Families looking for a preschool in Loveland are not all shopping for the same thing. A single working parent needs early morning coverage. A homeschooling family might only want two mornings a week. Other parents search specifically for Christian teaching, Spanish immersion, Montessori materials, or cooperative programs.
Ranking every school from best to worst misses the point entirely. Instead, this guide groups the best preschools in Loveland by the kind of family each one fits best.
Top Montessori & Bilingual Options
1. Hiatt Farms Montessori
Hiatt Farms is the most distinctive Montessori option in the Loveland area. The school sits on farmland at 6664 North County Road 13. Children tend a 10,000-square-foot garden and care for farm animals daily. Dr. Maria Montessori believed animal and plant care builds self-esteem, and this campus centers on that idea.
Every classroom features a native Spanish-speaking guide alongside an English-speaking lead teacher. The school holds AMS accreditation and serves around 55 children from infancy through age six.
Enrollment & Program Details
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Primary Schedule: Half-day (8:30 AM – 12:30 PM) and full-day (8:30 AM – 3:30 PM) options.
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Infant/Toddler: Full-day programs only.
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Admissions: Interviews run January through February, with decisions sent in March.
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Requirements: A $75 fee applies at application. Parents must attend four annual learning workshops.
Play-Based & Cooperative Preschools
2. Community Preschool
Community Preschool has served Loveland for roughly 50 years as a play-based parent cooperative. Parents help in the classroom once or twice a month. This keeps tuition affordable while keeping parents connected to the classroom.
An afternoon class is also available without the volunteer requirement. Tuition runs by the hour (around $4.50 to $5.00), and Colorado Universal Preschool (UPK) families pay nothing.
3. Loveland Preschool
Loveland Preschool offers 60 years of history as a parent co-op at 533 Grant Ave. Classrooms serve ages 2.5 through 5. The youngest class caps at ten students and does not require full potty training.
Parents handle maintenance duties, attend meetings, and assist in the classroom. Registration for the upcoming school year opens on December 5th.
Families who need coverage outside those class hours can use Immanuel’s before- and after-school childcare, available from 7am to 5:30pm on school days for children age three and up who are potty trained. A summer program called King’s Kids Day Camp runs alongside it. Need-based tuition assistance exists for the K-12 program, though it’s worth knowing upfront that toddler care, childcare, preschool and summer camp do not qualify for that assistance. Tuition figures run in the range of a few thousand dollars a year for the preschool portion specifically, and families can request current rates directly from the school office.
Christian & Faith-Based Programs
4.Immanuel Lutheran School anchors the Christian preschool search
Operating since 1977, Immanuel holds National Lutheran School Accreditation. Located at 4650 Sunview Drive, it serves 33 preschool students with a 9-to-1 student-teacher ratio.
Class Schedules
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Terrific Threes: Tuesday and Thursday (8:15 AM – 11:00 AM)
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Fantastic Fours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday (8:15 AM – 11:00 AM)
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Fabulous Fives: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday (12:15 PM – 3:00 PM) & Wednesday (11:30 AM – 2:00 PM)
The program uses Handwriting Without Tears and Heggerty phonics alongside daily Bible lessons. Extended childcare runs from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
5. First Light Nature Preschool
First Light brings outdoor education into a licensed Christian home setting in southwest Loveland. Run by Laura Paas, the program caps at just six children. Kids go outside daily, and lessons focus on social skills, play, and Creation-based learning.
6. Resurrection Christian School Preschool
Resurrection Christian (RCS) offers a highly flexible half-day schedule menu for children ages 2.5 through 5.
Annual Tuition Rates
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1 Half-Day: $1,440
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2 Half-Days: $2,655
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3 Half-Days: $3,465
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4 Half-Days: $4,185
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5 Half-Days: $4,815
An optional Enrichment class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays. RCS provides a continuous academic path through high school.
7. St. John the Evangelist Catholic School
St. John serves ages 3 and 4 with both half-day and full-day options. The 3-year-old class meets Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Four-year-olds choose between three mornings a week or full school days until 3:00 PM. Parish subsidies help keep tuition lower than standard private rates.
Affordable & Public Options
8. Thompson Valley Preschool
Founded in 1970, Thompson Valley Preschool offers sliding-scale tuition based on income. Over 55% of families receive tuition assistance.
Holding a Level 4 Colorado Shines rating, it serves 90 children on East 16th Street. Classrooms use proven tools like Zoo-phonics and Everyday Math.
9. Small Fries Preschool
Located inside the Chilson Recreation Center, Small Fries holds a top Level 5 Colorado Shines rating. Kids enjoy regular walking trips to Foote Lagoon, local parks, and the library.
Registration requires an in-person form submission at Chilson. UPK is offered for the Monday–Wednesday session.
10. Thompson Integrated Early Childhood
This is Thompson School District’s public preschool system across 15 locations. It uses The Creative Curriculum and offers dual-language Spanish classrooms at Cottonwood Plains Elementary.
Access Paths
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Head Start
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Colorado Universal Preschool (UPK)
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Child Find evaluations
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Tuition-pay slots (filled via March lottery)
Full-Day Care for Working Parents
11. The Learning Experience
Ideal for full workday schedules, this center has two Loveland locations (Crossroads and Taft Ave). Hours run from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM for infants through age six. Tuition includes meals, sign language, STEM activities, and real-time app updates.
12. Sunshine House of Loveland
Located at Centerra and East 18th Street, Sunshine House operates from 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM. It holds a Level 4 Colorado Shines rating. All-inclusive tuition covers nutritionist-planned meals, Spanish, and character development.
A Note on Homeschool Preschool Options
Families often ask about LEAP (Loveland Enrichment Access Program) during their search. However, LEAP is a tuition-free enrichment program for K-12 students, not a preschool. Homeschooling families seeking part-time preschool options should consider Community Preschool or Loveland Preschool instead.
