A group of children and adults posing in front of a sign that reads "the discovery center" in a grassy area with trees and a road in the background. The children are dressed in colorful casual clothes, and the adults appear to be teachers or guardians.

The Discovery Center Mission

Our mission is to provide children with an environment where they can learn, play, and develop social and emotional skills to set them up for success.

Children sitting on a classroom floor in a circle, listening to a teacher who is gesturing. The room has educational posters and art on the walls.

At the Core

We’re an early childhood program for children aged 2 years and 9 months through 5 years old, serving families in the Ann Arbor area since 1974.

Our modern building and outdoor areas, which were designed specifically for The Discovery Center, encourage imagination and growth in our students. Our building and program have received national recognition and multiple awards.

Each of our six classrooms of up to 24 students is staffed by a team of professional teachers supported by assisting teachers and administrative staff. Our professional teachers have university degrees in child development, early childhood education, or related disciplines. The Discovery Center offers teacher to student ratios of 1:8 maximum, while the state mandates a ratio of 1:10.

With a commitment to respecting and nurturing the diverse needs of our students, our core principles include:

  • Everyone’s unique qualities should be respected

  • We build self-esteem in our students to foster a healthy foundation for growth

  • Every part of development is a priority

Learn more about The Discovery Center programs