North Hills Cooperative Preschool Faces Possible Closure
The 63-year-old institution serves families with children ages 2½ to 5, but low enrollment threatens its future.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Child Care
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North Hills Cooperative Preschool in Granada Hills faces potential closure due to low student enrollment, which has dropped to 30% of its 24-child capacity. Local officials and community members are now working to stabilize the 63-year-old nonprofit institution.
Why it matters
The school serves as a longstanding option for families with children aged 2½ to 5 years, providing a volunteer-based learning model that differs from universal pre-K or homeschooling. Its financial instability reflects a broader trend of declining enrollment for independent cooperative preschools.
The school is currently operating at 30% of its licensed 24-student capacity. Financial stability remains under investigation as the school balances tuition revenue against the lack of government funding.
The players
North Hills Cooperative Preschool
A 501(c) nonprofit preschool in Granada Hills that has served the community for 63 years.
John Lee
The Los Angeles City Councilmember who pledged $25,000 to support the school.
The details
The school operates on a volunteer model where parents assist with daily tasks like cleaning toys, organizing books, and supervising play. This structure allows the 501(c) nonprofit to maintain lower overhead, though it currently relies on tuition and parent-and-me classes. The school does not qualify for government funding, making it vulnerable to shifts in early education preferences toward universal pre-K programs.
Timeline
1963: North Hills Cooperative Preschool was established.
Mid-1970s: Co-op preschool popularity began to decline.
2020-2022: School was forced to shut down for six months during the COVID-19 pandemic.
October 2026: Los Angeles City Councilmember John Lee pledged a $25,000 donation.
Health Landscape
The challenge facing this school follows a trend set by the expansion of state-funded universal pre-K programs, which are increasingly drawing families away from private cooperative models. These independent preschools now face a difficult transition as they compete with state-sponsored alternatives.
Families currently using or considering cooperative preschools should evaluate whether these programs align with their personal scheduling and volunteer availability. It is worth discussing with your pediatrician or local education coordinator how a school's operational model might affect your child's specific developmental needs.
The takeaway
The struggle of local cooperative schools highlights the shifting landscape of early childhood education in Los Angeles. Families should track how local preschool enrollment numbers impact the continuity of care in their specific neighborhood.
Further reading
For more on finding supportive learning environments for young children, visit our Child Care section.
More information
To review the school's current needs or contribute, visit the preschool donation portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The San Fernando Valley Sun.
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