Ken-Caryl Ranch Preschool
The Ken-Caryl Ranch Preschool is a play-based program for children aged 3 – 5.5 years. We form a strong community of children, families, and staff, and we strive to meet every one of our community members’ needs.
Ken-Caryl Ranch Preschool encourages children, and the adults around them, to see themselves as incredibly capable and to encourage a lifelong love of learning. We align our goals for each student with the standards that local kindergartens expect to make the transition from preschool to elementary school as wonderful as it can be!
Our school follows the Jeffco Public School family calendar.
2024-2025 Preschool Fees
$125
Resident
$156
Non-Resident
(in addition to monthly fees – see below)
Fees are per child and will be due at the time of your child’s enrollment and is non-refundable if your child or children are withdrawn from the program for any reason
*Registration will be first come, first served.
Having an online account is helpful (required) to complete this registration process. We recommend creating an account in advance of registration.
Preschool Registration
2024-2025 School Year
To inquire about availability, contact Preschool Director Cara Curtis at carac@kcranch.org.
Ranch House Preschooler Capacity Per Day: Min 5/Max 10
Rainbow Preschooler Capacity Per Day: Min 5/Max 18
Spots available at the Community Center Preschool!
First Day of School
Monday, Aug. 19, 2024
Last Day of School
Friday, May 16, 2025
*The following documents will be required for preschool. Once registered; information on how to upload this information will be provided.
- Immunization Record (Current)
- General Health Appraisal
Participants must have a health appraisal that is current (must have visited a doctor in the last year). If yours expires during the preschool year, please upload the new one once received from your doctor.
Questions: Please email carac@kcranch.org
Universal Pre-K Information (UPK)
Ken-Caryl is working with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) to offer UPK at our facilities for the 2024-25 school year. We are hopeful we can offer this to our families but are still working out the details as the CDEC still has many unknowns for participation in the program for the 2024-25 school year. In addition, the Ken-Caryl Ranch Preschool (KCRP) registration timeline does not align with the CDEC timeline. Below is information on UPK for KCRP, but please be aware this could change as information is disseminated from CDEC.
UPK Eligibility
The 2024-2025 UPK program is offered through the CDEC and your child is eligible if:
- they will go into kindergarten during the 2025-2026 school year and
- if they were born between October 2, 2019, and October 1, 2020 and
- if they are in our preschool program 10 hours minimum a week during the 2024-25 school year
In order to receive UPK funding, eligible participants will need to register with UPK online after they have a confirmed registration with Ken-Caryl Ranch Preschool. We will e-mail eligible families next steps for enrollment in UPK once they register with KCRP, and once UPK releases information on their enrollment process for the 2024-25 school year.
Pricing for KCRP for Those Eligible for UPK
UPK will pay either 10 or 15 hours of care per week for eligible children, and families will then pay the remaining cost to KCRP monthly. We are waiting on the CDEC to release more information on payment for the 2024-25 school year to determine the cost to families. Below are the eligible KCRP schedules:
Ranch House Columbine Room (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
Mon-Fri: 15 hours of care covered by UPK
Mon/Wed/Fri: not eligible for UPK
Tues/Thurs: not eligible for UPK
Community Center-Rainbow Room (9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.)
Mon-Fri: 15 hours of care covered by UPK
Mon/Wed/Fri: 10 hours of care covered by UPK
Tues/Thurs: not eligible for UPK
General Information
For more information and FAQs on UPK please visit: https://cdec.colorado.gov/universal-preschool-family-information
School Year Fees
Ranch House
Ages: 3 – 5.5
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Fees:
Mon – Fri
- Resident: $546/month
- Non-Resident: $683/month
Mon/Wed/Fri
- Resident: $351/month
- Non-Resident: $439/month
Tue/Thu
- Resident: $234/month
- Non-Resident: $293/month
Community Center
Ages: Rainbow 3-5.5
Time: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Fees:
Mon – Fri
- Resident: $700/month
- Non-Resident: $875/month
Mon/Wed/Fri
- Resident: $450/month
- Non-Resident: $563/month
Tue/Thu
- Resident: $300/month
- Non-Resident: $375/month
The Ken-Caryl Ranch Early Childhood Team provides quality programming for the early childhood population ages 0-5 years old and their families. Over the last four years, we have been shifting our preschool program to an early childhood education enrichment model. The goal of this shift is to reach a larger population in our Ken-Caryl community with diverse programming options.
In summer 2024, we will be changing our preschool camp hours to be 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. For the 2024-25 school year, we will be changing our Community Center Rainbow Room hours to 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The Ranch House Preschool Program hours will remain the same.
Why Choose Ken-Caryl Ranch Preschool?
In addition to a loving, warm environment our preschool provides:
- Chances every day to discover or create something new and exciting.
- Opportunities to find out what is inherently special about themselves, other people and any object they encounter.
- Safe spaces to learn how to identify and manage their emotions and learn to listen to their inner voice.
- Ways to see themselves as incredibly capable and to encourage a lifelong love of learning.
- Thoughtful, intentional, developmentally appropriate and FUN curriculum designed by highly competent, nurturing and playful teachers.
Get to Know Us
RAINBOW ROOM
(M – F)
CORA
Hey guys! My name is Cora Lamb. I grew up and went to school in Ohio, moved here about ten years ago, and love everything Colorado has to offer. My background is in social work and child development, and I’ve been teaching preschool for 5 years. When I’m not at work I’ll enjoy having fun with my own kiddos. I’m passionate about helping your child learn through play and can’t wait to have an awesome year together.
COLUMBINE ROOM
(M-F)
JEN
Hi preschool families! My name is Jen, and this will be my 9th year at Ken-Caryl Preschool. I have two daughters, Zoe and Izzy. My husband’s name is Zach, and we have lived in the Ken-Caryl area for more than 14 years. I look forward to getting to know all of the Ken-Caryl Preschool’s kiddos and families! Let’s make this a memorable, fun year together!
PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR
CARA
Hi, my name is Cara, and I am the Preschool Director here at Ken Caryl Ranch Preschool. I am a Colorado native and have worked with kids of all ages for over 14 years. I am engaged and have a baby girl named Everly. Some of my hobbies are hiking, crafts, and going outdoors with my Goldendoodle Appa. This is my fourth school year as Director in Early Childhood, and I am so thrilled to meet all your kiddos in the KCR community.
Parent Handbook & School Year Calendars
Weather Closure Reminder
If Jeffco Schools institutes…
2-Hour Delay:
- Ranch House Columbine Room Preschool closed for the day
- Community Center Rainbow Room Preschool on a 2-hour delay
Full-Closure
- All preschool closed for the day
- Art Ventures and Outdoor Discovery closed for the day
Story Time at the Ranch House
We are thrilled to partner with Jefferson County Libraries to offer family fun while sharing our love of children’s literature. Family Story Time is for all ages. The program is free, and no registration is required.
Ages: All ages welcome!
Dates: Thursdays: 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Location: Ranch House (outside in summer; inside other times of year)
Fee: Free
Camps at Ken-Caryl Community Center
Preschool Summer Camp
