Preschools & Child Care in Richland County

Programs for infants – preschoolers, including kindergarten prep, located at the Columbia Federal Center.

Private Montessori school for Pre-K through 12th grade

Cadence Academy Preschool offers childcare programs, summer camps, and an after school program called “The Clubhouse.” The program schedule can be found on their website.

Childcare Programs for:

• Infants (6 weeks-1 year)
• Toddlers (1-2 years old)
• Early Learners (2-3 years old)
• Preschool (3-4 years old)
• Pre-K (4-5 years old)
• School-Age (5-12 years old)

Locations in Harbison, SC, Lexington, SC and Northeast Columbia, SC:

450 Columbiana Drive, Columbia
5307 Sunset Boulevard, Lexington
1130 Sparkleberry Lane Extension, Columbia

After School Program at Cadence Academy: Includes homework help and free transportation from schools local to each Cadence Academy location

Summer Camp: Full-day summer camp for ages 5 to 12 that offer fun and activities to prepare kids for the next school year.

Trenholm Road United Methodist Preschool has full time programming for children ages 6 weeks to 4 years. They also have an afterschool program for grades 5K through 5th grade.

Grace Christian School offers traditional education with a Christ-centered approach. They offer academics, athletics, fine arts, and spiritual development programs.
They offer educational programs from PreK – 12th grade.
Grace Christian School also has an Early Learning Center for infants (6 weeks old) – 2 years old.

Heathwood Hall Episcopal School offers education from ages 2 (nursery school) through 12th grade. The campus is situated on 122 acres of wooded wetlands and has incorporated natural “outdoor” education into its curriculum.

Lake Carolina Early Learning Center offers preschool programs for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years

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.

Trinity Learning Center in Columbia, SC offers full day preschool programming for infants through 4-year-olds. They also offer an after school program from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm for children ages Kindergarten through 5th grade.

Montessori Early Learning Center is a private school with an education curriculum based on Montessori-style learning.
The facility has 6 primary, multi-aged classrooms. The facility has observation mirrors installed in every classroom door for parent use at any time without an appointment.

Ben Lippen Schools is a private, Christ-centered school for preschool -12th grade.
They have three campuses in the Columbia, SC area.

Monticello Road Campus: Pre-K3 through 12th Grade
7401 Monticello Road, Columbia

Northeast Campus: Pre-K4 through 4th Grade
3513 Hard Scrabble Road, Columbia

St. Andrews Road Campus: Pre-K3 through 4th Grade
500 St. Andrews Road, Columbia

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.

Harmony School is a private school offering pre-K – Elementary school education. Their blended curriculum is inspired by Waldorf, Montessori, and Inquiry-based learning.

The school also offers after-school care.

Their preschool is offered for ages 30 months to 5 years.

La Petite Academy offers childcare for infants to Kindergarteners. They also offer after school care and summer camps. Transportation to after school is available by contacting your schools director on the website. They have three locations in Columbia.

The Incarnation Lutheran Child Development Center has preschool programming for children who are 8 weeks old through 4 years old. There’s also an After School Program where students are picked up by the church bus and brought back to the center.

One of Columbia’s longest running preschools in the Ravenwood area, Little People’s Learning Center is open from 6:30 am-6 pm for Monday through Friday care.
Offers care for ages 6 weeks – 8 years of age.

Living Springs Lutheran Church Child Development Center has full-day classes for infants through 5 year olds.

Full-Day preschool and daycare for ages 6 weeks – Pre-K designed to prepare kids for kindergarten.

CFL is an Independent Early Childhood Program offering care for children 12 months to 4 years of age in their Child Development Program.

CFL also offers kindergarten through 5th grade in their academy program.

• 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

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.

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.

• Full-Day preschool and childcare for infants (8 weeks) through 4K
• After-school program for 5K-8th grade (year-round or school year only)
• Full-Day Summer Camp for 5K-8th grade

Summer Discover Camp: Program is a full day from 7 am until 6:30 pm. Kids are divided by grade level and participate in extra mini camps (with no additional charge) like Art, Soccer Shots, Literacy Legends, Sports Superstars, and Clay Sculpting.

Shandon Weekday School also offers an after school program from 2:30 pm to 6 pm during the school year and from 7:30 am to 6 pm during the summer. To find the bus your child will ride visit their website.

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

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.

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

Saint Joseph Catholic School offers a traditional education with cutting-edge teaching techniques combined with Catholic teachings based on the Diocese of Charleston.
Grades: 4K- 6th grade
In addition, they offer enrichment courses such as art, music, physical education, guidance, technology, and Spanish

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.