Half Day Preschool in Columbia SC

What is the learning environment like? Gateway Baptist Preschool provides a warm, Christ-centered environment where children grow through play, friendship, skill development, and daily learning about God’s world and His love for them.

Is this a year-round program? No, the program runs September through May, following the Lexington 5 school holiday and in-service day schedule. Hours are 9:00 am–12:00 pm, with days varying by age level.

Best For: Families in the Columbia area seeking an award-winning, faith-rooted preschool for ages 1–4
Location: Columbia, SC
Website: gatewaybc.com/preschool

McGregor Presbyterian Preschool offers classes for 1 year olds through 4 year olds. You can choose from 2, 3, or 5 days per week. Classes are half-days.

View a virtual tour of McGregor Presbyterian Preschool.

• Programs for infants-4K
• Before & After School Programs, including pick up from local schools.
• Summer Camps

Locations in West Columbia, Lexington, and Irmo:

3912 Leaphart Rd, West Columbia
110 Hadleigh Drive, Lexington
101 North Royal Tower Drive, Irmo

Serving children from six weeks old through Kindergarten. Rooted in a Christ-centered philosophy, our program emphasizes whole-child development.
Preschool is part time, from 9 am – 12 pm and follow a school year schedule.

Kids Garden is play-based, commitment-free, health-conscious care, modeled after Montessori, Reggio, and play-based learning theories. Children have the freedom to explore and learn through play.

Their after-school program is enrichment-based, with drop-off Monday-Friday from 3:30 – 5:30 pm.

Birthday Parties: Kids Garden also hosts creative, educator-led birthday parties for kids ages 12 months to 12 years at 4714 Forest Drive — weekend bookings available.

• Party packages start at $300 for members and $350 for non-members
• Parties include 90 minutes of play time

Mt Olive Lutheran Church Preschool is a half-day program for children ages 2-4.

Welcoming infants as young as six weeks up to Pre‑K (around age 5).

They utilize a “Links to Learning” curriculum in a play‑based yet intentional environment for elementary preparation.
The academy is in Northeast Columbia near Fort Jackson.

They also offer summer camp options.

Dates: May – August 2026 
Ages: Rising Kindergarten – 5th grade  
Price: $215
Full day available

Lake Murray Presbyterian Day School is a preschool program for children ages 6 weeks old through 5 years old. There’s a full-day program and a part-time program.

Kathwood Baptist offers a preschool program for children 6 weeks through 4 years old. There are full-time and part-time options.

Holland Avenue Baptist Church offers a half-day preschool program for children 6 weeks old through kindergarten.

Lake Murray Baptist Preschool offers programs for children ages 1 through 5 years old.

Preschool program for 8 weeks to 4 years old in Columbia, SC

Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Child Development Center has preschool classes and programs for children ages 2 through 4.
There’s also an Afterschool Program for kindergartners through 5th graders.

Programming for infants-5th graders. Preschool programming goes through 4 years old.

Preschool program for ages 6 weeks old to 4 years old

Half-Day Preschool in Columbia for ages 1-4 at Spring Valley Baptist Church. The half-day, play-based program is from 9 am to noon, weekdays.

Heyward Street Methodist Preschool offers partial-day programming for 2, 3, and 4 year olds. Hours are 8:30 am – 2:30 pm or 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

Willowdale Children’s Academy is a play-based STEAM curriculum with Learning Without Tears; serves ages 6 weeks–school age (up to ~8) with full- & part-day care

Preschool and kindergarten in Columbia, SC for ages 2-5. Programs are partial day, and there are options for attendance 3-5 days per week.

Mt Hebron Dayschool has half-day preschool programs for infants through kindergarten.

Spring Valley Presbyterian Church Preschool offers 2, 3, and 5 days a week programming for children ages 2-4. Preschool days are half days, but there’s an extended care option, too.