Goldfish Swim School - Fort Washington

About

Goldfish Swim School - Fort Washington is a dedicated swim school offering year-round lessons for children aged 4 months to 12 years. It provides a unique, child-friendly environment focused on water safety, stroke development, and building confidence through small class sizes, highly trained instructors, and a tropical-themed facility. Their curriculum is designed to make learning to swim fun and effective.

The pools at Goldfish Swim School are consistently heated to a comfortable 90 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 32 degrees Celsius), providing a warm and inviting environment for swimmers of all ages, especially infants and young children.

What are people saying (AI review summary)? Goldfish Swim School receives largely positive reviews, with particular praise for the Fort Washington and Port Washington PA locations. Staff members, including instructors, lifeguards, and supervisors, are consistently commended for their patience, professionalism, friendliness, and ability to handle nervous children and those on the autism spectrum (Jerry M. at Fort Washington is specifically highlighted for his exceptional work). The facilities are generally noted for being clean and well-maintained, and the Goldfish app is appreciated for its convenience. Many parents observe that their children, even those initially hesitant, grow to enjoy the swim classes. However, one detailed review raises significant concerns regarding lesson structure and value: advertised 30-minute lessons often last only about 25 minutes, with actual in-water swimming time being very limited (e.g., less than 5 minutes) due to entry/exit procedures and time spent training new instructors during class. This, coupled with restricted pool space (e.g., half a lane for four children), contributes to a rushed, 'factory-like' atmosphere, making it difficult to gauge progress or engage in meaningful interactions with instructors. Suggestions for improvement include smaller class sizes, longer lessons, and more efficient use of pool space to enhance the overall effectiveness and value of the program.

Location

Gallery

Amenities

• Accepts Credit Cards
• Accessible Entrance
• Accessible Restroom

Reviews

Listing Reviews

August 9th, 2025

Kaitlin Suzuki

My son started swim classes a few weeks ago and we’ve had an excellent experience so far! He had a week where he felt nervous and scared to get in the pool (because floating on his back worried him). The deck supervisor, lifeguard, and swim instructor were all fantastic about getting him into the pool and making him feel safe and ready to swim. I work in a daycare so I know how tough “drop off” can be for kids. The team at Fort Washington handled it beautifully. I can’t thank them enough for the patience, professionalism, and customer service!

November 18th, 2024

Farangiz Zakhidova

My 3 kids have more than a month attending Goldfish Port Washington PA. Foremost the location where we go to staff are helpful. Next, my 2 oldest enjoy learning a swim. At the beginning of class, my toddler was crying now she is enjoying it. I really recommend it. Please parents do not think that in winter swimming is bad for kids and getting more sickness. However, it is not bad it helps your kid to grow up healthy and they have drying places.

March 18th, 2025

Lyndsay Ward

Goldfish Swim School offers a generally positive environment for young swimmers, but it has some notable drawbacks that could affect both the kids and parents. While the lessons are advertised as 30 minutes, they typically last around 25 minutes due to the time lost when children enter and exit the pool. This creates a rushed atmosphere, which could easily be alleviated if there were a 10 to 15-minute gap between lessons. For my son, this meant he was in the water for less than five minutes during a 30-minute session. In terms of instruction, the teachers are good and knowledgeable, but the limited class time poses a challenge. We've noticed that some of the class time is spent training new instructors during the classes, leaving the kids with little to do but wait and look around. This not only detracts from the overall lesson quality but also adds to the feeling that the children aren't making the most of their time in the pool. Space is another issue. Each group of four children is allotted about half of a swim lane (roughly 5 feet), which significantly limits the amount of actual swimming and instruction that can take place. That said, the pool and observation areas are always clean, which is a plus. The staff, while stretched thin, is generally friendly and helpful. The Goldfish Swim School app also provides a convenient way to manage lessons, which is a nice touch. However, the "factory" pace of lessons, combined with the limited space and time, makes it difficult to gauge any real progress or have meaningful interactions with instructors. It’s clear that many other parents share the same frustration, with all of them noting how little time their kids actually get in the water. Ultimately, while Goldfish Swim School does teach young swimmers the basics, the group lessons leave much to be desired in terms of value and effectiveness. If the class size were smaller, the lessons a bit longer, and the pool space better utilized, the experience could be much improved.

April 23rd, 2025

Jacquelyn Ferrara

I want to share how amazing Jerry M. at Goldfish in Fort Washington has been. He’s incredible with my 6 year old Autistic son—always so friendly, encouraging, and kind. Everyone there is wonderful, but Jerry really stands out as one of the best. He truly deserves some recognition!

March 18th, 2025

Jennifer “Jen” Mcfield

Nice staff, beautifull place, clean and help full. My child is on the spectrum and they treat him really profesional. I recommend this place with close eyes.