Parents living and/or working in Richland are fortunate to have a variety of educational opportunities for their pre-school aged children. Adults in the Tri-Cities know that children who have early learning experiences will continue to advance academically through their school years.
For students that qualify, the Richland School District has the Early Learning Center, a school that helps prepare students who may have difficulty entering the local public kindergarten. This difficulty may be due to developmental issues or due to various socio-economic situations. This educational program is provided by the RSD free of cost; the goal is to help families prepare their children to enter the public school system with confidence. There are a few different sites to accommodate families. More information about enrollment for a child in the Early Learning Center can be found at www.elc.rsd.edu.
In addition to the offerings by the Richland School District, there are excellent pre-schools for Richland’s youth. Many are affiliated with local churches. Others are employee-based or Montessori-style programs.
West Side Pre-School is a highly respected program at 615 Wright St. in the central part of Richland. It is run as a Co-Op; family members are expected to contribute to the classrooms on a scheduled basis. Although the classrooms are housed in the West Side Church, the instruction and learning are secular, and families need not be a member of any church. This educational opportunity at West Side Pre-School has been serving Richland children, ages two to five, for six decades.
One early-childhood educational program that is held in high esteem in Richland embraces the Montessori system. This type of education philosophically believes that children should follow a self-motivated path and encourages a hands-on, individual approach to learning. A waiting list at this site is common, so it is suggested to make contact for registration a year in advance. Children’s Garden Montessori is in the northern end of Richland, making its location close to many places of employment for Hanford workers.
Another highly regarded pre-school and pre-kindergarten (pre-k) school is Gateway School for Young Children at 1706 Bronco Lane. This school offers several different programs based on the age of the student and won the 2023 “Tri-City’s Best” distinction in the pre-school category. Potty-trained students can begin the program at age three, a program in which the goals of the teachers will focus on social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Gateway’s pre-k program is well-known in the Richland community as a sterling program that covers all essential learnings to best prepare children for the Richland School District kindergarten classrooms.
Preparing our children to be happy, healthy learners before entering the K12 school system is made easier through the many early learning opportunities afforded parents in Richland. All pre-schools welcome visitors to come to their schools and experience the programs to enable parents to select the perfect pre-school experience for their child.
