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7629 W Thunderbird Rd
Peoria, AZ 85381 - (480) 210-9770
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Monday - Friday
6:30 AM - 6:00 PM - Ages: 6 weeks - 12 years
- Overview
- Programs
- Our Team
- Reviews
About Phoenix Children’s Academy Private Preschool in Peoria
The caring staff at Phoenix Children’s Academy Private Preschool, Thunderbird has more than 145 years of combined experience in daycares and preschools. We recognize that young children need much more than intellectual development during their first years of life and we offer families in the West Valley a well-rounded preschool experience that also focuses on social, emotional, physical, and creative development.
Our Ascend Curriculum and dedicated teachers work hand-in-hand to create engaging educational experiences in nine different subjects every month. Our preschool programs are offered in six month ranges so students can be with peers who are at a similar level of development and we help children reach important milestones at every age.
Preschool Programs
- Infant Daycare (ages 6 weeks to 1 year)
- Toddler Daycare (ages 1 to 2)
- Early Learners (ages 2 to 3)
- Preschool (ages 3 to 4)
- Pre-Kindergarten (ages 4 to 5)
- School-Age Program (ages 5 to 12)
- Summer Camp Programs (ages 5 to 12)
Quality First Rating
Quality First is a program that seeks to continually improve the quality of childcare provided by daycare centers and preschools throughout Arizona. Programs enrolled in Quality First are committed to preparing young children for school and life and continually make improvements in their level of care. Phoenix Children’s Academy Thunderbird currently has a Quality First Star Rating of 3, which means we have met quality standards in areas such as staff qualifications, health and safety practices, learning environments, teacher-child interactions, and parent communication. Learn more about Quality First.
Kind Child
Kind Child is an important part of our monthly curriculum and the foundation of our school’s culture. The goal of Kind Child is to improve the emotional well-being of each child in our care through the development of valuable character traits such as Empathy, Responsibility, Respect, and a Positive Self-Image. Our teachers focus on developing social-emotional skills each month and a different character trait every two months. The result is a preschool environment where every child feels welcome and valued.
School-to-Home Connection
We have found that children thrive in a preschool setting when there is a strong partnership between school and home. We have an open door policy at Phoenix Children’s Academy and we welcome families to visit at any time. We offer a variety of communication pieces to keep you informed about your child’s day and academic progress. We give our parents Developmental Portfolios which document their development from Infants all the way through Pre-Kindergarten. We have fun family activities throughout the year and we make it our mission to establish a personal connection with every child and family.
Getting to our Preschool
Phoenix Children’s Academy Private Preschool, Thunderbird is located a mile east of the 101 on Thunderbird Rd. We’re a block west of 75th Avenue on the south side of Thunderbird. We provide transportation to and from Oakwood Elementary School, Oasis Elementary School, Sky View Elementary School, Paseo Verde Elementary School, and Legacy Traditional School for our school age students.
Programs Offered
Our Team

Ashley Harbaugh
School Director
I have been with Phoenix Children’s Academy since 2013. I have always wanted to work with children in the education field. I obtained my associate in arts degree with an emphasis in Early Childhood and continued my education at Northern Arizona University in their dual bachelor’s program for Primary Education and Special Education. I first started at our Happy Valley school with the 3’s and 4’s and then moved up to lead teacher in the Kindergarten Readiness program and completed our Leadership in Training program before I became Assistant Director in 2017 and then Director at Thunderbird in 2021. I have been in Arizona for most of my life but am originally from California. I am married with two sons. I love reading, exploring, camping, heading to the beach, or just spending time with my family and I am extremely crafty and love creating many different items that create joy.

Jen Westcott
Assistant Director
Ms. Jen has dedicated her entire adult life to early childhood education, graduating from Paradise Valley Community College with a degree in ECE. After working as an assistant teacher, I worked my way up to being a School Director. Ms. Jen continued to refine her vision for a unique childcare environment. Ms. Jen is deeply committed to her calling, driven by the desire to provide children with a healthy environment and positive guidance, and ensuring parents feel confident leaving their children in her care. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, working out and spending time with her husband, 2 sons and two dogs.

Abby Revell
Teacher of the Year
I have been working with children in early education for over 3 years now. My favorite parts about working with children are watching them grow and develop and get ready for kindergarten. Some of my hobbies would be going on trips, bargain shop and crafting. I also like to watch tv and movies. Something super exciting coming up is that I will be getting married in October. I can’t wait to learn more about you!
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Phoenix Children's Academy Private Preschool
Peoria, AZ
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