John PerryMy sister thought choosing a preschool would be simple. She made a shortlist and assumed the whole process would be wrapped up in no time.
Instead, she ran into conflicting advice, while schools that all described themselves as “play-based” somehow felt completely different once she visited them.
The real problem wasn’t finding the best preschools in Philadelphia—it was figuring out which ones were actually worth considering. So I jumped in to help her sort it out.
We focused on the details that mattered most: how teachers interacted with kids, the classroom atmosphere, and whether it genuinely felt like a place her son could thrive and be happy.
After plenty of research, a handful of standout schools emerged—and those are the ones I’m sharing with you.
How much do preschools charge in Philadelphia?
Preschools in Philadelphia typically cost $750 to $1,500 per month, with an average of $1,100. Prices vary based on schedule, program type, and whether the school is private or community-based.
1. Primrose School of Center City Philadelphia
Address: 1635 Market St, Suite 104, 19103
Contact Details: +1 215-545-1920
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Primrose School of Center City Philadelphia is built on the idea that every child has the potential to grow into something great.
At the heart of the school is their Balanced Learning approach, which mixes purposeful play with structured teaching to support both academic and life skills.
In everyday practice, this means a balance between teacher-led lessons and child-led activities, so kids get guidance but still have room to explore on their own.
There’s also a strong focus on social-emotional growth, helping children build independence, communication, and confidence.
Parents especially love that meals and snacks are included—a small perk, but I like that it cuts down on daily prep and ensures kids stick to healthy routines.
That said, it is a private program, so the cost can be higher compared to other childcare options in the area.
The teachers are caring and attentive, catering to each child’s individual needs
“We are so happy we chose Primrose for our son’s first daycare. The teachers are caring and attentive, truly catering to each child’s individual needs. The staff and administrators are also wonderful—warm, professional, and always supportive. The location is convenient for parents who work in Center City, which has been a huge plus. We would highly recommend Primrose to any family.”
– Ji Eun Park, Google Review
The school makes an effort to bring the children out for walks and outdoor play
“We lived in Center City, Philadelphia, for the past year and enrolled our child in Primrose. She had the best time in the school. They learned through play, making school fun. The teachers (even those who weren’t teaching my child) and staff know the children by name. The place is clean and well maintained. The school makes an effort to bring the children out for walks and outdoor play when the weather permits. They do a tour of the school before you decide so I think it’s really helpful for parents who are deciding on the best place for their children.”
– Brigitte Woo, Google Review
2. Society Hill Synagogue Playschool
Address: 418 Spruce St, 19106
Contact Details: +1 215-922-6590
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Society Hill Synagogue is a warm and inclusive preschool for children ages 18 months to 5 years that welcomes families of all backgrounds.
The school’s approach is play-based and child-centered, meaning your child learns through hands-on activities and natural exploration.
Teachers create opportunities for kids to build confidence and creativity through everyday interactions and purposeful play.
And yes, the kids get to go outside! Whether it’s courtyard time or trips to a nearby park, they make the most of their city setting. I personally like how the school works to integrate outdoor exploration, being in a dense neighborhood—it strikes a nice balance.
Community is also built into the routine, with Jewish cultural traditions, holidays, and music naturally included in weekly activities.
While the school is open to all families, the Jewish cultural and holiday focus may not align with every household’s preferences, depending on your educational goals or beliefs.
We love the community of the school
“Our daughter loves Playschool! We have had such a great experience. The staff is wonderful! The communication with the Director, Megan is fabulous and the program is very organized. They offer many different schedule options and have an amazing Summer Camp with lots of fun activities. The teachers and students are diverse. We love the community of school and have made so many great friends.”
– Meaghan, Google Review
Not only is the Playschool safe, but the faculty is nurturing
“I highly recommend Society Hill Synagogue Playschool. I have two children that both started at the Playschool at two years old and Continued through pre-K. Not only is the Playschool safe, but the faculty is nurturing, and there is a large sense of community throughout the Synagogue. We currently also have our children enrolled at the Hebrew school at Society Hill Synagogue, due to the wonderful experience that we have had since the very first day our children walked through the door at just two years old.”
– Holly Gorsen, Google Review
3. Little City Montessori
Address: 1401 N 5th St Mailbox C, Philadelphia, PA 19122
Contact Details: +1 215-764-0633
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Little City Montessori was founded by a local family to offer a high-quality learning environment shaped by their own experience as parents.
The school follows an authentic Montessori model, where your child works with hands-on materials and chooses activities independently. The classrooms are set up to encourage focus, problem-solving, and independence.
For you, that means your child is building these skills in a calm space, although there is usually less emphasis on imaginative or group play.
That also means your child may not always be in free-flow group activities, since the environment leans more toward individual work and self-directed learning.
But I do appreciate how consistent everything feels over time. The curriculum carries through from toddler years all the way up, so your child stays within the same learning style.
And for busy parents, the school offers full-day programs and extended care. It’s super convenient and shows they’re thinking about families, not just kids.
Our daughter gains confidence daily
“It’s hard to overstate how positive our experiences with Little City have been. From the very beginning communication has been open, timely, and thoughtful. We had some hesitation sending our child to any care program but I can say without reservation this has been a great decision for us and especially for our daughter. While we are about to celebrate her 2 year birthday now, her three months at Little City have been amazing. The teachers and administration create an atmosphere of love, kindness, cooperation, and caring that we couldn’t have hoped for before seeing it. Our daughter gains confidence daily and I attribute it directly to the coral room team. Little City has created something really special and we are very thankful to be a part of it.”
– David Platzer, Google Review
They are just really on top of things, and it makes a mom’s life so much easier
“We are so glad to have found Little City. They have been welcoming and supportive to our whole family. My child has loved this school from the first day and never looked back. They really know her and have given her the tools and skills to grow and learn with thoughtfulness and care. My child loves their recreational activities as well. The kindergarten program is thorough and excellent. My child is learning so much every day and always thinks of it as fun and not work. They include “work” and responsibilities and the kids feel important and think of chores and duties as pleasant and fun. The administration is very well organized and runs smoothly nearly all the time. They are just really on top of things and it makes a mom’s life so much easier. Everyone who works there seems happy to and to genuinely love their work. They always have a welcoming word and smile for everyone who walks through their doors. I really can’t say enough good things about this “Little” school! I wish it went past Kindergarten.”
– Lhianna Boditoro, Google Review
4. Our House Montessori
Address: 1733 Spring Garden St, 19130
Contact Details: +1 215-701-3937
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
Our House Montessori was established in 2010 to make a high-quality preschool program more accessible to Philadelphia families.
The school achieves this by following the Montessori method for children ages 18 months to 5 years, where your child is given prepared materials and guided to choose and complete activities independently based on their developmental stage.
Rather than separating learning into strict subjects, the day flows naturally through practical life tasks, sensorial work, math and language activities, along with art, music, movement, and cultural studies woven into the classroom routine.
They also understand that every family’s schedule is different, so they provide flexibility with full-day and part-day options, along with extended care for those longer workdays.
But one thing I’d like to point out is that communication tends to focus more on developmental progress and observations rather than detailed daily play-by-play updates, something that may feel different depending on what you’re used to.
All of the teachers and staff are truly invested in each child
“My daughter attended OHM for 4 years and completed their Primary / Kindergarten program. It was a wonderful experience. She truly thrived in the OHM Community. All of the teachers and staff are truly invested in each child. When we started looking at schools for first grade, she was well prepared to take the next step in her learning journey. Her current teachers have remarked on how well she can advocate for herself and others. AT OHM she developed an enjoyment for learning. OHM is a community for both the Children and Parents. I highly recommend OHM.”
– Edward Baten, Google Review
We are glad to know that we are leaving our children in the best possible hands
“We currently have two children at OHM, one in the primary class and another in the toddler class. We are thrilled with everything about our experience there. The staff and administration are fantastic and we have formed strong bonds with the other families. We looked at a number of local preschools, both Montessori and not, and immediately knew that OHM would be the right fit for us based on their thoughtful approach to a Montessori education. The active involvement in the local community, too-notch music curriculum and delicious family-style meals are a few things that set OHM apart from the other local Montessori schools. We are so glad to have found OHM and know that we are leaving our children in the best possible hands when we bring them to school each day.”
– Allison Leveiss, Google Review
5. The Children’s Place Preschools
Address: 3645 E Thompson St, 19134
Contact Details: +1 215-426-7380
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
With more than 25 years of experience, The Children’s Place Preschools have been serving Philadelphia families.
If you’re looking into them, you’ll find they’re Keystone STARS-rated, meaning they meet or exceed Pennsylvania’s standards for early childhood education and care.
Their programs are thoughtfully designed to grow with your child, starting from infants as young as 6 weeks and continuing all the way through after-school care for older children.
They follow the Creative Curriculum, a play-based approach where kids learn through activities like art, movement, and exploration rather than traditional instruction.
Teachers play a key role here; they guide children through these experiences while encouraging them to try things independently. Along the way, they support the development of important skills like sharing, problem-solving, and early self-regulation.
Parents I’ve spoken to praise the staff’s responsiveness, though some have observed occasional inconsistencies in how information is communicated between teachers and families.
The place is beautiful, with all materials for the children in great condition
“Love coming to this center to evaluate the teaching staff for many reasons. First, it’s such a clean, well kept space and they have a security system in place that makes me feel safe. The atmosphere is professional and pleasant, staff makes sure I am being helped. The place is beautiful, with all materials for the children in great condition and with plenty of options for their learning instruction. The admin team understand the importance of teacher professional development and training and always seek ways to involve their staff in learning opportunities.”
– Rosanna Matos, Google Review
I love the teachers, especially how caring they are
“I feel this Center is excellent I decide to switch my son from another Daycare over this location when I did the tour with Ms.Daisy and she give me the confident that I need and the security that I need when I drop of my son in the summer camp until now . I love the teachers how caring there are . My son have so much fun in the summer and a lot of great activities.”
– Ana Disla, Google Review
