The Children's School
The Children's School is a Seattle non-profit preschool founded in 1965, serving roughly 25 children ages 2.5–6 with an emergent, play-based curriculum at a 7:1 student-teacher ratio, funded primarily by tuition, donations, and fundraising.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Children's School does
The Children's School (TCS) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit preschool established in 1965 in Seattle, Washington, serving approximately 25 children ages 2.5 to 6 across three classrooms (Hummingbirds, Robins, Blue Jays) at 111 NE 80th St in the Green Lake/Maple Leaf neighborhood. TCS uses an emergent, play-based curriculum that integrates math, science, language and literacy, art, and explicit social-emotional learning, operating under a maximum 7:1 student-teacher ratio that is materially better than Washington state early-childhood requirements. The school year runs 11 months (September through July) with part-day classes from 9am to 1pm and rolling admission year-round; children are not required to be toilet trained, differentiating TCS from many competitors. Extended offerings include the Bigleaf Afternoon Preschool Program (a sister program for 1:00–5:00 PM wraparound care), themed summer camps, and monthly enrichment in art and movement-based storytelling.
TCS employs six teachers (approximately half with 5+ years of tenure) plus an Executive Director, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Revenue is generated from tuition billed monthly against an annual schedule ($660–$1,575 for 2025/2026 across 2- to 5-day options), supplemented by donations, fundraising events (target $40,000 annually), planned giving/bequests, and TCS SWAG merchandise sales. Total income for FY July 2024–June 2025 was $469,222.61, of which tuition and fees contributed $388,946.13 (82.7%), donations $45,160.27 (9.6%), and a $30,000 bequest from co-founder Mary Maltman (6.4%); total expenses of $491,612.12 produced an operating deficit, while fundraising outperformed the prior year by approximately $20,000. The go-to-market is sales-led and local: families are acquired via scheduled tours, open houses, word-of-mouth referrals, and content marketing on the school's blog and Facebook page, with enrollment processed through an online application and $50 fee.
Strategic posture in recent years has been defensive-turnaround: TCS consolidated two locations into the single ADA-accessible 80th Street facility in 2025, eliminated the full-time director role in favor of an Executive Director structure, and extended the calendar to 11 months to stabilize enrollment, which had declined by approximately nine students year-over-year and currently sits at 25 of a 36-student capacity. Expansion vectors include the Bigleaf sister program, summer camp, enrichment classes, and branded merchandise, alongside a strengthening philanthropic pipeline anchored by a 60-year community brand.
The Children's School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Children's School
- Legal name
- The Children's School
- Website
- https://tcsseattle.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Children's School is a Seattle non-profit preschool founded in 1965, serving roughly 25 children ages 2.5–6 with an emergent, play-based curriculum at a 7:1 student-teacher ratio, funded primarily by tuition, donations, and fundraising.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Children's School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Early Childhood Education
- NAICS
- Child Care Services (62441)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)
- akta.pro primary industry
- General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA)
Keywords
Where The Children's School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Children's School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments for part-day preschool services. Tuition varies by schedule (2-5 days per week) and age requirements (younger children eligible for 2-3 day options only).
- Donations: Individual donations from families and community supporters. Donations support teacher benefits, professional development, materials, and tuition assistance.
- Fundraising Events: Annual fundraising events including spring fundraiser and special events (e.g., 60th birthday celebration). Raised approximately $11,000 at spring fundraiser and target $40,000 annually.
- Bequests: Planned giving and bequests from founders and supporters, including $30,000 from Mary Maltman's estate.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | 2 days/week - available for children 3 and under only |
| Subscription | Monthly | 3 days/week - available for children 3 and under only |
| Subscription | Monthly | 4 days/week (Monday-Thursday) |
| Subscription | Monthly | 5 days/week (Monday-Friday) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Summer camp half-day session (2 weeks) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Summer camp full-day session (2 weeks) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Children's School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Children's School is a non-profit play-based preschool serving children 2.5 to 6 years old in Seattle using an emergent curriculum approach with a maximum 7:1 student-teacher ratio. Core programming runs 9am to 1pm Monday through Friday for an 11-month school year (September through July), with flexible 2-5 day weekly schedules based on age, plus sister-program afternoon care, themed summer camps, and monthly enrichment classes in art and movement-based story time.
Product overview
The Children's School (TCS) is a non-profit play-based preschool offering a comprehensive early childhood education program for children 2.5 to 6 years old. The core offering is the preschool program featuring emergent curriculum with a 7:1 maximum student-teacher ratio. Extended offerings include the Bigleaf Afternoon Preschool Program for wraparound care, themed summer camp sessions, and monthly enrichment classes in art (Teacher Suzan) and Explore A Story movement/story time (Teacher Cyd). TCS SWAG merchandise provides an additional revenue stream through branded apparel sales.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Children's School (TCS) Preschool Program A non-profit play-based preschool serving children 2.5 to 6 years old, featuring an emergent curriculum integrating math, science, language and literacy, art, and social-emotional learning, with a maximum 7:1 student-teacher ratio, classes running 9am to 1pm Monday through Friday on a flexible 2-5 day weekly schedule, and an 11-month school year from September through July. The school does not require toilet training and offers rolling admission.
- Bigleaf Afternoon Preschool Program Sister program operating at the same TCS location providing extended afternoon care from 1:00-5:00 PM Monday through Friday for children ages 3-6, giving families seamless full-day coverage and wraparound care in partnership with TCS.
- Summer Camp Program Two-week themed summer camp sessions running July through mid-August, available in half-day (9am-1pm) and full-day (9am-3:30pm) options with themes including Dirt and Dinosaurs, Carnivals and Cooking, and Construction and Crafts. Pricing is $850 per half-day session ($425/week) and $1,150 per full-day session ($575/week), with a 10% discount for signing up for 2+ sessions or siblings attending the same week.
- Art Enrichment Classes Monthly enrichment art classes taught by Art Specialist Teacher Suzan, providing hands-on creative experiences that are integrated with the core curriculum themes and delivered to all enrolled children.
- Explore A Story Program Monthly movement-based story time enrichment class with acting and singing, taught by Teacher Cyd Paiva, supporting language development, imaginative play, and creative expression for enrolled children.
- TCS SWAG Merchandise Branded apparel and merchandise sold through Bonfire (https://www.bonfire.com/store/support-the-childrens-school/), with a percentage of sales supporting the school's non-profit mission.
Companies that use The Children's School
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The Children's School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Children's School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Bigleaf Afternoon Preschool ProgramcoreSister program operating at the same location, serving children ages 3-6 years old from 1:00-5:00 PM Monday-Friday. Founded by lead teacher Taryn McGrath with support from TCS. Provides extended afternoon care options for TCS families.
- St. Andrews ChurchminorCommunity partner at the 80th Street location. TCS operates in space next to St. Andrews Church at corner of NE 80th St and 1st Ave NE. Engaged community partner providing facility access.
- Reuben's BrewsminorVenue partner for 60th birthday fundraiser celebration and spring fundraiser events. Provided space at Barrel House location (1133 Northwest 51st Street, Seattle, WA 98107).
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Children's School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Primrose Schools: National franchise network of private early childhood education schools offering proprietary balanced-learning curriculum. Relevant peer for TCS given shared focus on structured, premium private preschool education from early ages.
- Stratford School: Private preschool through middle school operator with a balanced, academic-tilted early childhood curriculum. Comparable to TCS on the private preschool segment and emphasis on kindergarten readiness.
- La Petite Academy: Multi-state operator of early childhood education centers serving infants through pre-kindergarten. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering age-banded preschool programs in a similar capacity range to individual TCS classrooms.
- Chesterbrook Academy: Private preschool and elementary school chain with a play-based, school-readiness curriculum. Comparable to TCS's emergent, school-readiness approach, though Chesterbrook operates at significantly greater scale.
- The Goddard School: Franchise system of accredited private preschool and childcare locations emphasizing play-based learning and STEAM. Comparable to TCS on child-led curriculum philosophy and a similar parent-facing brand promise.
- Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Largest U.S. operator of employer-sponsored child care and early education centers. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the early-childhood education space, though considerably larger and more geographically diversified than TCS.
- KinderCare Learning Companies: National for-profit chain of early childhood education centers serving infants through school-age children. Comparable on core offering (full-day preschool and daycare) but operates at substantially greater scale and with a private-equity-backed ownership model.
Direct peers
- Bigleaf Afternoon Preschool Program: Sister program operating at the same facility as TCS, offering afternoon preschool care for ages 3–6. The most direct operating peer given shared leadership, location, and target families.
Emerging players
- Wonderschool: Platform supporting in-home and small center-based early childhood educators with administrative and enrollment software. Comparable to TCS insofar as it represents an emerging operating model for small, differentiated preschool programs.
Regional players
- YMCA of Greater Seattle Early Learning Centers: Operates licensed early learning centers across the Seattle metro serving infants through pre-K. Comparable as a local, mission-aligned non-profit provider competing directly with TCS for Seattle families.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Children's School social profiles
Digital presenceThe Children's School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The Children's School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Children's School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
The Children's School subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The Children's School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Children's School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Children's School
What does The Children's School do?
The Children's School is a non-profit play-based preschool serving children 2.5 to 6 years old in Seattle using an emergent curriculum approach with a maximum 7:1 student-teacher ratio. Core programming runs 9am to 1pm Monday through Friday for an 11-month school year (September through July), with flexible 2-5 day weekly schedules based on age, plus sister-program afternoon care, themed summer camps, and monthly enrichment classes in art and movement-based story time.
Is The Children's School a public or private company?
The Children's School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Children's School founded?
The Children's School was founded in 1965. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Children's School based?
The Children's School is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Children's School make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations, fundraising Events and bequests.
Who are The Children's School's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Primrose Schools, Stratford School, La Petite Academy, Chesterbrook Academy, The Goddard School, Bright Horizons Family Solutions and KinderCare Learning Companies. Bigleaf Afternoon Preschool Program is listed as a direct peer. Wonderschool is listed as an emerging player. YMCA of Greater Seattle Early Learning Centers is listed as a regional player.
Does The Children's School have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Children's School.
What industry is The Children's School in?
The Children's School's product category is Early Childhood Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACABAA, General Preschools (Play-Based). Its NAICS code is 62441 and its SIC code is 8351.