Music and Drama
Children explore rhythm, movement, and creative expression through hands-on music and drama. They learn fundamentals like melody and notation while building confidence through storytelling, puppetry, and simple performances.
The Gardner School of St. Louis Park
Where Young Learners Feel Supported and Welcome
Trusted Childcare and Preschool in St. Louis Park
At The Gardner School of St. Louis Park, children learn and grow in a calm, thoughtfully designed environment that supports early academics, creativity, and social-emotional development. Conveniently located just off I-394 and Park Place Boulevard—minutes from downtown Minneapolis—our school offers families a high-quality early learning experience rooted in warmth, connection, and care. Serving children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, we provide a supportive place where children feel known, encouraged, and excited to learn.
Where Children Love to Learn
Inside our inviting classrooms, teachers guide early literacy, math, problem-solving, and social-emotional skills through a research-based curriculum and hands-on exploration. Children enjoy indoor and outdoor playscapes, a Kids’ Café, a private nursing room, and thoughtfully arranged spaces that help them learn and play with confidence. We partner closely with families to nurture each child at their own pace, creating a supportive foundation for the years ahead.
Location
Inside this School
Learning
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Our research-based curriculum supports early literacy, math, creativity, and social-emotional development. Teachers use hands-on activities, purposeful play, and consistent routines to build confidence and strong academic foundations for kindergarten and beyond.
Safety and Health
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Two secure entry checkpoints, age-appropriate safety protocols, and monitored classroom visibility help create a safe learning environment. Our team is certified in pediatric first aid and CPR, and healthy meals in the Kids’ Café support daily nourishment and comfort.
Environment and Design
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Bright, well-organized classrooms and warm, natural materials create a calm atmosphere where children feel comfortable and ready to explore. Indoor and outdoor playscapes—including a covered outdoor play area—encourage movement, independence, and joyful play.
Community
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Families appreciate our real-time parent communication, daily check-ins, and welcoming school culture. With an easy-to-access location in the St. Louis Park neighborhood, our school offers a supportive and convenient experience for busy families.
Academically-Focused Programs
At The Gardner School, learning truly begins with care. Our infant classrooms provide a nurturing start built on a nationally recognized, research-based curriculum that supports early learning and development. With teachers who understand both the science and the soul of early education, babies grow in an environment that builds trust, curiosity, and confidence from the very beginning.
Toddlers are natural explorers, full of curiosity, movement, and new words waiting to bloom. At The Gardner School, our toddler classrooms nurture and celebrate this growing independence through play-based learning and intentional teaching. Each day builds confidence, language, and friendship in an environment that’s safe, structured, and full of joy. Our early childhood education program develops the whole child — encouraging physical coordination, emotional confidence, and early cognitive growth in every discovery.
Two-year-olds are bursting with curiosity and confidence. At The Gardner School, our classrooms encourage this new independence through hands-on learning, nurturing guidance, and joyful discovery. Teachers help children explore, experiment, and build social and self-help skills in a safe environment where learning and laughter go hand in hand. In this two-year-old early learning classroom, children begin to strengthen emotional regulation, independence, and empathy while exploring the world around them.
Preschoolers are natural problem-solvers and collaborators. At The Gardner School, our classrooms inspire curiosity, confidence, and creativity through hands-on learning and purposeful structure. Teachers guide children through new concepts in literacy, math, science, and art, helping them build independence, friendships, and a lifelong love of learning. Our preschool classrooms encourage critical thinking and pre-academic foundations that set the stage for kindergarten success.
Pre-K is a milestone year filled with confidence, curiosity, and preparation for what’s next. At The Gardner School, our teachers guide children through meaningful, play-based learning that builds academic readiness, social skills, and independence. With a curriculum designed around kindergarten preparation, students develop the focus, responsibility, and love of learning that will carry them into elementary school and beyond. Our Pre-K program helps children grow the attention, independence, and social skills they need to feel confident and ready for kindergarten.
Enrichment Classes
Sports
Active, structured classes help children build coordination, strength, and confidence. Through sports like soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and yoga, they practice teamwork, listening skills, and healthy movement habits.
Martial Arts
Martial arts introduce balance, discipline, and respectful movement in a safe, beginner-friendly format. Children learn basic stances and controlled motions that build focus, confidence, and body awareness.
Dance and Movement
Children build balance, coordination, and spatial awareness through beginner dance and creative movement. With simple steps, stretching, and expressive motion, they strengthen motor skills while growing confidence and joy in how their bodies move.
S.T.E.A.M.
Hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math experiences spark curiosity and critical thinking. Through simple experiments and creative projects, children explore how things work and discover the joy of learning.
Foreign Language
Through songs, games, and simple vocabulary, children are introduced to the basics of a second language to enable basic conversational skills. Lessons built around familiar themes make learning fun, natural, and age-appropriate.
Seasonal Experiences
Children participate in seasonal, multi-week, or pop-up enrichment classes that may include cooking, gardening, or exciting seasonal activities. These experiences offer fresh ways to learn, create, and discover.
School Leadership
Tiffany Olson
Executive School Director
Tiffany Olson
Executive School Director
Tiffany joined The Gardner School in January 2024 as the Minnesota Director in Training before becoming the Executive School Director at The Gardner School of St. Louis Park in November 2024. Each morning, she’s energized by the joy and wonder children bring as they arrive ready to learn and play.
Jennifer Laguerre
Assistant Director
Jennifer Laguerre
Assistant Director
Jennifer loves the connections she builds with children and families each morning at The Gardner School of St. Louis Park. A warm smile and a familiar face help set a positive tone for the day, and she enjoys being part of those simple, joyful moments that make everyone feel at home. Since joining The Gardner School in October 2023, Jennifer has loved watching the school grow – seeing classrooms fill with laughter, learning, and meaningful relationships between teachers, children, and families.
Schedule a Tour
Please select a date and time that works best for you (tours are ~45 minutes). We recommend visiting in the morning between 9:30 – 11:30 am. Of course, we completely understand that is not always possible with families’ schedules and welcome families to join whenever is most convenient for you. If you aren’t ready to tour yet or these times below don’t work for your family, use the Contact Us button below, and we will coordinate a time together.
Contact Us
If you aren’t yet ready to schedule a tour or the available times do not work for your family, please click Contact Us to connect with someone from The Gardner School.