Spring has officially arrived in the Inland Empire, and for families across Riverside, La Sierra, and Corona, that means one thing is top of mind: finding the right preschool before spots fill up for fall 2026.

If you’ve been thinking about enrolling your little one, you’re not alone. Every March, Riverside-area parents start their preschool search in earnest, and this year is no different. With kindergarten registration for Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) already underway for the 2026–2027 school year, families with 4- and 5-year-olds are especially feeling the urgency to make sure their children are in a program that will truly prepare them.

At Sierra Preschool, we’ve been serving families right here in the Riverside, La Sierra, and Corona communities for years, and spring is one of our favorite times of year. The weather in the Inland Empire is gorgeous right now perfect for outdoor learning, nature walks, and the kind of active play that research consistently shows is critical for early childhood development.

Here’s what’s happening at Sierra Preschool this spring:

Our Montessori-inspired, theme-based curriculum is in full swing with spring themes that connect what children are seeing in the world around them blooming flowers in Fairmount Park, the warmer mornings at La Sierra Community Park, the way the hills behind Corona turn green this time of year to real academic concepts in literacy, math, and science. Learning feels natural when the world outside your window becomes your classroom.

For families in Corona specifically, we know the drive to find quality early childhood education in your own backyard matters. You shouldn’t have to travel far west for a great preschool experience. Sierra Preschool’s reach into the Corona community means your child gets a premium early education close to home, close to the places your family already knows and loves.

For La Sierra families, our location and curriculum were built with your neighborhood in mind. The La Sierra community has a rich, multigenerational culture, and our classrooms reflect the diversity and warmth of the families we serve every day.

As you head into spring break and begin thinking about fall schedules, here are a few things to consider when evaluating preschools in the Riverside area:

Does the program balance structured academics with play? Children ages 2 to 5 learn best through exploration and hands-on activity, not worksheets. Look for a program that blends intentional teaching with joyful discovery.

Is kindergarten readiness built into the curriculum? RUSD kindergarten teachers consistently report that children who arrive with strong pre-literacy skills, number sense, and social-emotional foundations make the fastest academic progress. Ask any preschool you tour how they measure and track these milestones.

Does the school provide full-day and flexible scheduling? Riverside families are busy. Whether you’re a working parent in need of full-day care or a family looking for a shorterenrichment program, make sure your preschool can flex to meet your real life.

At Sierra Preschool, 92% of our Pre-K graduates are reading at or above kindergarten expectations. That’s not an accident, it’s the result of years of refining a curriculum that meets children where they are and challenges them to grow.

If you’re in Riverside, La Sierra, or Corona and ready to take the next step, we’d love to show you around. Spring tours are available now, and fall 2026 enrollment is open. Spaces go quickly, especially in our Pre-K program.

Come see why Sierra Preschool continues to be the Inland Empire’s most trusted name in early childhood education. Your child’s best school year yet is waiting and it starts this spring.

Visit us at sierrapreschool.com to schedule your tour today.