Lakewood Preschool Cooperative

Our Mission

Lakewood Preschool Cooperative is a neighborhood-based preschool and family support program, designed as a cooperative effort among family members, staff, neighbors and volunteers.

The vision of the program is for all children to enter school ready to learn-emotionally, cognitively, socially, and physically, and for families to be prepared to help their children achieve success in school and life.

The mission of the program is a follows:

1. To prepare the children for successful entry and performance in the public school system;

2. To provide a forum in which families can receive the information, resources and opportunities necessary to find solutions to common problems;

3. To support the children and their families as they advance through the public school system.

Some History

Lakewood Preschool Cooperative (LPC) was founded in 1995 in response to the needs of children and families living in the Lakewood Community of Charlotte, NC.  First Presbyterian Church applied for and received a grant from Smart Start.  The architectural firm, FWA Group designed the facility free of charge, and Habitat for Humanity offered to oversee volunteer efforts to build the preschool.  A non-profit corporation was formed by member of first Presbyterian and others already involved in the Lakewood community.  The original grant increased sevenfold as more than 700 individuals and 200 local businesses, churches and foundations donated dollars, materials and time to build and furnish a state of the art preschool facility.

While the facility was under construction, the first Lakewood class began in October 1996 in borrowed space at a nearby church.  The following May, fourteen children (aged 3 and 4) moved into the new preschool building.  Today, two multi-aged classrooms serve more than 25 children of many different cultures.  Many of thie children did not speak English when they started the program.

The preschool meet four hours per day, five days per week according to the Charlotte Mecklenburg school calendar.

Program Description
What is special about LPC?

Lakewood Preschool is a tuition-free program,  Rather than pay for their children to attend preschool, caregivers agree to assist in the classroom each month and to attend weekly education and support sessions.  Funding for LPC comes from churches, foundations, businesses and individual donations.