our history
our history
The Community School has provided caring, high-quality, affordable, age-appropriate early childhood education for the children of Maynard and its surrounding communities for more than 40 years. Here’s a look at our story.
1853
Maynard's first parish
The Union Congregational Church was built in 1853, in the heart of what is now downtown Maynard, and it is the building where The Community School is located.
1871
Maynard is incorporated
The town of Maynard was incorporated in 1871.
1968
our school opens
The Community School opened its doors in the fall of 1968 as a nursery school. Because Maynard did not offer kindergarten through the public schools at the time, the Community School provided the town’s first free, licensed kindergarten.
1972
not-for-profit established
In 1972, the Community School was chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a private, not-for-profit organization, and a volunteer Board of Directors was established.
1975
childcare and preschool
In 1975, the school launched a year-round child-care program in addition to the morning-only preschool program it had been offering since 1968.
2010
evolving with the times
The Community School shifted from a full-day childcare program to half-day preschool program in 2010, in order to meet the needs of the current families in the community.
2016
church for sale
The Union Congregational Church, the building that housed The Community School since 1972, was put up for sale.
2017
new landlord
Maynard resident, William Doyle, purchased the Union Congregational Church building, and began to renovate the space for new tenants.
2018
50th year anniversary
In Fall 2018, The Community School re-opened for it’s 50th year, in a freshly renovated space, where it continues to provide the best in early education for the children of Maynard and surrounding towns.
spring 2021
a fresh start
After a year long closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Community School reopened with a new focus on outdoor learning incorporating a nature-based curriculum.