A Story of Growth, Creativity, and Community

First Presbyterian Church of El Paso has long recognized the importance of nurturing children’s potential through faith, creativity, and meaningful learning experiences. With a commitment to early childhood education, the church established First Presbyterian Preschool in 1981, embracing an approach that honored children’s natural curiosity and encouraged learning through exploration, collaboration, and artistic expression.

Under the leadership of Founding Director Cece Neal, the preschool opened with 15 students and three teachers. It quickly gained recognition for its child-centered, hands-on approach, growing to 55 students within a year and 100 by 1986. In February 1991, the school achieved national accreditation, reinforcing its commitment to high-quality, inquiry-driven education.

Rooted in the Reggio Emilia Philosophy

From its earliest days, First Presbyterian Preschool was inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, which sees children as capable, creative, and full of potential. This approach values self-expression, hands-on learning, and real-world exploration, with the arts playing a central role in how children construct knowledge.

The preschool’s success confirmed what educators and families already believed: children thrive in an environment that values curiosity, imagination, and meaningful connections. It was this foundation that led to the school’s natural expansion in the years to come.

Expanding the Vision: A School Rooted in Creativity and Exploration

By 2020, families whose children flourished in the preschool sought an elementary program that would extend the same Reggio Emilia-inspired approach—one that blended academic depth with artistic expression, hands-on discovery, and relationship-driven learning.

That same year, First Presbyterian Elementary was established, beginning as a half-day outdoor learning program where children engaged with nature, science, storytelling, and creative exploration. Built upon the same Reggio Emilia values as the preschool, the program quickly expanded.

Now in its sixth year, the school includes middle school, continuing to emphasize a project-based, arts-integrated curriculum where students develop their skills through research, artistic expression, and meaningful inquiry. From kindergarten through eighth grade, students learn in small classrooms of no more than 12 students per teacher, fostering close relationships and individualized learning experiences.

One Campus, One Community, One Mission

In 2024, the preschool, elementary, middle school, and church fully united as one campus, strengthening the vision of a faith-centered, arts-driven, and inquiry-based learning community.

At First Pres, education is more than memorization—it’s about creating, exploring, and discovering. Learning happens in the brushstrokes of a painting, the rhythm of a song, the structure of a sculpture, and the ideas brought to life through hands-on projects. The Reggio Emilia philosophy remains at the heart of everything we do, shaping not only how we teach but also how we build relationships, foster creativity, and cultivate a lifelong love of learning.

We believe that every child is an artist, a storyteller, a scientist, a leader—a capable and confident citizen of today, not just the future. With curiosity as their compass and
creativity as their language, they are growing into thoughtful, expressive, and compassionate individuals.