Seacoast Community School

Seacoast Community School (SCS) is a nationally accredited early childhood education center located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Since 1967, SCS has provided high-quality care and education to children from eight weeks to 14 years of age through a variety of programs, including early learning classrooms, before- and after-school care, and summer enrichment. Our mission is to offer nurturing, inclusive, and accessible education that supports the growth and development of every child, regardless of their background or financial circumstances.

At the heart of our approach is the belief that early childhood is a critical time for laying the foundation for lifelong learning. Reading and enrichment activities play a vital role in this process. Through age-appropriate literacy experiences—storytelling, reading aloud, and interactive books—children build essential language, comprehension, and cognitive skills. Enrichment opportunities such as music, art, nature exploration, and dramatic play foster creativity, curiosity, and a love for learning.

At SCS, we intentionally integrate reading and enrichment into our daily routines, knowing that these early experiences help develop not only school readiness but also confidence, empathy, and imagination.

By investing in high-quality early education enriched with meaningful literacy and developmental activities, we help ensure every child is prepared to thrive in school and beyond.

What Your Donation Can Buy: Supporting Literacy at SCS

$25 – Buys a set of board books for infants and toddlers to build early language skills.

$50 – Provides story time materials and read-aloud books for a classroom for one month.

$100 – Adds new, diverse titles to our classroom libraries to reflect and celebrate all children.

$300 – Funds a month of Imagination Library for students . 

$500 – Helps purchase comfortable reading nooks, rugs, and book displays to create inviting classroom reading spaces.

$1,000 – Supports the development of a mobile library cart, bringing books and literacy activities to all SCS programs.

Who We Are

Seacoast Community School's mission is “To provide nurturing care and exceptional education for all children of the Seacoast.”

It is our vision “To be the leader in innovative and accessible education for children 8 weeks to 12 years; and to lead our community in understanding the value and impact of high quality early education opportunities”

Our long-standing values have held steadfast for almost 50 years and we continue to lead through our values:
Nurturing continuum of care
• Offering a wide variety of programs designed to create strong bonds of attachment and delivered by dedicated professionals in a loving and positive environment.

Developmentally appropriate curriculum
• Using best practice research and the scientific knowledge of brain development to design creative and engaging learning environments and to plan activities and opportunities intended to lay the foundation for life-long success.

Access and opportunity
• Ensuring equal opportunity for families and children to take advantage of our high quality programs regardless of the ability to pay.

Commitment to community and the Seacoast region
• Holding a place of prominence and value as a successful non-profit organization that contributes to the fabric of our community by being responsive to the needs of the children and families of the Seacoast and by enriching their lives.

Leadership and advocacy / Collaboration / Investing in the Profession and Early Childhood
• Leading the field in providing employment opportunities for teachers. Advancing the profession through collaboration with educational institutions and public and private advocacy groups.