CareCompass
First United Methodist Preschool
At a Glance
Trust Score
Based on comprehensive analysis of reviews, safety records, and operations.
About First United Methodist Preschool
Play-Based Learning Near the Capitol
First United Methodist Preschool (FUMP) has been a downtown Austin staple for over 24 years, specializing in a child-centered, play-based philosophy. The program is led by Director Sandy Pennington, who has served the community for over two decades. FUMP emphasizes social-emotional growth and spiritual development in a tech-free environment, ensuring children learn through hands-on exploration rather than screens. Located near the State Capitol, the school offers a unique urban experience where the classroom extends into the community. Children benefit from frequent visits from the Austin Public Library, the Nature Center, and local emergency services. For older students, field trips via CapMetro to the UT campus and local theaters provide enriching real-world connections. With exceptionally low teacher-to-child ratios and a staff with remarkable tenure, FUMP provides a nurturing, stable environment for early learning and kindergarten readiness.
What Parents Say
5 reviews from parents
We've had two kiddos at FUMP and it's been such a great experience. Ms. Lizbeth, Ms. Erin, Ms. Stacy, and Ms. Erica (and their assistants) were all amazing! We also had a lot of confidence in (Preschool Director) Sandy, who is perfect for this role - professional, caring, and always friendly and welcoming. It's beyond me how she is able to remember all the parents and their names. There were only two challenges we faced with this location: sometimes parking was challenging (mostly related to construction crews) and I would feel better with someone monitoring the parking lot to help manage the occasional homeless moving through the area.
We have a FUMP graduate and a current FUMP student and just love this school. The staff is patient, engaging and creative. Our children love going to school here and made friends in both students and teachers. We have been especially impressed by the pre-k year, our eldest just flourished in this class. He learned a lot of great social emotional skills that have allowed him to tackle kinder and really learn because he’s not caught up in peer conflicts.
All three of our girls have attended FUMP and we've loved every minute of our time as a FUMP family. The educational approach is exactly what we wanted and the consistent love and care for our kiddos was evident each and every day. Our youngest has two years more years at FUMP and joyfully walks into class each day.
FUMP is a truly special place. We moved from the east coast to TX last summer and, after a tour and meeting with FUMP's amazing director Sandy, I made a leap of faith enrolling my 2 kiddos here. We have been so incredibly happy with our experience with both ages and classrooms. They have such nurturing and kind teachers and staff, and it's a welcoming and happy space. My kids never want to leave! They have flexible scheduling, offering before school care (8:15-9), 4 hours of preschool (9-1), and after school care (1-2:30), with options of 2, 3, or 5 days per week. I couldn't be happier with FUMP and its community of parents, teachers and staff.
Our young son loves every day he gets to spend here. The teachers have been engaging, the administration has been helpful, and the location is extremely convenient for us. Glad to be a part of FUMP.
Web Report
Aggregated insights from public records & parent discussions
Safety Record
No specific safety incidents, major violations, or legal issues were found in public news or licensing summaries. The facility is a Texas Rising Star 4-star certified program (the highest quality rating) and is nationally accredited by the National Accreditation Commission (NAC). Safety policies explicitly include a school-wide ban on all nut products and strict adherence to state-mandated health and immunization policies.
Parent Reputation
The preschool has a highly positive reputation, with parents on local forums like Reddit recommending it as a top-tier, high-quality program in downtown Austin. It is frequently featured in regional childcare guides and is noted for its low teacher-to-child ratios and long-standing community presence. While aggregate review sites often show high quality-of-care ratings, specific numerical star scores on platforms like Google or Yelp were not found.
Staff Insights
Internal reports from the school state that teacher retention rates are 'impressively high' due to small group sizes and low ratios. Ratios are strictly maintained at levels such as 1:3 for infants and 1:8 for Pre-K students. No independent reviews from current or former employees were found on standard employer review platforms.
Quick Information
Varies by age and schedule
