A new early childhood education center is serving around 100 students in the Sterling Ranch area since opening in July. 

Mandy and Mike Fawcett opened the 474th Primrose Academy this summer at 8159 Piney Rivere, Littleton. It’s the first two-story center in Colorado and features 11 classrooms for children from six weeks old to prekindergarten. 

The Sterling Ranch school is already at teaching capacity and running a waitlist thanks to high demand in the area.

Fawcett credits part of the demand to the popular Primrose Academy curriculum, which incorporates life skills and educational basics in small groups with the opportunity for children to choose how to learn. Some classes introduce Spanish or American Sign Language as well.

“Primrose blends (child-directed and teacher-directed) philosophies together because we all learn differently,” Fawcett said. “We all need a little structure in our lives, but we like to make choices as well.”

Additionally, the school works with parents for potty-training and accomplishing other life milestones. 

Both of Fawcett’s daughters went through Primrose schools, which she said was critical to them being successful in school in later years and convinced her of Primrose’s approach to learning.

“It really boiled down to how prepared my girls were for kindergarten,” Fawcett said. “They knew how to act in a classroom, how to socialize with adults and kids, manners.” 

Primrose Sterling Ranch continues to hire teachers in an effort to open up more classroom spots, since the school can serve 172 students fully staffed.

Though competition for educators is fierce, Primrose helps train teachers to get their early childhood credentials, offers a week-long onboarding and uses a standardized curriculum across its schools, so teachers can focus on implementation.

Fawcett, who has worked at other Primrose locations in a variety of positions, said she was excited to open her own location and share the Primrose experience with more families. Mentoring both teachers and students is the highlight of her days.

“I love going into all of the classrooms,” she said. “Also, being able to support and guide our educators to help them set goals and reach those goals.”

Currently, Primrose Sterling Ranch is offering full days for students from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays year-round. For more information, go to www.primroseschools.com/schools/sterling-ranch.