A Cooperative Preschool in Portland, Maine

We are are now enrolling for the 2023–2024 school year!  Please look for more details on our Enrollment page.

The Children’s Nursery School (CNS) is a co-operative and NAEYC accredited preschool nestled in the courtyard of downtown’s historic State Street Church. Daily, students nurture meaningful friendships while challenging their social, emotional, creative and intellectual boundaries.

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CNS has taught my boys the real skills they need to be successful in life: kindness, compassion, empathy and love.

Teo and Stephanie Doyle

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Not only does our daughter have wonderful teachers and school friends at CNS, she has a network of other parents with whom she feels extremely comfortable. One of my favorite parts of CNS is watching these relationships develop, and knowing that her first experience of the world without me is rich with interesting, thoughtful, loving adults.

Kitty Hudson-Smith