Established in 1949, the Raleigh Nursery School, Inc. has been a cornerstone of child care in Raleigh. This non-profit facility, which boasts a 5-Star Quality Rating from the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education (NCDCDEE), is also accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Founded by the United War Mothers Chapter I during World War II, the school arose from a profound commitment to support families who had lost fathers in a time of economic need. The organization’s founders strived to provide a safe, nurturing environment for children while their mothers joined the workforce.
The first director and teacher, Rosia D. Butler, led the school for an impressive 37 years, setting a strong foundation for its mission. Since 1986, Brenda High Sanders has continued this legacy.
Its grassroots beginnings was located in the historical Chavis Heights community before it moved to its current location in the revitalized Halifax Court (now known as Capital Park Community). The school nurtures children from 3 months to 12 years old.
“When we moved from Chavis Heights to the new building, our enrollment capacity was nearly doubled and in some cases tripled. It’s been difficult to fill that building because the dynamics of gentrification have changed and also the downtown area has changed quite a bit,” Sanders said.
The Raleigh Nursery School prides itself on its research-based educational curriculum and an array of resources, including an A-rated commercial kitchen and natural outdoor learning environments featuring butterfly and vegetable gardens.
Despite its successes, the Raleigh Nursery School faces challenges. Many potential staff members are drawn to public school positions, which offer summer vacations that the year-round nursery cannot provide.
“For the majority of our years, we were co-funded by the United Way of Wake County, but in recent years their priorities and funding streams have changed. But we’re still surviving, not thriving, but still surviving,” Sanders said.
Things like fixed costs and a decrease in enrollment are taking its toll on the historic daycare center.
“We don’t own our building so rent has to be paid—utilities and commercial utility rates have to be paid. So even when the building is not close to its maximum in enrollment there are operational costs that are fixed,” Sanders said.
Nevertheless, the Raleigh Nursery School is doing all it can to support children and families in the inner-city, even implementing an evening meal for kids that may not get the nutrition needed for a healthy and educational environment.
“We participate in the USDA food program, which helps with some of the reimbursement costs for our healthy meals that we serve. We serve breakfast, lunch and supper,” Sanders said. “We started doing the supper meal because we realized as the parents were getting younger, sometimes the children were not being fed a nutritious dinner meal. Some children were not getting a full meal in the evening but just receiving snacks, so we started serving them dinner.”
One problem they face is demand; some parents prefer “drop-in care,” seeking the nursery’s services only when family or friends are unavailable to assist with childcare. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have further strained operations, as many families opt to work from home, reducing their need for child care services.
“We hope and pray as we celebrate our 75 years that we can continue on for more years, but it’s getting very difficult,” Sanders said.
