Guide to Preschools, Daycares, and Mother’s Morning Out Around Columbia

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Making decisions about where to start your child’s education and where to seek childcare are some of the most important decisions we face as parents, but they don’t have to be intimidating ones. Columbia Mom has put together a list of the many wonderful options in and around The Midlands, giving you a one-stop shop for all of your early education and childcare needs.

A special thanks goes out to all of the sponsors who helped make this guide possible. If you would like your program included in this guide, let’s chat.

Shandon Weekday School

Shandon Preschool Guide

Shandon Weekday School is a licensed preschool and school-age child development center and has served children and families of the Midlands since 1958. The preschool program serves children ages infants through 4K; the school-age program serves children after school during the school year and in a full-day summer camp environment when school is not in session. Our goal is to provide a joyful, nurturing environment to foster social, physical, spiritual, and intellectual growth of all children. Curriculum and activities are designed to spark the interest of and meet the individual needs of each child while also providing for each age group’s needs and interests. Shandon Weekday School places great importance on giving children the necessary tools to be lifelong learners. SWS supports children of all races, creeds, and religious backgrounds.

607 Woodrow Street
Columbia SC, 29205

(803) 799-8533

Montessori School of Columbia

MSofC Preschool Guide

At the Montessori School of Columbia, we strive to develop the unique capabilities of each child. Guided by the work of Dr. Maria Montessori and informed by current research, our committed staff honors the natural curiosity of children. Our academically rigorous, self-paced curriculum allows children to work according to their own development levels. In multi-age classes, children discover the dignity of work as well as the importance of caring for themselves and others. Since we attract families from a rich array of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, MSC students learn to be citizens of the world. Our mission is to foster a love of learning that will guide and sustain children throughout their lives.

411 S Maple Street
Columbia SC, 29205

(803) 783-8838

Heathwood Hall

Preschool Guide

Heathwood Hall knows young children learn best through experimentation and participation in their environment.  Our two-year-old to pre-kindergarten students experience these hands-on, active learning opportunities in the classroom, through our Tinker Lab, Art Studio, Life Science Lab, library, outdoor classrooms, music, Spanish, and PE classes that are all taught by experts in their fields. And as part of a larger school community with older students, our youngest children gain the benefit of countless other resources right on campus — from an exceptional dining hall and botanical greenhouse to sophisticated auditoriums and advanced technology resources — that are not typically available in a preschool environment.  When a strong classroom experience is matched with expert teachers who truly love their students, the result is a safe, nurturing environment that becomes the solid foundation for lifelong learning.

3000 S Beltline Boulevard
Columbia, SC 29201

(803) 765-2309

Hammond School

At Hammond, we see the infinite possibility in each child.

We’re here to draw out their genius. One day, each one of them will be ready to take on the world. But first, we nurture their innate curiosity and insatiable inquisitiveness in our Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten programs. We do that by exploring, well, everything—from Spanish to writing computer code. We have our own naturalist-in-residence to help us go on brilliant field adventures on our 110-acre campus. Our goal: give even our youngest students a headstart by learning to love learning. There’s no better preparation for whatever the future may hold.

At Hammond, every learning moment counts.

854 Galway Lane
Columbia SC, 29209

(803) 776-0295

Saint Joseph Catholic School

Guide to Preschools Daycares

Saint Joseph Catholic School’s 4K and kindergarten provide an ideal balance of learning, development and play for our youngest students. Our preschool classes combine traditional educational values with current best practices in early childhood education, ensuring your child is growing their social, cognitive, spiritual, emotional, gross and fine motor skills. Each child receives individualized attention, with the majority of classroom activities taking place in small groups and learning centers. This focused approach allows our exceptional educators to best assess the individual needs of your child. While the highest-quality of education is delivered, it’s done so with an emphasis on learning through play, be it singing, dancing, painting, hands-on games and show-and-tell. While a strong curriculum is vital to a thriving educational experience, it’s only half of the story at Saint Joseph. Our goal is to help your child build a strong character and sense of self, even at the earliest age. Our preschoolers have the opportunity to practice their faith on a daily basis. We stress the importance of giving back, being kind, having a servant’s heart and being a positive example to others.

3700 Devine Street
Columbia SC, 29205

(803) 254-6736

Chesterbrook Academy

Chesterbrook Guides

Chesterbrook Academy Preschool in Columbia provides a safe, nurturing environment where children learn, grow and thrive. Our Links to Learning curriculum prepares children for elementary school and beyond by developing important academic, social and emotional skills. Enroll today!

(877) 959-4181

Spring Valley Baptist Preschool

SVBP Guide

Spring Valley Baptist Church Preschool offers a morning only preschool which provides exceptional care and educational experiences to children ages 1 through K4. Instilling a love for learning in each child by nurturing his or her intellectual, spiritual, social, emotional, and physical development in a safe, loving Christian environment.

(803)-736-7710

Comprehensive List of Programs

5 Star Academy
Asbury Memorial UMC Preschool
Aspire Early Learning Academy
Ben Lippen School
Bethel United Methodist
Bethesda Christian School
Beulah United Methodist
Big Blue Marble Academy
Bright Horizons Preschool
Brookland Academy Child Development Center
Cadence Academy Preschool Harbison
Cadence Academy Preschool Northeast
Center for Learning
Chesterbrook Academy
College Of Early Learning
Covenant Christian Academy
Creative Beginnings Christian Child Development Center
Cutler Jewish Day School
Eastminster Presbyterian Day School
Gateway Academy Child Development Center
GLEAMNS Head Start
Grace Academy
Grace Christian School
Hammond School
Harmony School
Heathwood Hall
Heyward Street Methodist Preschool
Holland Avenue Baptist Church
Incarnation Lutheran Child Development Center
Kathwood Baptist
Lake Carolina Early Learning Center
Lake Murray Baptist
Lake Murray Montessori School
Lake Murray Presbyterian
Lexington Baptist
Living Springs Lutheran Church
Love Learning Center
Main Street United Methodist Church
McGregor Presbyterian Preschool
MEGA CDC
Midlands Montessori School
Midlands Primary Learning Center
Montessori Early Learning Center and School of The Arts
Montessori School of Columbia
Montessori School of Lexington
Mt Hebron Dayschool
Mt Olive Lutheran Church
North Trenholm Baptist Church
Northside Christian Academy
Pisgah Child Development Ministries
Redeemer Lutheran Preschool
Riverland Hills Baptist Church
Saxa Gotha Presbyterian CDC
Shandon Baptist
Shandon Presbyterian Child Development Center
Shandon United Methodist Church
Spring Valley Baptist Church Preschool
Spring Valley Presbyterian Church Preschool
St Joseph Catholic School
St Peter’s Catholic School
St. John Neumann Catholic School
St. Martin de Porres Catholic School
St. Michael’s Episcopal
Timmerman School
Trenholm Road United Methodist Preschool
Trinity Learning Center
Union United Methodist Church
Westminster Child Development

Beautiful Beginnings Learning Center, LLC
Bethesda Christian School
Big Blue Marble Academy
Cadence Academy Preschool
Children’s World 
Children’s World
Creative Beginnings Christian Child Development Center
Eastminster Drop In Nursery
Eastminster Presbyterian Day School
Gateway Academy Child Development Center
Grace Academy
Grace Christian School
Harmony School
Incarnation Lutheran Child Development Center
Irmo Academy
Kinder Academy & Kinder Academy Too
La Petite Academy
Little Angel’s Daycare Center of Columbia
MEGA CDC
Midlands Primary Learning Center
Pisgah Child Development Ministries
Providence Presbyterican CDC
Riverland Hills Baptist Church
Saxa Gotha Presbyterian CDC
Shandon Presbyterian Child Development Center
St. Michael’s Episcopal
The Sunshine House
Trinity Learning Center
Westminster Child Development
Wonderful Beginnings
YMCA of Columbia Childcare

Beulah United Methodist
Dutch Fork Baptist Church
First Baptist Church of Batesburg
North Trenholm Baptist Church
Northeast Presbyterian Church

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9 COMMENTS

  1. Glad I stumbled it n this article. Have a four year old son and new to the area. Desperately need to find a school suitable for him.

    • Glad it helped! We publish resources like this one for parents throughout the year and love to know when they’re helpful to our readers!

    • Good luck in your search Erin, and thank you for letting us know it was helpful to you. (Also, welcome to Columbia!)

  2. Hi!
    Thank you for this amazingly helpful post! Would you happen to know if any of the listed schools offer scholarships or tuition assistance?

    • Hi Ashley! We’re glad you found it helpful! I’ve checked with our three featured preschools, and have some answers to your question. Hammond offers financial aid based on income, and St. Joseph offers a tuition assistance program. Montessori School of Columbia offers discounts for multiple children enrolled, and they also offer three different payment plan options (monthly, semester, or annual.) Hope this helps and thanks for your comment and question!

  3. Dear Hannah,

    thanks for your information, it is really help. i am wondering since there are so many school in Columbia , could you hold a meeting to share from different family how they feel their choices ? like private or public ? how to find the suitable one for kids ?

    • What a great suggestion! With so many great options around Columbia, it can be hard to choose. I’ll look into the idea and let you know if something like this is available. Thanks!

  4. Heyward Street Church and Spring Valley Presbyterian also have affordable preschool programs, and Timmerman School has a summer and regular program, and Thomas Sumter has a satellite program in Columbia for 3k- 6th

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