We are so excited to be building a second New Horizon Academy location in West Des Moines, Iowa! Conveniently located off I-80 and Jordan Creek Parkway, our school will double as a corporate-sponsored childcare location on the ITA Group campus, offering quality childcare, preschool, and early learning programs to ITA Group employees and the public. Experienced teachers will lead children ages 6 weeks to 5 years through a research-based curriculum incorporating STEAM, literacy, social-emotional learning, motor development, school readiness skills, and more. We are carefully designing and constructing our daycare classrooms to ensure children’s safety and nurture a love for learning. Our school is scheduled to open in late fall 2024. While our newest West Des Moines location is under construction, families are invited to tour our existing West Des Moines location or one of our other five daycare centers in the Des Moines area. Be sure to check back for the latest details of our grand opening!
Awards and Accolades
My name is Darby, and I have been working in early childcare for over 10 years. I have grown from a teacher to an assistant director to a center director, and I have loved the whole process. I love learning from my peers, but most of all, from the children who come to our school and brighten our days!
Education – Kirkwood Community College
Years of Early Childhood Education Experience: 10+
What do you like about early childhood?
I love being a part of creating a safe and loving environment for children, knowing that we are giving them a safe space to be themselves and learn and grow.
What makes your school unique?
Our school features smaller classrooms, a mothers room for nursing moms, a walking trail, and a nice large great room!
What is your favorite children’s book?
“The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein
I graduated from Iowa State University and had the amazing opportunity to work at the Children’s Lab School on campus there. I have worked as an infant and toddler teacher for most of my early childhood education career. Before working at New Horizon Academy, I was a Childcare Evaluation and Coaching Specialist in St. Louis, Missouri. When I am not working with kids, you can find me spending time with family and friends, reading, cooking and playing with my cats.
Education – B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies
Years of Early Childhood Education Experience: 6+
What do you like about early childhood?
My favorite thing about early childhood is that it’s one of the only jobs where play and hugs are not only encouraged but required!
What makes your school unique?
My school is unique because we have a lot of families that work upstairs for ITA Group so we get to do lots of fun family events. The parents are always visiting and getting to know the other students and teachers in their child’s class.
What is your favorite children’s book?
“Stellaluna” by Janell Cannon
At New Horizon Academy West Des Moines (ITA Group), tuition rates vary by:
Please fill out our contact form or schedule a tour, and our school director will provide your family with personalized tuition rates.
Request ITA Group Tuition Rates
Our West Des Moines early childhood center is open Monday-Friday every day with the exception of nine holidays:
*On Christmas Eve, New Horizon Academy closes at 3:00 p.m.
*If one of these holidays falls on a weekend, it will be observed on either Friday or Monday.
*Our school will remain open during inclement weather to ensure children still have access to quality childcare.
Our West Des Moines school offers both full-time and part-time schedules to accommodate the different needs of our families.
Please contact our school director for current childcare openings and availability.
Yes! At New Horizon Academy West Des Moines (ITA Group), we have an on-site cook trained in nutrition, USDA guidelines, and proper portions for young children. Our school provides nutritious and nourishing meals every day including breakfast, lunch, and snack.
If your child has a special nutritional need, a food allergy, or requires adaptation to our menu, please alert our school director, and we will partner with your family to create a suitable meal plan.
At New Horizon Academy West Des Moines (ITA Group), we follow Iowa state guidelines for licensed daycare staff-to-child ratios:
An investment in a New Horizon Academy education is an investment in your child’s future. Families trust New Horizon Academy to set their children up for success. Here are a few reasons why:
From a single preschool classroom in 1971 to 100 schools today, much has changed for New Horizon Academy, but our commitment to children, families, teachers, and our communities remains the same.
One hundred percent of our eligible schools are accredited by NAEYC, the gold standard in early childhood accreditation. This is an accomplishment no other childcare provider of our size has achieved.
We hire teachers with experience, give them the training and support they need to succeed, pay them above market average, and help them achieve their goals. This results in stable, consistent care for your child.
Our state-of-the-art schools provide children with thoughtfully designed classrooms, playgrounds, and learning tools. We regularly update our schools to ensure they reflect our high standards for safety, quality, and care.
Your child’s safety and well-being always come first. Our childcare centers create caring, secure environments focused on supporting each child’s health and happiness. You can feel confident that your child is in good hands.
Our research-based curriculum offers engaging, hands-on activities in STEAM, language and literacy, social-emotional learning, physical development, and more to support kindergarten readiness and lifelong learning.
As an organization, we strive to foster a welcoming and inclusive culture where all children, families, and staff feel a sense of belonging. We approach our relationships with curiosity, compassion, and respect.
A nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snack are prepared fresh each day by our school chef, with menus developed by our nutrition specialist to ensure every meal is balanced. All meals are included in the cost of tuition!
Our mobile app keeps parents connected with daily updates, allowing teachers to share information, send messages, and delight you with photos and videos from your child’s day, so you never miss a moment.
Families are always welcome to come in for visits, participate in activities, and join us for family fun events. We love having parents involved in their child’s learning and value every opportunity to build a strong community.
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