Woodland Park Cooperative School, Fremont’s only cooperative preschool, will open enrollment to the public Feb. 14 for the 2026-2027 school year, offering families a unique early childhood education model that emphasizes play-based learning and community involvement.
The school, a nonprofit located at the Fremont Baptist Church in the heart of Fremont, is connected to North Seattle College’s Parenting Education Program. It provides both preschool and kindergarten programs with a distinctive cooperative structure where families actively participate in their children’s education.
Registration timeline and options
Priority registration opened Jan. 17 for current students and alumni families, with transfer registration beginning Jan. 31 for families from other co-ops. Open registration starts Feb. 14 for all families who have completed a tour or attended an open house.
The preschool serves children ages 2-4, offering two enrollment options: Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., or Tuesday/Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Families seeking full-time enrollment can combine both schedules.
Unique transitional kindergarten program
What sets Woodland Park apart is its transitional kindergarten program for children ages 4.5-6, providing families an alternative to traditional kindergarten. The program offers two schedules: five days per week (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) with annual tuition of $8,120, or three days per week (Monday/Wednesday/Friday) for $4,872. Both options include early release on Wednesdays at 1 p.m., with scholarships available.
“Kindergarten doesn’t have to be the new 1st grade!” one parent testified. “The extra year of play and social-emotional learning was invaluable for our child. Now in 1st grade, they are thriving!”
Teacher Quinn Topham, who joined the teaching team in 2024, brings experience as a Special Education teacher and therapeutic foster parent. “Our kindergarten classroom is centered around the delights and challenges of being together at this age,” Topham said. Classes are kept small, aiming for 10-12 students, allowing for individualized attention and flexible programming.
The co-op model
As a cooperative school, Woodland Park requires active family participation. Caregivers work in the classroom one day per week, hold a co-op job, attend monthly evening meetings, enroll in parent education classes, and participate in school events and fundraising.
This model creates lower tuition than comparable private schools while maintaining high adult-to-student ratios and providing meaningful parenting support through the North Seattle College program.
The school welcomes all caregivers, including nannies and relatives, to fulfill work shifts. Children are not required to be potty-trained, and the program accommodates varying separation needs, allowing parents to stay in class as long as needed.
Play-based philosophy and Teacher Tom’s legacy
The school’s approach centers on outdoor, play-based learning in all seasons at its distinctive “junkyard playground,” where children spend much of their day getting dirty while exploring with art projects, sensory materials, blocks, dramatic play, woodworking tools, and gardening. “Here at Woodland Park, we believe childhood should be joyful, messy, adventurous, and full of wonder,” according to its website.
This philosophy was cultivated over 16 years by Tom “Teacher Tom” Hobson, who became an influential voice in play-based education through his daily blog, Teacher Tom’s Blog, chronicling life at Woodland Park since 2009. Teacher Tom has spoken internationally about progressive early childhood education, sharing insights from Greece to China and Australia to the UK.
Though Teacher Tom is now emeritus, the school continues his legacy of child-led exploration and developmental appropriateness.
Getting started
Interested families must attend an open house or schedule a tour before applying (alumni families are exempt). A spring open house is being planned, with details to be announced soon on the school’s website and social media channels.
For more information about preschool, contact woodlandparkcoop.preschool@gmail.com. For kindergarten inquiries, email kindergarten.wpcp@gmail.com. Visit https://woodlandparkcoop.com or follow the school on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
Note: The editor’s children attended Woodland Park Cooperative School.