This guide is sponsored by the businesses listed below.
Preschool, Nursery School, Childcare Center, or In-Home Daycare? What’s Right for Your Family?
Choosing early education or childcare can feel overwhelming—and deeply personal. That’s why we’ve created the Rochester MN Guide to Early Education to help you explore your options with confidence and clarity.
Every child and family is different, and the businesses listed below are ready to talk with you about what makes their programs unique—and how they might be the right fit for your needs.
Here’s a quick overview of the most common types of care:
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Preschool: Typically for ages 3–5, often part-time and closed during holidays and summers. Some offer full-day or year-round options.
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Childcare Centers: Full-time care that includes infants through pre-K (and sometimes school-aged kids). These are a good match for working parents looking for consistent year-round support.
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Nursery Schools: Usually for children 2–5, with a focus on social and hands-on learning. Many offer flexible schedules.
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In-Home Daycare: Licensed providers care for small groups of children in their homes, offering a cozy, personal environment.
You’ll also find helpful resources, including information on sitters, in-home care, and county services in the dropdown menus below the featured listings.
Whatever path you choose, we hope this guide helps you feel more informed and supported in your search.
EPIC ENDEAVORS PRESCHOOL ACADEMY
EPIC is a STEM preschool learning lab designed to ignite curiosity and foster a love for learning. At EPIC Endeavors Academy, we seek to prioritize hands-on experiences and personalize the learning to empower our youngest scholars to become readers writers and creative problem solvers. At EPIC our staff seek to have every child leave us well prepared for kindergarten and beyond.
EPIC Endeavors is known for preparing students to leave preschool reading or ready to read. Enrollment is now open for our full-day preschool program, offering flexible options to meet your family’s needs. Choose from a standard school day (8:30 AM to 3:45 PM), add early drop-off or late pick-up, or opt for a full-day care package from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. We also offer half-day morning or afternoon options.
Join us in shaping a bright future for your child! Text Trista for a tour today! (507) 319-5709
CASA de CORAZÓN
Casa de Corazón stands out as an excellent option for families seeking top-quality childcare. Casa offers a safe and nurturing environment where children can thrive, along with spacious play areas and classrooms designed to spark creativity. Their dedicated staff provides individualized attention and care, ensuring each child’s needs are met. Additionally, the international teaching program integrates diverse perspectives and cultural viewpoints, enriching the learning experience. Through immersive language experiences, Casa de Corazón cultivates an appreciation for diversity and is excited to welcome new families into their warm and supportive community.
NEW HORIZON ACADEMY
New Horizon Academy is a nationally accredited childcare and early childhood education provider with two convenient Rochester locations. Through research-based curriculum, social-emotional learning and high-quality care, New Horizon Academy’s experienced teachers help prepare young children for success in kindergarten – and beyond!
New Horizon Academy is now offering FREE diapers in all infant classrooms! In addition to diapers, infant tuition includes wipes, infant food, solid food, whole milk, and bottles, making mornings much easier for busy parents.
Visit newhorizonacademy.net to learn more about the benefits of New Horizon Academy’s early learning programs, see inside the classrooms, and schedule a tour.
ROCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS - PRESCHOOL
Preschool is all about wonderful new learning experiences that build skills for a lifetime. It is about turning everyday experiences and interactions into powerful opportunities for learning. At Rochester Public Schools – Preschool we understand that each child has unique educational needs and we emphasize learning through age-appropriate practice in a play-based environment. We use purposeful play because we know that our young students learn best in a playful, hands-on setting. We also believe that effective learning takes place when we build and sustain strong partnerships and relationships with our students and their families. To best meet the varied needs of the children and families we serve, we offer a variety of locations, times, and programming options.
KINGDOM KIDS
Kingdom Kids Christian Preschool is a kindergarten-readiness preschool with a highly interactive curriculum. We partner with your family to educate, nurture, and encourage the development of the whole child, as we believe every child is made in God’s image and has incredible intrinsic value and we are licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services and is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI, one of the nation’s largest and most stringent accrediting agencies). Our goal is to build a strong foundation in God’s word from which your child will benefit for life; students are prepared for Kindergarten through our academic, developmentally appropriate curriculum.
Rainbow School
A loving and nurturing preschool for children to have a positive first school experience in a faith-filled environment.
We care for the whole child—encouraging their spiritual, social, emotional, physical, and academic growth—so they can thrive in every area of life.
“At Rainbow School, the curriculum inspires creativity and learning through play, while also encouraging positive social and emotional growth. Rainbow school has set such a wonderful foundation of learning for our children during their early years. It is comforting to know our child is not only learning and growing but is also loved and valued.”
– RS Parent
Rainbow School offers safe, welcoming classrooms, a thoughtfully balanced curriculum of play and academics, and caring, qualified teachers who truly invest in each child’s growth.
ALDRICH SCHOOL
Aldrich School is a local, non-profit, nationally accredited nursery school that holds a special place in the hearts of countless children and families. The Aldrich program provides a play-based learning environment with developmentally appropriate experiences in all areas of growth including cognitive, physical, social/emotional, and language development.
Aldrich has a rich history and quality reputation in the Rochester community. Pediatricians and child psychiatrists, including Dr. Benjamin Spock, were involved in a Mayo Clinic study of child development in the 1940s which eventually led to the inception of Aldrich.
Having served the children of Rochester for 80 years, Aldrich has touched tens of thousands of lives in Minnesota and beyond. We love seeing former Aldrich students succeed and really love when they bring their own children back to enroll.
Other Area Child Care Centers, Nursery Schools, Preschools, & Resources
LICENSED IN-HOME DAY CARE
Rochester is fortunate to have many wonderful, loving in-home day care providers to meet your family’s needs. This sort of care is in very high demand in Rochester, so if you’d like to take this route for your child’s care, we suggest you start your search early. There are a few resources that can help you:
Olmsted County Child Care Association
Minnesota Licensing Information Look-Up
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OTHE RESOURCES
Au Pairs
School Readiness
Dolly Parton Imagination Library
Provides one book per month for children ages birth through five in Olmsted County.
Early Childhood Screening is a free, comprehensive developmental screening for any child 3 years to 5 years living in the Rochester School District.
Sitters + Nannies
Special Needs
Olmsted County Child Personal Care Attendants (PCA)
The PCA program provides assistance to families with disabled children and children with special healthcare needs requiring assistance and currently enrolled in Medical Assistance. The program provides help and assistance with activities of daily living.
Olmsted County Child and Youth Services
Support to help ensure the safety and well-being of children and youth in Olmsted County.
Rochester Public Schools Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)
ECSE is early intervention services for children with developmental delays in a variety of areas such as cognition, motor, social, or speech development. ECSE provides children who are diagnosed under the ECSE criteria with appropriate educational programs that are designed to meet their particular needs, enabling them to more fully participate in their home, school, and community.
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