Waltham Preschool Guide: A Shortlist for Busy Parents

Preschool decisions can feel high-stakes when the basic facts are scattered across tuition PDFs, admissions pages, and calendars. The right answer depends on your child and what your household can actually sustain. This guide puts 14 programs, plus other nearby options, in one place so you can build a realistic shortlist.

This list is not an endorsement. WCP has no affiliation with these schools; use the details to make a shortlist, then see what fits your family in real life.

Quick comparison table

Reading the Schedule column: “Half day” means a shorter school day. A program offering two or three days may still require full-length days. Some part-day schools also offer optional care that extends selected days.

Cost guide

The Cost column is a rough comparison of tuition for the schedule shown, based on the latest public rates we found.

• Lower: Generally below other options with a broadly similar schedule.
• Typical: Around the middle of comparable options in this shortlist.
• Higher: Generally above comparable options in this shortlist.
• Varies: Cost depends on placement, eligibility, public funding, or assistance.
• Ask school: We could not find a comparable public rate.

Use the Cost and Schedule columns together. Half-day and full-day programs are not equivalent, and fees, deposits, extended care, closures, and summer coverage can change the total.

The map

Blue pins are detailed profiles; grey pins are other nearby options.

A simple plan for using this list

1. Pick a few programs that fit your schedule and priorities.

2. Call or email with five fast questions:

   • What ages do you accept, and what are the cutoffs?
   • What schedule would actually be available for my child? What does “part-time” mean here?
   • What does a typical day look like?
   • How much time do children spend outside?
   • How does enrollment work, and when should we apply?

   Also confirm the practical details that matter to your family, such as extended care, closure dates, tuition and fees, and whether days are fixed or selectable.

3. Tour the two that still make sense on paper. A website can tell you the schedule; it cannot tell you how the room feels.

A note about faith-based programs

WCP is non-denominational. We include faith-based schools because local families consider them; ask what participation or family affiliation, if any, is expected.

Preschool profiles

Waltham Public Schools Integrated Pre-K

WPS Integrated Pre-K offers part-day and limited full-day public options for eligible Waltham families, with its own application and placement process.

• Location: Stanley and Northeast elementary schools, Waltham
• Ages: Waltham residents age 3 or 4 by September 1; some later third birthdays may be considered on a rolling basis when space permits
• Schedule: 2026–27: age 3 AM Wednesday–Friday; age 4 PM Wednesday–Friday; age 4 full day Tuesday–Friday, 9:00 am–2:45 pm at Stanley
• Calendar: School-year
• Program style: Integrated public-school classrooms; application, lottery or invitation, and placement constraints apply
• Outdoor: Ask the school about outdoor time.
• Cost: For 2026-27, typically developing peer tuition is $2,363 for AM/PM and $7,350 for full day; terms differ for children receiving special-education services.

If kindergarten is the next question, WCP's Waltham public schools kindergarten guide explains neighborhood assignment, registration, and the Dual Language option.

Waltham High School Preschool

Waltham High School Preschool is a new WPS option for Waltham families who want a school-day schedule with two-, three-, or five-day choices.

• Location: 554 Lexington St., Waltham
• Ages: 3–4
• Schedule: 9:00 am–2:30 pm; two, three, or five days per week
• Calendar: School-year; open house September 9 and first day September 10, 2026
• Program style: Play-based, inclusive public program connected to Waltham High School Career & Technical Education pathways
• Outdoor: Ask the school about outdoor time.
• Cost: The district's current announcement does not publish tuition. Ask the school for current rates.

Waltham Day Care Center

Waltham Day Care Center is a local nonprofit option for families who need full-day coverage without necessarily contracting for five days.

• Location: 50 Church St., Waltham
• Ages: 12 months–Pre-K
• Schedule: 8:00 am–5:00 pm, two to five full days weekly; part-time here means fewer full days, not shorter days
• Calendar: Year-round, with holidays and staff closures
• Program style: Nonprofit center
• Outdoor: Ask how often children go outside and for how long.
• Cost: The site currently shows 2025-26 preschool rates of $200 to $375 per week for two to five full days. Ask for 2026-27 rates for your schedule.

Waltham Childcare Center

Waltham Childcare Center is a small, Boys & Girls Club-affiliated center with year-round full-day care and voucher acceptance.

• Location: Waltham
• Ages: Approximately 15 months–kindergarten
• Schedule: 8:00 am–5:00 pm
• Calendar: Year-round
• Program style: Small center-based program
• Outdoor: Ask how often children go outside.
• Cost: Vouchers are accepted; ask the school for current tuition.

Discovery Village Childcare

Discovery Village combines full-day weekday care with a Reggio Emilia-inspired, project-based model.

• Location: 295 Weston St., Waltham
• Ages: Infancy–7
• Schedule: Full-day weekday care; confirm current hours directly with the school
• Calendar: Confirm current full-year dates and closures
• Program style: Reggio Emilia-inspired, project-based center
• Outdoor: Outdoor classroom, gardening, and nature activities are part of the program.
• Cost: Ask the school for current rates.

Piccola Italia Preschool

Piccola Italia is a small Italian-immersion program with unusual flexibility to mix short and full days.

• Location: 51 Dix St., Waltham
• Ages: Infancy–5; preschool is primarily age 3+
• Schedule: Monday–Thursday only; half day 8:30 am–1:30 pm or full day to 4:30 pm, two to four days, with mixed schedules allowed
• Calendar: School-year; consult the 2026–27 welcoming packet and reconfirm its provisional calendar
• Program style: Italian-language immersion
• Outdoor: Outdoor play is part of the published day.
• Cost: For children age 3+, 2026-27 tuition runs $520 to $970 per month for half days and $790 to $1,460 per month for full days, depending on two to four days per week. See the welcoming packet.

Our Lady's Academy Early Learners

Our Lady's offers a structured, faith-based school setting with possible continuity into its K–8 program.

• Location: 920 Trapelo Rd., Waltham
• Ages: From 2 years 9 months; the current page states a toileting requirement
• Schedule: Published 2025–26 Pre-K choices range from 9:00 am–1:00 pm to 7:45 am–4:30 pm, two to five days; reconfirm all options for 2026–27
• Calendar: School-year
• Program style: Faith-based, structured school program
• Outdoor: Ask the school about outdoor time.
• Cost: Published 2025-26 tuition runs from $6,332 to $17,150 depending on days and hours, plus fees. Ask for 2026-27 figures on the Pre-K tuition page.

Waltham Creative Start (Communities United)

Creative Start is the local Communities United option for families interested in preschool alongside broader family supports.

• Location: 169 Elm St., Waltham
• Ages: 2–5
• Schedule: Multiple options; confirm the current offering with the Waltham site rather than relying on older exact hours
• Calendar: Confirm which program calendar applies
• Program style: Communities United describes its programs as combining early education with health, nutrition, and family services; confirm which services and schedules are currently offered at the Waltham center
• Outdoor: Ask the school about outdoor time.
• Cost: Cost depends on placement and eligibility; subsidized care may be available.

Lumen Academy

Lumen Academy's Waltham preschool uses a structured day with academics, languages, arts, outdoor time, and extended full-day coverage.

• Location: 175 Main St., Waltham
• Ages: Preschool groups are organized around ages 3–4 and 4–5
• Schedule: Full-day tuition is published for 8:00 am–6:00 pm, one to five days per week; the posted daily schedule shows pickup beginning around 5:45 pm
• Calendar: School-year; Lumen publishes a separate 2026–27 preschool calendar
• Program style: Structured academic program with math, science, logic, English, Russian, arts, and other specials; the school states it is open to families beyond its Russian-speaking roots
• Outdoor: The published day includes a morning outdoor block and later outdoor/free-play time.
• Cost: Current monthly preschool tuition is $750 for one day, $1,060 for two, $1,480 for three, $1,900 for four, and $2,300 for five days per week. See current tuition.

Families start with an inquiry; Lumen strongly encourages a campus tour or shadow visit before enrollment.

Drumlin Farm Community Preschool

Drumlin belongs on the shortlist when outdoor and farm learning should be central to the preschool day.

• Location: 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln
• Ages: 3–5
• Schedule: For 2026–27, regular days are 9:00 am–4:00 pm in two-, three-, or five-day tracks; some Friday sessions end at 1:00 pm
• Calendar: School-year
• Program style: Nature-based community preschool
• Outdoor: Outdoor learning is central to the program.
• Cost: 2026-27 tuition is $13,000 for two days, $17,200 for three days, and $30,200 for five days per week.

Auburndale Community Nursery School

ACNS offers a short play-based nursery-school morning, with optional care around it and a cooperative community model.

• Location: 230 Central St., Newton
• Ages: 2 years 9 months–5
• Schedule: The core morning is approximately 9:00 am–12:00 pm. Younger classrooms offer two, three, or five mornings; Pre-K classrooms meet five mornings. Early care is approximately 8:00–9:00 am and extended care approximately 12:00–5:30 pm.
• Calendar: School-year, with a separate June camp option
• Program style: Cooperative, play-based nursery school; ask what family participation, if any, is expected on the program page
• Outdoor: Regular outdoor play is part of the school day.
• Cost: Published 2025-26 tuition is $4,323 for two mornings, $6,778 for three, and $9,883 for five. Ask for current rates on the tuition page.

Teddy Bear Club

Teddy Bear Club is an established French-English bilingual option, with meaningful differences between its Lincoln and Newton campuses.

• Location: West Newton and Lincoln
• Ages: Approximately 21 months–5
• Schedule: Three-hour half-day sessions. Lincoln publishes morning structures; Newton also publishes an afternoon half-day. Younger children may attend two, three, or five days, while older preschool and kindergarten groups attend five days. Extended day is for eligible morning students, generally age 2.9+.
• Calendar: School-year
• Program style: French-English bilingual
• Outdoor: Regular playground and gross-motor time is part of the program.
• Cost: 2026-27 half-day tuition is $10,800 for two days, $16,200 for three, and $27,000 for five days per week. Extended day costs extra. See tuition and schedules.

Cedar Hill Bilingual School

Cedar Hill is a nearby Japanese-English bilingual or Japanese-focused option with a long 9:00 am–4:00 pm core day.

• Location: Belmont
• Ages: 15 months–5
• Schedule: 9:00 am–4:00 pm core day for two, three, or five days; care extends from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm
• Calendar: Confirm the 2026–27 calendar directly
• Program style: Japanese-English bilingual
• Outdoor: Regular outdoor time is part of the school day.
• Cost: Published 2025-26 preschool tuition is $940 per month for two days, $1,290 for three, and $1,950 for five. Ask the school for 2026-27 rates.

BCNS Preschool

BCNS offers a short nursery-school morning in a Reggio-inspired, outdoor-minded Belmont program with cooperative roots.

• Location: 130 Common St., Belmont
• Ages: 2.9–5
• Schedule: The three-day program runs 8:45 am–11:45 am; four- and five-day programs run 9:00 am–12:00 pm. Current program information describes extended care through approximately 5:00 pm
• Calendar: School-year
• Program style: Reggio-inspired, play-based, and community-based; current classroom participation by families is optional
• Outdoor: Regular outdoor activity is part of the program.
• Cost: 2026-27 tuition is $6,830 for three mornings, $8,761 for four, and $10,650 for five. Extended care costs extra. See the tuition table.

Other nearby options

These are additional nearby options to consider. Local offerings change, so confirm the schedule at the named campus.

• Lemberg Children's Center (Waltham) — University-affiliated care for ages 2.9–6, with a school-year day of 8:00 am–5:45 pm and separate summer care. Part-week care is separately contracted, and enrollment priority favors siblings/alumni and Brandeis families before the general public, so confirm availability early. Current 2026–27 rates are published.
• Little Wagon Early Education Center (Waltham) — The school's site did not give us enough current information to summarize its preschool program confidently. Ask directly about ages, hours, calendar, and cost before relying on older listings.
• Montessori Kids Universe Waltham (Waltham) — A newer local option serving approximately 8 weeks–6 years with Montessori and Reggio Emilia approaches. The school publishes program and nutrition information and offers tours; confirm current hours, contract options, and tuition directly.
• Bright Horizons at Waltham (Waltham) — A local chain center for families prioritizing broad workday coverage; local availability must be confirmed.
• Storyville Preschool (Watertown) — A year-round play-based program for approximately 15 months–7, open 7:00 am–5:00 pm with two- to five-day schedules and flexible contracted hours; request current rates.
• Arsenal Yard KinderCare (Watertown) — A close-by chain center convenient to Arsenal Yards; do not assume chain-level “part-time” language guarantees shorter local days.
• Lexington Knowledge Beginnings (Lexington) — A nearby center for consistent workday coverage and a chain curriculum; confirm the local contract.
• Beacon Montessori School (Weston) — A nearby Montessori option with half-day dismissal around 12:15 and full-day configurations; later care may be available. Public pages are not consistent enough to state required weekly attendance here.
• Temple Shalom Nursery School (Newton) — An established, community-rooted school with a clear nature and outdoor-learning emphasis; exact academic-year hours are not clearly public.
• Temple Emanuel Preschool (Newton) — A long-running, play-based community program with 2026–27 enrollment: five days, approximately 9:00 am–1:00 pm core, early care from 8:00 am, and extended care through 5:30 pm.
• Global Montessori School (Belmont) — A nearby Montessori option; confirm current 2026–27 enrollment, schedules, and availability.
• Montessori Escuela (Belmont) — Spanish-immersion Montessori for approximately ages 15 months–6, with regular and full-day options and year-round care.
• Willows Christian Montessori (Belmont) — A faith-based Montessori option publishing approximately 8:00 am–12:00 pm half day, 8:00 am–3:00 pm regular day, and 8:00 am–6:00 pm full day.

For the complete licensed-program inventory, use the Mass EEC Licensed Child Care Search with Waltham and Preschool filters.

Gaps to watch

• Waitlists and admissions timing. Fall classes can fill early, and sibling priority, lotteries, invitations, or rolling starts change the path.
• Cost transparency. Several programs do not publish current tuition; extended care, fees, and deposits can alter the total.
• Schedule fit and terminology. “Part-time” can mean fewer full days, shorter days, or either, and optional care may extend selected days. Public Pre-K placement works differently from selecting a private schedule, so confirm the actual week.
• Outdoor clarity. A playground mention does not reveal frequency, duration, weather practice, or whether nature learning drives the model.
• Age cutoffs and toileting. September cutoffs, classroom ages, and toileting expectations can narrow options quickly.
• Calendar and closure gaps. School-year programs, separate summer contracts, holidays, and staff days all require backup-care planning.

Tour checklist: what to look for (quietly, as a parent)

People and environment

• Do teachers seem calm and available? Are children engaged, not merely quiet?
• Are materials reachable and child work visible? Where can a child take a break?
• Do answers stay concrete when you ask about constraints or tradeoffs?

Outdoor reality

• What happens on a cold rainy Tuesday in March? How often and how long do children go outside?
• Is the outdoor area shaded, usable in mud, and appropriate to the group?

Program clarity

• How are toileting, rest, separation, and drop-off handled?
• Which days and hours are fixed, and which can families select?

Logistics and cost

• What does tuition include, and which fees or deposits are separate?
• What are the closure dates, sibling policies, and withdrawal terms?

A tiny reality check on cost

One published rate rarely tells the whole story. Use Cost with Schedule: Lower, Typical, and Higher are rough comparisons among options with broadly similar schedules, not a promise of total affordability. Ask about fees, contract length, closures, care extensions, summer coverage, and assistance.

Want a place to play while you sort it out?

Still sorting through preschool? Most families do not arrive at the answer in one tidy afternoon. If your child is birth through Pre-K and you would like a familiar place to play while you figure it out, come visit Waltham Cooperative Playgroup.