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At St. James, we teach the academic building blocks and encourage physical and creative expression through play. We focus on each child’s social development, as social-emotional competence plays a significant role in school success. We provide a familiar routine that incorporates structured group activities, individualized attention and free play.

We use the Creative Curriculum as our framework, which is designed to give children a variety of experiences across all academic content areas. Our goal is to educate the whole child and help children become independent, confident and inquisitive learners. Additionally, we supplement our curriculum with more specific programs, such as Reading A-Z, Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Program, Zoo-Phonics and Handwriting Without Tears.

2026-2027 Classes

  • Infant Class

    6 weeks old by September 1, 2026
    1 or 2 days per week – Tuesday/Thursday or Wednesday/Friday
    2:1 student:teacher ratio

  • Toddler Class

    1 year old by September 1, 2026
    Classes are Tuesday/Thursday or Monday/Wednesday/Friday
    4:1 student:teacher ratio

  • Young Two’s Class

    2 years old between September 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026
    Classes are Tuesday/Thursday or Monday/Wednesday/Friday
    6:1 student:teacher ratio

  • Two Year Old Class

    2 years old by September 1, 2026
    Classes are Tuesday/Thursday or Monday/Wednesday/Friday or a five-day class
    6:1 student:teacher ratio

  • Young Three’s Class

    3 years old between September 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026
    Classes are Tuesday/Thursday or Monday/Wednesday/Friday
    or Monday through Friday
    Classes extend until 1pm.
    7:1 student:teacher ratio

  • Three Year Old Class

    3 years old by September 1, 2026
    Classes are Monday/Wednesday/Friday or a five-day class
    Classes extend until 1pm.
    8:1 student:teacher ratio

  • Four Year Old Class
    (Pre-Kindergarten)

    4 years old by September 1, 2026
    Classes are Monday through Friday,
    Classes extend until 1pm.
    8:1 student:teacher ratio

  • Transitional Kindergarten

    5 years old by September 1, 2026
    10:1 student:teacher ratio
    Classes are Monday through Friday, classes extend until 1:00.

  • Kindergarten

    5 years old by September 1, 2026
    10:1 student:teacher ratio
    Classes are Monday through Friday, classes extend until 1:00.

Special Classes

handwriting-class

Handwriting Without Tears

Handwriting Without Tears printing and cursive programs draw from years of innovation and research to provide developmentally appropriate, multisensory tools and strategies for the classroom. Research shows that children learn more effectively by actively doing, with materials that address all styles of learning The program provides easier, happier ways for children to master handwriting The materials are intuitive, engaging, and developmentally progressive. The lessons and activities also make it easy to integrate handwriting into other lessons, and support children working at all levels.

chapel

Chapel

Chapel is held each Monday in the sanctuary at St. James UMC. Students in our 3 year old through pre-K classrooms are introduced to spiritual concepts through engaging songs and simple lessons. Young 3 classes begin attending chapel in January.

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Playball

Playball is a weekly class for 3 year old and pre-K classes. This program focuses on basic gross motor and movement skills in young children. Young 3 classes begin attending Playball in January.

makerspace

Makerspace

The Makerspace is a place dedicated to STEAM activities where children in 3-year-old and pre-K classes can create and invent. The goal of the preschool’s Makerspace/Art Studio is to provide the alternate workshop for those children who learn best by doing. The idea is to provide multidisciplinary thinking and learning. In doing so, children will be developing foundational interests in engineering, architecture, and construction, expanding their building, creating and making skills, learning to take a concept and applying it to create something or resolve a problem, and taking risks and trying out new ideas.

music

Music

Music is offered to students in the infants through pre-K classes on a weekly basis. The children light up when one of our two immensely talented music teachers engage them through use instruments, voice and movement, encouraging children to see music as a vehicle to convey thoughts, emotions and creativity.

library

The St. James Library

The St. James Library is child-friendly and welcoming to students in the young 3’s through pre-K. They visit weekly, are treated to stories from our amazing “Ms. Library”, and are invited to check out books to take home for the week. Visits to the library not only foster a love of reading in our young children, but further develop their curiosity and excitement for learning to read and explore the world through books.

outdoor classroom

The Edible and Outdoor Classroom

The garden is a master teacher. In the garden, students learn about cultivating and caring, patience and discovery, stewardship and respect, beauty and life. Students also learn practical skills such as: mathematics, science, health, and nutrition.

Trusted And Loved By Atlanta’s Parents

As a former elementary school assistant principal and teacher, it was important for me to find a preschool for my own child that had an enriching curriculum and a nurturing community. When we found St. James, we feel like we hit the jack pot! The school has a close-knit feel; the director knows the name of EVERY student. And for the academics, the research-based phonics and handwriting instruction ensures high levels of learning for all students.

Pam Padak

Our family has been at St James Preschool for many years, and it has been such an incredible experience for our children and for us as parents. We’ve watched our kids fall in love with learning and develop what will no doubt be lifelong friendships. Throughout their time at the preschool, our children have been surrounded by teachers and staff who put so much effort in getting to know and care for each child who walks through the doors. St James Preschool will forever hold a special place in our hearts!

Ryan & Melissa Briley

The moment we walked through St. James we knew that this was the school for our girls. Having just moved to the Atlanta, St. James gave us the sense of community that we needed. We are now going on year 4, and at the end of each year we are so happy to know that it was not yet our last. We love everything about St. James - the staff, the curriculum, the beautiful playground, the welcoming classrooms, and the families. St. James is truly wonderful! 

Danielle Nolte

St. James Preschool is more than just a school, it’s a community filled with love and compassion for growing our children! This is seen through the simple yet intentional acts of each teacher and staff, starting from knowing all kids’ names during carpool to genuinely investing in your family (even after they graduate from the school!) Each year as we progress into a different class, I think to myself this can’t top last year and then somehow it does. We truly feel blessed to have the teachers, staff, and other families at St. James as part of our extended family and know they are all having a positive impact on our children.

Keri Kanitz