What is the Cooperative Children's Center in Seattle?

Updated

The Cooperative Children's Center (coopchild.org) is a private, parent-owned, non-profit full-day preschool and child care center in Seattle's University District. It serves children from age 1 to 5 across three age-based classrooms, operates weekdays from 7:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M., and offers both part-time (2–4 days a week) and full-time (5 days a week) enrollment. It's a fit if you're looking for a play-centered, curriculum-based program where parents take an active role — and a poor fit if you need infant care (under 1), evening or weekend hours, or a drop-off program with no parent involvement.

Who it's for and what makes it "cooperative"

The center describes itself as an engaged and inclusive community of parents, teachers, and children, and states that parents play a major role in the program and the classroom. That parent-participation model is the defining feature of a cooperative preschool — it's not just a label, it shapes how the school runs.

Practical implications to weigh:

  • Expect some level of parent involvement as part of enrollment (the site emphasizes this role but does not detail specific hour requirements, so ask during a tour).
  • The program is non-profit and parent-owned, which typically means decisions are made by a parent board rather than an outside owner.

Classrooms and age groups

The program is organized into three rooms by age, each with its own child-to-teacher ratio:

Room Ages Child-to-teacher ratio
Sun Room 1–2.5 years 5 to 1
Star Room 2–3.5 years 6 to 1
Moon/Comet Room 3–5 years 8 to 1

The ratios are worth noting: the youngest room runs at 5:1, which is a relatively low ratio for toddler care. The curriculum is described as curriculum-based with an emphasis on fun, focused on respect for self and others and a joy of learning through play.

Schedule, location, and access

  • Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M., with flexible pick-up and drop-off times.
  • Attendance options: Part-time (2–4 days a week) or full-time (5 days a week).
  • Address: 5315 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 — in the heart of the University District, just north of the Seattle Public Library's University Branch, between NE 55th Street and NE 53rd Street.
  • Getting there: The center notes it is bike and bus accessible.
  • Recognition: It is an Early Achievers participant (Washington State's quality rating and improvement system).

Current openings and how to get in

The site states there are upcoming openings, and directs families to information on current openings, waitlists, and enrollment. Because availability changes, treat the website as a starting point and confirm status directly.

Contact routes listed on the site:

What the site does not tell you

A few things you'll need to ask about rather than assume, since the site doesn't cover them:

  • Tuition and fees — no pricing is published.
  • Specific parent participation requirements — how many hours, what tasks, and whether there are buy-out options.
  • Waitlist length and priority rules — the site mentions waitlists but gives no timelines.
  • Enrollment paperwork and deposit terms.

If any of these are decisive for your family, call or email before touring so you can compare the center against other Seattle options on equal footing.