communities since 1994. This history reflects more than longevity. It represents years of relationships with families who have trusted us during some of the most important stages of their child’s development. Our Primary Program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education. The Infant/Toddler Program and Pre-Primary Program are licensed through the Maryland State Department of Education Office of Child Care. These approvals and licenses reflect our responsibility to meet established state requirements for our Programs, learning environments, operations, and our staff. They give your family a clear and verifiable foundation for the trust you place in our school.
“For us, it is less about checking boxes and more about helping children feel confident, cared for, and excited to learn.”
– Haley Mitchell, School Leader at Starmaker Learning Center Maryland.
Endeavor Schools is a community of more than 100 schools across the country, brought together by a shared commitment to caring for children during the most important years of their lives. Each school is thoughtfully connected to its local community, creating environments where children feel safe, supported, and encouraged to grow. Behind every classroom is a team of educators and parents who understand how much these early experiences matter, and who are dedicated to helping children build confidence, develop essential skills, and find a genuine love for learning. At the heart of Endeavor Schools is a focus on one simple goal: to give every child the support and foundation they need to thrive, both in school and in life.
Location: 23443 Cottonwood Parkway, California , MD 20619 Phone: 301-863-7740