First, here's a list of all Portland, Oregon preschools from a yellow pages - I sorted them by neighborhood (using Excel, I'm quite the geek aren't I? and this list is terrifically old so I apologize for inaccuracies).
I started looking for preschools in Portland, and could find no comprehensive list with any depth of information. So I decided to compile my own, and I need your help! If you'd like to get involved, please email me. I'm finally at long last updating this with many of your comments ... expect lots of new info in November!
List of Portland cooperative preschools
Brooklyn Preschool, located in Reedwood Friends Church, 2901 SE Steele Ave, 503.234.7103 (mailing address PO Box 82035 PDX 97282-2035)
- Schedule: 9:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. daily, 3's and 4's class meets Tues and Fri, 4's and 5's class meets Mon, Wed, and Thurs
- Tuition: 2 days - $72 per month; 3 days - $95 per month, 5 days (for older kids only) - $149 per month
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:4
- Membership contact: Anne O'Reilly
- Philosophy: "learning through play"
- Founded: 1971
- Requires: age 3 by September 1; fundraising help; parent participation
- Comments: Anne writes, "We are a community of parents parenting as a group with a trained teacher - its the best unschool school!"
Eastside Family Cooperative in St. David's Episcopal Church, SE 28th and Harrison, (503) 233-5099
- Schedule: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., each child attends 3 days
- Tuition: sliding scale, $60, $65 or $70 per month
- Enrollment fee: $75
- Enrollment contact: (503) 233-5099
- Philosophy: "safe, loving, and creative environment in which healthy development through play and child-centered activities"
- Requires: 18 months, parent attends one day per week, a list of parental requirements here
- Comments: enrollment seems to be limited right now
Hancock Street Preschool, 1624 N.E. Hancock Street, 97212, 503.293.6161
- Hancock St. Preschool changes registrars every year, so they've asked me to list the phone number of the PCPO for the most current information. They promise a web site soon!
Hawthorne Family Playschool 2828 SE Stephens Avenue, 97214, 503.788.5724
- Schedule: mornings, either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday. Also offers a Friday class
- Tuition: $75 per month
- Enrollment fee: $235 one-time
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 5:1
- Membership contact: Jennifer McIlhenny, 503.788.5724, jkmcilhenny10 @hotmail.com
- Philosophy: "child-centered"
- Requires: age 3 by September 1; does not require potty training
Rose City Cooperative Preschool, 5830 N.E. Alameda, 97213, 503-239-6011
- Schedule: 9 - 11:30 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays for three-year-olds, Monday-Wednesday-Friday for four-year-olds
- Also offers: "Lunch Bunch," which extends to 1 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, for additional $6 per day
- Tuition: $72/month for three-year-olds, $83/month for four-year-olds, parent help in the classroom one day per month
- Student-Teacher Ratio: one full-time teacher, plus about one parent for four children
- Enrollment contact: contact Amy Grimes at 503-239-6011 to get on the waiting list
- Philosophy: "is premised on respect and love for each child as an individual" and creative play
- Requires: age 3
- Also cool: check out their Creative Play page with recipes for bubble solution, playdough and flubber
Shining Star School 602 NE Prescott, Portland, 97211, 503-753-4459
- Schedule: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. four days per week
- Also offers: two days per week program, plus adult and family classes
- Tuition: $200/month for four-day program, parent provides assistance role one day per week
- Enrollment fee: $50 application fee, $75 materials fee
- Student-Teacher Ratio: one full-time teacher, plus about one parent for four children
- Enrollment contact: submit application for 2005-2006; no longer accepting applications for this school year
- Philosophy: "Unique Cooperative Waldorf Kindergarten" for ages 3-6
- Requires: age 3
Shining Star School, SE 39th and Steele in Trinity Methodist Church, 503.753.4459 (mailing address 602 NE Prescott Street, Portland, 97211)
- Schedule: 4-day program for grades 1-6, open during school year with "generous time for family vacations"
- Also offers: summer program for ages 4-10; preschool program at NE Prescott address is currently full for Fall 2005
- Tuition: $3,600 per year
- Enrollment contact: Marsha Johnson, 503.753.4459, oregon7 @aol.com
- Philosophy: "Waldorf-oriented"
- Requires: parents help with watching children, cooking, cleaning and events
Southwest Parent Child Collective, P.O. Box 19836, 97280, 503.244.6604
Tigard Playschool, 9845 SW Walnut Pl, Tigard, 97223, 503.639.8110
- Schedule: 2.5-hour slots depending on age starting at 9 a.m. (3s, mixed-age), 10 a.m. (mixed-age), and 1 p.m. (pre-k)
- Tuition: $81/month (3s, Tu/Thr), $120/month (mixed-age, M/W/F), $156/month (pre-K, M-Th)
- Also offers: 1.5-hour Lunch Bunch for extended play & lunch at school; Indoor playpark down the hall for younger siblings M-Th mornings (parents must stay, not a drop off)
- Enrollment contact: Gretchen Takahashi, 503-639-8110
- Philosophy: "gives children the opportunity to play with other children while experiencing a wide variety of activities and materials ... encourages individuality while teaching children to respect the rights of others and to cooperate with the group"
- Requires: Parents serve on committees, teach in class, raise funds, and attend several mandatory meetings each year
List of Portland teacher-led preschools
Amiguitos, 5101 SE Aldercrest Rd, Milwaukie, 97222, 503.653.4081
- Schedule: Sept. 7 - Jun. 24, 8:05 a.m. - noon and 1:05 - 5 p.m., 2 to 5 days per week
- Also offers: summer camps
- Tuition: 2 days, $235 per month; 3 days, $325 per month; 4 days, $395 per month; 5 days, $455 per month
- Registration fee: $35
- Student-Teacher Ratio:
- Enrollment contact: Aydé York, 503-653-4081, amiguitos101@msn.com
- Philosophy: Spanish immersion guided by the philosophy of Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner, "Multiple Intelligences"
- Comments: from Laura: "They don't separate kids by age, only by Spanish ability. It is a true school (NO day care, before or after school)."
Apple Blossom Nursery School, 3438 SE Main, Portland, 97214, 503.235.5685
- Schedule: 8:30 to 12:30
- Also offers: all-day care until 5:30
- Enrollment contact: Carrie Riley, 503-235-5685, crileyteach@aol.com
- Philosophy: Waldorf-inspired
- Specializes in: children ages two to five
- Comments: from Carrie: "I am a Waldorf teacher with 15 yrs experience. We offer a beautiful & peaceful in home setting in SE Portland, Oregon. We have a sweet bunny named Angel & a kitten who loves children! We offer natural toys, vegetarian, organic meals. Our student/teacher ratio is 4/1. Your little sweetie is welcome to attend even in diapers. We lovingly help with potty training when they are ready. You may call or email me for more info. Blessings..."
Blossom House School 4000 NE Hassalo St, Portland, 503.231.2928
- Schedule: 8 a.m. start time, pick up at 12:45, 3:30 or 5 p.m.
- Also offers: aftercare
- Tuition: $30 a day, or about $400 a month for three days each week
- Enrollment contact: Cindy Smith, 503.231.2928, or srheingold @amco-inc.com
- Philosophy: Waldorf-inspired, gentle, famous for their tea menu and annual lantern walk
- Requires: Ages 2-4
- Comments: Cindy, who is the owner and director "has a few openings" (as of November 2006) and "We provide a loving and nurturing environment complete with art activities, baking, song and movement."
Childswork Learning Center with three locations, 503.234.2593
Lambert Campus, 5120 SE 28th Ave, 503-234-3611
Holgate Campus, 3214 SE Holgate, 503-731-5918
Abernethy Campus, 2421 SE Orange, 503-233-2167
- Schedule: ??
- Also offers: before school and after school care for $5/hr
- Tuition: 2, 3, or 5 days a week for age 3 - a.m. and p.m. sessions. $135-$260/month; 3, 4 or 5 days a week for age 4 - a.m. and p.m. sessions $190-$290/month; 5 days a week for ages 5 and 6 - all day $430/month
- Enrollment fee:
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 10-18 students with 1 teacher and 1 educational assistant per class
- Philosophy: Process focused developmentally appropriate education
- Requires: age 2.7 through 6
- Comments: from Kathleen: "I visited the Lambert and Holgate campuses and loved them both. It looked like the kids were having a great time, the teachers looked relaxed and skilled, and my son didn't want to leave. There is a registration process that begins with filling out an information sharing form and submitting $35 to get on a wait list. New families are notified in March of openings available in the fall."
Chiquitos School 11675 SW Butner Road, Portland, 97225, 503 641-7717
- Schedule: 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Also offers: Full day school from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and after school care until 5:50 p.m.
- Tuition: $4500 per year for three half-days, or $500 per month
- Registration fee: $75
- School year: from after Labor Day until mid-June
- Student-Teacher Ratio:
- Enrollment contact:
- Philosophy: Spanish immersion, and besides that, a little something for everyone (Waldorf, Montessori, Reggio-Emilia, etc.); students are in groups according to ability, no classrooms
- Requires: toilet training
Eduplin Spanish Immersion Christian School, 9920 NW Cornell Rd, Portland, 97229, (503) 291-9182
- Schedule: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., two to five days per week, Sept-Jun
- Also offers: after-school program for children 4-12, summer camps
- Tuition: 2 days, $250 per month; 3 days, $350 per month; 5 days, $525 per month
- Registration fee: $50
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1
- Enrollment contact: Rosio Williamson 503-291-9182 or Eduplinscs @yahoo.com
- Philosophy: 100% Spanish immersion with a Christian curriculum that not only focuses in the language development but in academics and skills that will prepare a child to succeed in his coming years.
- Comments: Rosio from Eduplin points out that her school is the only Spanish preschool with a Christian focus in the metropolitan area. She says: "I have had my curriculum reviewed by many qualified people in addition to many satisfied parents and they find it very good. In addition, my results with children over the last years have been very good as well. I spent 10 years in the Forest Grove School District in their ESL instruction program and Spanish Immersion Program and 10 years teaching at the Migrant Summer Program in the Hillsboro School District."
Homegrown Preschool, 2201 NE 10th, Portland, 503-287-5215
- Tuition: 2 mornings a wk = $300/mo
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 1 head teacher/owner, 1 assistant, maximum enrollment = 12 kids
- Requires: enrolls 2 - 5 year olds, no potty training requirement
- Comments: from Melissa: "Great reputation. The school is on the main floor of it's own house which is next door to the owner's house (forgot her name - sorry). There is a decent size outdoor play area w/a garden, bunny, chickens, play structure, bamboo 'forest,' and trikes. The owner had a calming and confident way about her. That was nice. The school area felt a bit cluttered for me. That's probably because Homegrown has been around for quite a while and things have just accumulated. Still...not the one for us but I have a friend that is very happy with this one."
Hummingbird School, 5254 NE 18th, Portland, 503-750-0500
Meadowlark Preschool, 616 NE 28th, Portland, 503-235-0733
- Schedule: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., options of 2, 3 or 5 days a week
- Also offers: aftercare on Tu & Th
- Tuition: 2 mornings a wk = $250/mo
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 1 head teacher/owner, maximum enrollment = 6 kids
- Enrollment contact: Alison, 503.235.0733
- Philosophy: school days include visiting storytellers & musicians and field trips that are within walking distance
- Requires: enrolls 2 1/2 - 4 year olds who are at least beginning to use the potty (i.e. not in diapers)
- Comments: from Melissa: "Fabulous, creative, loving learning environment. The school is on the main floor of Alison's home. She has a small outdoor play area w/ a teepee, sandbox & flower garden where they do yoga and play fun outdoor games. Don't let the small yard fool you - they often walk a block & a half over to Oregon Park for climbing and running. This is an art-based preschool so every day brings lots of creative adventures which you can see just upon entering the front door. We immediately fell in love with Alison and the new (opened fall 2005) preschool she has created so we enrolled right away and have been pleased ever since (this is being written on 10/30/05)."
Montessori of Alameda, 4210 NE Going, Portland
Nature & Nurture Preschool, 6206 N Campbell Ave, Portland, 503-247-8088
- Schedule: options of 2-5 days a week
- Also offers: before & aftercare
- Tuition: 2 mornings a wk = $140/mo
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 1 head teacher/owner, 2 assistants (1 is Spanish speaking), maximum enrollment = 12 kids
- Enrollment contact: Jessica, 503.247.8088
- Philosophy: school days include Spanish & field trips
- Requires: enrolls 2-5 year olds at any stage of potty training
- Comments: from Melissa: "Very affordable! The school is in the finished basement of Jessica's home. She has a small outdoor play area with trikes, a play structure, a balance beam, & a sandbox. Jessica was great with the kids, clearly a natural. I have to admit my thoughts of enrolling stopped abruptly when we were introduced to three rats in a small cage right next to the children's eating table. So...this wasn't the clear choice for us but I know two families that are very happy to have their child enrolled here. "
- Side note: Jessica is also co-owner of the daycare across from the Hollywood Library.
New Day School 1825 SE Clinton, 97202, 503-231-7425
- Schedule: 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. for half days (can show up later)
- Also offers: full-day, before and after care, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Tuition: $298 - $244 for three half-days (depending on income)
- Student-Teacher Ratio: "low"
- Enrollment contact: Heidi, 503-231-7425
- Philosophy: Ananda Marga, progressive, vegetarian, have an organic garden and "natural playthings"
- Requires: age 2 1/2, toilet training
Open Minds Preschool, 3936 NE 19th Avenue, 97212, 503-282-1925 after 2 p.m.
- Schedule: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Also offers: after-care; summer hours
- Tuition: $20/day
- Application fee: $75
- Student-Teacher Ratio: about 8:1
- Enrollment contact: Jenny Maganty, 503-282-1925 after 2 p.m., open_minds @comcast.net
- Philosophy: Waldorf-based - "Children play with a purpose. They tend to know exactly what skills they need to work on, and choose activities that help them hone those skills."
- Requires: age 3 or 4
- Comments: from my own visit: "Open Minds is a sweet, laid-back Waldorf-based environment, with simple but effective rules and an earnest teacher. She has plans to teach the kids everything from putting on their own clothes to reciting poetry. Jenny has had a day care for a year now, and started offering preschool in September 2005. She seems caring, calm, and competent and manages conflicts with ease. The environment is quite open and liberal, so parents who prefer a high amount of structure might not love it. For me? It seems perfect."
Portland Park & Rec Preschools
Portland Waldorf School 2300 SE Harrison, Milwaukie, 97222, 503·654·2200
- Schedule: 8:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., pre-kindergarten (age 3) is Tue, Wed, Fri
- Also offers: after care for ages 4.5 and up
- Tuition: $5,660 per year or about $625 per month
- Enrollment fee: $100
- Enrollment contact: Maya Muir, 503·654·2200 ext 207, maya.muir @portlandwaldorfschool.org
- Philosophy: pure Waldorf, K-12
- Requires: age 3 by June 1
Rowanberry School 6846 NE Mallory, Portland, 97211 (Piedmont neighborhood), 504·750·7607
- Schedule: M-F from 9-1, (with aftercare available some days until 4 p.m.)
- Tuition: 2 days $320, 3 days $400, 5 days $525
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1
- Enrollment Contact: Angela Molloy Murphy, (503) 750-7607, or rowanberryschool @mac.com
- Open House Saturday, February 18th, 2006 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Philosophy: (Angela says) "A home-based, mixed-age Kindergarten for children ages 3-6. Eclectic and unique blend of Reggio and Waldorf-inspired curriculum. Bunnies, laying hens, organic garden, yoga, natural playthings, and a treehouse!"
- Requires: 3 by June 1st
- Schedule: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., 5 days per week
- Also offers: deaf education; "hearing" students are mixed in with the deaf students in preschool to enhance the educational experience
- Tuition: $5,930 per year or $658 per month for five days
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:3
- Comments: from me: Patty, who shared a nanny with me until last summer, has her son at Tucker-Maxon and loves it. She's considering having him continue through fifth grade. Highlights: she says Peter learns a ton, and they pick countries of the world for the whole school to focus on, learning about geography, culture, food and literature from that country.
Wee Works3918 N.E. Hancock (old Hollywood library), 97212, (503) 335-8319
- Schedule: fulltime or halfdays
- Tuition: 5 full days, $585 per month
- Registration fee: $75
- Enrollment contact: Pat Vanderwerf
- Philosophy: Reggio-Emilia compatible
- Comments: from Lisa: " The energy in the room was calm (so different from my son's current class!!) and industrious and the children seemed engaged and happy. "
Whole Child Montessori, 5909 SE 40th Ave, 97202, (503) 771-6366
- Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8:30 - 12:30 for 3- to 4-yr-olds, until 2:30 for kindergarten program, PPS academic calendar
- Also offers: after-care; summer program from mid-June to late July
- Tuition: $430/mo for ages 3-4, $520/mo for kindergarten
- Application fee: $75
- Student-Teacher Ratio: about 8:1
- Enrollment contact: Nancy Pribnow, 503-771-6366, np4wcmc @aol.com
- Philosophy: Montessori
- Requires: age 3 by September
- Comments: from my own visit: "Whole Child is a warm, hippie-Montessori environment in a stunning Japanese-style garden setting. The class I observed seemed ordered, sweet and welcoming, with the typical Montessori freedom of picking your own 'work' and engaging in activities at your own pace. The children seemed smart and had names like 'Calder' and, yes, 'Everett.' The start times seemed flexible (no circle time, etc.), which is awesome for an irresponsible mama like me. I loved it and am just a minute away from deciding to send in my application; the only thing holding me back is that parents (according to Nancy) universally send their children to kindergarten at Whole Child, and most go on to educate their kids in private Montessori elementary schools; this runs counter to my own public-school plans. I'm not sure if I want to self-select into a group of parents who privately educate their children for the long term."
Willow Tree Preschool, 7055 N Williams, Portland, 503-283-0619
- Schedule: options of 2-5 days a week
- Tuition: 2 mornings a wk = $300/mo
- Student-Teacher Ratio: 1 head teacher/owner, 1 assistant, maximum enrollment = 12 kids
- Enrollment contact: Kim, 503.283.0619
- Philosophy: Waldorf, school days include visiting teachers who specialize in yoga, kindermusic & art
- Requires: enrolls 2 1/2 - 5 year olds who are at least beginning to use the potty (i.e. not in diapers)
- Comments: from Melissa: "Lovely environment. The school is in the finished basement of Kim's home, including large windows that were letting in lots of summer sun - that was a surprise to see. It is set up very Waldorf-style with lots of natural wood toys, scarves, etc. There's a water cooler at child height with a shelf next to it for each child's cup. She has a carefully designed outdoor play area with an organic garden (for the kids to work in), a play structure, and a decent size brick patio area for riding trikes and such. There were 3 happy animals - a friendly dog, an albino bunny and a small rat. So...I left in love with it but my husband thought the albino bunny was "creepy" and couldn't imagine 12 little ones plus 2 or more adults in the basement school space."
Information on cooperative preschools outside of Portland
Hillsboro Cooperatives
- Hillsboro Parent Participation Preschool, P.O. Box 304, 97123, 503-648-4781
Lake Oswego Cooperatives
- Oswego Playschool, 516 Eighth Street, 97034, 503-636-1345
- South Shore Preschool, 1855 South Shore Boulevard, 97034, 503-636-5216
Oregon City Cooperatives
- Carus Cooperative Preschool, 14412 South Carus Road, 97045, 503-632-3130
- Oregon City Preschool, 718 Sixth Street, 97045, 503-656-8230
Tigard Cooperatives
- Tigard Cooperative Playschool, 9845 S.W. Walnut Place, 97223, 503-639-8110
- Tualatin Valley Preschool, P.O. Box 2868, Tualatin, 97062, (503) 691-5786.
