photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

The Early Learning Center in Eudora is pictured in August 2025.

When the Eudora school district opened its Early Learning Center a year ago, not all of its classrooms were in use. But now, with growing enrollment, the facility will use every room and has expanded its playground space.

At maximum capacity, the Early Learning Center, which is housed at the Eudora school district’s West Resource Center at 1310 Winchester Road, can serve around 140 students. Kristen Lewis, director of the Early Learning Center, said the program began with 108 students last year and six active classrooms, but enrollment has so far increased to 120 for the 2025-2026 school year. This increase has led to the center opening two of the remaining classrooms to accommodate more students.

“We’ll have four Pre-K and four three-year-old classrooms,” Lewis said. “It’s really amazing to see all that because with its growth, it really speaks a lot about the community and the trust that they have in us and just the need for high-quality education in the area.”

In order to make all of the classrooms operational, Lewis added that the center hired two more teachers for the newly opened classrooms.

While the center primarily serves students from Eudora, it also accepts kids from Lawrence and other nearby communities.

photo by: Contributed

Outside of the playground at the Early Learning Center in Eudora.

In addition to opening the remaining classrooms, Lewis said there has been an upgrade to the facility’s outdoor playground, where students play twice a day. The additions include new grass hills, a tunnel and a wooden picnic bench for the students.

“It’s just a really nice space for them to be able to explore,” Lewis said.

The school’s curriculum includes a variety of activities, Lewis said, and there are many opportunities for hands-on learning.

Earlier this year, the Early Learning Center kids helped plant a sensory garden at Eudora’s Bluejacket Park, which is the backyard of the facility. The garden is a part of a partnership with Eudora Parks and Recreation and LiveWell Douglas County, and it is designed to stimulate all five senses: sight, smell, touch, taste and sound. Lewis said the students will continue visiting the garden to enjoy it and help take care of it.

Additionally, Lewis said students have been able to learn new recipes from Eudora High School’s culinary teacher, who has taught the kids how to make no-bake cookies, fruit dip and protein balls.

photo by: Contributed

A classroom inside the Early Learning Center in Eudora.

The all-day early childhood program costs $250 a month for families who live within the Eudora school district and $500 a month for families outside of the district, Lewis said. It also offers extended hours for working families, which run as late as 5:30 p.m. and cost an additional $75 for in-district kids or an additional $150 for those outside the district.

Lewis said the goal within the next couple of years is the same as this past year: making sure kids have the foundation they need to succeed in kindergarten.

“It’s not just looking at reading or writing or math,” Lewis said. ” … But it’s also the social (and) emotional (areas). We want to make sure that they’re ready to move on to that next class and keep that going, where they can understand structure and routine.”

Lewis said the center is still accepting applications for the upcoming school year. Families interested in applying can visit the Early Learning Center website.

photo by: Contributed

The playground at the Early Learning Center in Eudora.