Great things start here
Why Choose CCC
At CCC, children don’t just prepare for kindergarten—they build confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning in a warm, cooperative community that has supported families for nearly a century.
Our School by the Numbers
99 Years
How long we’ve been around
25.5 Years
Average Teacher Tenure
(Core Program)
5:1
Student to Adult Ratio
(Core Program)
25
Classroom size
17 Years
Average Teacher Tenure
(All Programs)
7:1
Student to Adult Ratio
(Extended Care Program)
9 Reasons Families Choose CCC
#1
Teacher Experience and Tenure
While national averages for preschool teacher tenure range from as low as 5 years, CCC’s teachers have an average tenure of 17 years across all programs, with 25.5 years in our core morning program. In fact, some parents today were taught by the very same teachers who now teach their children.
This remarkable stability means children benefit from deeply consistent and knowledgeable educators who truly understand each child’s learning style, temperament, and developmental needs through decades of experience. Long-term teacher presence also strengthens continuity in the curriculum, classroom culture, and learning practices, creating a secure and supportive environment where children can thrive.
While there’s no official record, CCC is likely among the top preschools in the country for teacher retention and tenure, demonstrating the strength of our cooperative model and the quality of CCC as an employer and workplace. Hey Guinness World Records, give us a call!
#2
Community and Life-Long Friends
“I have a thousand friends, but not a single person to feed my cat.” - Esther Perel on the dissonant experience of intimacy in the age of social media.
When CCC was founded, its creators wanted to counter exactly that kind of isolation—especially the loneliness that can come with parenting in a culture that often centers on the nuclear family. Since then, generations of parents and family caregivers have built a genuine community here. United by a shared commitment to the children and the cooperative work of running the school, families exchange resources, strategies, struggles, and experiences. Most importantly, they share their time, attention, and care. At CCC, you will always find someone to feed your cat.
This sense of connection often lasts long after a child leaves CCC. Families form deep, life-long friendships, and many return for reunions, playdates, and school events to reconnect with old friends and teachers. For both children and adults, CCC becomes a community that extends well beyond the classroom.
#3
Parent Education and Enrichment
At CCC, parents play an active role in their child’s early education, stepping into the classroom not just as helpers but as partners in the learning process. Ongoing education is an essential component of the experience. Family caregivers learn skills for resolving conflicts between children, techniques for engaging children in creative play, positive approaches to setting boundaries, and ways to discuss identity and bias with children.
These experiences often carry over into family life. Many parents feel more confident in setting boundaries, more creative in engaging their children at home, and more thoughtful in how they approach conversations about emotions, fairness, and identity. By being active participants in the classroom, caregivers are not only enriching their child’s school experience but also deepening their own understanding of what it means to support a child’s growth.
#4
Affordability
CCC is often the most affordable option compared to traditional preschools. Not because we cut corners, but because we do it a little differently. Parent participation is a core part of our model, which lowers labor costs and allows us to keep tuition significantly lower.
We also recognize that families have different financial realities. CCC offers mutual aid to support families when they need it, and our tuition bucket system functions as a sliding scale so families can choose a level that reflects their ability to pay. This approach helps keep CCC accessible and sustainable.
#5
Play and Evidence-Based Programming
Unlike Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and programs with academic curricula, CCC prioritizes the joy of childhood with ample opportunities for free play and outdoor exploration. This might seem like just fun but it’s backed by science. There is a mountain of research showing the lasting benefits of play-based learning in early childhood. Play is how young children make sense of the world. Through thoughtfully designed, child-centered activities, children build social-emotional skills, strengthen problem-solving abilities, and develop self-regulation…all while exploring and having fun.
Studies consistently link play-based learning to stronger social-emotional skills, higher academic achievement later on, and better long-term outcomes.
#6
Preschool for People, Not Profit
At CCC, being part of a co-op means you quite literally own the place. CCC is democratic and transparently run. Families aren’t just customers of the school - they’re the stakeholders and decision-makers. Together, we vote on school policies, set the tuition, and shape the direction of the program.
If something isn’t working, you’re empowered to bring it up and work with the community to make a change. Every member has a voice, and that shared responsibility is what makes the co-op experience so unique and rewarding.
#7
Model Community Building
We all actively work to make the school better. By volunteering our time, making decisions together, and pitching in to keep the school running, we’re modeling for our children that community is something you build through generosity, collaboration, and care.
Kids notice. They see you head out for a Sunday morning maintenance party. When you come home, they’ll ask, “What did you build at CCC today?” On Monday morning, they can spot your contributions woven into the space.
It’s a powerful lesson: they can shape their world into a strong, caring community through cooperation and shared responsibility. By modeling these behaviors, we teach children the value of volunteerism, civic engagement, activism, and the idea that they can make a tangible difference in the world around them.
#8
Unparalleled Classroom Access
One of the most meaningful aspects of the co-op model is the close relationships families build with CCC’s teachers. Because parents spend time in the classroom, they develop real, lasting connections with the people caring for their children each day. With about four hours a week of parent-teacher interaction, trust grows naturally, creating a warm, collaborative environment where parents feel comfortable sharing concerns, celebrating milestones, and working together to support each child. CCC teachers become an extended part of a child’s caregiving team.
Being in the classroom regularly also lets you see your child in ways you never would otherwise—how they navigate friendships, solve problems, express creativity, handle frustration. You'll see them flourish in ways that might surprise you.
#9
A Rich Heritage
CCC has been part of the East Bay’s educational landscape for nearly 100 years. Our school is even older than the Golden Gate Bridge! CCC reflects a tradition of community-led early childhood education that has endured and evolved over time.
That legacy continues today and into the future. By participating in the co-op, families help carry forward a beloved East Bay institution for the next generation and help the school respond to the needs of children and families over time.
Voices From Real Parents