About
Highland Preschool is a year-round, play-based, Reggio-inspired school and learning center where children take part in vegetable and herb gardening, mud kitchen play, and dramatic play in the mud kitchen. Children also engage in sensory exploration and guided art projects in an Atelier (art studio and workshop) and spend time caring for and interacting with animals such as a chinchilla, tortoise, reptiles, and more. The campus includes a lush 3/4-acre outdoor space with a vegetable and herb garden, a massive mud kitchen handcrafted by local artisan Carrie Minikel and restocked weekly with upcycled greenery from Communal Flowers, an art studio and workshop, and a menagerie of critters.
• Ages: 2–5 years old
• Schedule: Hours of operation are Monday–Friday, 8am–4:30pm
Highland Preschool serves young learners ages 2–TK in preschool and Kinder-prep with developmentally appropriate programming and both full-time and flexible care options. The program follows a holistic approach that involves children, families, educators, the environment, and the community, and it offers year-round instruction with small class sizes.
The leadership team includes Interim Director Rachel Mikut, Business Manager Hannah Lott-Schwartz, and Director and Pedagogista Miss Mion. The leadership team has more than two decades of experience and over 10,000 hours of experience, and the program has been serving the community for more than seven years, including previous work as a drop-in child care and education center in North County San Diego before moving to the Highland location. Educators are fully accredited with child development training, CPR and First Aid certifications, and background check clearance.
Highland Preschool’s mission is “Redefining success as wealth in well-being. Highland Preschool uses the power of play to provide young people with the resources, guidance, and space to discover themselves as learners — for life.” The vegetable and herb garden planning and building began in March 2022 through a partnership with Return Co., and the mud kitchen is restocked weekly with upcycled greenery from Communal Flowers. The program operates under license number LIC# 376105045.
Educator testimonials describe the team as collaborative, compassionate, encouraging, loving, and supportive, and note that educators have space to grow into the roles they aspire to. Staff members highlight shared commitment among the educator team, daily experiences such as splashing in the mud, exploring, learning, gardening, painting, and playing, and describe Highland Preschool as a fun, very loving environment with teachers they consider some of the best. One educator refers to Highland Preschool as a second home, and the Director and Pedagogista describes the role there as a dream job.
Last updated June 26, 2026.
• Ages: 2–5 years old
• Schedule: Hours of operation are Monday–Friday, 8am–4:30pm
Highland Preschool serves young learners ages 2–TK in preschool and Kinder-prep with developmentally appropriate programming and both full-time and flexible care options. The program follows a holistic approach that involves children, families, educators, the environment, and the community, and it offers year-round instruction with small class sizes.
The leadership team includes Interim Director Rachel Mikut, Business Manager Hannah Lott-Schwartz, and Director and Pedagogista Miss Mion. The leadership team has more than two decades of experience and over 10,000 hours of experience, and the program has been serving the community for more than seven years, including previous work as a drop-in child care and education center in North County San Diego before moving to the Highland location. Educators are fully accredited with child development training, CPR and First Aid certifications, and background check clearance.
Highland Preschool’s mission is “Redefining success as wealth in well-being. Highland Preschool uses the power of play to provide young people with the resources, guidance, and space to discover themselves as learners — for life.” The vegetable and herb garden planning and building began in March 2022 through a partnership with Return Co., and the mud kitchen is restocked weekly with upcycled greenery from Communal Flowers. The program operates under license number LIC# 376105045.
Educator testimonials describe the team as collaborative, compassionate, encouraging, loving, and supportive, and note that educators have space to grow into the roles they aspire to. Staff members highlight shared commitment among the educator team, daily experiences such as splashing in the mud, exploring, learning, gardening, painting, and playing, and describe Highland Preschool as a fun, very loving environment with teachers they consider some of the best. One educator refers to Highland Preschool as a second home, and the Director and Pedagogista describes the role there as a dream job.
Last updated June 26, 2026.
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