North Park Community Preschool

We have been at this school for 3 years with three kids and have been very happy. The teachers are amazing and it really is the neighborhood preschool so we feel part of a great community of families. They truly get to know the children and are focused on developmentally appropriate play. We are so happy to have our kids here.

I second all the good points made by the reviewer above and want to add two more:
First, the teachers are very flexible with us and truly understand both the family needs and the child’s. We have to change our daughter’s schedule from time to time due to our own work and school schedules and the director works with us, always within reason and the school’s capacity. It is very much appreciated.
Second, I’ve come to the teachers and director several times with thoughts and concerns about our daugher’s development and personality. They always listen and give constructive feedback, ideas and advice. I feel the communication is helpful and shows they value us and our daughter.
Third, the teachers constantly plan activities, celebrations and special events for the kids. It creates a sense of community. Pre-​school is not just a drop-​off place, but a part of our lives and holidays.

I should say first off that this is the only preschool I have ever really used for my son, so how it rates relative to others in our area is something I know nothing about. But even so, NPCP has been so great that I think they probably deserve 5 stars, at least according to my parental temperament and priorities.
If I can speak on behalf of the school, NPCP is a Learn by Play school that focuses on teaching children social responsibility. They learn about geography and history and biology, using current events (e.g., holidays) as a reference, but the message always seems to centered on getting along with others and behaving responsibily so that we can all enjoy life on the planet.
What I like the most about the school:
1. The teachers are calm. They do not lose their cool with these kids, ever. They are so calm and so practical, in fact, that it has a profound calming effect on not only the kids but also the parents (such as me) who may be easily ruffled by newly encountered questions or troubles, such as «Why won’t my son use the potty?» or «What does it mean when he wants to wear princess dresses?»
2. The atmosphere is relaxed. There are distinct lesson times with all the children assembled on the floor in The Gathering Place to look at maps or photos from National Geographic, or to hear one of the teachers or students describe a recent trip and what is notable about the region that they visited. But the other half of the time it’s just kids playing with puzzles or building blocks, or riding their tricycles. These kinds of activities teach social skills, which are really important before a kid goes into kindergarten.
3. The school is informal. There are no uniforms, boys and girls share the same bathroom, and parents are allowed to bring homemade cookies/​cupcakes/​other desserts for holidays or birthday celebrations. Other more-​corporate preschools sometimes prohibit these things, but NPCP is still really small and I like the fact that the rules match up closely to what I had when I was in preschool, and what we do in our home.
4. The parents and students who are represented at the school are diverse in terms of income, gender, parent gender preference, and race. This diversity is celebrated and explored within the curriculum at an appropriate level for preschoolers.
What I don’t like about the school is pretty minor, its only one thing actually:
1. The school is non-​religious, but is housed within Trinity United Methodist Church, so there is occasional overlap between church function/​ideology and the classroom. This means that once a week, all parents receive a newsletter in their mail slot with a message from the church pastor about some topic related to marriage or family life. It’s not so bad, just a little annoying because I’m not really in the market for that stuff and I always feel bad when I have to pitch it in the trash can.