Best Pre-K Schools & Programs in Portland, OR
Montessori Unlimited is the largest nationwide community of Montessori schools. Your neighborhood center offers unique, genuine learning with the authentic Montessori Method. Our unique, mixed-age...
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The Goddard School of Portland - Bethany is a private preschool center with highly qualified teachers. We offer a range of programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and more. Our center features...
Pre-Kindergarten
As children prepare for Kindergarten, our Pre-K classroom offers exciting opportunities for them to develop the skills they will need while making friends and exploring the world around them. Our Pre-Kindergarten program helps your child learn more about themselves, others and the world around them. Teachers engage in play with students, helping them to develop their social skills and learn more about effective communication. Our Wonder of Learning™ curriculum emphasizes a child-led, teacher-guided approach, encouraging interactive, purposeful learning experiences that allows students to grow their math and literacy skills, preparing them for Kindergarten and beyond.
Preschool Classroom
In our Preschool classroom, children start their journeys into a cooperative learning environment where they can discover interests and learn in a more structured setting. At The Goddard School®, we recognize that classrooms are made up of many unique children and teachers work to create engaging, innovative, play-based lessons with the interests and needs of every child in mind. Through the power of asking a question, your child will learn how to seek answers and advocate for themselves in the classroom. The Wonder of Learning™ curriculum takes your child's natural curiosity and encourages them to ask even more questions because asking questions fuels learning. When children want to know something, they learn faster and learning becomes an understanding that lasts a lifetime.
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The Goddard School of South Portland is a private preschool center with highly qualified teachers. Our center features an imagination playground, a robotics and STEAM lab, and fresh fruit and...
Pre-Kindergarten
As children prepare for Kindergarten, our Pre-K classroom offers exciting opportunities for them to develop the skills they will need while making friends and exploring the world around them. Our Pre-Kindergarten program helps your child learn more about themselves, others and the world around them. Teachers engage in play with students, helping them to develop their social skills and learn more about effective communication. Our Wonder of Learning™ curriculum emphasizes a child-led, teacher-guided approach, encouraging interactive, purposeful learning experiences that allows students to grow their math and literacy skills, preparing them for Kindergarten and beyond.
Preschool Classroom
In our Preschool classroom, children start their journeys into a cooperative learning environment where they can discover interests and learn in a more structured setting. At The Goddard School®, we recognize that classrooms are made up of many unique children and teachers work to create engaging, innovative, play-based lessons with the interests and needs of every child in mind. Through the power of asking a question, your child will learn how to seek answers and advocate for themselves in the classroom. The Wonder of Learning™ curriculum takes your child's natural curiosity and encourages them to ask even more questions because asking questions fuels learning. When children want to know something, they learn faster and learning becomes an understanding that lasts a lifetime.
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Preschool program dedicated to serving infants through Kindergarten-age children. Learning environment helps develop self-confidence and positive self-esteem. Program believes that embracing children...
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Montessori school serving infants, toddlers, preschool, and kindergarten-age children. Bilingual program offered in Spanish and English. Infant program focuses on building healthy attachments,...
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Speaks Spanish
The Children’s Garden – Field Office provides high-quality childcare and educational experiences for infants, toddlers, preschool, and pre-kindergarten. We utilize a strategic combination of...
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Private education program offering infant and toddler care, preschool, and pre-kindergarten in a nurturing, home-like setting. Program follows skill-based Ascend Curriculum and Reggio Emilia-inspired...
Preschool
Our specialized preschool curriculum uses rhymes, stories and hands-on activities to encourage those first steps toward building the foundational skills for reading, writing, math, and science.
Flexible Care
With Flexi-Pass, families can purchase 5 full days of prepaid care to use one at a time or all at once. There are no registration fees, no ongoing tuition, and no long-term commitment — just trusted care at a lower per-day cost.
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Creative Minds Learning Center provides parents peace of mind by giving children an exceptional education every fun-filled day in a setting as nurturing as home.
Pre-Kindergarten
Our Pre-K Program is designed specifically to ensure students are ready to THRIVE in Kindergarten and beyond.
Preschool
Our specialized preschool curriculum uses rhymes, stories and hands-on activities to encourage those first steps toward building the foundational skills for reading, writing, math, and science.
Also offers: Flexible Care
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Our program reflects the integration of physical, cognitive, social, emotional, language, self-help and aesthetic learning areas for the total development of the child. Meaningful play encourages...
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Speaks Spanish
The school's Mission is to provide a stimulating & creative play-based, inclusive place to encourage love of learning, confidence, and social skills thru both structured and unstructured play with...
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Cooperative preschool and kindergarten program. Belief is that children learn best when playing on personal terms and choosing activities that hold desired interests. Conflict resolution model is...
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Play and nature based preschool in Southwest Portland. Program follows rhythm of seasons and children's interests to shape curriculum. Spanish and Sign Language are incorporated into circle time and...
Speaks Spanish
Art based, constructivist, exploration, and discovery based preschool program & After school art program. We provide a rich learning environment where children are encouraged to use imagination and...
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NAEYC accredited, non-profit Preschool program offering morning classes. There are 7 classrooms and two playgrounds (acre+). Each classroom has two teachers. There are several classes provided. The...
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Kenilworth Community Preschool is a play-based, Reggio-inspired co-op preschool in SE Portland serving children ages 3–5. As a cooperative preschool, families are active partners in the classroom and...
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Reggio Emilia-inspired childcare and preschool program offering care for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children. Program follows children's lead in providing lessons based on aarts, nature, and...
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BKids Preschool is a licensed childcare located inside Bethany Athletic Club, serving children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old. Our structured curriculum builds strong early learning foundations while...
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Faith-based early learning center serving preschool students. Social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development is fostered through a play-based curriculum, exploration, and socialization. ...
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Program is nature based and has class outdoors every day. This outdoor classroom is located in the woods and their curriculum combines free play and teacher lead activities. As a co cop, parents are...
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Preschool dedicated to providing childcare for children ages 2.5 years to six years. Program philosophy sees each child as an authentic, powerful individual. Teachers provide a consistent, center-wide...
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Parent cooperative and preschool program encouraging children to learn through purposeful play. Children participate in free play with teacher led activities throughout each day. Parent participation...
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Private, in-home facility provides academic and play-based preschool education along with a half-day Kindergarten program. School-ready curriculum promotes social and academic development in...
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Home-based, half-day preschool program that is nature focused and influenced by Reggio Emilia teachings. Program encourages children to share gratitude for nature, love of arts, and deep respect for...
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In our nurturing environment, children explore, experiment, and discover through art, dramatic play, group play, cooking and eating, bible lessons, books and language, Science and Math, Music and...
Speaks Spanish
Academic learning center offering student-centered curricula to preschool, pre-kindergarten, and kindergarten children. Children are encouraged to become engaged learners, problem solvers, and...
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Private school offers early learning programs for preschool, prekindergarten, and Kindergarten-age children. Emphasis is placed on learning through hands-on exploration and experimentation. Program is...
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STEAM and phonics-based program using science, technology, engineering, arts, and math in everyday learning. Program mission is to provide every child with environment to strengthen moral, academic,...
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Pre-kindergarten program offering Christian-based academics. Activities are both teacher and child-directed and align with the Archdiocesan Curriculum Guidelines. Children explore art, music, physical...
Speaks Spanish
Childcare center providing age-appropriate classes for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarten children in a play-based environment. Oregon Early Childhood Foundations are incorporated into the...
Speaks Spanish
Early childhood program offering learning through play experiences for young children. Half-day schedule is specifically designed for preschoolers and features an environment that supports exploration...
Speaks Spanish
Early education program designed for young learners. Providers believe children learn best through play and; therefore, create a child-centered environment where opportunities are provided for...
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Montessori program serving preschool through elementary children in a mixed-age, holistic learning environment. Program supports inclusion in the classroom, diversity of children, respect for...
Speaks Spanish
L'Etoile French Immersion School is an independent school accredited by the French Ministry of Education for students aged 2½ through 12. Located in the heart of Portland in John's Landing, our...
Pre-K
Our Pre-K program prepares children for kindergarten including key concepts used to express thoughts and ideas. Children are taught in a French Immersion setting, and begin to absorb language naturally and without translating back and forth. Our character education program helps develop the strong social and emotional skills that ensure a successful transition to kindergarten.
Preschool
Our preschool program for children ages 3-4 years old is taught in a French Immersion setting and provides children with many opportunities to explore and engage in authentic ways. Children will also begin to practice social-emotional skills and independently navigate their classroom community.
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Childcare and early education for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Curriculum is designed to provide a balance of group and individual activities that promote creativity and exploration. Meeting...
Prekindergarten Program
Final year of preschool designed to prepare children for kindergarten. Program puts a strong emphasis on literacy and language arts. Daily routine includes: reading, writing, math, science, Spanish instruction, movement, art, and music. Teachers model respect and kindness, and children learn how to resolve conflicts and build friendships. Children also learn to express themselves through writing and telling complete stories.
Preschool Program
Hands-on preschool program with a strong focus on school readiness. Children are encouraged to think independently and express their individuality. Your child’s day is filled with creating, experimenting, and imaginary play. Curriculum includes: math, science, language, and spanish. Children begin to expand social skills and build friendships.
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Preschool program following the Lifeways Early Education philosophy along with a Waldorf-inspired model. School is designed to support learning through exploration, learning, discovery, and...
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Mixed-age preschool program utilizing Waldorf and Lifeways Early Childhood philosophies to create an educational environment. Program offers child-centered care and use a food-centric approach to...
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Early learning program offering services for toddlers and preschool-age children. The program is inspired by Reggio-Emilia's philosophies and provides a curriculum that is rich in the arts and...
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Wild Lilac is a non-profit early childhood educational community alive with possibilities for learning and discovery, an inclusive community that feels warm, inviting and nurturing for your whole...
Speaks Spanish
Since 1984, Hancock Street Preschool has been a cooperative preschool, built around the importance of relationships and community. We have two class options: the three-year-old “Red Class” meets...
Blue Class
Meeting on Monday, Wednesday an d Fridays from 9:30-112, our Blue Class is our 3-4 year olds! Co-op is a particularly great fit for families who do not need full time childcare but still want to give their kids some intentional school exposure in the form of a supportive, community oriented program.
Red Class
Meeting on Tuesday and Thursdays from 9:30-112, our Red Class is our 3-4 year olds! Co-op is a particularly great fit for families who do not need full time childcare but still want to give their kids some intentional school exposure in the form of a supportive, community oriented program.
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Center-based facility offering bilingual learning experiences to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Curriculum is based on traditional Montessori education with Spanish incorporated into daily...
Speaks Spanish
Facility offering faith-based care and educational experiences to infants and toddlers as well as preschool programming. Rooted in Jewish teachings and identity, activities include special programs...
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We’re an in home based daycare and scheduled drop in care in a safe and fun setting with a creative learning curriculum . As Experienced parent(s)/grandparent(s), kids are well supervised. Meals,...
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Language immersive preschool program operated as part of the International School. Curriculum is play-based and features a blend of hands-on learning, child-initiated activities, and teacher-guided...
Speaks Spanish
Christian-based center providing preschool and school-aged children with bilingual education. Program fosters children's physical, socio-emotional, and creative development. Center offers full-day...
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Year-round program offering preschool and pre-kindergarten children small age-blended classes that promote emotional, social, and academic growth. Lessons explore subjects including reading, math,...
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Montessori school offering toddler and preschool programs. Program partners with families to guide children who are morally, emotionally, and behaviorally prepared for the real world. Staff helps...
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Mixed-age Montessori program believes in educating the whole child. Teachers guide children through foundational stages of the learning journey through authentic and thoughtful Montessori teachings,...
Speaks Spanish
Christian-based childcare center promoting the social and intellectual growth of preschool through school-aged children. Curriculum offers activities in letter recognition, math, reading, and writing....
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Center-based facility utilizing a constructivist educational program for young children. Classrooms are student-centered with a focus on creating active learning engagement throughout the day....
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Sensory play school serving toddlers and preschool-age children. Children are offered movement through play, sensory integration, small class sizes, and structured learning opportunities. Basic sign...
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Guides
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Childcare Costs in Oregon
Curious how much daycare or preschool really costs in Oregon? We break down average childcare rates by city, age, and program type—based on real data from local providers.
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Childcare Assistance in Oregon
Explore financial assistance programs available in Oregon, including childcare subsidies, tax credits, and free preschool options for eligible families.
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What is the difference between preschool, Pre-K, and TK?
Preschool, Pre-K, and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) are all great options for children, depending on their ages and academic needs. Learn the difference.
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What is Universal Pre-K?
Universal Pre-K is a free, state-funded program for four-year-olds designed to introduce children to the pre-academic skills needed for Kindergarten.
FAQs About Portland Pre-K Programs
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What is Pre-K?
- Pre-K refers to the educational year before kindergarten, aimed at children around four years old. It's designed to develop key skills in areas such as communication, creativity, and early academics
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At what age should I enroll my child in Pre-K?
- The starting age for Pre-Kindergarten varies across states, but it's usually at four years of age. Remember, the application process often begins a few months prior to the child reaching the eligible age, so it's important to plan ahead.
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Do public schools have Pre-K?
- Yes! Some public schools do offer Pre-K. These programs can be free for families who qualify, but details—like how many hours kids attend and the age cutoff—depend on where you live. Reach out to your local district to learn more.