Arlington Unitarian Cooperative Preschool (AUCP)

"This is our daughter's first year at AUCP. We recently moved to the area and I was very anxious about finding the best fit for our family. Our experience here has been wildly better than at our previous preschool. Every staff member in this school is wonderful. Communication has been excellent, and the community welcoming. Our daughter loves her teachers and talks about them fondly all the time. She is eager every day to go to school, especially on forest days, which is one of the main reasons we chose this school. The focus on outdoor play was so important to us, and AUCP delivers even on the days they don't go to the forest, by prioritizing use of the outdoor space/playground/garden. I was nervous about co-oping at first, but it's been such a joy to play and explore with the kids and understand fully what the school day looks like. We whole-heartedly recommend AUCP."

"AUCP welcomed our family with open arms and we are so grateful to be a part of this wonderful school and community! The program is amazing, my two year old has gained so much independence and confidence in just the few months since we’ve joined. We love and trust the teachers who have years of experience and provide a safe, kind, and educational environment for our precious babies. We plan to have now both of our children attend AUCP for many years to come!"

"We are a first time family with AUCP and our 2 year old daughter has had an INCREDIBLE experience. We have felt so welcomed into the program from the very beginning. Our daughter is excited to go to school and see her teachers each week (she even talks about them at home which is adorable). They are so caring and make sure each child is happy and taken care of. On top of that the classrooms, playground and facility are wonderful spaces for kids to learn. The staff keeps everything organized and clean (big plus for a clean mom like me). Very excited to continue sending our daughter there next year as she moves up to the next class."

"This is my daughter’s first year at AUCP and our family is loving it so far. The two mornings a week program for two year olds has been the perfect transition into school for her. It is a wonderful community of families, teachers, and staff and I am so thankful to have found the program. Getting to co-op in the classroom has been a great way to get to know her teacher, classmates, and their families, as well as to reinforce what she is learning at home. There are a number of other ways to get more involved in the school too if you wish. It is a safe, nurturing, and caring environment and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in the co-op preschool model."

"Both of my children have attended AUCP and I have to say it is a very special place. The teachers are so consistently caring and provide a very loving & safe place for every student to have a calm nurturing environment for growth. I have consistently been impressed with how well the teachers know my children in the parent teacher conferences and how they are looking for specific things that they can do to provide them with the tools they need going forward in life. The community aspect is amazing and really helps everyone feel connected in the journey of parenthood and is a great learning experience to find creative solutions to behavioral issues you may be having at home. If you want to have an active role in your child's school life the Co-oping aspect is amazing at understanding how their days is structured and how to talk to them about their experience (because you are in the classroom yourself). It can feel like a bit of a juggle when you have to Co-op, but the memories of being in class are a gift you and your child can share and treasure together. Magical place, magical people, and so worth the investment in getting to know yourself and your child better. "