Preschool is the launchpad for the next decade of your child’s academic experience, so finding the right school is important.
In preschool, kids usually learn academic subjects such as basic math and writing, but they also learn how to sit at a desk, raise their hands and work with peers. But preschool hasn’t always been affordable for New Jersey families.
Today, New Jersey funds free preschool programs as part of the state’s Preschool Expansion Program, spanning 118 school districts. Here are seven South Jersey preschool options and what they have to offer your family.
Camden County
Martha F. Wilson Early Childhood Development Center
Grades: Pre-K Only
1602 Pine St., Camden, NJ 08103
856-966-4171
camdencityschools.org/ecdc
In addition to all the traditional Pre-K learning goals such as math, colors and shapes, kids here learn to develop their social skills, listening skills and fine motor skills. This Pre-K program was designed to foster curiosity and confidence to set kids up for success in school and beyond.
Riletta Twyne Cream Early Childhood Center
Grades: Pre-K – 3
1875 Mulford St., Camden, NJ 08104
856-966-4760
camdencityschools.org/cream
R.T. Cream supports its students and their families with daily check-ins, a welcoming environment and learning support outside the classroom. This school uses Teaching Strategies GOLD, an observation-based assessment system for children from birth through kindergarten. R.T. Cream’s art classes teach lines, colors, shapes and mixed media art making with special projects. The music program for Pre-K and kindergarten students teaches basics such as following directions, playing instruments, singing and dancing.
Thomas H. Dudley Family School
Grades: Pre-K – 8
2250 Berwick St., Camden, NJ 08105
The Thomas H. Dudley Family school pairs a focus on the development of academic skills with building character traits students need to succeed and excel as future leaders. The school’s vision describes its lessons as “rigorous” and its academic expectations as high.
Dr. Henry H. Davis Family School
Grades: Pre-K – 8
3425 Cramer St., Camden, NJ 08105
856-966-8920
camdencityschools.org/davis
This school also offers an after-school program with academic support, homework help, enrichment classes, sports, arts and more ways for children to explore their interests while parents finish out the workday.
Yorkship Family School
Grades: Pre-K – 8
2250 Berwick St., Camden, NJ 08105
856-966-5110
camdencityschools.org/yorkship
This school maintains small class sizes and offers a curriculum of language arts, mathematics, social studies, fine arts, health, physical education, technology literacy and character development education. Character development education at Yorkship Family School teaches students that caring for one another and developing meaningful relationships shows that people are more alike than different, a major component of the school’s curriculum according to its history page.
Veterans Memorial Family School
Grades: Pre-K – 8
800 N. 26th St., Camden, NJ 08105
856-966-5090
camdencityschools.org/veterans
This school offers co-curricular activities designed to accommodate individual learning styles. One of these activities, the Veterans Memorial Family School gardening club, teaches students about responsibility, nutrition and the natural world. In academics, the eighth-grade students create and host an annual math carnival where the younger students learn and play. The school also offers small classroom sizes, nutritious meals and a full-day program.
Burlington County
City of Burlington Public Preschool Program
Age: Three years old on or before Oct. 1 of the school year for enrollment
Early Childhood Entrance, 250 Farner Ave., Burlington, NJ 08016
609-387-5874
burlington-nj.net
This public preschool program focuses on student development in four domains: social, emotional, physical and cognitive. It uses the Teaching Strategies’ Creative Curriculum and administers a developmental Early Screening Inventory (ESI) to each child upon entry. All preschool classes go outside for about an hour each day.
Did we miss one? Reach out and tell us about your favorite South Jersey public preschool.
hross@midatlanticmedia.com
