We’re lucky to have so many fabulous preschools in the Madison area!
Below you will find a comprehensive list of Madison area preschools, sorted by location: East Side (including Sun Prairie and McFarland), Downtown Area, Near West Side (including Fitchburg and Verona), and Far West Side (including Middleton and Waunakee). We’ve also highlighted some of our favorites with a few extra details that you might find helpful.
Many local schools hold Open Houses as enrollment approaches. Make sure to check our calendar for upcoming events.
Happy preschool hunting!
East Side Preschools (Includes Sun Prairie/McFarland/East Waunakee)
Madison Country Day School
A love of learning starts here. (Morale boosters, safety net, and support system included.)
Good study habits, an interest in reading, and a love for solving problems can be developed at an early age. MCDS provides a world-class academic foundation, including dedication to whole child education with specialized teachers for science, art, music, physical education, and Spanish.
Ages: Pre-kindergarten (age 4) through grade 12
Schedules: Pre-Kindergarten program is available for full-day (8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.) or half-day program (8 a.m. until 11:30 a.m)
4K available? Yes (private)
Monona Grove Nursery School
Monona Grove Nursery School has been a fixture on the Eastside of Madison for almost 60 years. As a parent coop, families and staff are teammates in the education of young children. Monona Grove Nursery School is city of Madison accredited, licensed through the state of Wisconsin, and has proudly earned a 5 star Youngstar rating.
The preschool program is for kids ages 3-4 and meets two or three mornings or afternoons a week. The 4K program is through the MMSD district and meets 4 afternoons or 4 mornings a week. Younger friends join in with a parent or caregiver for the Toddler Time program. Join this wonderful cooperative community!
Ages: Toddler Time (0-3), preschool (3-4), and MMSD 4K
Schedules: Half Day
4K available? Yes (Madison Metropolitan School District site)
Countryside Montessori Preschool
Countryside Montessori Preschool is a non-sectarian, educational preschool, serving families with children two and a half to six years old. A multi-cultural, city-, state-, and nationally-accredited school with a teaching faculty abundant in training, experience and education.
Our school is set on an acre of beautiful playgrounds and gardens, maximizing outdoor learning and play experiences with gardens, swings, an enormous sandbox, green space, a tricycle track, rock labyrinth, zen garden, and more. Children are individuals, each with their own likes, dislikes and possibilities. It is our responsibility to educate, care, and respect each child accordingly; to maximize their independence and growth. Every area in our classrooms opens a door to inviting the child in, to explore, learn, and most of all enjoy life and the start of their education.
Ages: 2.5 (toilet trained) – 6 years old
Schedules: Half day (8:15-12:15), 3/4 day (8:15-2:15), or full day (8:15-5:25). 3, 4, or 5 day options with early arrival available (7:00-8:15).
4K available? Yes (private)
Other East Side Preschools
Gingerbread House (McFarland)
Greenway Crossing Montessori School
Kids Crossing Early Learning Center
Learning and Beyond Preschool (McFarland)
Learning Ladder (Cottage Grove)
Downtown Area Preschools
Meeting House Nursery School
Meeting House Nursery School has been a fixture of early childhood education on Madison’s West side for 68 years. Located in the Frank Lloyd Right designed FUS Building, across from the Children’s Hospital, we have served generations of Madison’s families.
The Meeting House philosophy is based on the premise that children learn through play. While attention is given to the child’s total development, emphasis is placed upon developing the child’s social skills and self-concept. The teachers at Meeting House are warm and caring individuals. All teachers hold degrees/credentials in Early Childhood Education. The program is developmentally appropriate, respecting and celebrating the uniqueness of every child.
Ages: 2-5 years
Schedules: Half day preschool program – morning session (8:45-11:45) and afternoon session (11:45-3:45) – plus opportunities to add lunch bunch and extended morning care
4K available? Yes (Madison Metropolitan School District site)
New Morning Nursery School
New Morning Nursery School is located in a natural setting close to downtown, the arboretum, the UW campus and hospitals, and within walking distance of many nearby neighborhoods. Our school has been providing child-centered play based early learning experiences since 1972. Our philosophy is the cornerstone of best practices for early childhood education – encouraging exploration, experimentation, creative expression, reflection, with special focus on social and emotional growth and self-regulation. Uniquely organized as a parent co-op, a close knit community of families and teachers work together to support children’s learning. Our teachers are experienced and passionate about providing the best early learning experience for each individual child and our parents are committed to being involved in the school in ways that are meaningful to themselves and their families.
Ages: 2-6 years
Schedules: Half day preschool programs – mornings (8:30-11:30am) and afternoons (1:00-4:00pm), plus opportunity to add lunch, extended 4k and summer programs available.
4K available? Yes (Madison Metropolitan School District site)
University Houses Preschool (UHP)
University Houses Preschool is a part-day, parent cooperative, non-profit, play based preschool. Parents are involved as helpers in the classroom and on the Parent Board. This collaboration is one of the biggest strengths of UHP! Member and nonmember options are available.
Ages: 2.5 – 6 years
Schedules: Half days: mornings (8:45 – 11:45), lunch bunch (11:45 – 12:45), and afternoons (12:45 – 3:45). (Lunch bunch connects the morning and afternoon programs.)
4K available? Yes, in the afternoon class (Madison Metropolitan School District site)
Preschool of the Arts
Preschool of the Arts is Madison’s only Reggio Emilia inspired preschool. Here, learning is an adventure, and children’s experiences are bounded only by their imaginations and dreams. Students enjoy a vibrant and innovative learning community, led by qualified staff committed to child-focused exploration, creativity, and collaboration.
Ages: 18 months–5 years, plus K5–3rd grade in the summer
Schedules: full-day, half-day (mornings)
4K available? Yes (Madison Metropolitan School District site)
Blessed Sacrament
Blessed Sacrament is a Catholic school within the structure of the Diocese of Madison. Multi-aged classroom structure affords individually-paced learning in a nurturing, Catholic values-based setting. This school is a tightly knit community where children learn strong collaborative and leadership skills while building friendships with their fellow students through the eighth grade. Tuition is competitive and the faculty and staff are extraordinary!
Ages: 3 years – 8th grade
Schedules: *NEW* 3-year-old preschool program, three 1/2 days per week. Also 1/2 day and full day 4K & 5K programs with flexible numbers of days per week. Parents can customize their child’s schedule to best fit their families’ schedules. School day is 8:15 AM to 3:15 PM. Also offering early morning care beginning at 7:15 AM and after school care from 3:15 to 5:30 PM, M-F.
4k available: Yes (private)
Other Downtown Area Preschools
Near West Side Preschools (Includes Fitchburg/Verona)
Kids Express Learning Center
Kids Express Learning Center, created and nurtured by the Dahl family, offers children a myriad of remarkable learning environments across ten rural acres in Madison. Their programs and teachers help children to build strong foundations in pre-academic/academic skills, as well as in social aptitude, self-esteem, and much more.
Ages: 6 weeks – 5K (summer camp programming through age 12)
Schedules: Full day (7:30am-5:30pm), half day mornings
4K available? Yes (private)
Our Redeemer Lutheran School
Ages: 2-4 year old preschool, K-8 school
Schedules: Full day/half day M-F, plus Before and After School care from 6:45AM-5:30PM
4k available: Yes (private)
Wood's Hollow Children's Center
Woods Hollow is a nonprofit childcare center that has been NAEYC Accredited since 1992. Nestled behind the Promega Corporation in Fitchburg, Woods Hollow provides high quality care and developmentally appropriate learning experiences for young children. Large, creatively designed playground areas accommodate each individual age group and, combined with the surrounding wooded areas, allow for unlimited experiences in the outdoors.
**New to Woods Hollow in Summer 2019: brand new school age classroom and indoor large motor/multipurpose room!**
Ages: 6 weeks through 4K (full time), plus after school care for 5K-3rd grade
Schedules: Full time, M-F. Center hours: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
4k available: Yes (private, full time only)
Orchard Ridge Nursery School
Orchard Ridge Nursery School’s mission is to serve the whole child. Their dedicated and caring teachers provide a developmentally-appropriate, play-based learning experience that includes music, yoga and science education. Please call for an opportunity to tour the school, meet the teachers and learn why families love their experience and the community at ORNS!
Ages: 2 years – 4K
Schedules: full day, half-day mornings/afternoons, plus early morning/after-school care
4K available: Yes (Madison Metropolitan School District and Middleton Cross Plains Area School District site)
Kids Junction
Kids Junction Preschool’s mission is to partner with families to establish patterns of life-long development in mind, body and Christian character during a child’s most formative years. In order to do this, they have created the best environment possible with a state of the art facility and quality teachers in Madison WI, as well as a custom curriculum created using the top learning resources and curriculums available to deliver an all-encompassing learning experience.
Ages: 6 weeks – 13 years
Schedules: Full day and half day
4K available: Yes, Private and Public (Middleton-Cross Plains School District)
Country Grove Preschool
Ages: 2-10 years old
Schedules: Morning only program (8:30-12:30), Full time care (7:00-5:45)
Gan Hayeled Preschool
Gan HaYeled is the preschool of the Jewish Federation of Madison welcoming children of all backgrounds. Children and their families create connections and build community that form lifetime friendships and networks of support. We offer flexible schedule options, wonderful enrichment programs and experienced, loving, compassionate teachers.
Ages: 18 months – 5 years
Schedules: Flexible schedules, 2-5 days, with Early Care, Core Hours, Naps, and Extended Care.
4k available: Yes (private)
St. Maria Goretti
St. Maria Goretti is a PreK-8th Catholic Grade School located on the west side of Madison. Their Early Childhood Program is a very important part of their school community. Led by a certified teacher, the program includes a comprehensive Early Childhood curriculum for children ages 3 and 4, and takes place in a safe, healthy and nurturing environment.
Students have many opportunities to be involved in their learning process through a curriculum that provides age-appropriate activities with active, hands-on learning experiences. The curriculum is also designed to help children develop and maintain positive self images and develop their own abilities to create and to explore.
Ages: 3K – 8th grade
Schedules: Pre-K mornings, 7:50-11:30 AM – Tu/Thu 3’s and M/W/F 4’s
4k available: Yes (private)
La Petite Academy
La Petite Academy® offers nurturing care and creative learning experiences. Here, your child will discover respect, collaboration, and the joy of learning. Our exclusive School Readiness Pathway features developmentally appropriate programs for infants to school-age students. With our STEM curriculum, science, technology, engineering, and math are part of everything we do in the classroom. Plus, our Grow Fit® initiative focuses on health, nutrition, and fitness. Connect with us: 877.861.5078 or LaPetite.com.
Ages: 6 weeks – 12 years
Schedules: Monday through Friday, part-time and full-time enrollment options available
4k available: Yes. Please call your nearest school location for more information.
Cultured KIds of Madison
Cultured Kids Immersion Preschool & Daycare has two centers that provide all the same wonderful nurturing of a great childcare center, completely in the target language, Spanish. Young children are naturally able to learn and share their thoughts and words in Spanish very quickly.
Singing and using music is an integral part of our daily teaching routine. It is the best way we have found to share language in a way kids remember best for years to come. Other languages provided are subject to availability of staff.
Summer Camps available for 5-12yr olds!
Other Near West Side Preschools
Far West Side Preschools (Includes Middleton/West Waunakee)
Westside Christian
Westside Christian Preschool realizes the importance of education during the early childhood years. Programming is specially designed to provide a Christian environment which fosters the spiritual, academic, physical and social/emotional growth of your child. We also participate in the WI School Choice Program. Schedule a tour today and experience this welcoming family environment firsthand.
Ages: Pre-K3, 4K and K-8 school
Schedules: Flexible full/part time schedules, M-F, with optional before and after school care available
4K available: Yes (private)
Madison Community Montessori School
Our mission here at MCMS is simple: respect children and their natural joy of discovery. Every day our students walk through our doors and know that they have the independence and support to explore and take ownership of their own education.
Established in 1972, MCMS assists children to develop and grow into creative, confident, and self-motivated adults with a love for learning. Our students practice critical thinking and problem-solving, and are well prepared to enter the work place and contribute back to the community. Our beautiful Montessori classroom environments allow each child to become an orderly, integrated person with a strong sense of curiosity.
Ages: 15 months through 8th grade
Schedules: Half Day, Full Day, After School
4K available: Yes (private)
My daughter goes to Oregon Preschool Inc and we LOVE it there!!! ❤️ Come check them out at their open house from 4-6 pm on Tuesday, Feb 13. 🙂
We LOVE Countryside Montessori Preschool! Perfect environment for our daughter, amazing teachers. It’s like an extension of our home 🙂
My boys went to East aside Lutheran for pre school. We loved it there!!! I highly recommend it!
We love ❤️ Orchard Ridge!
We love Monona Grove Nursery School – great teachers and community!!
We just enrolled our daughter at the Pre School of the Arts, very excited for her to start!