For parents of toddlers and pre-kindergarteners looking for the best private preschools and daycare facilities, Miami has a variety of options to choose from, with a wide array of schools that follow diverse teaching philosophies and approaches. 

To help you get an idea of your options, we’ve compiled a list of the top ten preschools in the area, ranging from those that serve only infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, all the way to those where a child can grow up in the same learning environment, from preschool through elementary school or even high school. 

Note that the average annual cost of private preschool for a child in Miami-Dade County is around $12,920 but can go up to $30,000 for an elite school, with some schools offering discounts for multiple siblings, and others allowing part-time scheduling to help parents keep tuition costs down. Many top private preschools and schools also provide scholarships for eligible students. We’ve also compiled the list of the top private schools in Miami, along with their tuition costs. 

These schools have received the highest rankings and best parent reviews on sites such as  Private School Review, GreatSchools, and niche.com, as well as Yelp reviews written directly by local parents. They are listed in chronological order according to the age at which you may register your child.

This article was updated on October 12, 2023

1. KLA Schools of Coral Gables

Address: 4573 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables
Phone: (305) 668 0552
Age: 3 months - 5 years

KLA Schools of Coral Gables is a progressive educational environment inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy and provides excellence in early childhood education. KLA Schools of Coral Gables was founded in 2009 by a small team of committed educators to provide a top-quality preschool program for neighborhood families. It features specialized education for kids from 3 months to 5 years old with a focus on helping children learn from past experiences as well as from multisensory stimuli and an enriched environment that encourages self-sufficiency.

2. Brickell International Academy

Address: 1101 Brickell Ave Fl 8 North Tower, Miami
Phone: (786) 718 1560
Age: 3 months - 5 years

Brickell International Academy is a bilingual preschool program for children aged 3 months to 5 years old, along with a Voluntary pre-K (VPK) and an Afterschool Program. BIA is a full-service preschool that operates year-round, with Spanish immersion, challenging academics, creative arts, and athletic activities in a nurturing and caring student-centered environment. It is conveniently located in Brickell, the financial district of Miami, for parents who work there.

3. The Learning Nest

Address: 1801 NE 2nd Avenue, Edgewater
Phone: (786) 442 3629
Age: 18 months - 6 years

The Learning Nest is a bilingual preschool some Miami parents consider one of the best Miami preschools based on the Montessori philosophy operating in a spacious state-of-the-art facility in Edgewater serving children ages 18 months to 6 years old. The program’s core Montessori Academic Program is complemented by an art program modeled after the Reggio Emilia philosophy, a Music and Movement Program inspired by Sanford Jones, Spanish immersion, physical education, organic nutrition, and gardening, and such studies as aromatherapy, all provided in an environmentally conscious context.

4. Coconut Grove Montessori School

Toddler Campus Address: 3280 Bird Avenue, Coconut Grove
Preschool & Elementary Campus Address: 2850 SW 27th Ave Coconut Grove
Phone: (305) 444 4484
Age: 18 months - 11 years

Coconut Grove Montessori School also offers rolling admission so students may apply year-round. The school provides nursery education for children as young as 18 months through Grade 5 (11 years old) based on the Montessori method of education as developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, which has been used globally for over 100 years successfully, providing holistic, child-centered education that is based on the natural developmental process of children from birth to adulthood.

5. Scheck Hillel Community School

Address: 19000 NE 25th Avenue, North Miami Beach
Phone: (305) 931 2831 
Age: 18 months - Grade 12

Since 1970, Scheck Hillel Community School has been home to an educational journey focused on preparatory academics enriched through Orthodox Judaic teachings. Located in North Miami Beach, with a 6:1 student-teacher ratio and around 1,250 students, Scheck Hillel Community School nurtures learners from 18 months through Grade 12 with boundless opportunities for leadership development and self-growth, focusing on building a strong Jewish identity within every child.

6. The Cushman School

Address: 592 NE 60th Street, Miami
Phone: (305) 757 1966 
Age: 2 - Grade 12

Established in 1924, The Cushman School is an exclusive and respected private school in Miami’s residential Buena Vista District, with approximately 850 students ranging in age from 2 through Grade 12, and an impressive student-teacher ratio of 7:1. Cushman has earned national recognition for its challenging academic environment with a focus on global studies, advanced STEM courses, visual and performing arts, as well as Cushman’s diverse student body and charming campus, making it a top private preschool in Miami, as well as a top private school.

7. Riviera Day School

Address: 6800 Nervia Street, Coral Gables
Phone: (305) 666 1856
Age: 3 - Grade 5

Founded in 1950, Riviera is a co-educational day school for students from pre-kindergarten through high school. Riviera is renowned for excellence in academic offerings, low student-teacher ratios, and creative and child-centered teaching approach, as well as its leading role in community advocacy. Small classes and a highly qualified staff help each student to develop at their own pace with personalized attention every step of the way.

8. Gulliver Academy

PK-8 Campus Address: 12595 Red Road, Coral Gables
Phone: (305) 665-3593
Age: PK - Grade 12

Gulliver Prep is a top-rated, private school with three campuses, some 2,200 students enrolled in grades pre-K and K-12, and a student-teacher ratio of 8 to 1. Gulliver is nationally and internationally renowned for its state-of-the-art academic and athletic offerings, as well as multidisciplinary arts education and progressive approach to education that builds confidence and brings out the best in each student.

9. Miami Country Day School

Address: 601 NE 107th Street, North Miami
Phone: (305) 779 7200 
Age: 3 - Grade 12

Miami Country Day School is a nonprofit interdenominational community with about 1,270 students ranging from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Miami Country Day School stands out from others as one of only seven schools nationally accredited with the prestigious Global Standards Endorsement by Global Educators Benchmark Group. Founded in 1938 as a residential boarding school for boys, Country Day, located in North Miami, now provides top-tier education for boys and girls on an inspiring 21-acre campus. The programming at Miami Country Day focuses on culture and artistic expression, as well as athletics and top-level academics, with an outcomes-based and student-centered teaching approach.

10. Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart

Address: 3747 Main Highway, Miami
Phone: (305) 446 5673
Age: 3 - Grade 12

Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart is an all-girls Catholic school with around 850 students offering Montessori preschool starting at age 3 and continuing through 12th grade. Founded in 1961, Carrollton is the only pre-k-12, all-girls school in Florida. With a student-teacher ratio of 8:1, the programming at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart is committed to excellence in education by including spiritual, intellectual, and emotional learning.

— Other Notable Miami Preschools

L’Atelier School

Address: 5960 S.W. 71st Street, South Miami
Phone: (305) 662 2326
Age: 1-6, grouped by age

Established in 1994, L'Atelier School bases its educational philosophy on the Reggio Emilia method, emphasizing self-guided education that encourages learning through exploration and creativity, with the latter one being the innate intelligence that connects all human beings and their diverse ideas. At L’Atelier, each classroom is staffed with a minimum of two teachers, and curriculums focus on creative exploration and expression, helping children learn at their own pace and focus on their own interests, expanding their potential for academic success and personal fulfillment.

Key Point Academy

Address: 609 Brickell Avenue, Miami
Phone: (305) 424 7170
Age: 3 - Grade 8

Key Point Christian Academy is located at First Miami Presbyterian Church in Brickell and provides a diverse Christian-based curriculum for children from preschool through middle school. The preschool curriculum is called “Splash into Preschool”. It encompasses a comprehensive and integrated program based on Conscious Discipline Strategies that focus on emotional, physical, cognitive, and linguistic learning, while also developing a healthy social-emotional core. The pre-K program immerses children in activities that prepare them for kindergarten and elementary school, covering such basic subjects as reading and language, arts, math, science, social studies, health, and creative arts.

La Piazza Academy

Address: 3100 S Dixie Hwy, Miami
Phone: (305) 443 0066
Age: Toddlers - Grade 5

LaPiazza Academy (LPA) is a unique private school that accommodates students from toddlers to 5th grade, with a progressive education curriculum that combines Social Constructivism, the Reggio Emilia philosophy, and Montessori education. The school focuses on community and social responsibility while nurturing the socio-emotional well-being of each child to help them become a well-rounded world citizen. With focused guidance, students learn to master major concepts, processes, and skills through self-directed exploration as well as by engaging in collaboration with teachers and peers. Closely tracking the natural developmental stages of early childhood, the school’s yearly curriculums build upon the previous year’s curriculum to help children develop in naturally appropriate ways.

The Roig Academy

Address: 8000 SW 112 Street, Miami
Phone: (305) 235 1313
Age: 2-4 pre-K + K-8 International Baccalaureate Programme

The Roig Academy is a small, selective school with an emphasis on the individual student. The school provides a rolling admissions policy and an impressive 7:1 student-teacher ratio. The Roig Academy provides fully bilingual Spanish/English education for students from ages 2-4 in their pre-K program and for kindergarten through 8th grade students in their International Baccalaureate Programme, with a focus on a global approach to education. The Roig Academy also accommodates gifted students and students with special needs.

Centner Academy

Address: 4136 North Miami Avenue, Miami
Phone: (305) 576-6070 (ex.#1)
Age: 2.5 - 5 years through grade 12

Centner Academy is a progressive independent school that provides foreign language immersion programs in Spanish and Mandarin, along with a conscience-building, values-based education for children as young as 2.5 years to 5 years of age in an innovative environment focusing on five key educational pillars: language mastery, leadership, mindfulness, character, and life skills. The Academy incorporates a variety of progressive and child-centered educational approaches, including inquiry-based, multidisciplinary, project-based, and self-directed learning opportunities using personalized instruction, small classrooms, and low student-teacher ratios.

— FAQs

• Is pre-K free in Miami?
  Miami Dade Public Schools have a free pre-K program but expect to pay a premium for a private pre-K school in Miami.
  
  
• What is the best age to start preschool?
  While there is no definitive answer regarding the best age, research recommends starting pre-K between three and five years old. Some kids may be ready sooner, while others may need to wait a little longer. In Florida, to be eligible for public pre-K programs, your child must be 4 years old by September 1 of the current school year. 

This concludes our roundup of the best private preschools in Miami and, as you can see, there are many options for your children based on a variety of teaching philosophies and approaches. Of course, there are many more private preschools in Miami to consider, but we hope that this comprehensive list has been of assistance.

When considering a preschool for your child, location is essential especially if you are just moving to Miami and seeking a family-friendly neighborhood. If you would like more help in choosing the best neighborhood concerning your child’s school, do not hesitate to reach out for more information from one of our local experts.

Cover photo: Tanaphong Toochinda