Preschools in Milford, Orange, CT

by Meghan

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Preschool registration season is already in full swing.  If you have a 2 or 3 year old you are interested in enrolling in preschool for the Fall, now is the time to begin your search.  Many area preschools host open houses throughout January, February and March, and all welcome parents and incoming students to schedule a visit before making your enrollment decision.  All schools have strict enrollment limitations, as outlined by state law, and programs do fill up, especially the highly sought after 5s programs, so be sure to start your search and make a decision soon!  To help you with your preschool search, I have compiled a list of preschools in the Milford-Orange, CT area.

The Preschool List for Milford Orange CT


The Big Preschool Search

Preschool is a BIG milestone. If you are a SAHM, it may be the first time, other than the occasional babysitter, that you are entrusting the care and enrichment of your child to anyone other than you! Even if your child has had other regular caregivers, it is your child’s first real school experience.  It is also where they will make their first friends, and you might even make some new ones too!

Do some research on different styles of preschools (these may include Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio, play-based, co-operative, among many others or combinations of these) and signs of a good preschool. Does location matter to you? As your child will be making friends in school, do you want it to be a community preschool, with the students all entering the same elementary school as your child? Or do you need something that is closer to your office?

This may help you narrow your search based on what you feel is most appropriate for your child.  It will also help you brainstorm the list of questions you want to ask each school. And no matter what, before you make a decision – go visit the school, in person, while school is in session. At the end of the day, I made my decision for Big M based on my in-person visits and interactions with the school personnel.

Featured Preschools in Milford and Orange, CT

For a comprehensive list of all the area preschools, please see the list at the end of this post.  The following schools have kindly supplied their information for inclusion in this list, along with images, dates and details.  If you are an area preschool who would like to be featured, contact me for details.

St. Mary School
72 Gulf Street, Milford, CT

203.878.6539 | WebsiteFacebook | Twitter | Instagram

Photo courtesy of St. Mary School

Photo courtesy of St. Mary School

St. Mary School in Milford, CT is a PreK-8 institution where your child’s education is spent in a safe, spiritual, and academically challenging environment that instills good moral character, teaches solid study habits, promotes public speaking and nurtures the Christian faith.  St. Mary Preschool offers a variety of enrollment options to meet the needs of families with 3 & 4 year olds. St. Mary’s believes preparing students to be the leaders of tomorrow begins with instilling in them a profound love for God and for each other.  In our classrooms students are encouraged to reach their full potential academically, personally, spiritually, physically and socially.

Photo courtesy of St. Mary School
Photo courtesy of St. Mary School

We are currently accepting applications for the 2016-17 school year.  Applications can be picked up in the school office or downloaded from our website.  We are experiencing a large volume of applications so please apply early to insure a place for your child. The application requires a non-refundable $25 fee. To be accepted into our programs your child needs to be 3 or 4 by September 1, 2016. They must be completely toilet trained and pull-ups are not permitted.

In our 3 year old program we offer 3 full days (8:30-2:30pm) and 3 half day (8:30-11:00am) options. These classes meet on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. In our 4 year old programs we offer a 3 full day (M, W & F) and 5 full day options (8:30-2:30pm).

Our 3 year old program allows a maximum of 16 students per class, with 2 teachers assigned to each class. Our 4 year old program allows a maximum of 18 students per class, with 2 teachers assigned to each class. We offer a “before school program” for our preschool that begins at 7:30am, and is free of charge to all registered preschool families.  We also have an “after care program” that runs until 5:30 and costs $15 a day.

All faiths are welcome! St. Mary School is a fully accredited member of the Commission on Independent Schools of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.


Orange Community Nursery School
525 Orange Center Road (@ High Plains Community Center), Orange, CT

203.444.5064 | Website | Facebook

Founded in 1956, Orange Community Nursery School is a cooperative, non-profit preschool, located in the High Plains Community Center.  OCNS offers a traditional preschool curriculum that is developmentally appropriate and promotes social, emotional and physical development, creative expression, and learning through play, along with teaching guidance and instruction.

Photo courtesy of OCNS

Photo courtesy of OCNS

OCNS offers programs for 3, 4 and 5 year old students (birthday by December 31st of enrollment year).  The 3s class runs Tuesday/Thursday from 9:30 – 11:30.  The 4s class runs Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 9:30 – 11:30. Additionally, 3s and 4s students can stay for Lunch Bunch until 12:30 or Extended Day until 1:30.  The Kindergarten Readiness Program (5s) is offered Monday – Friday from 9-1 daily.

OCNS strives to help children build a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy concepts, through varied play activities, which also feature music, movement, art, hands-on science experiments, cooking, and field trips.  The school has aligned its curriculum with the state standards for preschool and kindergarten (for 5’s program), and the Director and teachers are in tune with what is happening at our local elementary schools.

As a partially cooperative nursery school, parents take on additional responsibility in helping to raise funds for the school, serve on various event and activity committees, as well as commit to volunteering in the classroom over the course of the school year.

OCNS is hosting an Open House, March 6, 2016  from 1-3 PM (snow date March 7,  6-7:30pm) for all interested parents .  You are always welcome to call the school to schedule a visit as well.  Registration paperwork will be available at the Open House and is due by April 1st, along with a tuition deposit for the 2016-2017 school year.

For more information about OCNS, its program and amazing teachers, please visit their website or contact Sue Baldino, the school registrar with any questions or to schedule a classroom visit at (203) 444-5064  or [email protected].

All Area Preschools

Public Preschools

Milford Public Schools

Milford Public Schools offers two different early childhood/preschool resources to residents of Milford, CT.  The Milford Family Resource Center, located at Mathewson Elementary, provides weekly play groups and support to parents of children from birth to age 5.  In place since 1994, it is primarily funded by a grant from the State Dept. of Education to the Milford Public Schools.  For more information or to register, please call 203-783-3626 or email [email protected].

Milford Public Schools  also offers a preschool program for three and four year old children.  Parents of two year olds should contact the Office of Pupil Personnel for registration information.  Preschool is free for students with special education needs.  At risk and typically developing children (as determined by screening) can apply for admission to these programs on a space available basis.  Tuition is on a sliding scale basis.

Pupil Personnel Services – Elementary Christine Kennedy [email protected] 203-783-3493

Orange Public Schools – Mary L. Tracy Preschool Program

Mary L. Tracy offers a public preschool similar to Milford Public Schools.  Community peers are selected by blind lottery, and tuition for the 5-day half-day program is $3,000 for the year. Classes are blended age groups of 3 and 4 year olds, and all students must be potty trained.  Lottery applications are typically due by the end of January for the upcoming school year, with selections announced in February.  For all program details, please visit Mary L. Tracy’s pre-school news announcement.

Private Preschools

Connecticut Center for Child Development (CCCD)
95 Wolf Harbor Road, Milford, CT 06461

The CCCD Daycare Center is located within our Wolf Harbor Campus. Designed to provide daycare services for our employees at a discounted rate, the CCCD Daycare is also open to the surrounding communities. We are currently enrolling infants, toddlers, and pre-school aged children from 6 weeks old to Kindergarten age.

For more information or to schedule a tour, please contact Linda Schraml or call 203-882-8439 or 203-882-8810 ext.341.

Duck Pond Day Care
132 New Haven Ave, Milford, CT 06460

Founded in 1993, Duck Pond Day Care, Inc. was established to provide a safe, nurturing and educational childcare facility for the Milford community.  Duck Pond offers infant, toddler and preschool programs.  For more information about their preschool program, please contact Duck Pond – Milford.

Gingerbread House
61 River Street, Milford, CT 06460

Gingerbread House has been the best kept secret for stay at home moms since it opened its doors almost  14 years ago. Its unique Mommy’s Day Out Program was the first of its kind providing a loving and safe learning environment for toddlers and preschoolers who needed a little something extra.  The Mommy’s Day Out Program runs Monday – Friday from 9am-1pm with optional extended hours until 4pm. Our flexible schedule allows you to enroll for as little as one day a week or any combination of days that work with your busy schedule.

The Goddard School
42 Old Tavern Road, Orange, CT 06477

The Goddard School in Orange has served the towns of Orange, Milford, Woodbridge, & New Haven County since 2006. It is committed to providing the highest quality preschool experience for the children in our community.  More than just a daycare, the NAEYC Accredited Program focuses on the best practices in early childhood education & supports our philosophy of learning through play.

We would love to show you around our beautiful facility, introduce you to our qualified teachers & show you our program in action. Please drop by or schedule a tour any day of the week.

Good Shepherd Child Development Center
170 Old Point Road, Milford, CT 06460

Good Shepherd Child Development Center has been in successful operation since 1969 and is Nationally Accredited with NAEYC.  Good Shepherd is state licensed to accommodate 40 preschoolers and 56 infant/toddlers. Each preschool classroom has a total attendance of 20 children with 3 teachers per room. Each infant/toddlers classroom has a total attendance of 8 with 3 teachers per room.

Great Beginnings Preschool
100 Washington Street, Milford, CT 06460

Great Beginnings Preschool holds daily hours, Monday through Friday, from 7:30am-5:30pm. Curriculum activities begin at 9:00am. Half-day programs are available.  Great Beginnings Preschool follows a theme-oriented curriculum, with an emphasis on developmentally appropriate activities. Their goal is to offer all children individualized experiences that will help them develop socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically — at their own rate!

Holly Hill Learning Center
308 Peck Lane, Orange, CT 06477

The preschool program includes great teachers who are keenly aware of the developmental needs of your child.  Curriculum is prepared in combination with the guidelines for the State of Connecticut and the Orange Board of Education.  It includes language, literacy, early reading and writing skills, math, social skills, dramatic play, art and music.

Kiddie Korner Nursery School
26 Joanne Drive, Milford, CT 06460

Kiddie Korner’s educational curriculum is a developmental one, and the importance of play as a child’s work is always of central significance. The school has an “integrated day”, which means all activities are related to a specific theme for the week. Songs, stories, games, crafts and even free snacks all go along with that theme.

The daily program includes free play time, story time, circle time, and music or movement activities every day. Class hours for the 3-year old program is on Tuesday and Thursdays from 9:15 to 11:45 AM and from 12:15 to 2:45 PM. The hours for the 4-year old program is on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:15 to 11:45 AM and 12:15 to 2:45 PM. An extended day program is offered for our 4-year olds on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:15 to 2:15.

Kindercare Learning Center
39 Wellington Road, Milford, CT 06460

Kindercare Learning Center offers childcare, before and after school care and preschool programming for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old.  It is open M-F, 6:30AM to 6:30PM.  For before and after school care students, elementary school bus services are provided to Pumpkin Delight School, Mathewson Elementary School, and John F Kennedy Elementary School.

Little Eagles PreKindergarten Center
1003 New Haven Ave, Milford, CT 06460

Since 2003, Little Eagles PreKindergarten Center has been providing a loving, Christian pre-school environment emphasizing “sharing is caring”. The name “Little Eagles” embodies the understanding that before an eagle can soar he must be nurtured. Little Eagles is supervised by “Miss Janet” Parady, who is trained in early childhood development and has over 20 years experience.

Little Eagles is open for extended childcare from 6:30am to 5:30pm.  The preschool program, for ages 3 to 5 years, runs from 9am to 1pm, and is available as a 2, 3, or 5 day program.  Little Eagles also offers before and afterschool care, as well as Summer Camp programs.

Little White House Learning Center
69 Woodmont Road, Milford, CT 06460

The Little White House Learning Center is a state licensed early childhood center focusing on the education, socialization, and development of children. The Little White House Learning Center believes that it is a priority for each child to have healthy self-esteem and to be able to express themselves as individuals.  The Center accepts infants from 6 weeks through 8 years old and are open year round, 6:30am – 6:00pm, Monday – Friday.  The Center offers a Preschool program for 3 and 4 year olds, as well as a Transitional Kindergarten program for 5 year olds who need an extra year for social or emotional growth before entering Kindergarten.

Milford Cooperative Preschool Learning Center
1000 New Haven Ave, Milford, CT

The Milford Co-Operative Preschool Learning Center Inc. has been educating preschoolers in the community for 60 years! It was formed in 1954 by a group of parents who recognized the need for a non-profit, nonsectarian nursery school. The Co-Op is a corporation administered by its members (parents) who work in cooperation with the staff to manage the finances and operations of the school as well as assist the staff in the classroom.

The Milford Preschool at the Eagan Center
35 Mathews Street, Milford, CT

The main objective of the Milford Preschool program is to provide each child with a foundation from which he or she can meet the challenge of more complex skills. This program is designed to meet the needs of young children specifically three to five years old. It provides experiences that enrich and enhance each child’s cognitive, language, social, emotional, physical and creative development. Each child has the opportunities to create, explore the environment, learn problem solving, personal interaction skills and develop concepts through first hand experiences.

This State Licensed facility is owned and operated by Sheri Flanagan. Sheri has held a Child Day Care Center License with the State of Connecticut since 1993.

Once Upon a Time Development Center
326 West Main  Street, Milford, CT

Once Upon a Time offers a comprehensive preschool program is designed to prepare your child for a successful transition to kindergarten! We offer a threes room, with a ratio of one teacher for every ten children. The curriculum is centered around socio-emotional development as a primary goal with art, music, science, social studies, fine and gross motor development included. At times, our room may look chaotic with children busy in our learning stations. In reality, the children are learning in the most natural way, through play.

The Pre-K Program is primarily designed for 4 year olds, going on to kindergarten in the fall. We continue to run the program with a learning through play philosophy. There is a focus on reading readiness skills including sight words, phonics activities as well as using reading cues. Children practice math skills with manipulatives and the beginning of equations with addition. Children continue their writing skills as well as music and movement and outside time. There is a larger focus on science and hands on experiments than in the preschool room.

Orange Congregational Church Nursery School
205 Meeting House Lane, Orange, CT

The Orange Congregational Church Nursery School (OCCNS) is housed on the lower level of the church school wing. The program is a Christian based traditional nursery school for three and four year olds; however, we welcome children of all faiths. Classes are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays for three year olds, and Monday, Wednesday, Friday for four year olds with a five day option for returning students. The School is licensed by the State of Connecticut.

For more information, please visit the OCCNS website, call (203) 795-9749 ext. #305, or e-mail us at [email protected].

Sedona Day Care & Learning Center
21 Plymouth Place, Milford, CT 06460

Sedona’s Preschool program offers a curriculum based environment. The Pre K class explores a different theme each week through activities, literature, language, and learning experiences. Emphasis is on the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of each child. The children participate in groups as well as independently. Our goal is to create independence, self-esteem, and confidence. Sedona is the place in which your child’s curiosity and joys of discovery are encouraged.

Woodruff Family YMCA Preschool
631 Orange Ave, Milford, CT

Our program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and is State Licensed. Our preschool has been successfully operating for 30 plus years and is located in our facility.

We will prepare your 3 or 4 year old for kindergarten in a caring environment with a Ratio 8:1.  With an increase focus on literacy and learning through exploration, your child will develop social, emotional, physical and academic skills necessary for the beginning of his/her academic career. We offer preschool families extended care until 5:30pm at the YMCA.

Presently we do not have a wait list but subject to change. Preschool registration is on-going and spaces are limited. Please contact our Child Care Department at 203.878.6501 ext. 3115 for hours and availability.


Don’t see your school on the list? Or would you like it to be featured with photos? Contact me with all the details to add it! If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out all my local content for Milford & Orange, CT and follow my local Facebook page!

The Preschool List - All Preschools in Milford Orange CT

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