Kindergarten Program | Columbia, MD
The kindergarten year is a beautiful and important milestone in your child’s life. It is the moment when early curiosity begins transforming into deeper learning, confidence, and independence. At Columbia Academy, our kindergarten program creates a nurturing environment where young learners feel supported as they begin formal schooling and discover their potential. Through a strong academic foundation in language arts, math, science, and social studies, combined with hands-on learning and differentiated instruction, children build the skills and confidence they need to thrive in elementary school and beyond.
Kindergarten Program Enrollment
Ages Served
5 to 6 years (must turn 5 by September 1st)
Schedule Options
Full-day kindergarten program designed to support academic growth while providing consistency for families.
Hours
7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday, during the school year.
Is Potty Training Required?
Yes. Children entering kindergarten should be fully toilet independent.
Curriculum Focus
Our kindergarten curriculum builds a strong academic foundation in language arts, math, science, and social studies while nurturing curiosity and creativity. Through differentiated instruction, teachers meet each child where they are academically and guide them toward deeper understanding. Hands-on learning activities encourage children to actively explore concepts, strengthening their literacy, communication, and problem-solving skills while preparing them for elementary school.
Daily Routine
Each school day follows a thoughtful rhythm that balances academic instruction with exploration and creativity. Students participate in reading and writing lessons, math discovery, science exploration, and social studies discussions while also enjoying art, movement, and collaborative learning.
Classroom Experience
Our kindergarten classrooms are designed to inspire curiosity and confidence. Teachers provide differentiated instruction that supports each child’s learning style while maintaining a strong academic focus.
About Our Kindergarten Program
Kindergarten is an important part of a child’s early education journey. During this stage, children deepen their understanding of language, numbers, scientific discovery, and the world around them. By combining a strong academic foundation in language arts, math, science, and social studies with hands-on learning and differentiated instruction, our teachers ensure that every child develops the skills and confidence needed to succeed. Research supports the importance of this stage of development. The Learning Policy Institute explains that strong early education programs improve school readiness and support children’s development in literacy, critical thinking, and social skills. The Harvard Center on the Developing Child also highlights that active learning experiences strengthen brain development and help children build the cognitive skills needed for long-term academic success.
From Early Childhood to Elementary School: Building a Strong Foundation
Our kindergarten program helps children transition confidently from preschool education into elementary school by strengthening both academic knowledge and personal confidence.
- Building Literacy and Language Skills - Language arts play a central role in our kindergarten curriculum. Through storytelling, guided reading, writing practice, and conversation, children develop communication and comprehension skills. Hands-on literacy activities help students explore language while building the strong reading and writing abilities needed for elementary school.
- Developing Mathematical Understanding - Young learners begin to strengthen math concepts through hands-on exploration and problem-solving. Teachers guide students as they discover patterns, numbers, measurement, and logical thinking, helping them build confidence and curiosity about math.
- Exploring Science and the World Around Them - Science lessons encourage children to observe, question, and investigate. Through experiments and exploration, students develop an understanding of the natural world while strengthening critical thinking skills that support academic growth.
- Learning Through Social Studies - Social studies helps children understand their place in the world and their role within a community. Through age-appropriate lessons, discussions, and projects, students explore history, culture, and collaboration while learning the importance of respect and responsibility.
- Differentiated Instruction for Every Learner - By adjusting teaching strategies and activities, our educators ensure that each student receives the support and challenge they need to grow academically and emotionally.
Kindergarten Program Enrollment and Registration
Families interested in enrolling in our kindergarten program are encouraged to visit Columbia Academy and explore our classrooms in person. Our small class sizes allow teachers to provide individualized attention while maintaining a strong academic focus. Because enrollment spaces fill each school year quickly, families seeking a private kindergarten in Maryland are encouraged to schedule a visit early.
Why Families Trust Columbia Academy in Columbia
For more than 30 years, families throughout Columbia have trusted Columbia Academy to provide exceptional early childhood education and a strong academic pathway from preschool through middle school.
- Teachers complete 12+ professional development hours annually, ensuring educators stay current with best practices in early childhood education.
- 100% of faculty and staff undergo thorough background checks, giving families confidence that their children are cared for by qualified professionals.
- Small class sizes allow teachers to provide differentiated instruction and personalized support for each student.
- 96% of students meet or exceed the GOLD® Readiness Benchmark, demonstrating strong preparation for kindergarten and academic success.
- Integrated STEAM opportunities introduce students to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics through hands-on learning.
- 100% of students study foreign language, art, and music, supporting creativity and communication skills.
- A 16:1 student-to-teacher ratio in elementary and middle school classrooms ensures students receive personalized support.
- State-of-the-art playground equipment supports physical development and active play.
- Four indoor recreation rooms keep students active and engaged year-round.
- A 1,200-square-foot library with more than 8,300 books encourages reading and lifelong learning.
- SmartBoard technology and Google Chromebooks support modern interactive learning.
A Day in the Life: Kindergarten Learning
What does a day in the life of a kindergartner at Columbia Academy look like? The following schedule gives you an idea of what your young learner will experience each school day:
8:30 - 9:00 DEAR Time We start our day with DEAR time (drop everything and read). Students love exploring great stories after they get settled into the classroom.
9:00 - 9:30 Morning Meeting The whole class comes together for our morning meeting and fuels up for learning with a snack provided by the school at no extra cost to families.
9:30 - 10:25 Language Arts Reading activities incorporate hands-on learning and promote reading, comprehension, and speaking skills essential for first grade readiness.
10:25 - 10:55 Special Classes Students transition to their first special of the day (depending on the day, this could be Media, PE, Art, Music, or Spanish).
11:00 - 12:00 Math Learning In math, students begin exploring geometry and developing numeracy skills (counting, measuring, adding, subtracting). Making math fun helps young children build confidence with numbers.
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch and Recess Students eat lunch with their friends and then burn off energy at recess. Outdoor play remains available whenever weather permits.
1:00 - 1:30 Quiet Time Quiet time allows students to rest their minds and bodies with peaceful activities. This helps them gear up for an afternoon of learning and fun.
1:30 - 2:00 Second Special After quiet time, students head off to their second special of the day.
2:00 - 2:30 Science Exploration Science becomes a favorite part of the kindergarten day, as children get to hypothesize, conduct experiments, and learn about their environment.
2:30 - 3:00 Writing Lessons A writing lesson concludes the academic day. Students move from only writing their name at the beginning of the year to writing in full sentences at the end.
3:00 - 3:30 Dismissal Preparation After students have a small afternoon snack, they pack up their belongings and prepare for dismissal.
Columbia Academy Parent Reviews
"What a gem we have found in Columbia Academy, and in Ms. Christie in particular. We feel very impressed by how much one-on-one attention and care our son has received. We remain very optimistic that he thrives in an ideal environment academically." - Parent of a Columbia Academy student
A Private School Serving Columbia, Maryland
Columbia Academy serves families throughout the Columbia area with convenient locations:
Columbia Academy proudly serves families throughout the Columbia area with campuses designed to support students at every stage of their educational journey. Many children begin their learning experience in our early childhood programs before continuing through kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school. This continuity allows students to build strong relationships and develop confidence as they grow.
Other Programs Available at Our School
Our infant and toddler program nurtures your child’s earliest development through responsive care, gentle routines, and meaningful play that encourages exploration and connection.
Our preschool program supports growing independence and curiosity as children develop language, social skills, and early academic confidence through play-based learning.
Our transitional kindergarten program provides the gift of time, helping children strengthen readiness skills, confidence, and independence before beginning kindergarten.
Our elementary program builds strong academic foundations while encouraging curiosity, creativity, and confidence.
Our middle school program guides students through an important stage of growth with strong academics, leadership opportunities, and character development.
Our before-and-after-school care program offers families dependable support while providing students with a safe and engaging place to relax, play, and connect with friends.
Our summer programs keep students learning and exploring through creative activities, outdoor adventures, and experiences that spark curiosity and fun.
Digital citizenship education helps elementary students learn responsible technology use.
Other Programs Available at Our School
Our infant and toddler program nurtures your child’s earliest development through responsive care, gentle routines, and meaningful play that encourages exploration and connection.
Our preschool program supports growing independence and curiosity as children develop language, social skills, and early academic confidence through play-based learning.
Our transitional kindergarten program provides the gift of time, helping children strengthen readiness skills, confidence, and independence before beginning kindergarten.
Our elementary program builds strong academic foundations while encouraging curiosity, creativity, and confidence.
Our middle school program guides students through an important stage of growth with strong academics, leadership opportunities, and character development.
Our before-and-after-school care program offers families dependable support while providing students with a safe and engaging place to relax, play, and connect with friends.
Our summer programs keep students learning and exploring through creative activities, outdoor adventures, and experiences that spark curiosity and fun.
Digital citizenship education helps elementary students learn responsible technology use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Preschool education helps young children build the confidence, communication skills, and independence they need to succeed in kindergarten. Many students begin their learning journey in nursery school environments designed for children aged three to six years old, where early experiences in literacy, social interaction, and discovery prepare them for the next step in primary school and the broader educational system.
Schedule a Tour!
The kindergarten year is the beginning of a lifelong journey of learning. At Columbia Academy, our kindergarten program provides a nurturing environment where children develop strong academic foundations, curiosity, and confidence. We invite you to visit our school, meet our teachers, and see how our classrooms help young learners grow, explore, and thrive.