Program Description

The Macfeat Laboratory School is maintained by the College of Education as a training/demonstration/ research center.  Macfeat is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs (NAEYC), an organization that recognizes outstanding programs which meet national standards of quality.  The Full Day Program are also Regulated by the South Carolina Department of Social Services.  Staffed by professional educators with advanced degrees, graduate and undergraduate students, and numerous volunteers, the Lab School stresses the development of the whole child -- intellectually, physically, socially, and emotionally.  The school also serves as a research facility, exploring ways to successfully meet the challenges facing teachers and other professionals working with families of young children.

Our program serves three-, four-, and five-year-old kindergarten level children.  We abide by the September 1 birth date cut off, in accordance with state law.  A special effort is made to achieve a diverse program that includes children from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and children with special needs.

The hours of the half-day preschool program are 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The kindergarten and full-day preschool programs operate 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Monday – Friday.  Extended care from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. is available for families, if needed.  We adhere to the Winthrop academic calendar:  if classes are scheduled, we are open.  We begin the first day of classes in August and end first semester the last day of exams (15 weeks).  We extend the schedule during second semester through the fourth Friday in May (18 weeks).  When there is a possibility of the university closing, as in the event of a severe snowstorm, Macfeat will operate according to the decision of the College of Education administration.  Macfeat will close when Winthrop University issues a closing.  Please call the Winthrop Campus Alert Line (323-2222) to verify a closing.