First Steps is a privately owned children's center. The owners, Mary Ellen Arsenault and her daughter, Nancy Arsenault King, have been life-long residents of Hudson.
We opened our doors in September of 1990. Our intentions were, and continue to be, to provide the parents of the area communities a safe, loving, stress-free environment for their young children during the hours that parents need to be at work.
We were conservative in September of 1990 and requested a license from Massachusetts Office for Child Care Services for 39 children.
By December 1st, we were bulging and needed to be re-licensed for 67 children far surpassing our original expectations.
Since then, we have added an additional infant room, an additional pre-school (Pre-K) and a private full-day kindergarten. We now serve 106 families in our Hudson center.
Quick Stats (2024)
- School Type: Early Childhood / Day Care
- Grades: Prekindergarten-Kindergarten
- Enrollment: 54 students
- Application Deadline: None / Rolling
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
School Overview
School Type
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-Kindergarten
Student Body
Total Students
54 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
13%
State avg.: 30%
Students by Grade
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
10 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
National avg.: 13:1
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
School Notes
- First Steps is a privately owned children's center. The owners, Mary Ellen Arsenault and her daughter, Nancy Arsenault King, have been life-long residents of Hudson. We opened our doors in September of 1990. Our intentions were, and continue to be, to provide the parents of the area communities a safe, loving, stress-free environment for their young children during the hours that parents need to be at work. We were conservative in September of 1990 and requested a license from Massachusetts Office for Child Care Services for 39 children. By December 1st, we were bulging and needed to be re-licensed for 67 children far surpassing our original expectations. Since then, we have added an additional infant room, an additional pre-school (Pre-K) and a private full-day kindergarten. We now serve 106 families in our Hudson center.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the application deadline for First Steps Children's Center?
The application deadline for First Steps Children's Center is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).
Nearby Private Schools
The nearest high school and elementary school to First Steps Children's Center is Darnell School For Educational & Behavioral Servic (0.5 miles away)
The nearest preschool is Chaps Early Childhood Center (1.1 miles away)
Show me:
School
Location
Miles
Grades
Students
Darnell School For Educational & Behavioral Servic
Special Education School
Grades: 7-12 | 25 students 0.5 miles 15 South St Ste 500
Hudson, MA 01749
(508) 298-1639
Hudson, MA 01749
(508) 298-1639
0.5
7-12
25
Chaps Early Childhood Center
Daycare / Preschool
Grades: K | 40 students 1.1 miles 127 Forest Ave
Hudson, MA 01749
(978) 568-8884
Hudson, MA 01749
(978) 568-8884
1.1
K
40
The Cottage Childrens Center
Daycare / Preschool
Grades: PK-K | 130 students 2.2 miles 197 Union St
Marlborough, MA 01752
(508) 485-2054
Marlborough, MA 01752
(508) 485-2054
2.2
PK-K
130
Grades: 7-12 | 116 students 2.3 miles 280 Locke Drive
Marlborough, MA 01752
(508) 205-4270
Marlborough, MA 01752
(508) 205-4270
2.3
7-12
116
Immaculate Conception School
(Catholic)
Grades: PK-8 | 156 students 2.6 miles 25 Washington Ct
Marlborough, MA 01752
(508) 460-3400
Marlborough, MA 01752
(508) 460-3400
2.6
PK-8
156
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