Crescenta-Cañada Cooperative Nursery School

Crescenta-Cañada Cooperative Nursery School offers play-based exploration for children ages 2½–4 in Darling Ducklings and a TK-equivalent Busy Bears program for ages 4–5. Activities include sensory work, art, music, storytelling, hands-on discovery, early literacy, counting, letter recognition, problem-solving, fine motor skills, and social-emotional growth. The school also offers a Summer Program with thematic summer sessions focused on outdoor discovery and a Parent & Me transitional Toddler Class for children and their caregivers.

Programs

• Darling Ducklings — 2½–4 · Play-based exploration; sensory activities, art, music, storytelling, and hands-on discovery.
• Busy Bears — 4–5 · TK-equivalent; early literacy, counting, letter recognition, problem-solving, fine motor skills, and social-emotional growth.
• 3 Day Program (M/W/F) — M/W/F, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM · $470 per month
• 5 Day Program (M–F) — M–F, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM · $550 per month
• Summer Program — Thematic summer sessions focused on outdoor discovery.
• Parent & Me — A transitional Toddler Class designed for youngest explorers and their caregivers.

At a glance

• Ages: 2–5 years old
• Price range: $470–$550 per month
• General schedule: School year corresponds with Glendale and/or La Cañada Unified School District, September–June. Class size is 15–16 children per class. Each class has a teacher and two to three parent aides, for an adult to child ratio of 1 to 5. Parents serve as classroom aides on scheduled workdays approximately twice a month.

About the provider

The program is a play-based, parent participation cooperative preschool. It is licensed by the State of California as a non-profit cooperative nursery school, license #191223494. The leadership team is listed as Mrs. Michelle and Mrs. Rosie. The school serves families in La Cañada, La Crescenta, Glendale, Eagle Rock, Los Feliz, Sunland-Tujunga, Pasadena, and Montrose, and families stay connected through a school-wide WhatsApp group, volunteer collaboration, school events, shared local resources and recommendations, and an alumni parent group.

• Lunch Bunch — 12–1pm · Optional 1-hour social hour right after class; offered most days for an additional fee.
• Long Lunch Bunch — 1–2pm · An extra hour of play; periodically offered for families who want more time.

Parents are active partners in the cooperative model. Every family takes on a committee job. Mandatory monthly parent education meetings are held. Tours begin at 9:30 am and last about one hour. The school admits students of any race, denomination, color, and national or ethnic origin.

What families say

“CCNS truly shaped who I am as a parent. The teachers are warm and deeply attuned to the kids, the community is real and lasting, and my children were genuinely loved here. It gave our whole family a foundation we'll carry forever.” — Elizabeth D.

“We were looking for a place for our daughter to make friends. What we found was a community for our whole family. Our children love the variety of activities, from play-based learning to arts and crafts, and every day they're met with genuine warmth and care.” — Courtney L.

“Our daughter still talks about her time at CCNS. It will definitely be a core memory for her, no question. The teachers treat every child as an individual, the community is genuinely supportive, and it gave her the perfect foundation before transitioning to kindergarten.” — Patrick M.

Last updated October 14, 2026.