A Reggio Emilia + Montessori + Half Day Preschool Where Your
Child Will Thrive
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Ivybrook Academy Valley Ridge

10660 US 1 N.

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32081

(904) 822-4817
store front image
Ivybrook Academy Valley Ridge
(904) 822-4817

10660 US 1 N.

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32081

  • Observe & Customize

    Craft educational plans and opportunities based on each child's individual learning style

  • Explore & Discover

    Utilize the physical environment as a rich resource for exploration, inquiry, and thought

  • Respect & Collaborate

    Model and encourage respect and collaboration in every aspect of daily life

  • Honor & Document

    Value children's voices and showcase their importance through documentation

Still Life Representation

Lea 3 years 2 months

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Valley Ridge Campus

Half-Day Preschool in Valley Ridge, FL

Discover Our Innovative Learning Approach

At Ivybrook Academy Valley Ridge, we’re redefining early childhood education with our half-day preschool programs. Our school is a beacon of innovative learning tailored specifically for the curious minds of young learners. We strive to create a nurturing environment where your child can grow, explore, and discover their unique potential.

We utilize an educational philosophy that is grounded in an innovative approach that blends Montessori principles with Reggio Emilia's emphasis on creative expression. This fusion ensures that our students enjoy a learning experience that is both structured and flexible, designed to cater to their individual learning styles. 

We offer the following programs:

  • Toddler Preschool
  • Preschool for 2 Year Olds
  • Preschool for 3 Year Olds
  • Preschool for 4-5 Year Olds
  • Private Kindergarten

Our half-day programs are meticulously crafted to provide an enriching curriculum that includes literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and the arts, all while encouraging social-emotional development.

To schedule a tour of our campus, contact us online  or call (904) 822-4817  today!

Your Child’s Future Starts Here

Ivybrook Academy Valley Ridge offers programs for children ages 18 months through 6 years. The curriculum for each program is designed to meet the various needs of children in the age group. Our programs include the following: 

  • Toddler Preschool– This program provides toddlers with a safe and nurturing environment where they will be able to express themselves in a variety of ways. Our multifaceted curriculum is presented through developmentally appropriate activities that include art, movement, language arts, and math.
  • Preschool for 2-Year-Olds– To meet the unique needs of each learner at this important age stage, we break this program into younger and older 2-year-olds. These classrooms will support intellectual and social development with relationship-building activities.
  • Preschool for 3-Year-Olds– In this program, students will begin to critically think about and explore the world around them and our educators will identify each student’s unique learning style. Students will also practice practical life skills, like wiping, pouring, and sorting.
  • Preschool for 4 & 5-Year-Olds – We are proud to be a State of Florida VPK provider with exceptional CLASS assessment scores. Our preschool program for 4- and 5-year-olds focuses on building strong foundational skills and identifying areas for growth. Students engage in enriching, focused learning experiences that nurture reading readiness and problem-solving abilities. Graduates of our Pre-K and TK programs leave not only well-prepared for Kindergarten but also excited and confident as they begin their elementary school journey.
  • Private Kindergarten– We offer private Kindergarten classes that accept the State of Florida Step Up for Students Scholarships, including the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Opportunities, and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities. These Scholarships cover the majority of tuition costs. Our Kindergarten students benefit from a blended Montessori and Reggio Emilia curriculum while meeting all State of Florida educational standards. In addition to academics, we believe in providing a well-rounded experience with opportunities for daily art, music, library time, outdoor gross motor activities, and dramatic play.
  • Summer Camp– Just because the school year ends doesn’t mean children stop learning. Our Summer Camp program offers fun themed activities and adventures. Through these hands-on sensory-rich experiences, children will have such a great time, they’ll have no idea they are learning! Contact us at (904) 822-4817 to learn about this year’s summer program.

Our Valley Ridge private Preschool draws from three popular educational philosophies: Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and the Theory of Multiple Intelligences. This hybrid educational approach allows children to learn in their own way and grow at their own pace. We provide a safe, comfortable, and nurturing environment where they can thrive. 

 

We Offer Private Campus Tours

Ivybrook Academy Valley Ridge wants families to feel confident in their Preschool choice. That’s why we offer private tours of our campus and the opportunity to ask questions of our administrators. You may have other choices for preschools in St. Johns County, but we are confident that, once you experience the Ivybrook way, you’ll know why so many families choose us to help their children find their voices, embrace their individuality, and become compassionate citizens.

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  • Now Touring for the

    ’24-’25 School Year

    Our campus tours are designed to provide a comprehensive overview of our school and your child’s specific program so you can feel confident that our Ivybrook Academy Valley Ridge is the best choice for your family. Please contact the administrative team at Valley Ridge at (904) 822-4817 for details regarding scheduling your private tour or reach out via our contact form and a member of our team will be in touch.

Growing Toward

Their Brightest Future

The Ivybrook curriculum grows with your child. Each of our programs optimize children’s time away from their families by providing developmentally appropriate learning opportunities customized to each child’s needs. Explore your child’s age group in more detail, or read an overview of our program offerings!

Ivybrook Academy Valley Ridge Campus

Our School Leadership

At Ivybrook Academy Valley Ridge, we apply an innovative approach to early childhood education and create vibrant communities filled with compassionate citizens. Our Valley Ridge campus leadership welcomes new families with open arms and is excited to collaborate with you on enriching your child’s development.

  • lott family Lott Family Owners
  • Jennifer Ripkey Jennifer Ripkey Director of Admissions
  • amanda headshot Amanda Berardi Director of Curriculum

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Family Testimonials

Enriching Your Child’s Foundation

  • won family
    "I love seeing teachers with their smiling faces during drop off and pick up. Their genuine care and affection are truly appreciated." - Won Family
  • Leonard Family
    "We love Ivybrook mainly for the Montessori model but take into account that there is still structure and routine. We love that they actually listen to the kiddos and take their ideas and turn them into reality." - Leonard Family
  • Gallant Family
    "We love that Ivybrook provides a hands-on curriculum that is focused on the individual interests of each student." - Gallant Family
  • Brown Family
    "Ivybrook is special because of the wonderfully warm and kind people that truly care about our children with whom we have entrusted them every day. They love Ivybrook, their teachers and friends and come home with smiles on their faces excited to tell me about everything they did that day!" - Brown Family
  • The McGowen Family
    "Our daughter Olivia started Ivybrook academy in its inaugural year at age 2. During our first tour we immediately felt this was a great fit for our family. The teachers and staff have been amazing and we have truly watched Olivia thrive, make new friends, and become well prepared to start kindergarten this fall. After almost 3 years at Ivybrook it is bitter sweet to see Olivia graduate, however we are excited for our next chapter. Olivia became a big sister, and Joshua, her little brother, will be joining the toddler class this fall. We are so excited to watch him grow to be part of the Ivybrook family too!" - The McGowen Family
  • The Klusak Family
    "

    "We moved to St. Johns from Chicago in 2022. Even though we had never been to the Jacksonville area before, we had a feeling it would be the perfect place for our family. Ernest works in the Department of Surgery, and Martyna is a teacher and singer currently on maternity leave. 😊

    As a bilingual family of Polish origin, we were especially excited for Hanna to start her journey at Ivybrook Academy last year, even though she didn’t speak English at the time. We chose an afternoon class that fit perfectly into our routine with a baby and toddler at home, and we’ve been amazed by Hanna’s progress. Now in kindergarten, her language skills surprise us every day!

    Hanna’s younger sisters, Lea and Sara, are eagerly waiting for their turn to join Ivybrook Academy, where we’ve seen their sister grow and thrive. From the moment we stepped through Ivybrook’s doors, we fell in love with the school and its incredible staff. It truly feels like home, and we look forward to many more years together!"

    "
    - The Klusak Family
  • The McDaniels Family
    "

    "We have been SO happy at Ivybrook, this being our third year there! My son started in 3’s Tuesday/Thursday and my daughter in Older Two’s! Last year my son was in and graduated PreK and my daughter in 3’s. Now this year my daughter is in TK! I love the approach to hands-on learning that Ivybrook takes, as well how sweet and caring the staff is and continues to be! I couldn’t ask for a better environment for my kids to learn and grow. As much as the drive from Nocatee to Julington Creek was beyond worth it for my family, I am thrilled they opened a new location so much closer! Amazingly they were also able to find exceptional and caring staff for the new location as well! Sprinkled in with some of my kids’ favorite staff familiar faces too!

    My son graduated Ivybrook’s Julington Creek campus and I feel he is so prepared for Kindergarten this year! Not only academically is he prepared, but also he has made what I think will be lifelong friends from his time there! My daughter is following in his footsteps with learning so much and making great friends too! 

    Outside of school my family enjoys pool time, beach time, playing with our dogs, and all things Disney! Every trip or activity our family does, my kids are always eager to return to school to tell their teachers all about it!" 

    "
    - The McDaniels Family
  • The Patel Family
    "

    “We love Ivybrook’s half-day format because it gives Niam the perfect balance of playtime with friends and learning important social skills. We actually discovered Ivybrook through a neighbor’s Facebook page and glowing recommendations from our community. The moment we stepped inside, it felt like home. The warm welcome we received made our decision to enroll Niam easy.

    Although he initially struggled with leaving us for school, Niam soon realized that Ivybrook was like a second family. Now, he loves talking about his friends and always remembers his teachers’ names.

    As a family, we love traveling, and we can’t wait to share all the places we’ve been with Niam. This is just the beginning of his travel journey! One of our favorite memories was taking Niam, along with his little companion, Ivy the Owl, to London and Paris—our third trip to these cities in the past decade. We look forward to many more adventures with Niam and Ivy while he continues to grow at Ivybrook."

    "
    - The Patel Family
  • The Burke Family
    ""The military brought the Burke family to Saint Johns in 2018. A family of four, Dave is a submariner in the Navy, Jenny keeps the household operating in tip top shape, and big brother Ollie (9) is a 4th grader at Julington Creek Elementary. Charlie (5), is the social butterfly of our family, and has been at Ivybrook Academy since January 2022. Charlie started in the two-year old preschool class halfway through the first year Ivybrook was open in Julington Creek. She is currently in the transitional kindergarten class. We were drawn to Ivybrook because of the hands on, Montessori approach to learning and the exceptional kindness of the staff.

    We’ve enjoyed the community that has developed around Ivybrook - the routine engagements with the staff, special events for Moms and Dads, art shows, and family festivals. We’re looking forward to another fun year and watching our daughter grow academically and socially.""
    - The Burke Family

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Tending to

The Joy In Learning

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Ivybrook Academy Valley Ridge

10660 US 1 N.

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32081

(904) 822-4817