Pacelli Catholic Schools is proud to offer two, fully licensed and accredited preschool options to serve the Austin and the greater southeastern Minnesota area. Along with our preschool programs we also offer our Shamrock Zone Childcare Center which offers parents affordable and flexible childcare options for before or after school care. Read more about our Shamrock Zone program here.
To help prepare your child for kindergarten we offer a traditional preschool program in the form of our Tiny Shamrocks & Kindergarten Prep programs as well as a Montessori Program. Please see below to see which one may be the best fit for your child and what days each of the programs meet. Tuition rates and fees for each program can also be found below and monthly and yearly payment options can be found here.
Tiny Shamrocks is our preschool program designed for 33 months (and toilet trained) through 4 year olds who are new to a classroom environment. Along with outside and interactive play, your young student will be learning the basics of being in a classroom with others. We focus on teaching them interpersonal skills like respecting their teachers, playing well with friends, following directions, and how to be good listeners. Children are engaged in learning through stories and songs, are encouraged to express themselves through art, and have time for free play with friends. By the end of the year, your child will be comfortable in a structured classroom environment, be familiar with more structured learning, have grown in their interpersonal skills, and be more confident and independent learners.
Program | Days/Ages | Tuition Cost |
Shamrocks | 33 months old (toilet trained) - 4 years old M-F 8:30-3:00 |
$4100/Year |
K-Prep | 4 & 5-Year-Olds; M-F 8:30-3:00 | $4100/Year |
Our Montessori Program will teach your children the same things that our Tiny Shamrocks and K-Prep Programs will but with a different approach. It is designed for children 33 months (and toilet trained)- 5 years old. Montessori programs are based on the idea that play is a child's work. The program is child-directed, emphasizing active, self-paced, individualized learning. Children choose activities based on their interests and “work” for uninterrupted blocks of time. This program will help teach children independence and show them that they have the ability to do great things inside of them. Tiny Shamrocks and K-Prep can move at a faster pace and have shorter blocks of time where a student is working on a specific project wherein Montessori Program. As a result, a student can work on the same project for a much longer block of time.
Program | Days/Ages | Tuition Cost per Year |
Montessori | 33 months old (toilet trained) - 5 years old M-Th 8:30-3:00 |
$4850/Year |
Through a grant from The Hormel Foundation and in partnership with SMART and the Parenting Resource Center, United Way of Mower County provides a safe and efficient transportation service for preschool aged children in Austin who otherwise may not be able to attend preschool due to a transportation barrier. This service is a trusted, reliable, and affordable option for parents. Bus rides are $1 each way. There are many factors that go into bus placement such as pick up and drop off address, preschool location and time of class. Therefore, we cannot guarantee spots on the Rainbow Route for any child. We do our very best to get as many children on the bus as possible. All children must be registered for preschool before submitting an application.
More information and application can be found on the United Way website