Who We Are
The moment you step into The Academy Early Childhood Education, you can sense the energy of a school built around childhood wonder. Laughter fills the hallways, tiny voices proudly share new discoveries, and every classroom is designed to help your little one explore, move, create, and grow with confidence. Our teachers believe learning should feel meaningful, hands-on, and exciting, which is why each day is filled with play, imagination, friendship, and moments that make your child feel truly valued. Families throughout Denver, Arvada, and Westminster love that our school is perceived less like a program and more like a connected community where your child is encouraged to shine exactly as they are.
Parent Reviews
Stephanie G.
June 4, 2025
We love the staff, the curriculum, and the very caring teachers, who have always been there to meet my daughter where she is at and recognize her needs. I would 100% recommend the Academy!!
Felicia M.
May 20, 2025
My daughter has been going to The Academy since she turned 2. She's 5 now and going to start kindergarten in the fall. We love The Academy teachers and all staff. Everyone pitches in and has always been responsive to any requests/questions we've had. We get the regular updates to the app, which are also helpful. Love when we get the pictures. 🙂
Abbey M.
April 8, 2025
The transition into the new program was smooth and stress-free, thanks to the warm and welcoming staff. It’s clear that everyone genuinely cares and is committed to supporting the child & their families.
Kelsey M.
March 11, 2025
We love the Academy. The teachers are nurturing, caring, and communicative. We have had a positive experience for all 3 of our children from 1yr old through Pre-K.
Our Story
The Academy Early Childhood Education began in 1994 with a heartfelt dream to create something families could truly lean on during the earliest years of parenthood. Our founders believed your child deserved more than a traditional child care experience. They envisioned a school where your little one could feel deeply loved, confidently supported, and free to learn through play, discovery, creativity, and meaningful relationships that help shape who they become.
Today, our Campuses in Arvada, Colorado, and Westminster, Colorado, continue to carry that same spirit forward. The moment families walk through our doors, they often tell us they sense it immediately, the warmth in our classrooms, the joyful energy of the children, and the genuine care our teachers show every child and family they welcome each day. Every space in our school was intentionally created to help your little one feel safe enough to explore, brave enough to try new things, and comfortable enough to simply be themselves.
Jessie Castillo, our School Director, shares, "Being a part of early education is such a wonderful feeling. Knowing that we are changing so many young children's lives is something we are incredibly proud of and never take for granted. Watching children grow and learn every day is the highlight of my job."
Since becoming part of the Endeavor Schools family, our commitment to nurturing your child with compassion, encouragement, and genuine connection has only become stronger, allowing us to continue creating a school community where families feel supported and little ones truly thrive.
Our mission is to make sure every child who walks through our doors has the very best early learning experience possible. We are dedicated to providing a structured yet joyful environment where your little one feels loved, safe, and seen from the moment they arrive. By supporting emotional, social, physical, and intellectual growth in equal measure, we help your child build a strong foundation for school and for life.
We want your child to leave our school each day feeling capable, valued, and excited about what they learned. When children know they are respected and supported, they are more willing to try new things, ask questions, and develop the confidence they will carry into kindergarten and far beyond. Our vision is for every family in our Denver community to feel that our school is a second home for their little one.
Our curriculum blends The Creative Curriculum with project and play-based learning, giving your child a rich and meaningful path to growth. Through hands-on activities, classroom investigations, and creative exploration, your little one will build early literacy, math, science, problem-solving, and social skills in ways that feel natural and joyful. Our academic programs are tailored to each child because we know that every child learns differently and deserves to be met right where they are. According to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, curiosity helps prepare the brain for learning by activating attention, memory, motivation, and deeper understanding. That is exactly why play and wonder sit at the heart of everything we do. Your child will discover how the world works, build a real understanding, and learn how exciting it can be to figure things out for themselves.
What Makes Our Early Childhood Education Center Different?
Many families come to us after feeling uncertain about other childcare or daycare options. You are looking for a community that offers more than supervision and for a place where your child will be engaged, suppFamilies come to us for many reasons, but what we hear most often is that you are searching for a place where your child will be emotionally secure and genuinely happy. That is the experience we have been quietly building for families across the Denver area for three decades.orted, and truly understood.
What sets us apart is how seriously we take the small moments. Your child will be greeted by name each morning, listened to throughout the day, and given the space to grow at a pace that feels right for them. Jessie Castillo shares, "I believe that every child and teacher learns differently. I am here to help provide support and love to everyone who enters my building. I believe that everyone is unique and can bring something to the school that helps make our school the community it is. We are not just a school but a large family."
This sense of family is something parents across Arvada, Westminster, and the wider Denver area tell us they feel from their very first visit. Our teachers take the time to truly know your child, to notice the small things, and to celebrate the moments that matter most.
Early Childhood Leadership & Staff
Families often ask us during tours how we manage to know each child so well. The answer comes down to our educators, who are intentional, deeply trained, and genuinely invested in your family's experience. Every member of our team completes ongoing professional learning through Colorado's Professional Development Information System (PDIS), and all of our educators are CPR and First Aid certified, with continued training in developmentally appropriate practices, classroom safety, and social-emotional support.
Jessie Castillo
School Leader, The Academy Early Childhood Education, Westminster
Jessie has been part of The Academy family for 10 years and has worked with young children for more than 15 years. Her warmth, leadership, and genuine love for early childhood shape the joyful, welcoming culture our families know and trust. She is passionate about building meaningful relationships with children, families, and her team, and she leads with the belief that every child deserves to feel safe, loved, and celebrated each day they spend with us.
Achievements & Accreditations
For more than 30 years, The Academy Early Childhood Education Center has been a place where young children are deeply cared for, gently guided, and celebrated for exactly who they are. Families across Denver communities choose our school because they feel the difference the moment they walk through our doors. Every member of our team is CPR and First Aid certified and trained in developmentally appropriate practices that support the whole child, not just academically but also emotionally and socially. Our research-based approach to early childhood education is reflected in meaningful outcomes, including 96% of our students meeting or exceeding the GOLD kindergarten readiness benchmark, based on national academic and developmental measures. This milestone represents far more than numbers. It reflects confidence, curiosity, and children who are truly prepared to step forward into their next chapter.
"I truly love seeing children smile and laugh each day, that is what brings me so much joy."
- Jessie Castillo, School Leader of The Academy Early Childhood Education Westminster.
Endeavor Schools is a community of more than 100 schools across the country, brought together by a shared commitment to caring for children during the most important years of their lives. Each school is thoughtfully connected to its local community, creating environments where children feel safe, supported, and encouraged to grow. Behind every classroom is a team of educators and parents who understand how much these early experiences matter, and who are dedicated to helping children build confidence, develop essential skills, and find a genuine love for learning. At the heart of Endeavor Schools is a focus on one simple goal: to give every child the support and foundation they need to thrive, both in school and in life.