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12 Best Preschools in Denver

Finding a preschool in Denver means comparing the daily experience as closely as the age range. Local choices include infant-to-preschool continuity, toddler care, pre-kindergarten, active play, Montessori-inspired learning and inclusive education.

Parents should focus on the classroom routine, communication with families and the transition between age groups. Cleanliness, organization and how early spaces support children’s independence are also worth checking in person.

How this guide is ordered

This list of preschools in Denver comes from checking each business's expertise, its customer ratings and its contact information.

Certain businesses pay to appear in more visible positions.

Top 3Full listMapHow to choose

Compare 12 local options

Iliff Preschool, Kindergarten and School-Age Summer Camp, Denver#1
What stands out
  • Creative airplane classroom

Iliff Preschool, Kindergarten and School-Age Summer Camp

5.063 reviews
4140 E Iliff Ave, Denver, CO 80222, United States

Iliff Preschool, Kindergarten and School-Age Summer Camp is a Denver early-childhood program with preschool, kindergarten, and summer-camp options. Its long-running educational setting pairs structured classroom learning with creative play, outdoor spaces, and distinctive features such as an airplane fuselage used as a classroom.

Teachers focus on each child’s strengths while supporting social, emotional, cognitive, and motor development. Families describe a patient transition process for young children, along with caring staff and a clean, welcoming environment that helps children settle into daily routines. Admissions materials cover enrollment forms, tuition, additional fees, and program details, making those documents a useful starting point for families considering the school.

Primrose School at the Denver Tech Center#2
What stands out
  • Strong parent communication

Primrose School at the Denver Tech Center

5.053 reviews
8745 E Orchard Rd #500, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, United States
Best for
Infant-to-preschool continuity

Primrose School at the Denver Tech Center is a private preschool in the Greenwood Village area serving Denver families with educational childcare and early learning. Its program follows a research-informed approach designed to build a balanced foundation for continued learning, while the school works closely with parents throughout a child’s development.

Communication is a notable strength, extending beyond routine app updates to prompt responses, clear guidance, and practical ideas families can use at home. The environment is clean and welcoming, and the teachers provide steady care from infancy through toddler years and preschool. An appointment is required, making a scheduled visit the right way to understand the classrooms, program fit, and enrollment process.

Primrose School at Lowry, Denver#3
What stands out
  • On-site meals for young children

Primrose School at Lowry

4.835 reviews
150 Spruce St, Denver, CO 80230, United States
Best for
Families seeking preschool continuityChildren benefiting from nurturing routines

Primrose School at Lowry provides private preschool and educational childcare in Denver, with a research-informed approach to early learning. The school has a warm, well-organized atmosphere, and its teachers combine patience and nurturing care with focused classroom routines and educational expertise.

Families can expect attentive communication from the owners, directors, administrative team, and teachers. The school community is described as welcoming and responsive, with staff who know children by name and remain available for questions or concerns. An on-site cook prepares meals designed with young children in mind, adding a practical family benefit. The program suits parents seeking a well-kept preschool with consistent communication, supportive educators, and a strong sense of community.

Tangerine Early Learning, Denver#4
What stands out
  • Play-based learning through pre-K

Tangerine Early Learning

4.823 reviews
8085 E Hampden Ave, Denver, CO 80231, United States
Best for
Toddlers through pre-kindergartenChildren who learn through active play

Tangerine Early Learning is a play-based preschool in Denver for children from 12 months, once walking, through age six, with toddler care, preschool, and pre-kindergarten programs. Curiosity, connection, and community shape the learning environment, where children have room for imaginative play as well as age-appropriate structured activities.

The program includes generous opportunities for movement and play, including gym time during winter, while teachers support confidence, independence, communication, and positive interaction with others. Families also benefit from open communication and a consistent, welcoming atmosphere rooted in long-standing neighborhood involvement. On-site parking is available. Tours and enrollment are best arranged ahead of time, particularly for families seeking a place during a transition from another childcare setting.

Larks Preschool, Denver#5
What stands out
  • Mixed-age, child-led learning

Larks Preschool

5.015 reviews
730 S Logan St, Denver, CO 80209, United States

Larks Preschool brings a play-based, language-rich approach to early learning in Denver’s West Wash Park neighborhood. Its mixed-age classroom serves children from approximately 2.6 to 5 years, creating opportunities for younger and older preschoolers to learn alongside one another.

The environment centers on curiosity, creativity, early literacy, and child-led exploration rather than rigid scheduling. A 5:1 teacher-student ratio supports attentive guidance, while the school’s emphasis on stability, kindness, cleanliness, and family connection adds a strong community dimension through activities such as playdates and family dinners. An appointment is required, making advance planning important for families considering a visit.

The Rise School of Denver#6
What stands out
  • Inclusive preschool with on-campus therapy

The Rise School of Denver

5.012 reviews
4901 E Eastman Ave, Denver, CO 80222, United States

The Rise School of Denver is an inclusive nonprofit preschool for children from 12 months through 5 years, welcoming children with and without developmental disabilities into shared early-learning environments. Its model brings teachers, assistant teachers, and therapists together in supportive classrooms designed around participation, development, and belonging.

The school’s approach gives children opportunities to learn compassion, confidence, and social connection alongside foundational academic skills. The on-campus Rise Therapy Center extends child- and family-centered, research-based therapy services to both school families and the wider community, with inclusive groups also available for young children.

Paddington Station Preschool, Denver#7
What stands out
  • Play-based social-emotional focus

Paddington Station Preschool

5.011 reviews
1301 Quebec St, Denver, CO 80220, United States

Paddington Station Preschool is a play-based, social-emotional-focused program in Denver near 13th and Quebec. Its classroom experience is built around the wonder of childhood, with creative teachers who use play, meaningful projects, and developmentally informed guidance to encourage curiosity, confidence, and a lasting interest in learning.

The school places importance on close partnerships between families and educators, creating a welcoming community for toddlers and preschoolers. Its inclusive outlook recognizes differences among children while also acknowledging that some children may need more structure or therapeutic support than the program can provide.

Anna Jo Garcia Haynes Early Learning Center, Denver#8
What stands out
  • Montessori-inspired, equity-centered learning

  • Patient support for early transitions

Anna Jo Garcia Haynes Early Learning Center

4.421 reviews
2851 Tremont Pl, Denver, CO 80205, United States
Best for
Families seeking Montessori-inspired careChildren beginning preschool

Anna Jo Garcia Haynes Early Learning Center is a Denver preschool within Mile High Early Learning, offering a Montessori-inspired educational experience shaped by equity, inclusion, and respect for diverse families. The program focuses on cultivating each child’s potential through hands-on learning, consistent routines, and attentive care.

Its community reflects families from many countries and language backgrounds, while the broader organization works to expand access to early education and teacher development. The center’s strengths include patient classroom support, thoughtful communication about children’s day-to-day experiences, cleanliness, and a welcoming transition into school life.

Montessori School of Washington Park / Wild Pines, Denver#9
What stands out
  • Learning through outdoor exploration

Montessori School of Washington Park / Wild Pines

4.97 reviews
2695 S Jersey St, Denver, CO 80222, United States

Montessori School of Washington Park, now Wild Pines, provides an experiential Montessori education in Denver for children from 15 months through 6 years. Toddler and Primary communities use authentic Montessori materials in calm classrooms, while updated outdoor spaces extend learning into hands-on exploration of nature.

The school serves children through kindergarten and offers full-day and half-day program options, along with aftercare, enrichment, specials, and summer camp. Its community-oriented setting supports independence, confidence, and preparation for the next stage of school.

Washington Park Early Learning Center, Denver#10
What stands out
  • Intentional play-based curriculum

Washington Park Early Learning Center

5.05 reviews
326 E Colorado Ave, Denver, CO 80210, United States

Washington Park Early Learning Center is a parent cooperative preschool serving children from 18 months to 5 years in Denver. Its research-based program uses play, hands-on activities, and social-emotional learning to help children explore at their own pace while developing confidence, kindness, and practical problem-solving skills.

Teachers create intentional experiences around each child’s interests and developmental needs, with a strong emphasis on respectful cooperation among children, families, and educators. The cooperative structure gives the school an especially engaged community character, supported by a clean, thoughtful, and welcoming learning environment.

BMH-BJ Preschool, Denver#11
What stands out
  • Jewish values in everyday learning

  • Nursery through Pre-K programs

BMH-BJ Preschool

4.47 reviews
560 S Monaco St Pkwy, Denver, CO 80224, United States

BMH-BJ Preschool offers Denver families a warm, inclusive early-learning environment rooted in Jewish values and traditions. Programs extend from nursery through Pre-K, serving children from 6 weeks to 5 years with an emergent, child-centered curriculum.

Children explore Jewish culture and universal themes through art, music, movement, food, storytelling, and emergent literacy. The setting is designed to feel nurturing and personal, with teachers attentive to individual needs and opportunities for experiential learning across age groups. Flexible care options include extended support for early arrivals and families needing afternoon or early-evening coverage. An appointment is required.

Clayton Early Learning, Denver#12
What stands out
  • Education paired with family support

  • Focus on social-emotional development

Clayton Early Learning

4.423 reviews
3801 M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Denver, CO 80205, United States

Clayton Early Learning supports children and families in Denver through early childhood education, family support, and programs designed to build strong foundations for lifelong learning. Its work combines research-based practice with inclusive learning environments and strong relationships between educators, children, and families.

The organization places particular emphasis on healthy social-emotional development, school readiness, and practical support for families. Clean classrooms, engaged staff, and community resources such as food assistance add to its broader mission of helping young children learn, play, and grow in a secure setting.

The comparison at a glance

#BusinessRatingReviewsBest for
#1Iliff Preschool, Kindergarten and School-Age Summer Camp 5.063—
#2Primrose School at the Denver Tech Center 5.053Infant-to-preschool continuity
#3Primrose School at Lowry 4.835Families seeking preschool continuity
#4Tangerine Early Learning 4.823Toddlers through pre-kindergarten
#5Larks Preschool 5.015—
#6The Rise School of Denver 5.012—
#7Paddington Station Preschool 5.011—
#8Anna Jo Garcia Haynes Early Learning Center 4.421Families seeking Montessori-inspired care
#9Montessori School of Washington Park / Wild Pines 4.97—
#10Washington Park Early Learning Center 5.05—
#11BMH-BJ Preschool 4.47—
#12Clayton Early Learning 4.423—

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Map of preschools in Denver

Specific neighborhoods are not verified for this preschool guide, so families should begin with the route from home or work and the time needed for daily drop-off and pickup. Distance can shape whether a program remains practical after schedules change. Ask each school about current places, age-group transitions and the timing of the daily routine before visiting. A convenient route is helpful, but only if the program covers your child’s stage and care pattern.

Services to compare

  • Infant-to-preschool continuityA longer early-learning path for families hoping to reduce transitions between infant care and preschool.
  • Toddler through pre-kindergartenAge-spanning care for children who need a consistent setting as they progress toward kindergarten.
  • Active-play learningClassroom experiences built around movement, hands-on exploration and learning through active play.
  • Nurturing daily routinesPredictable routines that can help young children settle, participate and build confidence during the day.
  • Responsive family communicationRegular communication for parents who want practical updates about their child’s day and progress.
  • Montessori-inspired careAn early-learning approach for families seeking Montessori-inspired activities and classroom structure.
  • Inclusive educationPrograms that welcome families seeking an inclusive preschool environment from the beginning.

How to choose preschools in Denver

  1. Match the age pathwayAsk exactly which classrooms serve your child now, when transitions occur and whether a place continues through pre-kindergarten.
  2. Observe the daily rhythmRequest the schedule for meals, rest, outdoor time, active play and quiet activities so it matches your child’s needs.
  3. Test communication detailsAsk how families receive updates, who responds to questions and how the school shares concerns about a child’s adjustment.
  4. Inspect classroom routinesDuring a visit, look at how materials are organized, how children move between activities and how adults guide transitions.
  5. Clarify the learning approachIf Montessori-inspired or inclusive education matters, ask for concrete classroom examples rather than relying on the label alone.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Denver preschool provide care from infancy through preschool?

Some programs specifically support infant-to-preschool continuity, while others begin with toddlers or older preschoolers. Ask about the starting age, classroom transitions and whether enrollment priority changes as children move through the program.

What does active-play learning look like in practice?

It may include movement, hands-on materials, outdoor exploration and activities that let children learn while doing. Ask how active play fits with rest, quieter work and the learning goals for your child’s age group.

How can I evaluate communication with families?

Ask how often updates are shared, whether communication is daily or occasional and who handles questions about adjustment, meals or routines. A clear answer gives you a better sense of how involved families remain during the day.

What should I ask about a Montessori-inspired preschool?

Ask which Montessori ideas shape the classroom, how children choose activities and how teachers introduce new skills. Confirm whether the approach is a formal Montessori program or an environment that draws selectively from Montessori principles.

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