Hilltop Neighborhood House, Valparaiso

Hilltops early childhood education program provides full-time, year-round care and education to children ages 6 weeks through 5 years. Our Paths to Quality participating program is unique in the fact that we not only encourage diversity, we thrive on it. Sixty-five percent of our children are from low-income households, twenty percent are exposed to multiple languages, thirty-two percent are from a racial minority group and forty-five percent are from a single-parent home. By offering tuition scholarships to children and families that qualify, parents can change their direction in life by enrolling in college or maintaining employment within the community. Hilltops early childhood teachers support learning by providing developmentally appropriate activities and materials that children find engaging. Eighty-Five percent of our lead teachers have 10+ years of teaching experience. Furthermore, all lead teachers in our Kindergarten Readiness Program are licensed and/or degreed in the field of education. In addition to our caring and qualified teaching staff, Hilltop employees volunteers and Valparaiso University work study students to supplement in our classrooms, often providing better than state ratios. This provides each child with the individualized attention needed to explore, grow and learn at their own pace.