- Overview
- Programs
- Our Team
- Accreditation
- Schedule Options
About Cadence Academy Preschool in Iowa City, IA
The preschool programs at Cadence Academy Preschool, Iowa City are designed to help young children reach important milestones at every stage of development. We take a skill-based approach to early education that balances intellectual, physical, and emotional development and our curriculum is designed to progressively build valuable skill sets each month!
We are proud to lead the way in preparing children for kindergarten. Through our specialized curriculum and dedicated teachers, we strive to ensure that your child is not just ready for kindergarten, but ready to excel. In 2024, 100% of the Pre-K children assessed in our school demonstrated Readiness or Advanced Readiness for Kindergarten!
Our students graduate from our Pre-Kindergarten program confident and ready for kindergarten!
Ascend Curriculum
Thanks to the flexibility of our Ascend Curriculum, we take an individualized approach to early childhood education and encourage every child to progress towards age-appropriate goals at their natural pace. New skills are introduced sequentially in 9 different learning domains each month and activities are modified to fit the interests and current skill level of each child. This skill-based approach to early education ensures that every child feels engaged, supported, and challenged and makes learning fun!
School-to-Home Connection
We believe that children thrive when there is a strong partnership between preschool and home. We have an open-door policy with our families and we encourage you to visit at any time. We also offer a variety of communication pieces so that you’re constantly up-to-date with your child’s day and their developmental progress. Our preschool also hosts a variety of family-friendly events throughout the year. Some of our favorites include our annual Winter Wonderland in January, Family Picnic in August, and the University of Iowa Homecoming Parade!
Getting To Our Preschool
Our Iowa City center is located at 325 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52240, situated in the downtown area near the intersection of S Dubuque St and E Burlington St (Highway 1). We are conveniently close to local schools including Longfellow Elementary School, Horace Mann Elementary School, and Lincoln Elementary School, as well as the University of Iowa campus and College Green Park, making morning drop-offs, school transitions, and daily family routines quick and seamless.
Positioned right in the heart of the city with fast access to Highway 1, Riverside Dr (US-6), and Interstate 80 (I-80), our center provides an easy daily commute for working parents traveling toward Coralville, North Liberty, the university hospital, or throughout greater Johnson County.
Cadence KickStart™ Soccer
Big Fun. Little Players. Growing Confidence.
Cadence KickStart™ Soccer is a high-energy enrichment program designed to build confidence, coordination, and teamwork through fun, age-appropriate soccer play. Led by the teachers your child already knows and trusts, it’s seamlessly built into the school day.
Program Highlights:
Designed for ages 3–5
12-week program (once per week)
40–50 minute sessions
Builds balance, coordination, and motor skills
Encourages listening, teamwork, and confidence
Integrated into your child’s daily schedule
Talk to your School Director today to learn more and enroll.
Kids Cafe Preschool Cooking Program
Cooking Up Confidence, One Recipe At A Time!
Kids Café is a hands-on cooking program where children explore new foods, build confidence, and develop essential life skills through fun, guided kitchen experiences.
Program Highlights:
- Designed for ages 3+
- Weekly sessions over a 12-week program
- Hands-on cooking activities and kid-friendly recipes
- Builds teamwork, sharing, and communication skills
- Encourages problem-solving and following directions
- Supports early math, literacy, and critical thinking
- Includes a take-home cooking kit for continued fun
Talk to your School Director today to learn more and enroll.
Programs Offered
Our Team
Molli DeWolf
Assistant Director
I earned my Associates Degree in Early Childhood Development from Marshalltown Community College and my BA in Criminal Justice and Criminal Psychology from AIU. I just recently moved back to Eastern Iowa from the Des Moines area with my husband and had my first child, Jack in April 2022. In my free time, you can catch me hiking, hanging out with family and friends, and cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones or Chicago Cubs. One thing I love about working with children is seeing them learning something new every day, whether it is big or small!
Rachel Courter
Teacher of the Year
Hello, my name is Rachel! I started at Cadence Academy Preschool in 2018. I currently hold the position as the lead teacher in the Older Preschool Classroom. I received my Bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa. I am an avid reader and thrifting enthusiast! When I’m not searching out my next read at a local library or bookstore, I’m probably on my way with my dog Winston, to Chicago to visit my favorite sister. Thank you for letting me be a part of your child’s journey through Cadence Academy Preschool!
Accreditations
NAEYC Accreditation
Every child deserves access to high-quality early learning experiences. NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) has set 10 standards for early childhood programs that can help families make the right choice when they are looking for a child care center, preschool, or kindergarten. The standards and criteria are also the foundation of the NAEYC Accreditation system for early childhood programs. To earn NAEYC Accreditation, schools must go through an extensive self-study and quality-improvement process, followed by an on-site visit by NAEYC Assessors to verify and ensure that the program meets each of the ten program standards, and hundreds of corresponding individual criteria. NAEYC-accredited programs are always prepared for unannounced quality-assurance visits during their accreditation term, which lasts for five years. In the 30 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 7,000 programs are currently accredited by NAEYC—less than 10 percent of all child care centers, preschools, and kindergartens nationally achieve this recognition.
Childcare Schedule Options That Work With Your Life
Every family’s routine is unique — and your childcare should be too. With Cadence Education, our Family of Schools may offer various schedule options designed to fit your life.
Each of our school’s are unique, and may not offer all of the options listed below. Talk with your School Director to learn what options are available for your family at this location.
FlexiPass — New Flexible Care Option!
When schedules change, or the grandparents cancel, or life just gets busy, FlexiPass gives you five prepaid days of care that you can use whenever* you need them, one at a time or all at once. No registration fees. No ongoing tuition. Just dependable care when you need it most.
Schedule a Time to Tour Our School
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