Gem State Developmental Center

A Step Ahead Preschool and Childcare in Meridian, Idaho, is dedicated to fostering a strong academic foundation for children ages 2 to 5, including those with unique learning needs. The school's core mission revolves around creating an inclusive environment that nurtures each child's potential through individualized attention and tailored educational approaches. With a focus on language-based learning disabilities and twice-exceptional students, A Step Ahead employs a variety of engaging programs that emphasize active exploration and social interaction, allowing children to learn through discovery. The experienced staff, many of whom have been with the school for over a decade, are committed to providing a supportive and fun atmosphere that encourages growth in all areas of development. Unique features such as low student-teacher ratios and the opportunity for childcare students to participate in preschool classes at no extra cost set A Step Ahead apart as a leader in early childhood education. This dedication to partnership with families and community engagement further enhances the school's mission to ensure every child takes significant steps forward in their lifelong learning journey.

AIM Behavior Services is a dedicated provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, serving children with diverse needs, including those with language-based learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders. The school emphasizes a child-led, play-based approach that prioritizes the unique strengths and challenges of each individual, viewing autism not as a condition to be cured but as part of the child's identity. AIM fosters strong partnerships with families, actively incorporating their feedback into personalized treatment plans to ensure that each family feels informed and engaged in the therapeutic process. With BHCOE Accreditation, AIM adheres to rigorous clinical standards while offering a wide range of services, including social skills training and school support. The organization is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within its practices and community outreach efforts. Notably, AIM's low student-teacher ratio enhances individualized attention, making it a unique choice for families seeking comprehensive support for their children's developmental needs across various locations in California and Virginia.

Challenger School's Everest campus sits in a quiet suburban neighborhood in Meridian, convenient to both Meridian and Eagle, and teaches children from preschool through eighth grade. Challenger began in 1963 when a public school teacher opened her own preschool to teach phonics, and it opened its first Idaho campus in Boise in 2006. Today we run 27 campuses in five western states. Our preschool mixes phonics-based reading, math, music, art, drama, science and motor-skill activities, and preschool classes perform at Christmas and in the spring. Children may start preschool at age 3 in Idaho. From kindergarten through eighth grade, students study reading, writing, logic, science, programming, speech, history, literature, algebra, geometry and art, and in sixth grade they begin working with teachers who specialize by subject. New kindergarten through eighth-grade applicants visit the campus and take a placement test. The campus is open 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. All-day preschool includes extended care, extended classtime before and after school is available for kindergarten through eighth grade, and we run a summer program. Tuition is charged by the day enrolled, and as an independent nonprofit we do not accept public funds.