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A photo of the Learning Grove inside the Joplin Early Childhood facility, including sand and water tables and an indoor tricycle and scooter track.

Welcome to Joplin Early Childhood!

Joplin Early Childhood offers Joplin's preschoolers a safe, fun learning environment to prepare for elementary school. With amazing staff, parents, and community partners, JEC is where the youngest Eagles are nurtured, valued, and the foundation is laid for a lifetime of continuous growth and learning.

Joplin Early Childhood serves 3 and 4 year old Joplin residents at the Joplin Early Childhood location and at several elementary school locations. We provide an academic, social-emotional and developmentally appropriate education for our preschool students. Half day, full day and childcare classrooms are available. 

Because we operate as a needs-based preschool and spaces are limited, we do not offer open enrollment.

For more information on how to place your child’s name on our enrollment waiting list, please visit our enrollment page. 

Below is an overview of the preschool offerings at Joplin Early Childhood.  

3-Year-Old Half-Day Preschool Classrooms: 

  • Half day preschool session, primarily in the morning 
  • Blended classrooms composed of both special education students and general education students. These classrooms typically have 10-12 students rostered to the classroom. 
  • ADA (Average Daily Attendance) classrooms composed of 20 three year old students in the morning classes. 
  • Specialized classrooms, providing special education services for students who require a smaller setting with specialized instruction. 

4-Year-Old Half-Day Preschool Classrooms:

  • Half-day classrooms, primarily in the afternoon session.
  • Blended classrooms composed of both special education students and general education students. These classrooms typically have 10-12 students rostered to the classroom. 
  • ADA (Average Daily Attendance) classrooms composed of 20 four year old students in the afternoon classes. 
  • Specialized classrooms, providing special education services for students who require a smaller setting with specialized instruction. 

4-Year-Old Full-Day Flight School Preschool Classrooms: 

  • Full day classes for 4-year-old students.
  • Limited space is available, with class sizes of 16 students.
  • Students are required to be fully potty trained.
  • Classroom locations include:
    • Joplin Early Childhood (2 Flight School Classrooms)
    • Irving Elementary (1 Flight School Classroom)
    • Royal Heights Elementary (1 Flight School Classroom)
    • Soaring Heights Elementary (1 Flight School Classroom)
    • Jefferson Elementary (1 Flight School Classroom)
    • McKinley Elementary (1 Flight School Classroom)

Childcare Classrooms at Joplin Early Childhood

  • Limited spaces available 
  • Subsidy Licensed Childcare
  • Yearly Enrollment Fee 
  • Daily Rate per day (half-day opposite of Preschool class enrollment)
  • Before- and After-school care for JEC Flight School students with a daily rate.