Best Tampa Preschools List 🏫| How to Choose the Best Preschool Tampa Has to Offer

Are you moving to Tampa and looking for the best Tampa preschools? Tampa is Florida’s third-largest city, with a population of 403,364. There are plenty of great Tampa suburbs for you and your family. 

The Tampa Bay area, including St. Petersburg and Clearwater, has a population of 3,175,275. Tampa is rich in culture. Major museums include the Tampa Bay History Center, the Glazer Children’s Museum, and the Tampa Museum of Art. Some of the top arts and entertainment venues in the city are the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Theatre, and the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre next to the Florida State Fairgrounds. 

Several Fortune 1000 companies are headquartered in the Tampa Metro area, including Bloomin’ Brands, WellCare, Jabil, TECO Energy, and Raymond James Financial. Port Tampa Bay is the seventh largest in the nation and ranks second behind Miami in terms of cruise ship travel.

Tampa has great colleges, including the University of Tampa, the University of South Florida, and Hillsborough Community College. Tampa is a sports town and home to the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning, Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays, and the United Soccer League’s Tampa Bay Rowdies. 

MacDill Air Force Base, located in south Tampa, employs about 19,000 and hosts the U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Special Operations Command. Tampa has no shortage of major events. It has hosted the Super Bowl 5 times and was the site of the 2012 Republican National Convention. 

It’s important to send your children, the future learners, to the right Tampa preschools because early development and learning will have a big impact on how well they do when they reach elementary school. Tampa has a wide range of great public and private preschool in Tampa for your children. 

A good plan to use when choosing a preschool is to talk to parents in your community and research the schools you’re interested in online. This guide can help streamline your search and quickly narrow down your choices to the preschools that best match what you’re looking for. Here are the best Tampa preschools for you and your family.

Best Tampa Preschools

O2B Kids South Westshore | Teaching Preschool Children to Make Their Own Decisions

• Grades: 24 months – 4 years 11 months
• Address: 4302 W Euclid Ave, Tampa, FL 33629
• Phone: (813) 531-8955
• Enrollment: 107
• Student/Teacher ratio: low
• Tuition: Contact the school for pricing

O2B Kids is a Nationally Accredited preschool that uses a unique approach to learning. They teach children their colors, shapes, letters, letter sounds, numbers, and how to count, but they go beyond that by teaching kids to think for themselves. At O2B, children learn how to make smart decisions and form their own opinions. They learn how to plan, problem solve, and manage their emotions. The instructors at O2B encourage children to make friends, actively listen, and ask questions. The secret is that the instructors give kids choices.

They expose kids to a variety of activities throughout the day and have meaningful conversations with them about what choices they want to make. The proprietary integrated learning curriculum is play-based, with child-directed active learning centers, teacher-directed literacy lessons, daily outdoor enrichment, and specialty classes and on-site field trips. O2B has front door security, a staffed reception area, video-monitored classrooms, first aid, and the staff is trained in CPR and undergoes federal and state background checks, ensuring that the facility is safe.

Premier Academy of Temple Terrace | One of the Best Early Learning Tampa Preschools

• Grades: Preschool (3 & 4 year olds)
• Address: 12420 Telecom Dr, Tampa, FL 33637
• Phone: (813) 576-2712
• Enrollment: 255
• Student/Teacher ratio: low
• Tuition: Contact the school for pricing information

The Premier Academy of Temple Terrace uses a Montessori-inspired, play-based preschool curriculum that encourages curiosity and independence. Children are encouraged to explore their interests as teachers nurture social-emotional growth, communication, and self-regulation skills that prepare each child for success in kindergarten. Daily activity is important, and Premier Academy provides a huge playground that features swings, climbing structures, a sandbox, and more, as well as plenty of space to run, play, and explore.

The school has a garden for nature-based learning, too. Every child enjoys healthy and delicious snacks every day because they are included in the cost of tuition. Enrichment classes that kids can enjoy include dance, soccer, and Spanish classes. All of them are included with the tuition, giving your child ample opportunity to explore, create, develop coordination, and build teamwork skills. Early exposure to a second language enhances language development and cultural awareness in young children.

The handy parent app gives parents real-time updates on all activities throughout the day at this preschool Tampa has, from the center director, including meals, naps, and milestones. Safety is a top priority at Premier Academy. They have restricted access, security cameras, privacy fences, and CPR-certified staff, ensuring a safe space for the children. It’s one of the most popular of Tampa preschools.

Montessori Academy of Carrollwood | One of the Only Tampa Preschools practicing Montessori

• Grades: 3-4 years 
• Address: 14018 N Blvd, Tampa, FL 33613
• Phone: (813) 968-4321
• Enrollment: 117
• Student/Teacher ratio: 13:1
• Tuition: Full day $1,370/month, extended day $1,490/month

The Montessori Academy’s curriculum is based on Dr. Maria Montessori’s belief that each child is born with a unique potential to be revealed, instead of each child being a “blank slate”, waiting to be written upon. The curriculum allows each child to cultivate his/her own natural desire to learn instead of filling them with facts from a pre-selected course of studies. The teachers and assistant teachers create a strong foundation for them to get the highest quality education before kindergarten.

The learning process incorporates three steps: name, recognition, and recall. First, instructors repeatedly name the material or concept while demonstrating it. They then ask the child to show them the material or concept. Finally, the teacher asks the child to identify all materials without any assistance. When the child has mastered the concept or material, he/she may move on to more complex materials and concepts. The well-rounded curriculum includes lessons in practical life, sensorial learning, math, language, science, culture, and music & movement. Extracurriculars include tennis, gymnastics, and soccer. This is one of the most unique Tampa preschools and often has a waiting list.

Playtime Learning Academy | Known From Other Tampa Preschools for Academic Excellence 

• Grades: Toddler Twos, Threes, and Pre K-3, VPK
• Address: 4701 Ehrlich Rd, Tampa, FL 33624
• Phone: (813) 969-2888
• Enrollment: Call for info
• Student/Teacher ratio: Call for info
• Tuition: call for rates

Playtime Learning Academy has the philosophy that learning should be fun, which is why the word “playtime” is in their name. This Tampa preschool believes that children learn by discovering and actively acquiring knowledge in a daycare setting. They also offer child care alongside an early childhood education.

In the two-year-old classroom for this preschool in Tampa, children learn how to be part of a classroom, including the etiquette and rules that are expected in that environment. They are introduced to colors, numbers, letters, shapes, discovery science, and language arts. Songs, imaginary play, and artwork are incorporated into the curriculum. The threes and Pre-K3 children are introduced to computers, dramatic play, puzzles, art, reading, writing, science, and math.

They learn concepts such as beginning writing, coloring with control, phonics, basic geometry, math concepts, and physical education. Songs, poetry, Spanish time, play, experiments, arts, and teacher interactions are part of the school day. VPK children have access to computers with internet access and educational software, as well as a reading area, a listening center, and a well-equipped art center. Playtime uses the Frog Street professional preschool series curriculum that many other Tampa preschools use to prepare children for kindergarten and beyond. 

Storybook Ranch Preschool | A Top-Rated Preschool in Tampa

• Grades: Newborns to 5 years of age
• Address: 8401 W Linebaugh Ave, Tampa, FL 33625
• Phone: (813) 926-1205
• Enrollment: 24
• Student/Teacher ratio: 8:1
• Tuition: $225 a week for preschool

Storybook Ranch Preschool is a place where children are encouraged to learn and grow in a nurturing and loving environment. They promote imaginative play to enhance children’s development in all areas. Storybook Ranch offers parent involvement programs because they believe in the importance of building positive relationships with the child as well as the parent.

Their educational program was designed for children according to age and helps children learn by giving them the freedom to make their own choices. The program is open-ended, which prepares children to develop intellectual and creative abilities that will carry them through kindergarten and beyond. Storybooks not only prepare children academically, but they also enhance character development to help children with self-confidence and social awareness.

Storybook offers soccer and gymnastics as extracurricular sports activities to give kids an opportunity for group physical activities and to explore a sport they might fall in love with. 

Bridges Preschool at Wesley Early Learning Center | Providing a Faith-Based Tampa Preschool

• Grades: Infants to PreK
• Address: 6100 Memorial Hwy, Tampa, FL 33615
• Phone: (813) 220-2746
• Enrollment: 66
• Student/Teacher ratio: call for info
• Tuition: Toddlers (1-2 years) – $302 per week, Preschool (3-5 years) – $232 per week

Bridges Preschool Tampa is a Christian preschool that teaches children in an environment of love and acceptance. The school was founded on Christian principles that enable young children to grow in God’s love and go confidently into the world. Children are encouraged to learn through a multi-sensory approach, which develops the child spiritually, emotionally, socially, physically, and mentally. Bridges believes in cultivating the whole child by giving him/her independent choices and guiding each child through new learning experiences.

Bridges uses the WEE Learn curriculum, which provides a framework for children to grow and develop in “wisdom and stature” and in “favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). The curriculum provides a wide variety of activities designed to meet the needs of each child at his/her level of development, including language, reading, writing, and math skills.

Children learn about God, Jesus, the Bible, the church, self, others, and the natural world. Bridges offers children extras during the week, such as music, chapel time, and enrichments that include soccer, basketball, lacrosse, yoga, karate, dance, ballet, and more. If you’re looking for a joyful and inclusive community amongst Tampa preschools, Bridges is great to put your kids in from a young age.

Additional Tampa Preschools:

• JCC Preschool Tampa
• Steam Preschool Academy at Net Park

Tampa Preschools FAQ

What Is the Best Preschool In Tampa?

There are many good Tampa preschools, including Premier Academy of Temple Terrace, Montessori Academy of Carrollwood, and O2B Kids of South Westshore.

Does Tampa Have Good Preschools? 

Yes, many amazing Tampa preschools are dedicated to early childhood education. Tampa has some of the best preschools in the state of Florida.

How Many Preschools Are There In Tampa?

There are about 185 Tampa preschools.

Map of Best Tampa Preschools

Choose the best preschool Tampa FL has and look at where they’re located on this map:

Moving to Tampa FL? 2 College Brothers Can Help!

If you’re looking for Tampa preschools, we hope our list helps! If you’re moving to Tampa FL or one of the nearby Tampa cities, 2 College Brothers is the best Tampa moving company ready to assist you. We’ll help you relocate both old and new things to your next home! Trust us for your local moving, long distance moving, or storage needs. Give us a call at 813-922-1528 for a free quote.