So Big Co-Op Preschool

So Big Co-Op Preschool is a non-profit, non-sectarian, parent cooperative preschool where children spend the morning in a play-based program. Different centers are set up around the room each day and may focus on the theme for the day, creative art projects, manipulatives, math skills, and pre-writing skills. Parents are involved both in the classroom and with all administrative functions of the school, and the adult to student ratio is 1:4.

• Ages: 3–5 years old
• Schedule: Morning-only preschool program with 2-day (Tuesday/Thursday), 3-day (Monday/Wednesday/Friday), and 5-day (Monday–Friday) class options

So Big Co-Op Preschool was founded in 1955 by a group of doctors in East County and has operated from the same building at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds since that time. The school has approximately 48 member families and is run by an all volunteer board of directors under the guidance of a paid teacher/director. It operates on a traditional school year and is closed during the summer. The program is licensed by the State of California and is a member of the California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools (CCPPNS).

So Big Co-Op Preschool states that it is dedicated to providing a warm and nurturing environment that supports each child’s emotional, social, intellectual, and physical development at his or her own pace. The program is play-based and encourages each child to question, to wonder, and to explore the environment in order to foster a lifelong love of learning. By involving parents at every level, families gain a sense of community, parent-to-parent support, and a basis for future involvement in their child’s education. The school describes its cooperative approach by saying there is no “you” or “they” in a co-op, only “we” and “us,” and that So Big Co-Op Preschool is as much the parents’ school as it is the children’s school.

Last updated March 20, 2026.