Preschool of the Arts

Preschool of the Arts is a preschool in Mt Pleasant, SC, located at 477 Mathis Ferry Rd. Situated within the Charleston Center for Jewish Life, it is one of the few Reggio Emilia preschools in the greater Charleston region. The school serves children from 18 months to 5 years old in mixed-aged classrooms, offering 2, 3, and 5-day options with morning programs from 9:00 to 12:15 and extended day programs from 9:00 to 3:00.

The curriculum integrates fine arts, nature, science, math, and music. Children explore media including acrylics, watercolors, finger painting, crayons, chalks, markers, pastels, and clay. A nature component features year-round outdoor observation and organic gardens. Jewish traditions and moral values are woven into daily activities, with holidays such as Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Chanukah, Purim, and Passover celebrated with parent involvement. Teachers act as guides who document learning and prepare provocations to spark imagination.

The team includes Executive Director Sarah Refson, who co-directs the Center for Jewish Life. Maris holds a degree in Child Development from East Carolina University and has experience in Reggio Emilia-inspired settings in Colorado and Southeast Asia. Shauna holds a degree in teaching and education and has worked in international schools, emphasizing outdoor learning. Admissions require scheduling a tour, observing classrooms, and submitting an application with a non-refundable fee.

Families report that children thrive in the nurturing, warm, and creative environment. The school welcomes families of all backgrounds and focuses on building self-worth through play and collaborative learning.

Preschool of the Arts combines its Reggio Emilia philosophy with a rich arts and nature curriculum to provide a distinctive early education experience in Mt Pleasant.

The preschool sits on Mathis Ferry Road, just a short distance from the Harbor Entrepreneur Center and Mount Pleasant Fire Department Station 3.

BizScoreAI gives the business a Technical score of 89 out of 100, ensuring the website is secure and readable for search engines. A Discoverability score of 75 out of 100 confirms that AI crawlers can find every page, allowing AI assistants to recommend the preschool.

Services:

• Hebrew School
• Shabbat Services
• Youth Programs