New Discoveries Preschool

What New Discoveries Preschool does

New Discovery School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit play-based preschool founded in 1985 by Susan Tomlinson Gorman, serving 74 children ages 3-5.5 across six classes in Seattle's Roosevelt neighborhood. The school's core product is the Morning Program (8:45am-1:15pm), differentiated by low student-teacher ratios (5:1 for 3's, 6:1 for 4's and 5's), age-based classes, and a play-based curriculum supplemented by specialist instruction in art, music, creative movement, American Sign Language, library, and the Second Step social-emotional learning curriculum. Value is delivered through a teacher-led, on-site educational experience with afternoon enrichment extensions (Extended Day, Drama Club, World Dance) and a nine-week Summer Camp.

The business model is a subscription-style tuition structure billed annually or in 9- or 11-month installments, with 2025-26 morning tuition ranging from $13,027 (3's/4's 4-day) to $15,495 (5's 5-day). Optional Extended Day contracts add between $2,030 and $6,500 per family per year depending on duration and pickup time. Revenue is supplemented by an annual spring auction, charitable donations (tax-deductible as a 501(c)(3)), and corporate matching gift programs with 15+ major employers. Go-to-market is family-led direct enrollment with mandatory in-person tours (October-January), a $55 application fee, child visits, and contract offers by February 27; a wait pool absorbs unplaced applicants. The school is governed by a Board of Trustees composed of current and past parents and is led by Executive Director Bret Ellerton (appointed 2019).

Name

New Discoveries Preschool

Legal name

New Discovery School

Website

https://newdiscoveryschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

New Discovery School is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit play-based preschool serving 74 children ages 3-5.5 through six classes with low student-teacher ratios, specialist-led curriculum, and a community-driven parent board governance model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDACABAA

General Preschools (Play-Based)

Education/Early Childhood Education/Preschools & Pre-K Programs

SECONDARYEDACAHAB

Extended Day Programs at Preschools & Childcare Centers

Education/Early Childhood Education/Before & After School Care (Early Years)

Keywords

• Play-based preschool education
• Early childhood education
• Social-emotional learning
• Preschool extended care
• Nonprofit preschool programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Morning Program Tuition: Annual tuition for core morning program (8:45am-1:15pm), billed in full, 9-month, or 11-month payment plans starting July 1. Contract-based for school year September-June.
2. Extended Day Program: Additional hourly childcare from 1:15pm up to 5:30pm, billed monthly September-December and January-June in addition to morning tuition. Options include 3:30, 4:30, or 5:30 pickup.
3. Enrichment Classes: Additional fee-based programs including Drama Club and World Dance classes, offered in 6-8 week sessions
4. Annual Auction and Donations: Community fundraising through annual spring auction and charitable donations supporting specialists, professional development, and new projects. Tax-deductible as 501(c)(3).
5. Financial Aid: Limited financial aid available, determined after admissions, funded by 'Raise the Paddle' funds from annual auction

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

New Discovery School is a play-based preschool operating a Morning Program (8:45am–1:15pm) for children ages 3–5.5 years across six classes, with an optional Extended Day Program (1:15pm–3:30pm/4:30pm/5:30pm), enrichment classes including Drama Club and World Dance, and a nine-week Summer Camp. The curriculum combines child-directed emergent and theme-based play with the Second Step social-emotional learning program and specialist instruction in art, music, creative movement, American Sign Language, and library. Annual tuition is billed via subscription contracts, with additional revenue from annual auction fundraising and tax-deductible donations supporting specialists, professional development, and financial aid.

Product overview

New Discovery School is a play-based preschool offering a single integrated educational program for children ages 3–5½ years. The core offering is the Morning Program (half-day, 8:45am–1:15pm) with age-based classes for 3's, 4's, and 5's. An optional Extended Day Program adds afternoon care until 3:30pm, 4:30pm, or 5:30pm. The school enriches its curriculum through specialist programs in Art, Music, Creative Movement, American Sign Language, Library, Drama Club, and World Dance—all offered as part of or alongside the core program. The Second Step social-emotional learning curriculum is integrated across all classes. A nine-week Summer Camp extends service during summer break.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Morning Program (3's, 4's, and 5's Classes) Core half-day preschool program running 8:45am–1:15pm with optional morning care from 8:00–8:45am, organized into age-based classes for 3's (10 children, 2 teachers), 4's (12 children, 2 teachers), and 5's (18 children, 3 teachers). Delivered through a play-based emergent and theme-based curriculum integrated with the Second Step social-emotional learning program, for families with children ages 3–5.5 years.
• Extended Day Program Afternoon extended care from 1:15pm with optional pickup times at 3:30pm, 4:30pm, or 5:30pm, available only to children enrolled in the Morning Program. Billed in two contract periods (September–December and January–June) and includes quiet rest time, art, library, puzzles, games, outdoor play, and optional Drama and World Dance classes.
• Summer Camp Program Nine-week summer camp program offered during the summer months following the Seattle Public Schools' academic calendar, extending the school's play-based programming for children ages 3–5.5 beyond the regular school year.
• Drama Club Afternoon enrichment class taught by Hope Koon, consisting of storytelling, improv games, and acting. Children work as a group to create a short play for audience performance, building confidence and collaboration skills. Offered in 6–8 week sessions as an additional fee-based program.
• World Dance Afternoon enrichment class integrating dance skills development, self-expression, community building, and global awareness through dances from around the world including Guinean and Polynesian dance. Offered in 6–8 week sessions as an additional fee-based program.
• Art Specialist Program Weekly art instruction in the school's Art Studio guided by the Art Specialist, exposing children to different media and topics for creative expression, critical thinking, and experimentation. Part of the school's specialist curriculum rotation.
• Music Program Music instruction combining movement with sound exploration, teaching basics of rhythm, pitch, tempo, volume, and songwriting. Children explore instruments from around the world and create their own songs and recordings. Held weekly for the 5's class and every other week for 3's and 4's.
• Creative Movement Weekly dance and movement instruction taught by Marissa Baratian, covering various dance forms including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, West African, Polynesian, and Cuban styles, and incorporating Creative Dance and Brain Dance techniques.
• American Sign Language (ASL) Weekly American Sign Language instruction teaching children basic signs and phrases through games and stories, strengthening cognitive skills and cultural awareness.
• Library Program Weekly library sessions guided by a librarian with a Master of Library and Information Science, fostering information literacy and a love of reading among enrolled children.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Second Step (Committee for Children)coreOthersNDS uses the Second Step curriculum for social-emotional learning, covering skills for learning, empathy, emotion management, friendship skills, and problem solving. This provides structured SEL instruction aligned with their play-based philosophy.
• Look, Listen, and Learn (LL+L)minorOthersPublic access television program featuring local enrichment venues and early learning principles, featuring positive media representation of diverse communities. NDS community resource.
• Corporate Matching EmployersminorOthersList of 15+ employers including Adobe, Alaska Airlines, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Boeing, Expedia, Google, Microsoft, Wells Fargo for corporate matching donation programs. Also registered with Benevity and Your Cause platforms.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Spring Education Group: Operator of multiple private preschool and K-12 brands (including BASIS, Stratford, and LePort Montessori). Represents a roll-up incumbent whose brands directly overlap NDS's premium preschool offering and parent demographic.
• The Learning Experience: National franchise of early childhood education centers serving infants through pre-K. Competes for the same Seattle preschool demographic at slightly lower price points with proprietary curriculum.
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Largest U.S. provider of employer-sponsored childcare and early education, including preschool programs. Operates a national footprint that dwarfs NDS and represents the dominant competitive incumbent for premium tuition-paying families and employer-subsidized enrollment in Seattle.
• KinderCare Learning Centers: One of the largest U.S. private early childhood providers with daycare and preschool programs nationwide. Represents a high-volume, lower-cost alternative for Seattle families comparing preschool options.

Direct peers

• Stratford School: Private preschool-through-8th-grade school with multiple Bay Area and SoCal campuses emphasizing enrichment, character development, and academic preparation. Comparable private preschool tier with extended-day and enrichment structures aligned to NDS's product set.
• Primrose Schools: Franchise network of private early-learning academies offering a Balanced Learning curriculum for infants through private kindergarten. Closely comparable private preschool model with structured curriculum, multiple tuition tiers, and similar premium positioning to NDS.
• Goddard School: Franchise preschool system emphasizing play-based learning with enrichment in music, art, and movement. Directly comparable philosophy and product mix to NDS, with a Seattle-area franchise presence that competes for the same tuition-paying families.
• Cassidy's Place (or comparable Seattle independent preschool): Small, community-rooted private preschools in Seattle's neighborhoods operating on play-based or developmental philosophies. Closest direct peer in scale and model — single-site, parent-governed or nonprofit, tuition-dependent, and competing for the same Roosevelt-area family cohort.

Regional players

• Seattle Parks and Recreation Preschool Programs: City-run preschool and enrichment programs serving Seattle families at lower price points than NDS. While not a direct private competitor, they anchor the lower-cost end of the local preschool market that NDS differentiates against.

Emerging players

• Guidepost Montessori: National Montessori school network offering preschool and elementary programs with year-round and extended-hours options. Comparable premium private preschool tier with a different pedagogical framing, competing for the same Seattle families seeking play- or child-led learning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/looklistenlearn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-discoveries-preschool

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Discoveries Preschool