38
YEARS
690+
SCHOOLS
ALMOST
98%
OF PRE-K
97%
OF PARENTS
Our Featured Provider
A 38 Year Legacy of Leading Child Care
The Goddard School partners with families to create joyful, supportive environments where children flourish. With a commitment to nurturing curiosity, character and a love of learning, The Goddard School fosters social, emotional and academic development to empower children to grow into the best versions of themselves.
Founded by Anthony A. Martino in 1988, The Goddard School franchise system was created to address the growing need for high-quality childcare as more families transitioned to dual-working households. Martino sought to go beyond traditional daycare, building a program that gives children a strong start in school and in life. Today, The Goddard School has grown into a thriving system of more than 690 locations that collectively serve nearly 100,000 students nationwide every day.
The Goddard School’s approach to education starts with a simple belief: children learn best when they are encouraged to explore their natural curiosity. Through its exclusive inquiry-based education program, Wonder of Learning®, children learn through hands-on discovery, while teachers thoughtfully build on their interests to create engaging, personalized classrooms. Supported by expert knowledge, data-driven insights and a deep understanding of child development, Wonder of Learning helps children develop critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills while inspiring a lifelong love of learning.
Wonder of Learning builds a foundation that prepares children for kindergarten and beyond. More than 98% of pre-kindergarten students demonstrate kindergarten readiness, with the majority showing advanced or very advanced readiness. Family satisfaction is also exceptionally high: in 2025, The Goddard School achieved a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 84 and 97% of parents of graduates are still satisfied with their decision to enroll at The Goddard School five years after graduation.
As a franchise system, every Goddard School is independently owned and operated, enabling franchisees to play an active role in their local communities. Schools serve as employers, community members and partners to families, local businesses and charities.
The Goddard School is consistently recognized among the top franchises in the United States, including #68 in the 2026 Entrepreneur Franchise 500 and #57 in the 2026 Franchise Times Top 400. It is also included in Franchise Business Review’s 2026 Top 200 Franchises and earned FRANdata's TopScore FUND Award for the fourth consecutive year in 2026. These accolades reflect the organization’s commitment to providing industry-leading support and resources for its franchisees, and its purposeful growth strategy designed to expand access to high-quality early childhood education nationwide.
Together, The Goddard School’s differentiated educational approach and purpose-driven franchise model make a meaningful impact in both classrooms and communities. The following stories bring that to life.
Impact Story #1
Wonder of Learning
Preschool is a critical period for development, shaping how children learn, socialize and build confidence. Nearly 90% of a child’s brain develops before age five, making early childhood education essential—not optional—for school readiness and lifelong success. Because children learn and grow cognitively, socially and emotionally at different rates, high-quality early learning must meet children where they are and adapt to their individual differences.
In 2024, The Goddard School introduced its exclusive inquiry-based education program, Wonder of Learning. Inquiry-based learning is an approach where teachers intentionally build learning experiences around children’s questions and curiosity. Rather than telling a child what they should know or how to think, educators guide children through meaningful exploration by asking open-ended questions and encouraging them to investigate, collaborate, reflect and problem-solve.
Examples of inquiry questions include “How do we solve problems?” and “What is kindness?” These questions are explored across classrooms and age groups to allow for age-appropriate investigation. Lessons naturally go in many different directions, creating endless learning opportunities. The goal is less about landing on a definitive answer and more about helping children learn how to learn, sparking curiosity that fuels continued growth.
Early childhood education experts at The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education conducted an independent review of Wonder of Learning. Among their findings, they highlighted that “the curriculum demonstrates a consistent balance of child-initiated exploration and teacher-provoked or facilitated learning, creating a dynamic environment where curiosity, discovery, and individualized learning can thrive.” Further, they noted that the curriculum “supports individualized learning through curiosity-driven exploration, responsive to children’s unique needs and interests.”
By fostering curiosity and exploration, Wonder of Learning equips children with the mindset and skills to navigate school—and life—with confidence.
Impact Story #2
Making a Difference in Communities
Each Goddard School is a small business operated locally in its community. Schools across the country are committed to serving their communities by delivering exceptional care and education and supporting local organizations. These examples are just a small snapshot of the remarkable efforts taking place across the Goddard School system each and every day.
- In Arizona, Goddard Schools in the Phoenix market come together annually to coordinate the “Step Up, Stop Cancer” fundraiser, raising money to support Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Together, the schools donated $15,785 in 2025, and have raised nearly $60,000 over the last three years. This initiative is personal for Jake Thompson, owner of The Goddard Schools of Cave Creek and Gilbert – Warner, AZ, as the hospital provided medical expertise, treatment and care when his son was diagnosed with leukemia.
"As we navigated this difficult journey, we were inspired by the countless families and children who were facing similar battles,” said Jake. “It became evident that supporting organizations like Phoenix Children's Hospital was crucial to ensuring that families could receive the care and resources they need to fight childhood illnesses.”
- The Goddard Schools of Chicagoland and Greater Milwaukee have collaborated for over a decade in support of Bernie’s Book Bank, a local organization that sources, processes and distributes quality new and gently used children’s books to underserved infants, toddlers and school-age children. The schools have collectively donated more than 330,000 books since 2014, including more than 20,000 in 2026.
The drive is spearheaded by Michael Petrucelli, owner of The Goddard School of Darien, IL.
“Each year, Chicagoland and Greater Milwaukee area Goddard School communities come together with a goal to get more books into the hands of children who need them most,” said Michael. “Through our partnership with Bernie’s Book Bank, this annual book drive not only expands access to books across Chicagoland and Milwaukee but also helps spark a lifelong love of reading and learning for thousands of children.”
- The Goddard Schools of Greater Reno, NV, host an annual art auction featuring artwork from the schools’ students. The initiative supports the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation, with the funds going towards enhancing the quality of life for children with cancer and their families by providing financial assistance and support programs. In two years, the schools have collectively raised over $35,000.
"Our students pour so much creativity into this artwork, and it’s incredibly meaningful to see it make a real difference beyond the classroom,” said Denise Cross, owner of The Goddard School of Reno – Somersett, NV. “Supporting the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation through this annual auction allows our schools to come together as a community and help improve the lives of children and families facing unimaginable challenges.”
- Since 2024, nearly 100 Goddard Schools across the country have collectively raised over $215,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. These donations go towards advancing cures and means of prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. In 2025, The Goddard Schools of King of Prussia and Montgomeryville, PA, hosted Trike-A-Thons, where students ride their tricycles around the parking lot as a fun and educational way to teach them how to give to those in need, raising more than $15,000 for the cause.
“The energy and excitement from the children as they pedaled for a cause was truly inspiring, and it brought our school community together in such a meaningful way,” said Susan McGarrity, owner of The Goddard School of King of Prussia, PA.