Private Pre-Kindergarten at Mountainside
Program Overview
Interested in a Private Pre-Kindergarten that sparks curiosity, creativity, and confidence?
We’re accepting enrollments for the 2026 – 2027 school year at registration.bar-t.com!
Bar-T’s Private Pre-Kindergarten program at Mountainside offers a high-quality, hands-on, child-centered learning environment inspired by the European “forest school” philosophy. Our approach encourages exploration, independent thinking, and real-world learning – all within a caring, structured setting led by certified early childhood educators.
At Mountainside, your child will build the academic and social foundation to thrive in kindergarten and beyond.
To be eligible for the 2026 – 2027 school year, children must be 4 years old by December 31, 2026 and fully toilet trained.
How to Register:
- Visit registration.bar-t.com
- Log in or create an account
- Select “Pre-Kindergarten”
- Choose “Mountainside – Pre-K” as your program
- Select your desired start date
- Choose the child you are enrolling
- Select your preferred plan (hours)
- Submit your registration
Fees to Secure Your Space
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$100 non-refundable registration fee
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$250 non-refundable deposit (applied to the first month’s tuition)
Total due at registration: $350
No additional payments will be required until August 15, 2026.
2026 – 2027 Tuition
We are maintaining our current Mountainside Pre-K tuition rates for the 2026 – 2027 school year.
Location:
Bar-T Pre-Kindergarten takes place at Mountainside on a 115-acre farm campus located in Frederick County, just minutes from I-270.
Address: 2914 Roderick Rd, Frederick, MD 21704, United States
Our Private Pre-Kindergarten program at Mountainside is inspired by the European “forest school” model, emphasizing outdoor learning, exploration, and child-led discovery in a nurturing, nature-rich environment.
At Mountainside, your child will learn and grow both inside the classroom and out in nature. They’ll explore the stream in search of crayfish and salamanders, create masterpieces in the arts & crafts barn, express themselves through music and dance on our outdoor stage, and enjoy daily physical activity on our manicured ball fields, 30-foot playground, basketball court, and street hockey rink.
This unique, nature-based approach provides children with diverse, real-world learning experiences that spark curiosity, confidence, and creativity.
For more information about our curriculum, please see below.
Our Pre-K Curriculum
Our curriculum is based on the guidelines of the Creative Curriculum, nationally known for its forward-thinking model. It focuses on meeting the needs of individual children, while honoring and respecting the role that teachers play in making learning engaging and meaningful for every child. The Creative Curriculum focuses on the following developmental domains:
- Personal and Social
- Language and Literacy
- Mathematical Thinking
- Scientific Thinking
- Social Studies
- The Arts
- Physical Development and Health
Sample Activities
- Open Centers for Skill Development
- Morning Class Meeting
- Movement and Music in our amphitheatre
- Small-Group Activities
- Independent Choice Learning Centers
- Snack
- Stream & Trail Exploration
- Outdoor Play
- Play on the Farm
- Harvest & Cooking
- Story Time
- Lunch
- Quiet/Rest Time
- Afternoon Round-up
Dates & Rates
Our Mountainside Bar-T Pre-Kindergarten Program follows the Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) calendar and is open and closed in alignment with FCPS, including school breaks and snow days. No Pre-K classroom instruction is provided on days when FCPS is closed.
Pre-K students enrolled in a full-time plan that includes wrap-around care (extended hours outside of the regular Pre-K classroom day) may attend MAC (our Mountainside Kids Club program) on FCPS closure days. MAC offers a full day of Bar-T fun from 7:00am to 6:30pm, and Pre-K children in attendance will be grouped with kindergarten-aged peers.
Families not enrolled in daily wrap-around care may request drop-in care on FCPS closure days, subject to availability.
While our teachers provide instruction every day, we understand that each family’s needs are unique. We have a variety of options when it comes to the days you’d like your child to attend and the length of the day. Reach out to help@bar-t.com to create your own schedule that best fits your family’s needs.
Pre-Kindergarten programs are 5 days/week and families have an option of which hours their child can attend each day:
Mountainside Private Pre-Kindergarten Rates for the 2026-2027 School Year:
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9:00 AM – 1:00 PM: $895/month
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9:00 AM – 3:00 PM: $1,060/month
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9:00 AM – 6:30 PM: $1,300/month
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7:00 AM – 6:30 PM: $1,450/month
Registration
Ready to enroll in our Private Pre-Kindergarten at Mountainside?
Families may register by visiting registration.bar-t.com, selecting Mountainside – Pre-Kindergarten, and choosing your desired plan.
Fees: $100 registration fee + $250 deposit (applied to first month’s tuition).
Next payment: Not due until August 15, 2026.
We continue to accept 2025 – 2026 enrollments on a rolling basis as space allows.
Need help with the process? Visit our “How to Register Page” for step-by-step instructions.
Have you found your Pre-K class?
While we’d love to have a Bar-T program at every elementary school, we’re not quite there yet. Check our School Programs Directory to see if we have a program nearby for your child. If we don’t, click the link to find out how to get Bar-T at your school!
