Preschools in St. Louis
11 preschools near St. Louis, MO, including Montessori and other private programs. Compare approach, tuition, hours, and location — then save your shortlist.
Guidepost Montessori at Central West End
A Montessori early-childhood program in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis.
New City School
A progressive independent school with an early-childhood program in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis.
- Part-day Early Childhood (Young 3s, 3/4s, or 4/5s) · 5 days/week, 8:30 AM–1:00 PM — $20,630/year
- Full-day Young 3s or 3/4s · 5 days/week, 8:30 AM–3:30 PM — $24,630/year
- Full-day 4/5s through 6th Grade · 5 days/week, 8:30 AM–3:30 PM — $26,860/year
- Extended Day (3:30–6:00 PM daily) · daily after school — $340/month
- Extended Day drop-in · as needed — $8 per 30 minutes/session
- No School At School / Break Camps · non-school days — $83/day
The Nest at Central Reform Congregation
A play-based early-childhood program housed at Central Reform Congregation in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis.
City Garden Montessori School
A Montessori school serving early-childhood students in the Botanical Heights and Shaw area of St. Louis.
- Preschool (Primary) — tuition-based — Income-based sliding scale (Levels A–D), determined by family size and income; dollar amounts not published
- Kindergarten–8th grade (public charter) — Free (public charter school)
Tower Grove Christian Academy
A faith-based preschool and elementary school in the Shaw neighborhood near Tower Grove Park in St. Louis.
St. Margaret of Scotland School
A Catholic parish school with a preschool program in the Tower Grove East and Shaw area of St. Louis.
- Preschool — one child — $9,400/year
- Preschool — two children — $13,000/year
- K–8 — parish families (1/2/3/4+ children) — $8,650 / $13,300 / $15,700 / $16,800/year
- K–8 — non-parishioner & non-Catholic families (1/2/3/4+ children) — $9,300 / $14,500 / $17,500 / $19,200/year
Cornerstone Center for Early Learning
An early-learning center in the Shaw and Tower Grove East area of St. Louis.
- Infant/Toddler (private pay) · weekly — $380/week
- Twos (private pay) · weekly — $345/week
- Preschool (private pay) · weekly — $220/week
- Families receiving state child-care assistance · weekly — Sliding fee of $25 or less per week, determined by the state/week
Sacred Heart Villa
A Catholic early-childhood center on The Hill in St. Louis.
- Toddler · 4-day — $1,390.00/month
- Toddler · 5-day — $1,625.00/month
- Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 · 4-day — $1,295.00/month
- Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 · 5-day — $1,390.00/month
The Soulard School
An independent school with an early-childhood program in the historic Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis.
- Pre-K · Full week (5 days), 8:30–3:30 — $13,000/year
- Pre-K · 4 days — $11,440/year
- Pre-K · 3 days — $8,970/year
- Beforecare (7:00–8:30, Sr. Pre-K only) · Full week — $1,240/year
- Beforecare (Sr. Pre-K only) · 4 days / 3 days — $1,015 / $745/year
- Aftercare (3:30–6:00) · Full week — $3,225/year
- Aftercare · 4 days / 3 days — $2,580 / $1,935/year
SouthSide Early Childhood Center
An early-childhood center on the near south side of St. Louis.
- Infants/Toddlers (tuition-based seat) · weekly — $395/week
- Two Year Olds (tuition-based seat) · weekly — $329/week
- Preschoolers (tuition-based seat) · weekly — $229/week
Wilkinson Early Childhood Center
A public early-childhood center in the southwest St. Louis area near Dogtown.
- Pre-Kindergarten (St. Louis Public Schools) · ages 3–4 by Aug 1, fully toilet trained — Free — no tuition
Preschool approaches in St. Louis
The programs listed here include Montessori, progressive and play-based. New to the differences? Compare Montessori vs. play-based, read what children learn in preschool, or browse all our guides.
Montessori preschools in St. Louis
2 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 St. Louis?
Preschool tuition in St. Louis 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 St. Louis
Frequently asked questions
What preschool approaches are available in St. Louis?
First Cubby lists Montessori, progressive and play-based programs in St. Louis, among others. Each school's approach is shown on its listing.
How much is preschool tuition in St. Louis?
Preschool tuition in St. Louis 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 St. Louis?
Yes — 2 Montessori programs are listed in St. Louis above. Montessori classrooms are child-led and mixed-age with hands-on materials; see our guide on what Montessori is.
Are the preschools in St. Louis private?
Most standalone preschools in St. Louis 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 St. Louis?
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.
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