- Overview
- Programs
- Our Team
- Accreditation
- Reviews
About Cadence Academy Preschool in Peoria, IL
Cadence Academy Preschool, Hilltop provides families in West Peoria, Illinois a warm and nurturing preschool environment where children feel at home. We take a skill-based approach to early childhood education which balances the development of academic, social-emotional, physical, and creative skill. We want your child’s first educational experiences to be fun and engaging so that they develop a love of learning that will serve them for years to come.
Preschool Programs
- Infant Daycare (6 weeks – 15 months)
- Toddler Daycare (15 months – 2 years)
- Two-Year-Olds (2 – 3 years)
- Prescillihool (3 – 5 years)
- Before & After School (5 – 12 years)
- Summer Camp (5 – 12 years)
Kind Child
Kind Child is a program that allows us to focus on the social and emotional development of every child in our care and make an impact in our community. The goal of Kind Child is to enrich friendships and elevate the emotional well-being of every student so that everyone feels welcome and at home at our preschool. We focus on specific social and emotional skills each month and the development of valuable character traits like Friendship, Respect, a Positive Self-Image, and Thankfulness every two months.
We love spreading kindness outside our school by regularly hosting community events and volunteering locally. Cadence Academy Preschool also recently became a partner of the St. Jude Trike-A-Thon, which allows us to raise funds to help children fighting cancer and other diseases. Be sure to ask us about Kind Child when you come in for a visit!
Our Accreditations
The staff at Cadence Academy Preschool, Hilltop is dedicated to continuously improving the quality of our programs and we’re proud to have earned both NAC Accreditation and the Silver City of Quality through ExceleRate Illinois. We first earned accreditation through the National Accreditation Commission (NAC) in February 2010, which requires us to maintain standards in our Curriculum, Health & Safety, Interactions Between Teachers and Children, and Family Engagement.
Excelerate Illinois is a statewide quality recognition and improvement system that establishes standards for helping infants, toddlers and preschool age children develop intellectually, physically, socially, and emotionally. The Silver Circle of Quality recognizes that our preschool center meets or exceeds quality standards in training, education, learning environment, and teaching quality.
Getting to Our Preschool
Cadence Academy Preschool has eight preschools in the Peoria metropolitan area and four of our centers are in Peoria itself. Cadence Academy Preschool, Hilltop is in tucked away in a residential neighborhood in West Peoria between I-474 and Route 8. We’re just north of Pleasant Valley Elementary School at 4607 W Elwood Dr, Peoria, IL 61604. We offer transportation to students at Pleasant Valley Elementary School, Pleasant Hill Elementary School, and Norwood Primary Elementary as part of our before and after school program.
If you’re looking for nurturing daycare services for your little one or preschool programs that will prepare your child for future academic success, schedule a visit today! We would love to show you around our preschool and introduce you to our teachers.
Programs Offered
Our Team

Elizabeth Wise
School Director
I started working in Early Childhood Education (ECE) when I was in college. There was a preschool program there and I applied for an assistant teacher job and got it. The best part about ECE for me is seeing the “light bulb” moments when something clicks and the children get so excited and proud of themselves. I also enjoy seeing the children when they are older and in school. They tell me everything they remember about my class/school. It makes me appreciate what I do every day. I love spending time with kids and taking them on new adventures during my free time.

Erica Rudloff
Assistant Director
I started as an Assistant Teacher in 2006 started and moved my way up now being the assistant director. Watching children learn and experience new things is the best part of my job. In my free time I like to relax, go fishing and spend time with family. I have 9 dogs and I am also working on my Bachelors Degree now.

Emily Rowe
Teacher of the Year
I started in early childhood education in 2010 and became lead with Cadence in 2018. I love that I get to make a positive impact on the lives of children in my care. Watching their development grow through creative hands-on experience and their imagination is the best part of my job. Outside of work, I like to travel and visit overseas with family. I enjoy attending concerts and listening to vinyl records as well as gardening and being out in nature.
Accreditations

NAC Accreditation
The National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC) is a national accreditation program that was developed for early care and educational programs. NAC offers early childhood leaders the opportunity to demonstrate and document quality performance using research-based criteria and evidence-based practices. The National Accreditation Commission provides a comprehensive, ongoing quality improvement system and accredited schools must meet standards in the following 6 component areas: Administration, Family Engagement, Health and Safety, Curriculum, Interactions between Teachers and Children, and Classroom Health and Safety.
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Cadence Academy Preschool
Peoria, IL
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