Our School

At Burien Cooperative Preschool we celebrate childhood. We strive to meet each and every child exactly where they are, understanding that milestones, development, and learning happens differently for every child. Our children are given the gift of time when they come to school, given the gift of space to make their own choices, develop their own interests, and given the gift of gentle guidance while navigating social interactions with peers.

While we are not focused on traditional “preschool academics,” we are committed to providing children with the tools they will need to navigate Kindergarten life. Critical thinking skills, learning the value of failure, learning to trust their own voice, believing in their abilities, observation skills, social skills, and growing a lifelong love of learning are of the utmost importance to our school. These “invisible skills” are the ones your Kindergarten teachers will thank you for. Our program utilizes a science-based curriculum called Beyond Centers and Circle Time and is guided by the WaKIDS Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills to create a place where children can develop these skills in a way that is age-appropriate and supported by science. Most importantly though: we believe in protecting children’s play. In a time where play has been devalued to its lowest point in our education system, we continue to recognize its invaluable importance to development and will continue to defend PLAY in childhood.

We spend our school days being our own unique age, NOT preparing to be ten or eighteen. We explore music, art inspired by famous artists, do experiments, explore various aspects of life through dramatic play, and get messy. Really, really messy. We make snacks together and eat while giggling over jokes or telling stories about our lives. Our children and their families learn how to create a community where everyone has value.

Because we are a cooperative preschool, families are involved in running every aspect of our school, from participating in the classroom, to fundraising, to running the Parent Board. We provide The Village: friends who feel like family and relationships that last long after your preschool days are over.

You can also learn more by reviewing our handbook, standing rules and bylaws.

Our space belongs to our children. With all their senses they are learning through play.

Our Space

Our space belongs to our children. With all their senses, they are learning through play. Throughout the school there is an explosion of discovery, learning, language and joy.

You will see kids in the art room with purple and green faces and rainbow colored fingers. You will see kids outside digging and building in the giant sandbox or splashing and wading in the shallow creek. You will see kids with muddy bare feet and shaving cream in their ears and bellybuttons. Rubber boots are the recommended footwear here. We are not afraid of cold, wet, or snowy weather.

You will see kids playing and exploring outdoors in a playhouse and barn, a boat, an outdoor theater, and indoors on several play structures, including an enormous tree house with a spiral tube slide. You'll see kids hand-cranking homemade ice cream, grinding wheat and kneading homemade play dough, or having a snack with a friend in the preschool's kitchen. You might see fairy princesses dancing with streamers in the circle room, or a wonderful wizard casting spells in the hall. You will see kids making playdough pastries in the bakery and building wooden airplanes in the workshop. Burien Co-op is a great place to be a kid!