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Philadelphia Schools
When planning to come to Wharton
with children, preschool is often a popular/relevant topic.
There are several great day care centers, preschools and grade
schools in the Philadelphia area.
The following schools/day care programs are those which have been
recommended by other Wharton moms:
Preschools/Daycare
Preschools
Outside Philadelphia
Private Grade
Schools
Public Grade Schools
Preschools/Daycare
THE BEACON CENTER
2125 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
Tel: (215) 963-0748
Website:
www.beaconcenterforchildren.com
Email:
info@beaconcenterforchildren.com
Beacon Center, a unique
program that has been in operation for over twenty-five years,
provides educational, emotional, creative and social guidance for
children in a home-like and loving environment. Beacon Center
believes in sensory learning through play, games, manipulatives, and
exploration making a child's first "school" experience a relaxed,
friendly and joyous one. A day at Beacon Center will include
language arts, reading readiness, science, music, movement, math,
and art activities that are stimulating and will
encourage children's growth
and development. The ultimate goal is to form a union with parents
to help children develop confidence, a strong self image and a
thirst for learning. Beacon Center is conveniently located to
public transportation, restaurants, museums, parks and the
University of Pennsylvania. Temporary parking is available for
drop-off/pick-up. The Beacon Center offers flexible schedules and
enrollment throughout the year as space permits.
Age: 2-5 years old
Tuition: $372 - $1399 per month
Wait List Time: 4-6 months
CHILDREN'S VILLAGE
125 N 8th
St # 2
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 931-0190
http://www.cvchildcare.org/
Email:
Info@cvchildcare.org
To provide high quality early childhood
education to young children and educational enrichment to schoolage
children in a safe, nurturing setting while their parents work,
To partner with families of diverse backgrounds to prepare their
children for productive futures while supporting and strengthening
families in this pursuit, and
To strive to make high
quality child care accessible to families at all economic levels.
Age:
Tuition: Depends on income; if you can qualify, for the
Best Start/Pre K Counts,
program is free!
Wait List:
Greene Towne (Montessori) School
2121 Arch Street,
Philadelphia
Tel: (215)
563-6368
Website:
www.greenetowneschool.org
Email:
info@greenetowneschool.org
Greene Towne School, located in Center
City, Philadelphia, is dedicated to providing a stimulating learning
environment for children ages 18 months to 6 years, consistent with
the values and principles developed by Dr. Maria Montessori. Greene
Towne's curriculum is designed to develop each child's full human
potential -- emotionally, physically, intellectually, and socially
-- and to foster a life-long love of learning. Greene Towne's
programs aim to meet the diverse needs of the children and families
we serve.
Age:
Toddler Class (18 months - 3 years)
Primary Class (3 years - Kindergarten)
Tuition: $655 - $13,290 annually)
Waiting List: 12-18 months
KinderCare Learning Center
1700 Market Street, Lower Level, Philadelphia
Tel: (215) 789-9476
Website:
http://www.kindercare.com/our-centers/center-details/303009
The KinderCare Difference is our commitment to your child's future.
With our experienced staff and innovative programs unlike any other,
we provide your child with an unsurpassed learning experience. Your
child will discover that learning is fun, while making new friends
and building strong relationships with teachers who partner with you
in your child's education.
Age: 6 weeks 6 years
Tuition: Call for specific pricing; for two days, $160 per week
Waiting List: 1 month
SMITH MEMORIAL
PLAYGROUND PRESCHOOL
East Fairmount Park, Philadelphia
Tel: (215) 765-4325
Website: http://www.smithplayhouse.org/
Email:
info@smithplayhouse.org
For more than 100 years, Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse has
provided an extraordinary play space for over 10 million visitors.
Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse provides safe, creative and
fun recreational facilities free of charge to children in the
Philadelphia area. For over 40
years, Smith has been home to a unique co-operative pre-school
program. The pre-School meets Tuesdays and Thursdays and is open to
children ages 3-4.
Age: 3-4 years old
Tuition: $300 per year
Waiting List: 12-18 months
ST. MARY'S NURSERY SCHOOL
3916 Locust Walk, Philadelphia
Tel: (215) 386-0321
Website:
www.stmarysnursery.org
Email:
director@stmarysnursery.org
The Saint Mary's Nursery School offers children an early educational
experience embracing family, continuity and development as a basis
for learning. Children are nurtured and educated in a community
classroom that includes children from 18 months to five year of age,
skilled teachers, parents and other involved family members. The
educational curriculum is carefully planned to be developmentally
appropriate, based in play, creativity and the arts with an emphasis
on the social-emotional health and development of each child. We are
committed to the family environment and the stability and community
that generations of children enjoyed before they were placed into
age groups and graduated classrooms. Our children also enjoy a
single and stable classroom that does not change from year to year .
It is our experience that all of these elements create a homelike
environment that allow children to relax and open up to all aspects
of learning.
Age: 18 months to 5 years
Tuition: $417 - $1144 per month
Wait List Time: 1 month
St Francis
Xavier School
24th and Wallace St, Philadelphia
19130
215-763-6564
Website: http://www.sfxschool.com/Default.aspx
St Francis Xavier is a Catholic
school which offers pre-K to 8th Grade. You do not have to be
Catholic to go to the school (about 55% of students are Catholic).
The school operates through the academic year (September to June).
Pre-K is 1/2 day or full day. K is full day and there is an after
school care service in the school. Enrollment at St. Francis School
is limited as there is only one class per grade and there may be a
waiting list.
Age: 3-4
Tuition:
Pre-K:
$2850/half day, 5 days a week, $3500/full
day, 5 days a week
Members of St. Francis
Xavier Parish:
$3050/one child, $4700/two children, $5350/three children
Non Parish-Members:
$3750/one child, $7200/two children, $10,700/three children
All fees are paid in 10 month installments.
Wait List Time: Minimal
TEMPLE BETH ZION -
BETH ISRAEL
300 South 18th Street, Philadelphia
Tel: (215) 735-5148
Website:
www.bzbi.org
The Abigail R. Cohen Preschool and the Laurie
Wagman Playschool offer a play-based developmental program designed
to meet the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual needs of
each child. Children explore, discover, and learn through their
play; therefore, we offer an enriched environment for this
exploration. The environment includes experiences and materials that
are stimulating, challenging, and satisfying.
Age: 18 months - 5 years
Tuition:
Playschool (18 months -36 months)
T/TH: member: $2900, non-member: $3250
M,W,F: member: $3975, non-member: $4500
Preschool (3 - PreK)
M, W, F: member: $5850, non-member: $6575
M-F: member: $8200, non-member: $9150
Wait List Time: 12-18 months
TRINITY PLAYGROUP
2212 Spruce Street, Philadelphia
Tel: (215) 732-2519
Website:
www.trinityplaygroup.org
Email:
trinityplaygroup@speakeasy.net
Trinity Playgroup is a State licensed, private, nonprofit,
nonsectarian, play-based preschool that serves all children equally.
We offer a continuous educational experience that is based in play
to meet the social, academic, and emotional needs of children of
each developmental level from 18 months until they are prepared to
enter Kindergarten. We believe that as children play, they develop
social and interpersonal skills, fine and gross motor abilities,
self- help skills, language, and cognitive abilities. We strive to
provide each child with a secure and enriching group experience
while building curiosity, self-confidence, trust, and
self-expression. A close relationship is maintained and encouraged
with each family so that parents can share in their child's early
education and development. Located in a beautiful church, this
playschool is very popular with the Wharton kids. It consists of 3
cheerful well-equipped classrooms and the program is flexible and
the fee is fair. The staff is very caring and warm.
Age: 18 months - 5 years
Toddler Class: 18 months - 2.5 years
Intermediate: 3-4 years old
Pre-K Class: 4 - 5 years old
Tuition: $1952 - $6436 per semester depending on how many days and
how many hours per day the child attends
Wait List Time: Take applications 14 months in advance (July for the
following fall); usually the wait time is 12-18 months otherwise
University of Pennsylvania Children's Center
Left Bank Commons, Suite 100 (3160 Chestnut Street),
Philadelphia
Tel: (215) 898-5268
Website:
www.upenn.edu/childcare
This school has a preschool program for children 3-Kindergarden and
an infant/toddler program beginning at 12 weeks. Open 7:00am to
7:00pm. There is an indoor gym room, art room, computer room and a
fully equipped outdoor play area. There is a special rate for
employees/students of UPENN. NAEYC certified.
Age: 3 months to 5 years
Tuition: $129-$323 per week
Wait List Time: 9 - 12 months
The following
schools/day care programs are those which we know about, but do not
have Whiz Kids currently attending:
BRIGHT HORIZONS
(NAEYC Accredited)
401 N. 21st Street, Philadelphia
Tel: 215-563-6447
Website:
www.brighthorizons.com
Email:
BRST@brighthorizons.com
PARENT INFANT
CENTER (NAEYC Accredited)
4205 Spruce Street, Philadelphia
Tel: (215) 898-4180
Website:
www.parentinfantcenter.org
MAGIC YEARS CHILD
LEARNING CENTER
1901 JFK Boulevard, Philadelphia
Tel: (610) 272-4902
FORMATIVE YEARS
PRESCHOOL INC.
1925 Lombard Street, Philadelphia
Tel: (215) 735-3558
FRIENDS CHILD CARE
CENTER
Director: Antonette Berger
1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia
Tel: (215) 241-7011
The Caring Center
Director: Sherilynn Kimble
3101 Spring Garden St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-386-8245
http://www.thecaringcenter.org/index.html
Infant Friendship Center
Program Director:
Rebecca Turner
1001 S. 45th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-386-5097
www.melc.org/location.htm
Families First
Center
Director: Kim Umphrey
3939 Warren St.
Philadelphia PA 19104
215-382-2499
www.melc.org/location.htm
Narberth Presbyterian Christian Nursery School
Windsor and
Grayling Avenue, Narberth PA
Tel: (610) 664-4880
Website:
www.narberthpres.org
If your child is five years old or older,
Philadelphia has great private schools. The following is a small
list to get you started:
Friends Select School
www.friends-select.org
1651 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 561-5900
Anita@friends-select.org
Germantown Friends
School
http://www.germantownfriends.org/
31 West Coulter Street
Philadelphia, PA 19144
215-951-2300
The Philadelphia
School
www.tpschool.org
2501 Lombard Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146
(215) 545-5323
TPSwebmaster@tpschool.org
St. Peter's School
http://st-peters-school.org/
319 Lombard Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215.925.3963
The Waldorf School of Philadelphia
http://www.phillywaldorf.com/
7500 Germantown Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19119
(215) 248-1662
The public school in Center City is called
Greenfield Elementary. It is one of the best public schools in
Philadelphia. They have Kindergarten through 8th grade.
Boundaries to attend Greenfield are Ben Franklin Parkway to the
north, the Schuylkill River to the west, Bainbridge Street to the
south, and Broad street to the east.
Greenfield Elementary
http://www.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/greenfield/
22nd and Chestnut Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215)299-4666
The following is a website for more
information about local public schools: <www.phila.k12.pa.us>.
School districts in the Main Line area which are consistently ranked
in the top 10 in Pennsylvania:
Lower Marion
www.lmsd.org
Haverford Township
www.haverfordk12.pa.us
Radnor Township
www.rtsd.org
There are several sites which let you search schools and their
ratings. The following are a few of them to help you start your
search!
www.schoolmatch.com
www.greatschools.net
www.schooldigger.com
As children respond
differently to situations, it's best to check out schools on your
own. Remember schools and daycares accredited by the National
Association for the Education of the Young Child (NAEYC) meet
stricter guidelines than most. NAEYC (www.naeyc.org)
can provide you with a list of accredited schools in the area: write
1313 L Street NW, Suite 500, Washington DC, 20005; or call (202)
232-8777. | 
Important Information/Links