When does the school year start?

Our Preschool and Pre-K programs operate year-round starting each July and ending in June. Please check out our school year calendar for important dates and school closures on our Tuition & Calendar page.

When does enrollment begin? 

Open enrollment begins in January for families on our waitlist. We process applications in the order received, and offer enrollment based on space availability.   

Can I enroll my child after the school year has started?

Mid-year enrollment is offered during the school year, on a space available basis, until March. If a space becomes available, we will offer enrollment based on the order in which applications were received. 

How can I get on the waitlist?

To be considered for enrollment at Nurturing Knowledge, please fill out an application. There is a $40 non-refundable application fee. We do recommend applying early … one to two years prior to your child’s eligible school year, if possible. An early application will place your child on our waitlist.

What are your schedule options?

Our Preschool program is offered as a 3-, 4- or 5-day schedule, based on space availability. 

For our Pre-K students, we offer a 5-day schedule option. 

More information about our program options can be found here!

How long is the school day?

Our Morning program is 4 hours long with schedules varying by campus and classroom. Because our schools are nestled within residential neighborhoods—where streets can be narrow and parking limited—Preschool and Pre-K start times are staggered by 15 minutes to make drop-offs and pick-ups run smoothly. 

Our Full Day program runs 5.75 hours long, and is available only at our Greenwood Campus.

You can find more information about our program times here.

What does the daily schedule look like?

We provide a wide array of activities and learning experiences throughout the day. We follow the children’s rhythms, and not a strict time clock … so routines are flexible depending on the children’s interests and needs. Find out more details here!

What are your classroom ratios?

Our mixed-age classrooms (2 ½ years – 5 years) are each composed of approximately 20 children, typically split evenly between preschool and Pre-K ages. Our collaborative teaching teams consist of a Lead Preschool Teacher, a Lead Pre-K Teacher, and an Assistant Teacher. Each classroom also has a Mentor Teacher who joins frequently, supporting the children, teachers, and parents as a strong resource.

How old does my child need to be to attend NKS?  

We welcome children beginning at 2 ½ years (30 months) years of age. If your child is younger than this in July, they will be added to our mid-year waitlist. When spaces become available during the school year, we offer enrollment to these families in the order applications were received (if children have reached the age requirement by this time).

Children who are 4 years old by the end of August are generally placed in our Pre-K program for that school year, which starts in July. In our mixed-aged classrooms, pre-K children benefit from the opportunity as teachers to our younger children. They also benefit from dedicated pre-K Small Group work, focusing on age-appropriate cognitive, emotional, and social development.

If you have any concerns about your child’s readiness for Pre-K, our Preschool Director can review with your family, and help make the best recommendation.

What’s the difference between Preschool and Pre-K?

During the Pre-K years (4 – 5 years old), children are busily building on the skills they’ve explored throughout Preschool, and they’re ready to take on new cognitive and social challenges—delving more deeply into activities and subjects that inspire them!

Throughout each day, our Pre-K children weave together experiences from a variety of classroom environments, including Mixed Age and Same Age Small Group experiences, to pave a strong path to Kindergarten. Read more about it here!

Does my child have to be potty trained to start school?

Children should be fully potty trained before attending our program. They are welcome to wear pull-ups to school if needed, but should be able to manage going to the bathroom independently.

How much does tuition cost?

You can find more information about our tuition rates on our Tuition & Calendar page.

How can I attend an Open House?

Find out more about our Open House experiences here.

You can also preview individual campus slideshows on our YouTube channel !

Can I tour your schoolhouses?

Campus tours are held periodically throughout our enrollment season; please see our Open House page for more information. For families enrolling during the school year, tours will be scheduled upon enrollment once the child’s campus assignment has been confirmed.

Click here for a photo tour of our classrooms, or see our YouTube channel for individual campus slideshows.

What are you doing to prevent the spread of COVID in your schools?

We have maintained an exceptional wellness record, exceeding federal and local guidelines. You can read about our COVID policies here.