New Mexico Pre-K : Southwest Child Care : Albuquerque, NM
“The school overall is amazing. The teachers are very involved and make the pre-k experience great for the child as well as the parents. ”
New Mexico Pre-K
Southwest Child Care is an official New Mexico Pre-Kindergarten site.
Who can attend NM Pre-K?
If your child meets the following criteria, he or she is eligible for enrollment in a NM Pre-K Program:
Must be 4 years old by 11:59 p.m. August 31st of the school year for which you are enrolling
Must be 3 years old by 11:59 p.m. August 31st of the school year for which you are enrolling
Preferably be living in a Title 1 School District. (If you are unsure, give us a call. We’re happy to help.)
Why should my child attend Pre-K?
Research shows that children who participate in quality early childhood programs have increased academic success which leads to more opportunities for success later in life. NM Pre-K provides a high quality learning experience for your child so he or she will be ready for Kindergarten!
Where should my child attend Pre-K?
Southwest Child Care Early Learning Centers is an official New Mexico Pre-K site and an excellent choice for your child’s Pre-Kindergarten experience. We have three locations in Albuquerque that provide stimulating, interactive environments for your children.
Lomas School – West of Juan Tabo
11800 Lomas Boulevard NE 87112
294-2233
Uptown School – Northeast of Menaul & Pennsylvania
2626 Texas Street NE 87110
293-2626
Wyoming School – Between Montgomery and Osuna
4802 Wyoming Boulevard NE 87111
296-3121
If these locations are not convenient for you, please visit www.newmexicoprek.org to find a NM Pre-K Program near you.
At Southwest Child Care Early Learning Centers, we have highly-trained, nurturing teachers, beautifully equipped classrooms, and an environment that fosters an overall love of learning through meaningful relationships and positive experiences. NM Pre-K funding has allowed us to set up beautiful classroom environments with many state-of-the-art children’s learning tools. Our classrooms are filled with math, science, reading, writing, art, and imaginative play materials. We would be honored to serve your child in this engaging program.
Additionally, the Pre-K initiative provides certain health and developmental screenings at no cost. These screenings, which include vision, hearing, speech, and dental, help ensure your child is set up for a successful start to kindergarten next year.
How much does this program cost?
NM Pre-K is a free program. There are no additional charges.
When does NM Pre-K take place?
At Southwest Child Care Early Learning Centers, our Pre-K program follows the Albuquerque Public Schools traditional school-year calendar.
We have extended-day sessions for three- and four-year olds at each location.
Each session provides a nutritious, cooked-from-scratch breakfast and lunch at no charge.
Is there care available for my child before and/or after the session I choose?
Absolutely! Southwest Child Care Early Learning Centers is a nationally-accredited, 5-Star licensed center. We have been serving Albuquerque families for over 25 years. We can accommodate any of your child care needs. We also provide care for Infants through School-age children and provide free transportation to area schools.
How do I enroll my child?
Choose one of the locations above and call or visit to start the process! Our Center Directors are eager to meet you and your family!
What if I do not live in a Title 1 area or my child doesn’t make the age cut off date?
Southwest Child Care Early Learning Centers provides an alternative Pre-Kindergarten classroom for children who do not qualify for the state program. Our Southwest Pre-K program is modeled after the NM Pre-K program and provides your child the same benefits including free developmental screenings, family-teacher conferences and kindergarten readiness.
“In a recent Atlantic article, “The Underestimation of America’s Preschool Teachers,” author Lillian Mongeau quotes Marcy Whitebook, director of the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment: “Existing brain science backs up what educators could only theorize in the 1970s: The first five years of a child’s life are key to their overall brain development. What children learn before age five—both academic skills like critical thinking and social skills like taking turns—sets the stage for the rest of their lives.”
The single most important element in capitalizing on that crucial window, Whitebook adds, is who provides education in those years. “People don’t tend to think teaching young children [is] as complex work as teaching older children, but in fact, it is. It’s hard for people to see that because of the nature of young children and because we have a historical approach that anybody can do it.”
The “professionalization” of early childhood education is an ongoing challenge for both practitioners and policy makers; fortunately, awareness of the importance of quality ECE is on the rise globally.”