North Hills Cooperative Preschool Faces Closure Risk
The 63-year-old Granada Hills school is seeking community support as enrollment dips to 30% of its licensed capacity.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Child Care
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The 63-year-old North Hills Cooperative Preschool in Granada Hills faces a potential closure due to low student enrollment, which currently stands at just 30% of its 24-child capacity. Los Angeles City Councilmember John Lee recently pledged a $25,000 donation to help the nonprofit navigate its financial instability.
Why it matters
The school serves families with children aged 2½ to 5, but changing trends toward state-funded universal pre-K and homeschooling have depleted its primary tuition revenue. As a 501(c) nonprofit that does not qualify for government funding, the institution relies on parent volunteerism and private contributions to remain operational.
The school currently operates at 30% of its 24-student licensed capacity for children aged 2½ to 5. While Councilmember John Lee has pledged a $25,000 donation, the school continues to face financial pressure common to private nonprofits ineligible for government aid.
The players
North Hills Cooperative Preschool
A 501(c) nonprofit preschool in Granada Hills serving children since 1963 through a parent-volunteer model.
John Lee
A Los Angeles City Councilmember representing the district who has provided a $25,000 donation to support the school.
The details
Parents at this cooperative model school contribute significant time, with full-time enrollees' parents volunteering weekly for four hours, while part-time enrollees' parents assist every other week. Volunteers manage essential operations including cleaning, organizing, and supervising play to keep costs down. The school aims to stabilize its budget by expanding its parent-and-me classes for children aged 15 months to 2½ years, which serve as a secondary revenue stream alongside standard tuition.
Timeline
1963: North Hills Cooperative Preschool was established.
Mid-1970s: Co-op preschool popularity began to decline.
2020-2022: School forced to shut down during COVID-19.
October 2026: John Lee pledged a $25,000 donation.
The Home Front
The school's struggle follows a broader market shift toward state-funded universal pre-K that has impacted private, small-scale cooperatives. This trend complicates the financial sustainability of independent 501(c) preschools that lack access to public funding streams.
Families in the Granada Hills area should review the school's tuition and volunteer requirements if they are considering enrollment for children aged 2½ to 5. Prospective parents should also verify the school's current standing and operational hours before planning any school-year logistics.
The takeaway
Maintaining a cooperative model requires significant parental time commitments in exchange for a specific community-focused learning environment. Families interested in helping the school reach its outreach goals can contact the administration to assist with alumni fundraising efforts.
Further reading
Find more local updates on early education in our Child Care section.
More information
Support the school by visiting the preschool donation portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The San Fernando Valley Sun.
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