Preschool
Where Curiosity Meets Christ. Where Play Builds Character.
Discover Lafayette’s premier Catholic preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. At St. Francis Early Learning Academy, we nurture the whole child—mind, body, and soul—in a joyful, safe, and play-filled environment.
In this nurturing environment, your children will learn to work and play cooperatively, while growing and developing emotionally, physically, socially, intellectually, and spiritually at their own pace.
Depending on your choice, you can enroll for a full-time or part-time program. Our programs run the length of the school year and follow the Lafayette Catholic School System calendar. Tuition depends on the program you choose.
For example: a three-year-old enrolled in the Tuesday/Thursday 8am-11am whose family is a participating member in one of our five local Catholic churches can expect to pay $199 a month.
Enrollment in any PreK program guarantees a seat at a Lafayette Catholic School System kindergarten.
St. Francis Blog
From Chaos to Calm: Creating Joyful and Stress-free Mornings
Do you ever find yourself wanting to sit down and cry before the clock even strikes 8:00 a.m.? If you’ve ever left the house in a frantic rush, feeling more like a drill sergeant than a parent, please know you are not alone. Mornings are one of the greatest hurdles...
The Battle of the Broccoli: How to Create a Positive Food Environment
Nudging Your Little Ones Toward Healthy Eating Habits Have you ever caught yourself singing, “You gotta try new foods because they might taste good?” That happy little jingle from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is one that comes in handy. If you have ever found yourself...
Handling Disappointment
It is that time of year when the unexpected seems to happen more often than not. Maybe it is a snowstorm that cancels a long-awaited trip to the park, a sudden fever that keeps us home from a birthday party, or a rainy day that ruins outdoor plans. At St. Francis...
Flexible Programming
We are more than a daycare facility: we offer full-time care and part-time programs for three-year-olds, four-year-olds, and five-year-olds. Drop-off as early as 7 am and pick-up as late as 5:30 pm with our convenient before/after school care*. Looking for a preschool to help your child learn social skills before school starts? We offer half-day and part-time programs to fit your needs. View our full schedule here. *Extra fees apply for before/after school care.
Level 3 Paths to Quality Provider
Our staff is our greatest asset at St. Francis. Through their commitment to their profession and their passion for early childhood education, we are proud to be a Level 3 childcare facility. That demonstrates our dedication to prepare our students for success in kindergarten and beyond.
Play-Based Education
At St. Francis, we play hard and pray hard. We believe that these first years of school should be fun. As your child learns the routines and flow of school, they’re playing, making crafts, and exploring the world around us! They will learn songs, prayers, and dances. Your child will spend time outside playing in the sunshine and complete science experiments in our outdoor classroom.
Faith-Filled Education
Preschool aged students ask BIG questions. We’re here to assist you in guiding your children in their faith development. At St. Francis, your child will study the lives of saints, learn Catholic prayers, and visit with the local priests. They will participate in service projects and learn how to care for others.
Our teachers rely on their many years of experience in early childhood education to lead our children in their first days and years of school.
“I aide with 3 year olds. I love their imagination. They are God’s beautiful gift to so many.”
“Preschoolers are some of the most honest and loving little humans on the planet. Their curiosity is infectious and they make every day an adventure. Working with young minds to help develop them academically, socially, and strengthen foundations in their faith are my favorite parts of what I do.”
“I love being able to help change each child’s life by immersing them in a love of God, our Catholic faith, and build foundations for learning which will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”