Tenney Preschool & Childcare was founded by a group of parents who came together in 1979 to form a childcare cooperative in the heart of Madison’s Tenney-Lapham neighborhood.

Our little school on the Isthmus grew from there, but we remain committed to the founding hopes of those Tenney parents - that children have time to follow their curiosity, explore outside, and have loving grown-ups to guide them through learning and play!

Now, Tenney offers 5-star, accredited, full and half-day preschool for children ages 2+ Monday through Friday. Teachers incorporate children’s interests in lesson planning and introduce a range of activities thoughtfully designed to develop social-emotional skills, fine and gross motor skills, and support each child’s growth and development.

We take pride in our small class sizes with mixed-ages that benefit our children and our staff. Our teachers are able to develop important connections with children and their families.

Tuition covers much of Tenney’s day-to-day operations, but not all of the costs required to sustain and grow a high-quality, community-rooted program. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we rely on the generosity of families, alumni, and friends to support our teachers, classrooms, and learning environment. Thank you for considering a gift to Tenney Preschool and for being part of the community that makes this special place possible.

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