Since its earliest days, Northwest Missouri State University has offered high-quality education to children in Maryville, and that tradition continues today with offerings for children from 1 year old to 6th grade. Located centrally on Northwest’s campus in the Everett Brown Education Hall, the Horace Mann Laboratory School enrolls children in transitional kindergarten through sixth grade, and the Phyllis and Richard Leet Center for Children and Families offers both an early child care center for children from 1year old to 3 years old, as well as Reggio inspired preschool for 3 to 6 years old.
Horace Mann Laboratory School and the Phyllis & Richard Leet Center for Children and Families place an emphasis on innovative and interactive teaching practices accompanied with individualized instruction by dedicated and caring faculty and staff. While benefiting from Northwest Missouri State University programs and activities, the school’s educators also incorporate state-of-the-art technology into students’ learning.
Horace Mann and the Leet Center also serve as clinical teaching environments for students in Northwest Missouri State University’s School of Education. The relationship between master teachers, instructional aides, and practicum teachers allows children to reap the benefits of low student-to-teacher ratio in classrooms that implement innovative teaching practices and provide learning experiences designed to stimulate each child’s creative learning abilities and problem-solving skills.
Offering a core curriculum and working in consort with the University, Horace Mann and the Leet Center offer unique learning opportunities, which have included guitar lessons, robotics, lessons about crops and animals at the University farm, balavisx movements, conscious discipline and Spanish. Students from multiple countries also add to the school’s diverse environment.
The schools offer a traditional nine-month academic calendar for elementary-age and preschool students as well as a year-round daycare programs for infants and toddlers. After school care, known as Bearcat Club, also is available for Horace Mann students.
“Thanks for all you do for our kiddos. They love going to school and we have really noticed a change in their language development, reading skills, descriptive language, and math skill since coming to Horace Mann. It takes a special soul to make kids fall in love with learning. Thank you all so much for your work.”
Katie Zrust
Horace Mann Parent
“As a parent I have been really impressed with Horace Mann. My son is always proud to show me his work.”
Daniel Boyt
Former Horace Mann Parent
From caring faculty, staff and administration
Rigorous, rich and varied curriculum focused on the child
Access to University programs and activities
Opportunities for student leadership and service learning
Innovative and interactive teaching practices
"A higher education begins here"
