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Suburban Family 2020 Best Preschools and Daycares
The places parents trust most to provide an atmosphere of love and learning for their children.

by Liz Hunter

 Parenting is loaded with decisions— names, nursery colors, diaper brands— not least of which is who will take care of your child while you work or when it’s time for preschool. Suburban Family aims to make this process a bit easier with its annual Best Preschools and Daycares list, which puts facts and figures about South Jersey’s most notable facilities at your fingertips. In communities like these, your child is sure to receive the care, attention and education he or she needs during their crucial years of development.

Beginnings at MFS—The
Moorestown Friends School
Early Childhood Program

110 E. Main St., Moorestown,
(856) 235-2900, MFriends.org

Hours: 8:05 a.m. to 3:10 p.m., extended day
hours are 7:15 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Programs: Full- and half-day programs are
offered for five, three or two days
Fees: $9,575 to $19,650
Ages: Starting at age 3
Waitlist: Yes, the program fills in the spring
for the following school year
Student to teacher ratio: No more than 8:1
What's new: Students, faculty, staff and
families have been engaged in a project to
dream up a new Moorestown Friends School
playscape which is scheduled to open in fall
2020.


Bright Beginnings Academy
315 Fries Mill Road, Sewell, (856) 582-1144;
1600 Chapel Ave. W., Cherry Hill,
(856) 438-5321; 616 Sicklerville Road,
Sicklerville, (856) 875-7588, BBANJ.net

Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Programs: Full- and half-day options
Fees: Costs vary depending on school/
program
Ages: 6 weeks through kindergarten
Waitlist: Yes
Student to teacher ratio: infants, 4:1; toddlers,
6:1; preschol and kindergarten, 10:1
What’s new: Bright Beginnings now has a
third location in Sicklerville offering infant
through kindergarten. The school also has
summer camps, and special curriculum that
includes mindfulness, art and music.

Calvary Hill Preschool
(Formerly Little Ambassadors)

Calvary Hill Church, 535 Mullica Hill Road,
Glassboro, (856) 891-3669

Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Programs: Full-time and part-time
enrollment available, 12 months
Fees: $188/week (full time), $44/day (part
time)
Ages: 18 months to kindergarten
Student to teacher ratio: 6:1
What's new:
Calvary Hill Preschool offers the
same great child care and strong academics
as it did when it operated under the name
Little Ambassadors Preschool. Now that it
has transferred its elementary/middle
school to Crossroads Worship Center, the
education director at Calvary Hill can focus
solely on the preschool program, ensuring a
quality preschool program continues.

Discovery Corner Child Care
& Enrichment Center
53 Haddonfield Road, Suite 322, Cherry Hill,
(856) 667-6333, DiscoveryCornerKids.com

Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Programs: Infant, toddler, preschool and
pre-K programs with full-day options
Fees: Costs vary by age and program
Ages: 6 weeks to 5 years
Waitlist: No
Student to teacher ratio: infants, 4:1;
toddlers, 6:1; juniors and preschool, 10:1;
pre-K, 12:1
What’s new: The school has been rated as a
Grow NJ Kids 3-Star program.

Future Scholars
Early Learning Center

1351 Route 38 W., Building B, Suite 1,
Hainesport, (609) 518-1333,
FutureScholarsLearning.com

Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Programs: Infant, toddler, preschool, before
and after care and summer camp
Fees: Costs vary per age and program
Ages: 6 weeks to 13 years
Waitlist: Some age groups, call for availability
Student to teacher ratio: Varies per class

Guidepost Montessori
at Laurel Oak

1004 Laurel Oak Road, Voorhees,
(848) 999-9456,
GuidepostMontessori.com/laurel-oak

Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Programs: toddler, preschool, kindergarten;
five days a week, full-day and half-day
options available; three days a week, full-day
and half-day options available for toddlers
Fees: $680 to $1,500 per month. Special
tuition rate available for families who
register early.
Ages: 2 to 6
Waitlist: NA
Student to teacher ratio: toddler, 6:1;
preschool and kindergarten, 10:1
What’s new:
Guidepost Montessori is a
growing network of schools that serves over
3,000 families worldwide. In South Jersey,
it serves children ages 2 to 6 with an environment
filled with authentic Montessori materials,
designed to inspire your child. At Guidepost
Montessori, they believe that children
thrive when given freedom and responsibility
under the thoughtful guidance
of dedicated teachers.

Lightbridge Academy
4518 Church Road, Mount Laurel,
(856) 552-2808; LightbridgeAcademy.com

Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Programs: infant, toddler, pre-K programs
available
Fees: Call or visit for information
Ages: 6 weeks to 7 years
Waitlist: In some classes
What’s new:
Extra activities now available
including sports, dance, music and a weekly
themed summer camp program.

Sari Isdaner Early Childhood
Center at the Katz JCC

1301 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill,
(856) 424-4444 ext. 1242,
KatzJCC.org/ECE

Hours: 6:45 a.m. to 6:15 p.m., Mondays
through Thursdays; 6:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. on
Fridays
Programs: Half day 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. (up to
2 years old); 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (3 years old to 5
years old); school day 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.;
full day 6:45 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Fees: Costs vary per age and program
Ages: 6 weeks to 6 years with a pre-K and
certified full-day kindergarten
Waitlist: Yes, for some age groups
Student to teacher ratio: Infant to 18
months, 1:4; 18 months to 2 years, 1:4;
2 ½ years to 3 years, 1:6; 4 years old, 1:12;
5 years old, 1:15
What's new: This year, the school will offer
new half-day hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Shining Lights
Early Childhood Center

1720 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill,
(856) 424-4915, ShiningLightsOnline.org
Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Programs: Full-day kindergarten with
half-day and full-day options available
through pre-K
Fees: Costs vary per age and program
Ages: 6 weeks to 6 years
Waitlist: Yes, for some age groups
Student to teacher ratio: 4:1 to 10:1 from
infants through preschool
What’s new:
Transitional kindergarten and
full-day academic kindergarten available.
This summer, Shining Lights is offering a nature-themed
summer camp where children will
engage in a variety of activities to explore
nature and the world around
them.

St. Mary of the Lakes School
196 Route 70, Medford, (609) 654-2546,
SMLSchool.org

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Programs: Full and half day, three and five
days per week
Tuition: $3,400-$6,000
Ages: Pre-K3 and Pre-K4
Waitlist: None
Student to teacher ratio: pre-K3, 15:2;
pre-K4, 18:2
What sets it apart: All pre-K students get
special classes, including: computer
programming, library, art, music and gym,
in addition to religion.