The Gardner School of Minneapolis
Now Enrolling
90% of a child’s developmental growth happens by the age of 5, which is why a quality early childhood education experience is so important. Give your child a strong start at The Gardner School of Minneapolis, where learning is a joy! We’re enrolling new students of all ages and would love to meet your family. Contact us to schedule a tour and reach out with any questions.
Our school is conveniently located in Minneapolis West, right off the 394 Highway, on the ground level of the LaSalle building, across the street from the Hennepin Arts building. We offer free drop-off and pick-up parking to assist families, too! Our school is also accessible by the Skyway.
Nationally Accredited Through NAEYC With Curriculum-Based Learning
We are enrolling new students at The Gardner School of Minneapolis! Our learning atmosphere nurtures intellectual growth through a variety of visual and audio aids, educational toys, games, puzzles, and learning supplies and is centered around curriculum-based lessons, child-directed activities, and structured play. Your child will also have access to Creative Curriculum, World of Wonders Curriculum, and Learning without Tears Curriculum. We are proud to have achieved the honor of national accreditation through the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAEYC).
The Gardner School is thrilled to be a part of the vibrant Minneapolis metropolitan community with a school conveniently-located in the heart of downtown in the 811 LaSalle building on the ground level. The Gardner School of Minneapolis is more than a traditional preschool or child care facility. With year-round full and part-time child care and early childhood education programs for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, The Gardner School of Minneapolis offers families a stimulating and educationally-engineered space that includes a beautiful indoor playscape, secure rooftop playground, state-of-the-art classrooms, a Kids’ Café and enrichment room, a computer room, and a nursing room. With an excellent staff that includes degreed and highly-qualified teachers in preschool classrooms, The Gardner School of Minneapolis offers a full suite of enrichment classes and our summer camp program, Camp Gardner. Families can also enjoy access to three skyway connections.
School Features
- Academically-focused learning with research-based curriculum
- NAEYC Accredited
- Real-time updates through the parent communications app with photos, nap and feeding times, and school announcements
- Safe and secure environment with two security checkpoints
- Inviting learning environment with four-year degreed lead preschool teachers
- Delicious, healthy meals in the Kids’ Café
- On-site supplemental enrichment classes (sports, music and arts, computers, foreign language) in our enrichment studio and computer lab
- Open-door policy for daily check-ins
- Indoor and outdoor playscapes
- Private nursing suite
Academically-focused Programs
Summer at TGS
Infants
Pre-K
Preschool
Toddlers
Twos
Enrichment Classes
BeSmart Computers
Soccer
Yoga
Spanish
Minneapolis Campus Leadership
Chloe Nelson
School Director
What is your educational background, and what inspired you to pursue a career in early childhood education?
I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education Foundations from the University of Minnesota with a minor in learning Technologies. I have always loved working with young children and always found working in early childhood education to be very rewarding! I have been inspired to continue in this field by seeing how much lifelong learning a child can accomplish in the early childhood education setting!
How long have you been with TGS, and what excites you most about being part of this school community?
I joined TGS in 2025 and have been working with children since 2016! It’s very fulfilling seeing how much dedication and training TGS puts into their teachers and staff. I also love how each school becomes a community of families and teachers with each student’s best interest at heart!
What do you love most about working with children during their early years of development?
I love the wonder that kids have towards everything! Kids at this early age thrive and learn a lot through exploring, playing, and mimicking, which makes it so much fun to work with this age group! It’s always so exciting to see how much growth a student can achieve! I love getting to help students develop in their love of learning, as well as help to give them a great foundation for elementary school!
What is the most rewarding part of your day at TGS?
One of the most rewarding parts is witnessing each child’s growth—whether it’s a toddler taking their first steps or a preschooler mastering a new skill. Seeing their faces light up with joy when they learn something new makes all the effort worthwhile. Supporting the teachers and caregivers and ensuring a nurturing and structured environment, brings a sense of fulfillment knowing that every small action contributes to a child’s development and happiness.
Share the name of a teacher who inspired you and describe how they influenced your approach to education.
The teacher that I am most inspired by is my 1st grade teacher Ms. Pam! She always was kind and caring and made sure to make every student feel special. I struggled with reading in first grade, and my teacher nurtured my love of reading through the “Little Bear” stories. At the end of the year, she gave me her classroom copy of the book and told me how proud she was of my reading accomplishments! Her care has inspired me to try to make every student that I work with feel special and seen.
Why do you believe quality early childhood education is important for a child’s development?
Quality early childhood education is so important for a child’s development because skills that children are learning and developing now are skills they will use for the rest of their lives. Learning how to be able to share and be kind to others is all great skills for children to learn! I worked as a Kindergarten teacher, so I have seen how important it is for students to have a strong foundation for their future love of learning and their educational journeys.
How would you comfort and reassure new parents who may feel nervous about leaving their child in someone else’s care for the first time?
I would reassure new parents by explaining our process of how we help kiddos begin feel comfortable in a new space. I also like to send updates throughout the day to help parents know how their kiddos are doing at TGS. We have a TV monitor at the front of our school that shows a live feed of the classroom – I like to help ease any worries by using this as a resource for parents to see how their kiddo does with transitioning into the classroom!
How do you partner with parents to support their child’s growth and learning journey?
Consistent communication and building trust are key to my idea of a partnership with parents! I always like there to be an open line of communication so that we are meeting our students’ needs and making sure students are thriving while at TGS. I love being a resource for parents to ask any questions that they may have!
Cedric Martin
Assistant Director
What TGS Parents Are Saying
Schedule a Tour
Please select a date and time that works best for you (tours are ~45 minutes). We recommend visiting in the morning between 9:30 – 11:30 am. Of course, we completely understand that is not always possible with families’ schedules and welcome families to join whenever is most convenient for you. If you aren't ready to tour yet or these times below don’t work for your family, use the Contact Us button below and we will coordinate a time together.
Contact Us
If you aren't yet ready to schedule a tour or the available times do not work for your family,
please click Contact Us to connect with someone from The Gardner School.
