Preschools in Durham
10 preschools near Durham, NC, including Montessori and other private programs. Compare approach, tuition, hours, and location — then save your shortlist.
Montessori School of Durham
An AMS-accredited Montessori school in southwest Durham near Duke Forest.
Indigo Montessori School
A Montessori program located in downtown Durham on West Main Street.
Bryson Christian Montessori School
A Montessori program on Garrett Road in southwest Durham.
Lakewood Avenue Children's School
A NAEYC-accredited, Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool in the Lakewood neighborhood of Durham.
Family Preschool
A cooperative, play-based preschool on the Eno River Unitarian Universalist campus in southwest Durham.
Branches Community School
A Reggio Emilia-inspired early learning community on Broad Street in central Durham.
Our PlayHouse Preschool
A Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool in a wooded setting on University Drive in Durham.
Wildflower Cottage for Children
A Reggio-inspired early childhood program emphasizing outdoor play on Pickett Road in southwest Durham.
Yates Baptist Child Development Center
A play-based child development center on Chapel Hill Road in southwest Durham.
The Learning Experience
A play-based childcare and preschool center on Highway 55 in southeast Durham.
Preschool approaches in Durham
The programs listed here include Reggio Emilia, Montessori, play-based and cooperative. New to the differences? Compare Montessori vs. play-based, read what children learn in preschool, or browse all our guides.
Montessori preschools in Durham
3 of the programs listed above are Montessori preschools — child-led, mixed-age classrooms with hands-on materials and long, focused work periods. New to the method? Read what Montessori is, compare Montessori vs. play-based, and see how much Montessori costs.
How much does preschool cost in Durham?
Preschool tuition in Durham depends on the program, the schedule (half-day vs. full-day), and the approach — Montessori and full-day private programs usually cost more than part-time or co-op options. Where a school publishes pricing it's shown on its listing above; otherwise ask the school for a current quote. Our guide on how much preschool costs shows how to compare the real price, and how to afford preschool covers subsidies, TK, and Head Start that can lower it.
Guides for your preschool search
Preschools near Durham
Frequently asked questions
What preschool approaches are available in Durham?
First Cubby lists Reggio Emilia, Montessori, play-based and cooperative programs in Durham, among others. Each school's approach is shown on its listing.
How much is preschool tuition in Durham?
Preschool tuition in Durham varies widely by program, schedule (half- vs. full-day), and approach — Montessori and full-day private programs typically cost more. Pricing is shown on a listing where the school publishes it; otherwise contact the school. Our guide on how much preschool costs explains how to compare the real price, and how to afford preschool covers subsidies and free options.
Are there Montessori preschools in Durham?
Yes — 3 Montessori programs are listed in Durham above. Montessori classrooms are child-led and mixed-age with hands-on materials; see our guide on what Montessori is.
Are the preschools in Durham private?
Most standalone preschools in Durham are private (tuition-based). Free and lower-cost options can exist too — Transitional Kindergarten, state pre-K, and Head Start — which our guides on preschool cost and how to afford preschool explain.
How do I choose a preschool in Durham?
Shortlist nearby schools, then tour your top choices. Our guides on how to choose a preschool and the questions to ask on a tour walk you through it step by step.
Free. Save your shortlist, track tours and deadlines, and compare side by side.