Preschool
Open House
Learn all about our Saint Louis Zoo Preschool, where 50% of class time is outside! Students learn from animals and nature in our Reggio-inspired program.
Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025
9 a.m. to noon in the lower level of The Living World (located at the Zoo's North Entrance)
No registration needed; parking fees apply
Registration for the 2025-2026 school year opens in January.
Preschool Mission:
- To support children and their families in a learning environment grounded in a deep connection to the natural world and sustainability.
- To foster creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking through child-directed learning.
- To nurture each child across all areas of development with a strong focus on social and emotional growth.
- To welcome diversity of all kinds and further our work and understanding of equity and inclusion issues.
How to Apply
Please follow the directions below to apply.
NOTE: all students must be fully vaccinated to attend our program.
The primary application period begins Jan. 1 and ends Jan. 31.
- Ages 3-4; Sun Bear Class: Children must be age 3 by Sept. 1 of the school year.
- Ages 4-5; Grizzly Bear Class: Children must be age 4 by Sept. 1 of the school year.
If applicable, the Financial Aid Application must be completed and submitted at the same time as the Preschool Application.
NOTE: Financial aid is limited and closes Jan. 31.
Application:
Use the "Apply Here" button above to access the 2025-2026 Preschool Application.
Please click here for additional information and to apply for financial aid. If applying for financial aid, please note that the School ID is 206132.
Selection Process:
- Applicants receive e-mail notification.
- Qualified applicants will be invited to interview. Interviews are with primary caregivers and students, who have a play-session portion.
- Preschool offers are emailed.
- Applicants have one week to accept the offer and secure with a $300 non-refundable enrollment fee.
- Classes begin the week of Labor Day.
For application questions, payment and/or support, contact:
Registrar: onlineregistration@stlzoo.org
Administration: stlzoopreschool@stlzoo.org
Guiding Principles
- Like the forest and nature-based preschool movements, we believe that nature is the best possible classroom for children. The preschool takes full advantage of the Zoo's 90-acre campus and the beautiful park surrounding it. Research shows that children reflect improvements in social, emotional and cognitive well-being when they spend time exploring the outdoors.
- We spend at least 50% of our time outside every day and not just for “recess.” The 4- and 5-year-old class spends all day outside on Forest Fridays exploring the various habitats around the park. All areas of the curriculum benefit from fresh air — from practicing our observation skills with the prairie dogs to writing poetry inspired by the paddlefish. Our indoor classroom space was designed using biophilic principles and sustainably sourced materials to reflect the natural world all around us.
- The preschool is uniquely integrated into a community that cares deeply about animals and their futures. Students will learn to think of themselves as scientists and as part of a scientific community. They will develop relationships with Zoo staff and use them as resources in their projects. Likewise, the children will have an amazing diversity of animals to study and observe. These unique relationships and experiences will lay the foundation for becoming scientifically and environmentally literate citizens in the future.
- Our teacher teams will be there to support the children as they learn and discover. Teachers intentionally create and prepare the learning environment to inspire exploration — then the children direct the exploration. This allows children to construct their own knowledge, with guidance from their teachers, creating a more meaningful learning experience. In the classroom, children explore various centers, such as literacy, science or art. Teachers are observing, documenting students’ work, spending one-on-one time with students or leading small group activities.
- Project Construct, described above, is one of only four early childhood curriculums approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
- Children will be members of a community of fellow students and teachers that work and learn together. They will learn the value of collaboration and how to support their fellow members in a positive way. They also will learn to view mistakes as learning opportunities and to communicate honestly with one another. Each member will be treated with respect and given time to reflect on his or her own learning journey.
- The preschool is guided by play- and project-based learning and the Reggio Emilia Approach
- Teachers observe students and follow their interests. In our child-directed, Reggio Emilia-inspired program, children’s play is their work. Teachers “seed” the environment with engaging, authentic materials and “provocations,” inviting students to try new things and gauge their interests. Topics that are of interest to the group can develop into projects. Students research and work as a team to develop projects based on their learning. These are long-term projects that take an in-depth look at different subjects. Projects like this encourage collaboration, allow children to highlight their own unique talents and abilities, and incorporate all of the state Early Learning Standards. Students are able to build developmentally-appropriate skills in a naturally integrated way rather than practicing them in isolation.
- Play- and project-based learning and the Reggio Emilia Approach, as described above, are considered the current best practices in early childhood education.
Schedule and Fees
September 2025 to May 2026
Ages 3 to 4 years "Sun Bear Class"
Two-day program
- 8:30 to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays
- Tuition is $500 per month
- Students must be able to use the restroom independently by September 1 of the school year you are applying for
Ages 4 to 5 years "Grizzly Bear Class"
Three-day program
- 8:30 to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday
- Tuition is $700 per month
Important Details
For the safety of our Zoo community and our students, we require that all students are current on all required vaccinations as identified and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). No exemptions are accepted at this time.
Saint Louis Zoo Preschool is following CDC COVID-19 policies and recommendations. Teachers and students will be required to wear masks indoors during times of high transmission. Masking will be optional otherwise.
The Zoo's early childhood team has a combined 50+ years of experience in early childhood and environmental education. Each team member also has a minimum of a bachelor's degree in early childhood or a related education or science degree. The Zoo's program exceeds the required staff to child ratios of 1:6, allowing for more individualized time with each child.
To make this program available to families with a range of incomes, the Zoo offers scholarships. Financial aid applications are processed by an independent agency, and need is assessed based on that information. Tuition discounts will generally range from 10 to 50% of full tuition, based on need and the availability of funds. Full tuition assistance is unfortunately not available at this time.
Financial aid application MUST be complete at the time of application to be considered. Fill out the application here.
Contact
For more information, contact Education at (314) 646-4544.