Catonsville Cooperative Preschool

Click here to apply for Fall 2024 admission!

What Makes Our Co-op Unique

For 75 years, Catonsville Cooperative Preschool has fostered a warm and welcoming school environment for students and parents alike. The Co-op provides child-led, play-based programs for two-, three-, and four-year-olds, gently guiding them through their first experiences in a school setting. We offer unique, hands-on learning opportunities to our young learners including an ever-evolving Creative Play Center with a variety of open-ended play materials, paint stations and themed arts and crafts projects, a Workbench area where students can build with real tools, and our School Garden that allows the children to plant, cultivate, and eat homegrown fruits and veggies!

Parent participation is an essential component of a cooperative school structure. At Catonsville Co-op the two-year-olds’ parents accompany their children in the once-a-week classes. In our three- and four-year-old programs, parents rotate in-class responsibilities, assisting in the classroom several times a month. The three- and four-year-olds’ parents take on an additional “job” outside the classroom and all parents take turns assisting the Co-op with housekeeping duties.

Parental involvement not only allows the Co-op to keep tuition lower than many other local preschools, but also establishes a community among the parents, students, and teachers. Parents quickly come to know and treasure each of the students within their child’s class, work in partnership with the teacher as they gain first-hand knowledge of their child’s Co-op experience, and form bonds with other parents through interactions both inside and outside the classroom.

Upcoming Events

May 30, 2024

New/Old Board Meeting

Board meetings are not required for non-board members, but please let us know if you are interested in attending.
Jun 1, 2024

Closing of the Closet

Required Attendance:
● Closing the Closet (3s only)
Jun 4, 2024

General Meeting

Exceptions to standard General Meeting Schedule:

What Parents Are Saying

We LOVED our time at the Catonsville Co-op! Coming to the co-op gave me wonderful memories of the brief precious time during my daughter's first school experience. I wasn't quite ready to send her off and completely let go, and the co-op program offered the perfect solution. I loved every day that I was able to work in the classroom and participate with my daughter. Wonderful, wonderful experience!

Jessica R.

The dedication and personal attention provided from the teachers and parent helpers created a safe nurturing environment that helped our child become comfortable in a classroom setting. The curriculum was fantastic and included play and advocated creativity. We truly loved the Catonsville Co-op and hope other families get to enjoy this opportunity.

The Dunham Family

"I attended the Catonsville Cooperative for Kindergarten back in 1962. My daughter was able to walk in my footsteps and what that shows me is that it's hard to improve on perfection."

Dave A.

The Catonsville Co-op enabled my child to gently transition to a group educational setting, and establish neighborhood friendships that last to this day.

Siri S.

Catonsville Co-op was an amazing first school experience for both of my daughters. Creative play themes varied from post office to photography booth. Volunteering in the classroom was always fun. We made life long friends during our time there.

Ginger A.

We were brand new to Catonsville when our daughter began preschool at the co-op, and loved instantly being welcomed into a community of families who loved learning through experiential activities and play. The co-op was a great foundation for the creativity and learning our daughter continues to do to this day

Laura J.

The Catonsville Co-op is much more than a preschool! It's a community where we could all share those amazing first few years of school, making great friends along the way. My oldest is still in a Girl Scout troop with her friends she made in the co-op 3's class. I will always cherish the memories we made there together!

Karen S.

The Catonsville Coop was a fantastic experience for my family. Both of my children went through the program (the 2’s, 3’s and 4’s) and they have maintained these friendships to this very day (now ages 10 and 8). Not only did they make lasting friendships, but so did I! Being an involved parent in the school bonds you to the other parents that are working towards the same goal (creating an educational and nurturing environment for your child’s first school experience). I also believe the school is a great way to transition from home to Kindergarten – working in the classroom a few times a month can provide your child an extra sense of security as they explore new classmates and ideas! We still look through our preschool yearbooks and talk about our memories. I highly recommend it for anyone that wants to share in their child’s first school experience!

Beth P.

My daughter went to Catonsville Co-op for pre-school and prekindergarten a few years back. It was a wonderful experience. She got an early start socializing with other children to prepare her for school situations, and she learned a great deal while she was there. I feel that enrolling her there, instead of a regular daycare, has given her a head start academically. The school is very nice and the staff is wonderful. I highly recommend it to any parent that is looking for a great early start school for their child.

Candace C.

One of the things I liked best about the coop was the community that was formed since we worked together. Because of that, we knew all of the kids and parents and what the school day was like. It was a special time.

Andrea R.