The Charles River School has struck a combination between creating a strong sense of family and still encouraging children to be themselves. The pre-K program is the entry point into Charles River School (students attend up to 8th grade) but the pre-K program, particularly the faculty are truly special. A great example is how the faculty teaches history. When dealing with the middle ages – they build a castle and the children each play roles – allowing them to “live history”. This active participation is a theme throughout the Charles River School experience and instills a unique sense of individuality and shared experience with the entire community.

Happy Hollow School is one of the smallest preschools recommended and its small size, residential feel and experienced teachers (several approaching 20 or more years of teaching experience) have made it a quiet little successful community in MetroWest. The faculty focuses on helping the child discover that they can do anything (academic and social) that they decide to. This confidence, combined with academics, has been a winning combination for 50 years and has resulted in many graduates going on to excel in both elite private and public schools.

Tenacre Country Day is less of a preschool and more of and entire school experience. The children attending Tenacre (from pre-K to sixth grade) share a common experience of school ranging from lunch to assemblies in a quaint and charming auditorium. The pre-K teachers are unrivaled in terms of experience and skill in teaching. Perhaps more so than any other preschool, Tenacre focuses on academics and getting all of its student to the same level of proficiency. While this may seem unnecessary, it has the effect of eliminating any academic stress on the children in kindergarten and beyond and results in children that appreciate their own ability to achieve.