Four-year-olds · New for 2027–2028

Junior Kindergarten

A strong beginning, without the hurry.

Known. Encouraged. Thoughtfully challenged.

A thoughtful beginning.

For the 2027–2028 school year, The Laurel School is expanding its program to include Junior Kindergarten for four-year-olds. This beginning brings together strong early foundations, purposeful play, and the time and attention young children need to grow.

Junior Kindergarten at The Laurel School gives children a strong foundation while honoring the way young children learn. Purposeful play and intentional teaching come together in a warm, unhurried environment where curiosity is encouraged and growing independence is celebrated. A Lead Teacher and Instructional Assistant work together to provide attentive guidance, small-group instruction, and individual support. By knowing each child’s interests, strengths, and readiness, they help make the next step both challenging and within reach.

A Laurel student sharing a colorful art project — Creative expression at Laurel today.

Learning That Begins with Curiosity

Early literacy is woven throughout the day through stories, songs, conversation, and explicit instruction. Heggerty helps children hear and explore the sounds in spoken language, while Handwriting Without Tears supports fine-motor development and early handwriting habits. Read-alouds and storytelling build vocabulary, comprehension, and a love of books. Hands-on mathematics invites children to count, compare, sort, recognize patterns, and solve problems. Laurel-curated science and social studies connect learning to nature, families, communities, and children’s questions about the world.

A Thoughtful Daily Rhythm

The daily rhythm balances teacher-guided learning with sustained play, art, music, outdoor discovery, and rest. Children have time to build, pretend, create, investigate, and return to ideas that capture their attention. Predictable routines provide security, while flexibility allows teachers to follow a meaningful question or give a developing skill more attention.

Confidence Beyond the Classroom

Learning to join a group, express a need, care for materials, navigate a disagreement, and keep trying is an essential part of the curriculum. With consistent support from two educators, children practice these skills in the everyday life of the classroom. Our goal is more than preparation for Kindergarten: it is a child who moves forward with growing skills, confidence in their own abilities, and an eagerness to learn.

A balanced daily rhythm

Gather & explore

Morning play, conversation, stories, and teacher-guided learning.

Create & discover

Learning centers, hands-on mathematics, art, music, and outdoor exploration.

Rest & reconnect

Time to recharge, return to ideas, reflect, and close the day together.

Accreditation

Middle States
candidacy.

The Laurel School is a candidate for accreditation through the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Accreditation is a multi-year process of self-study, peer review, and continuous improvement. Our academics, governance, and family engagement are built in alignment with Middle States standards as we move through candidacy toward full accreditation.

Your child's next chapter

Begin a conversation with Laurel.

Applications for the 2027–2028 school year open November 1, 2026.

Inquire about Laurel

The Laurel learning journey