Discovery Preschool
Discovery Preschool (multiple locations: Soquel, Midtown, West, The Farm), 818 North Branciforte Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
About
Discovery Preschool centers its days around hands-on activities and exploration. Children engage in projects and experiences that follow a Reggio Emilia philosophy to inspire learning, curiosity, and discovery. The program uses child-led learning, where children explore their interests through projects and hands-on experiences, and students learn through hands-on activities, exploration, and natural wonderment.
Discovery Preschool follows an innovative approach to early childhood education that brings the Reggio Emilia inspiration to Santa Cruz. In this approach, teachers act as guides and co-learners, carefully observing and documenting children’s thinking rather than directing it. The environment is considered a “third teacher,” and is designed to inspire creativity, collaboration, and discovery, and students’ input, intelligence, and curiosities are honored every day. Play is described by the program as the greatest avenue for learning in early education. The curriculum provides readiness for Kindergarten through exploring early literacy, number readiness, and social-emotional support, and the stated goal for graduates is to leave with a love for learning, skills for inquiring about their curiosities, and social skills, manners, and friendships that will bring confidence to their future.
Discovery Preschool states that its mission is: “At Discovery, we know it takes a village – quite literally! It's our mission to bring families and educators together to enrich a child's early development and education.” The program describes its staff as highly educated, fully qualified, and experienced educators.
Parent feedback about Discovery Preschool includes comments that all of the teachers and administrative staff are friendly, creative, and nurturing, and that the program has helped one family build a foundation for their child’s education and life skills and has helped them be better parents. Another parent reports that teachers and staff encourage their child’s curiosity and promote emotional and social growth, including tools for maintaining boundaries respectfully with other kids, along with creativity, healthy emotional regulation, and empathy. A third parent describes Discovery Preschool as their youngest child’s first experience away from home after a year of isolation, and says it has been a great experience for their child and for them as parents, highlighting that it is a place where the child uses imagination without plastic toys, with many ways to use creativity while developing social skills with peers, and that they feel lucky to be part of the Discovery Preschool family.
Last updated June 24, 2026.
Discovery Preschool follows an innovative approach to early childhood education that brings the Reggio Emilia inspiration to Santa Cruz. In this approach, teachers act as guides and co-learners, carefully observing and documenting children’s thinking rather than directing it. The environment is considered a “third teacher,” and is designed to inspire creativity, collaboration, and discovery, and students’ input, intelligence, and curiosities are honored every day. Play is described by the program as the greatest avenue for learning in early education. The curriculum provides readiness for Kindergarten through exploring early literacy, number readiness, and social-emotional support, and the stated goal for graduates is to leave with a love for learning, skills for inquiring about their curiosities, and social skills, manners, and friendships that will bring confidence to their future.
Discovery Preschool states that its mission is: “At Discovery, we know it takes a village – quite literally! It's our mission to bring families and educators together to enrich a child's early development and education.” The program describes its staff as highly educated, fully qualified, and experienced educators.
Parent feedback about Discovery Preschool includes comments that all of the teachers and administrative staff are friendly, creative, and nurturing, and that the program has helped one family build a foundation for their child’s education and life skills and has helped them be better parents. Another parent reports that teachers and staff encourage their child’s curiosity and promote emotional and social growth, including tools for maintaining boundaries respectfully with other kids, along with creativity, healthy emotional regulation, and empathy. A third parent describes Discovery Preschool as their youngest child’s first experience away from home after a year of isolation, and says it has been a great experience for their child and for them as parents, highlighting that it is a place where the child uses imagination without plastic toys, with many ways to use creativity while developing social skills with peers, and that they feel lucky to be part of the Discovery Preschool family.
Last updated June 24, 2026.
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