The Hill Preschool050

The Hill Preschool is a parent-teacher cooperative preschool for two to four year olds on Capitol Hill. It began as a playgroup in a parent's basement thirty years ago, and today it is incorporated and fully licensed by the District of Columbia.

The classroom calendar changes each month and establishes a theme upon which the daily activities are based. Cultural diversity is celebrated year-long as families are encouraged to share their traditions in the classroom. The teachers take advantage of local landmarks and community institutions by incorporating field trips into the curriculum.

Parents are required to participate in school life and are given various chores, such as toy washing or snack duty, a few times a month on a rotating basis.

The classes are divided into Caterpillars (ages two to three) and Bumblebees and Butterflies (ages three to four) with a student/teacher ratio of 4:1 for the Caterpillars and 6:1 for the Butterfly class.

Parents can choose a flexible schedule for their child, ranging from two mornings a week to five full days a week. A parent can arrange for a 1pm pick-up, a post-nap 3pm pick-up, or a 6pm pick-up at the end of the day.