Annandale Cooperative Preschool.

NAEYC Accredited

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) only accredits early childhood programs that meet its Early Childhood Program Standards. It is a deep and thorough evaluation of quality that only 7% of programs nationwide achieve. The standards were revised in February 2025 and cover nine areas:

  • Relationships: a caring, equitable community where every child and family belongs.
  • Families and Community: reciprocal partnerships with families and connections to the wider community.
  • Curriculum: a planned curriculum with meaningful goals across every area of development.
  • Teaching: teaching that responds to each child’s development and learning.
  • Assessment: observing, documenting, and assessing each child’s progress.
  • Health: promoting the health and well-being of children and staff.
  • Physical Environment: safe, engaging, and accessible indoor and outdoor spaces.
  • Professionalism: educators who meet professional standards and keep learning.
  • Leadership and Management: leadership and systems that support staff, children, and families.

The full standards are on NAEYC’s website. Achieving NAEYC Accreditation is a multistep process that involves self evaluation, program improvement and evaluation by a NAEYC Assessor.

How long has Annandale Cooperative Preschool been accredited?

Continuously since 1987, most recently renewed in 2024. The school is also licensed by the Virginia Department of Education as a child day center, and the adult-to-child ratio in every class meets or exceeds the guidelines of the Virginia Department of Education and NAEYC.

Has the school been recognized in other ways?

Northern Virginia Magazine named it one of the region’s top preschools in 2017 and 2025. NAEYC highlighted it in 2014 as a provider of outstanding programs to young children. It was the 2009 Nickelodeon Parents’ Pick for Best Washington DC Preschool. Its teachers have earned teaching awards from the Potomac Association of Cooperative Teachers, the Virginia Cooperative Preschool Council, Parent Cooperative Preschools International, and Fairfax County Public Schools. The full list is on the awards page.

NAEYC Accredited badge over colorful sand buckets

NAEYC Accredited

ACPS has met the high standards of NAEYC accredition continuously since 1987. All of our teachers hold degrees in early childhood education and related fields. We are proud to be the only NAEYC accredited cooperative preschool in both Fairfax County and all of Northern Virginia.