Cliff Valley School is committed to developing the natural learner in every child throughout the preschool and elementary years. Founded as a cooperative preschool in 1966, Cliff Valley School provides an environment where children can develop to their fullest potential academically, socially, emotionally and physically. By supporting each child’s creativity, imagination and individual needs, our programs maintain high academic standards. Cliff Valley School teaches students to think critically, preparing them to be responsible decision-makers and to manage their lives successfully in a complex and diverse world.

Using an integrated curriculum based on established developmental theories, students are allowed to safely test, observe and explore their environment in a community that nurtures and respects each individual child. At every developmental level, the curriculum teaches basic academic concepts and skills through real-life experiences. Students at Cliff Valley hone their natural artistic talents by actively participating in the visual and musical arts. Students develop their appreciation for the natural world through guided experimentation. Reading, writing, speaking and mathematics are learned through the use of hands-on materials and student-initiated projects. Using this teaching approach, Cliff Valley School instills a lifelong love of learning in every child.

Cliff Valley School teaches acceptance and respect for religious, socio-economic, ethnic, gender and developmental differences. Each student’s unique talents are nurtured and strengthened, while students also learn to appreciate and respect the special talents and challenges of others. Our goal is for every child to develop a positive self-image, to interact successfully with others and to feel comfortable and confident in group settings. Our students develop a sense of personal and community responsibility through participation in projects serving the larger community and exploration of the cultures, values and traditions within our society.

At Cliff Valley School, professional educators and parents are partners in responsibility and commitment to the children and school community. Teachers and parents are encouraged to communicate openly and work together, reinforcing skills learned at home and in the classroom. Parents are actively involved in the classrooms, as well as in the governing of the school. By fostering an exceptional parent-teacher partnership, the school community works together to ensure that every Cliff Valley child feels safe, valued and loved.