About Us » History

The preschool has been thriving in the Mount Vernon community since 1962. The school has grown and evolved over the years, but two elements have remained constant - the belief that children are developing people who grow and learn at their own pace and the importance of learning through play.

Fort Hunt Cooperative Preschool looks forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the school in 2012! We are planning anniversary events for the Fall of 2012 and Spring of 2013 and welcome involvement of all FHP alumni - students, families, teachers - as well as the larger community surrounding Fort Hunt Preschool. We will recognize the exciting changes and development of FHP over the years - all while sustaining the important emphasis of learning through play. We will highlight the importance of learning through play throughout the lifetime, from young preschool aged-children to young adults and then beyond. For more information or to get involved with the planning, please contact alumni@forthuntpreschool.com. The FHP website will also be updated to enable alumni to connect with the school and learn more about the anniversary events. We look forward to celebrating how Fort Hunt Preschool has provided a wonderful foundation for lifetime learning and fun for so many.

In the early years, classes for 3-year-olds were organized by parents, under the auspices of the Mount Vernon Unitarian Church (MVUC). In 1962, parents worked with Mount Vernon Unitarian Church (MVUC) to establish a cooperative preschool with classes for 3, 4, and 5-year- olds. The first school year began with an enrollment of 28 students. In 1983, the preschool moved into the historic Carriage House on the beautiful grounds of MVUC. Parents worked together to prepare the building for students. In 2002, in agreement with MVUC, the preschool began the process of becoming a fully and independently licensed preschool, no longer under the domain of the church. The name was changed to Fort Hunt Preschool and, in October 2003, the school was granted its full license by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Fort Hunt Preschool continues to thrive because the parents and teachers care so much about this school and are willing to put the time and effort into seeing that it continues to provide a lasting legacy for future generations.

Fort Hunt Preschool is licensed by the State of Virginia and is a member of the Northern Virginia Council of Cooperative Preschools and Parent Cooperative Preschools International.