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Paramus School District

Early Childhood Center

Children's hands hold clay rainbow and globe figures

Paramus Early Childhood Center Registration Information for 2026–2027 - Date/Time/Registration Link Coming Soon!

The 3- and 4-year-old 2026–2027 Early Childhood Center registration will be in early February. The date, time, and registration link will be posted shortly.

Paramus Residents - Tuition is $950.00/month. A $950.00 non-refundable deposit (tuition for the month of September) will be due when a seat is secured.

Out of district - All out-of-district registrations will be automatically placed on a waitlist. After all Paramus residents have been registered, if a seat becomes available, Ms. Rafferty will contact you. Tuition is $1,250/month. A $1,250.00 non-refundable deposit (tuition for the month of September) will be due when a seat is secured.

For more information regarding the program, please view this Early Childhood Center slide show. If you have additional questions, please contact Ms. Rafferty via email.

Please note the following important information:
  • If you secure a seat you will be directed to submit the $950.00 non-refundable (first month’s tuition) deposit. Ms. Rafferty will send you an email with registration forms and instructions to complete your registration. Please check your junk/spam folders for an email from jrafferty@paramusschools.org.
  • If you do not secure a seat, you will receive an email stating you have been placed on a wait list.
  • All out of district registrations will be automatically placed on a waitlist. After all Paramus residents have been registered, if a seat becomes available, Ms. Rafferty will contact you.
  • The 3-year-old ECC classes are held at Paramus High School.
  • Three 4-year-old classes are held at Parkway Elementary School and one 4-year-old class is held at Memorial School. (Please note: When possible, the Memorial class is comprised of students with the home schools of Memorial and Ridge Ranch).
  • The ECC programs do not have before or after school programs.
  • The district does not provide ECC bussing transportation for general education students.

Paramus Early Childhood Center History and Philosophy

Since 1973, when Dr. Ben Barbarosh established the Paramus Early Childhood Center, we have strived to create and maintain an atmosphere in which children feel valued and respected. In a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment, we encourage the development of self-confidence, self-respect, and the joy of learning.

Since its inception, the ECC program at Paramus High School has integrated with the high school child development classes. The child development high school students balance each week between the child development classroom, where they learn theory, and the ECC, where they put that theory into practice through hands-on learning with the children. This multi-age concept supports learning for both the preschoolers and the high school students.

The ECC has expanded to include a program for three-year-old preschoolers, which has four classrooms and a playground facility located in the ECC wing of Paramus High School. The Parkway Elementary School four-year-old preschool program has four classrooms and playground facilities.