Atascadero Cooperative Preschool

Our story began in 1985, when Judy and Ted Young opened Cabbage Patch Preschool after noticing how little child care was available in the North County. Janice Stevens bought the business in 1989, wrote its curriculum around the slogan "Teaching is Love made Visible," and later purchased the 2-acre property and renamed it Atascadero Children's Center. In June 2022 two long-time employees took over ownership. We run three programs year round, Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Building B houses our Toddler and Beginning Preschool program, with sensory play, outdoor climbing and help with potty training. Our two PreK classrooms use learning centers and the Pre-K Wonders reading program used by Atascadero Unified. Building A holds the School-Age Program for PreK through 5th grade, with homework help, journaling, cooking, science and arts and crafts. Our teachers drive school vans to and from Monterey Road, San Benito, San Gabriel and Santa Rosa schools, and we offer full-day care on district non-school days, winter and spring breaks, and a themed summer camp with field trips.

Champions is a dedicated educational institution that focuses on providing enriching programs for children from preschool through sixth grade, catering specifically to those with diverse learning needs, including language-based learning disabilities and twice-exceptional students. The school's core mission centers around fostering an inclusive environment where every child can thrive academically and socially. Through a blend of innovative curriculum and therapeutic methodologies, Champions implements specialized programs designed to support individual learning styles while promoting emotional well-being. Unique features of the school include a low student-teacher ratio that ensures personalized attention, strong partnerships with families to enhance student success, and specialized facilities that accommodate various developmental needs. Additionally, Champions offers engaging community events and summer camps like Champ Camp Great Outdoors, which provide opportunities for adventure and friendship in a safe setting. This holistic approach makes Champions a standout choice for parents seeking comprehensive support for their children's educational journey.

Little Wings runs its preschool under one roof with its sister clinic, MP Health, so children ages 2 to 6 can receive therapy during the same day they spend in class. Typically developing children and children with special needs learn side by side in our bilingual, developmental program, which puts heavy emphasis on outdoor learning and play-based exploration. Families choose full-time hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or part-time mornings from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Children with a current IFSP, IEP or MP Health assessment can join Little Wings Two, where in-house clinicians provide daily speech and occupational therapy, individually or in a group. Little Wings 1:1 adds a one-on-one aide or trained early interventionist plus a weekly 30-minute therapist consult with the classroom teacher, and parents in that track attend a weekly training session. Through MP Health, enrolled children ages 3 and up can also access physical therapy, child development services and counseling when they qualify.