Relocating to Salt Lake City or changing neighborhoods? If you have young children or plan to start a family, the quality of the education in your neighborhood is likely a top priority. Thankfully, there are many highly-rated preschools in Salt Lake City that support your child’s emotional, intellectual, and social growth!
Before we get into SLC’s top preschools, you may have questions about sending your child to school for the first time.
Is pre-K the same as preschool?
Pre-K and preschool programs may or may not be different, depending on the school. Usually, pre-K has less play time and a more structured classroom setting than preschool and it’s for slightly younger kids who are 3 to 4.
What is the difference between a daycare and a preschool?
Daycare usually offers learning and educational programs and activities, but with more emphasis on informal playtime and no set curriculum. Preschool is intended to prepare your child for kindergarten with a lesson plan, curriculum, and play.
What is the age range for a preschool?
Preschool is designed for children 3 to 5 years old.
What age does preschool start?
Preschool starts at age 3. Your child usually must turn 3 before school starts in August/September.
Here are the ten best preschools in Salt Lake City, UT to help you narrow down your focus.
Neighborhood House – Creative Preschool in Salt Lake City Based on Ability to Pay
For 127 years, Neighborhood House has been committed to providing high quality, affordable care and education to SLC residents. Neighborhood House is a highly rated Salt Lake City daycare and preschool facility with full-day programs on a sliding fee scale. Their nationally accredited preschool, afterschool, and summer programs are open to kids 15 months to 12 years old.
The Neighborhood House Cleone Peterson Eccles Childrens Center helps children develop intellectually, emotionally, and socially in an inclusive and multi-cultural setting. Students receive nutritious meals and snacks, outdoor recreation, and learn to express themselves through dance, music, and art. The nationally recognized curriculum includes literacy and math support with field trips and weekly intergenerational activities. The center uses the Creative Curriculum developed by Jean Piaget which promotes play to encourage logical thinking skills.
Neighborhood House, 1050 W 500 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84104 (801) 363-4589
Sunshine House of Salt Lake at Puddle Jumpers – One of the Best Preschools in Utah & Voted Best Childcare of SLC
Sunshine House is a NAEYC-accredited Salt Lake City preschool and daycare with a focus on school readiness. The curriculum emphasizes intellectual, emotional, and social development as well as problem-solving and beginning literacy skills.
Voted 2020 Best Childcare in Best of Salt Lake with a 45-year history, Sunshine House uses the Creative Curriculum that makes learning fun while promoting a sense of self, responsibility, logical thinking, and communication skills. Their preschool program even incorporates Sign Language and Spanish to give students early exposure to a new language.
Sunshine House doesn’t just have an impressive preschool program, it’s one of the top daycare centers in Salt Lake City with before and after school programs, summer camp, holiday camp, and more.
Sunshine House of Salt Lake at Puddle Jumpers, 802 2200 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84116 (801) 536-0993
Creative Learning Academy of Utah (South Salt Lake) – Creative and Natured-Based Salt Lake Preschool with Creative & STEAM Curriculums
Founded in 2015, Creative Learning Academy of Utah has quickly earned a reputation as one of the best preschools in Salt Lake City. Designed to instill a love of learning and natural curiosity in children, the academy uses the Creative Curriculum, Conscious Discipline, and a proprietary STEAM curriculum to support your child’s early emotional-social learning.
The academy has earned a High Quality rating from the State of Utah Child Care Quality System and offers a meal program at no cost that has been awarded Top Star and Healthier CACFP designations. Kids enjoy plenty of outdoor time and sensory play with large playgrounds while parents can rest easy with daily videos and photos of their children through the Brightwheel app.
Along with their fantastic preschool program, Creative Learning Academy of Utah offers dependable child care in Salt Lake City for infants, toddlers, and children up to 12 years old.
Creative Learning Academy of Utah (South Salt Lake), 1110 3300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84119 (385) 284-7925
Montessori Community School — Top-Rated Montessori School in Salt Lake City Since 1985
The Montessori Community School has served students from 18 months through 6th grade with a quality Montessori education. This philosophy uses a child-centered approach to emphasize safe freedoms and independence while fostering a child’s natural curiosity and desire to learn.
MCS offers toddler, early childhood, lower elementary, and upper elementary classes with more than 200 enrolled students. All classes have at least one teacher who is Montessori certified and trained with options for full day, extended day, and dual language Montessori preschool in Salt Lake City.
Along with its more traditional preschool program, Montessori Community School offers a variety of enrichment programs for students including winter sports, studio classes, and service learning in which toddler and early childhood classrooms work on ongoing projects like the Adopt-a-Native-Elder Program.
Montessori Community School tuition ranges from $895 to $10,750 for the early childhood program depending on the number of days and length of class. Tuition assistance is also available.
Montessori Community School, 2416 E 1700 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84108 (801) 355-1555
Challenger School – Salt Lake – Highly Rated Private Preschool in Salt Lake City for Pre-K to 8
Challenger Schools in Salt Lake City are among the highest-rated private preschool and elementary school programs in the state. The Challenger School has a mission to prepare students to become productive and self-reliant adults, teach them to communicate and think independently, and inspire them to embrace challenges and find self-worth. The Challenger preschool program blends learning with fun, using games, dancing, and singing to help young learners grasp core concepts. The preschool curriculum covers science, logic, cultural insights, math, phonics, art, music, and motor skills to give students an advantage as they enter kindergarten.
Challenger school tuition is charged per day your student is enrolled, not annually. There is a tuition deposit of $200-$400 and an application fee of $175 with annual preschool tuition that ranges from $2,800 to $12,430. Uniforms are required two days each week for preschoolers.
Challenger School – Salt Lake, 1325 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84115 (801) 487-9984
Little Rascals Childcare-Preschool – Fun Preschool Program with Regular Field Trips
Located in South Salt Lake a block from the South Salt Lake Lions Park, Little Rascals Childcare and Preschool is one of the highest-rated preschools in SLC. Licensed since 1990, the preschool offers a robust curriculum with enriching activities like field trips and a large, shaded playground with healthy meals provided for students.
The preschool program is set up with centers that encourage exploration and inspiration, all overseen by teachers with early childhood certification. All children enrolled in daycare even receive a preschool education at no additional charge!
Little Rascals Childcare-Preschool, 186 E Whitlock Ave, South Salt Lake, UT 84115 (801) 487-9441
Community Cooperative Nature School (CCNS) – Nature-Based Preschool in Salt Lake City Founded in 1962
CCNS recognizes how critical it is for young children to spend time outdoors, exploring the world in a natural setting. This parent cooperative preschool offers one of the most unique curriculums and settings for students and parents!
Community Cooperative Nature School uses founder Janet Gillian’s “readiness” approach to learning. The school was founded when she felt that existing preschools were too focused on academic learning and a strict regiment, a difficult environment for young children that makes it hard to adapt and thrive.
The readiness approach focuses on learning how to develop relationships and respond to new situations through new experiences, encounters, and situations. The school combines everything from field trips and nature time to diverse storytelling and projects to prepare students for lifelong learning.
Community Cooperative Nature School (CCNS), 569 S 1300 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84102 (385) 743-0114
Children’s Corner Preschool & Child Care – Affordable Full-Day Preschool in SLC Near Millcreek
Located at the border of Millcreek, UT and the East Millcreek neighborhood is Children’s Corner, a family-run Salt Lake City daycare and preschool in business for more than 30 years. The preschool is state licensed and provides structured preschool classes with transportation to nearby schools and all-day care, before school, and after school programs available.
The school’s preschool classes focus on response to concept development, art, and language development through play and pretend.
Monthly Salt Lake City preschool tuition at Children’s Corner ranges from $595 to $790 per month for full-day preschool.
Children’s Corner Preschool & Child Care, 3534 Highland Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84106 (801) 486-6363
Lit’l Scholars Learning Center – SLC Preschool Partnered with Local School Districts to Help Students Transition to Kindergarten
Located in Sugar House, Lit’l Scholars Learning Center is one of the best preschools in Salt Lake City thanks to its research-based curriculum, in-house training, continued development and education for staff, and a preschool program that prepares young children to enter kindergarten.
The learning center’s preschool classes are designed to foster exploration, investigation, and cooperative play. Lit’l Scholars uses the We Can! Curriculum to give students free play time to explore and socialize yet the structure and teacher-led activities they need to thrive and advance.
Lit’l Scholars Learning Center has earned a reputation as one of the best preschools in Utah with a 20-year history!
Lit’l Scholars Learning Center, 653 East Simpson Ave S, Salt Lake City, UT 84106 (801) 467-8545
The Eastside Preschool by Child Time, Inc. – Quality Salt Lake Preschool Education Using the Reggio Emilia Approach
The Eastside Preschool is operated by Child Time, one of the leading daycare and early education providers in the country. The center boasts low class ratios to ensure your child receives the one-on-one attention they need with a child-led approach.
The Reggio Emilia approach is a revolutionary educational philosophy that uses self-directed learning in a relationship-driven setting. Your child’s interests and curiosity help to lead the lessons, allowing children to gain confidence and ensure lessons are relevant, interesting, and easily absorbed.
The Eastside Preschool by Child Time, Inc, 1650 E 3300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84106 (801) 467-2888
Map of Preschools in Salt Lake City Utah
Have you found the right preschool in Salt Lake City to support your child’s introduction to the classroom setting? The next step is choosing a neighborhood and getting settled in. If you’re getting ready to move in the near future, give us a call at Wasatch Moving Company for a free, affordable moving quote. We’ll handle all the hard work while you worry about more important things like school enrollment and preparing the family for a big move!
