Preschools & Day Care in Columbia, MD

Many of the 49 preschools and day care centers in Columbia are named for the part of town they work in. Young School is at King's Contrivance, Greater Montessori School has a campus at Hickory Ridge Village Center, Little Stars Learning Center is in Harper's Choice near Longfellow Elementary, and Oakland Mills Nursery School and Longfellow Nursery School carry their neighborhoods in their names. All of them are in Howard County.

The larger centers are mostly the national and regional names. The Goddard School of Columbia, at 10220 Old Columbia Road, is rated 4.8 from 116 reviews and is nationally accredited by Cognia. Young School of King's Contrivance has cared for children at 8310 Guilford Rd since 2021 under license 257442 and is accredited by NECPA, with a 4.7 rating from 92 reviews. Columbia Gateway KinderCare, at 7195 Columbia Gateway Dr, is rated 4.5 from 43 reviews. Hickory Ridge KinderCare, at 6185 Sunny Spring, is NAEYC accredited and rated 4.7 from 31 reviews. Celebree School of Columbia-North, at 9151 Rumsey Road, is rated 4.1 from 46 reviews, and Celebree School of Columbia-South is on Herrmann Drive.

Montessori is well represented. Greater Montessori School's Executive Park Drive campus, at 8866 Columbia 100 Pkwy, takes children from 6 weeks to 6 years and is rated 4.7 from 38 reviews. Its Hickory Ridge Village campus is rated 5.0 from 11 reviews and uses teachers certified through the American Montessori Society. Children's Manor Montessori School has served families since 2001 from 9008 Red Branch Rd and is rated 4.8 from 17 reviews. Bryant Woods Montessori Children's House is rated 5.0 from 4 reviews, and Wisdom Child Care Center blends Montessori and Reggio Emilia practices with STEM programs.

Featured preschools and day care centers in Columbia

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Best preschools and day care centers in Columbia

Our Ohana Village

4.9(18 reviews on Google)

9258 Red Cart Ct, Columbia

  • Preschool program
  • Infants and toddlers
  • Accepts child care subsidies
(667) 261-5988

Longfellow Nursery School

4.6(13 reviews on Google)

5267 Eliots Oak Rd, Columbia

  • Preschool program
  • Infants and toddlers

Bonita's Day Care

5.0(2 reviews on Google)

5474 Luckpenny Pl, Columbia

  • Preschool program
  • Early drop-off or late pickup
  • Enrichment programs
(443) 718-1045

Noemi's Home Daycare

5.0(1 review on Google)

6485 Belleview Dr, Columbia

  • Preschool program
  • Infants and toddlers
  • Early drop-off or late pickup
(267) 994-2293

Dina's Family Daycare

5.0(1 review on Google)

7115 Winter Rose Path, Columbia

  • Infants and toddlers
  • Accepts child care subsidies
  • Tuition listed

Cooperative and faith-based schools have deep roots. Wilde Lake Children's Nursery is a 501(c)(3) cooperative preschool described as the city's first, with classes for 2, 3 and 4 year olds and no toilet training requirement, rated 4.7 from 26 reviews. Children & Company Cooperative Preschool is a private nonprofit co-op with a Columbia address. Bet Yeladim Preschool has served Howard County since 1976 as a Jewish preschool for children from 8 weeks to 5 years, rated 4.8 from 16 reviews. Brookfield Christian School was established in 1998 and has an early childhood location in Columbia, with other campuses in Clarksville and Maple Lawn.

Language and home programs add variety. Kiddie Mundo Spanish Immersion Preschool teaches in Spanish all day for children from 6 months to 5 years, with school-age care for ages 5 to 10, and is rated 5.0 from 12 reviews. Our Ohana Village is a family child care home run by Alexis Adams, who holds an MSDE credential level 4, and it specializes in infants, toddlers and twos. Rise and Shine Daycare has two locations in Columbia and names Montessori among its methods. Watchful Eye Daycare of Columbia serves Columbia, Jessup, Hanover and Ellicott City, with sister centers in Gambrills, Ellicott City and Odenton.

Columbia's page also includes Dasher Green Head Start, rated 4.6 from 12 reviews. Neighboring towns with their own pages are Ellicott City, Elkridge, Clarksville, Jessup and Fulton, which matters for families near the edges of the planned town. Greater Montessori School's Executive Park Drive campus is also known by an Ellicott City label, so families near that border can look on both pages.

Common questions about preschools and day care centers in Columbia

Which Columbia schools follow the Montessori method?

Greater Montessori School has two Columbia campuses, one on Executive Park Drive and one at Hickory Ridge Village Center. Children's Manor Montessori School at 9008 Red Branch Rd has served families since 2001. Bryant Woods Montessori Children's House is another Montessori option.

Is there a Spanish immersion preschool in Columbia?

Kiddie Mundo Spanish Immersion Preschool teaches in Spanish throughout the day, and its lead teachers are bilingual-certified. It takes children from 6 months to 5 years. Wisdom Child Care Center and Rise and Shine Daycare use other methods, so Kiddie Mundo is the one built around immersion.

Who runs cooperative preschools in Columbia?

Wilde Lake Children's Nursery is a nonprofit cooperative preschool where parents take part alongside the teachers, with classes for 2, 3 and 4 year olds. Children & Company Cooperative Preschool is a private nonprofit co-op with classes for 2s, 3s and 4s.

What is Head Start, and is there one in Columbia?

Head Start serves children ages 3 to 5, and Early Head Start serves children up to age 3. Local organizations and school districts run the programs, and families apply through their local program. Dasher Green Head Start is one of the Columbia entries, rated 4.6 from 12 reviews.

Which religious preschools are in Columbia?

Bet Yeladim Preschool is a Jewish preschool and child care program that has served Howard County since 1976. Brookfield Christian School runs an early childhood location in Columbia. Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church and Chabad Lubavitch Center For Jewish Life are also here.

Which nearby towns have their own page?

Ellicott City, Elkridge, Clarksville, Jessup and Fulton each have a page. Watchful Eye Daycare of Columbia serves Columbia, Jessup, Hanover and Ellicott City, so its reach covers some of the same ground.

Preschools & Day Care near Columbia