Cairo Academy

About Us

culturally specific nonprofit early learning program rooted in equity, inclusion, and community — serving Portland families since 2016.

Our Preschool Program

Culturally Affirming Early Education

CAIRO Academy Preschool is a culturally specific, nonprofit early learning program of the Center for African Immigrants and Refugees Organization (CAIRO). Rooted in CAIRO’s mission to advance equity and social justice for African refugee and immigrant communities, our preschool is designed to give young children a strong, culturally affirming start in their educational journey.

We believe the earliest years of life shape long-term academic success, confidence, and opportunity. CAIRO Academy was launched in 2016 to address gaps in Early Childhood Education for African children and families in the Portland area — across Multnomah and Washington Counties.

Today, our preschool program focuses on empowering children from various backgrounds to build strong social skills, early literacy foundations, and school readiness to support successful transitions into kindergarten and beyond.

Est. 2016

Serving Portland families for nearly a decade

7 +

Serving Portland families for nearly a decade

100%

Free for qualifying families through PFA & PSP

3–4

Age range served — children must be 3 or 4 by Sept 1

Our Philosophy

Built on Equity& Strong Relationships

We are committed to creating a learning environment where children from all backgrounds can thrive socially, emotionally, and academically while developing confidence in who they are.

Our Impact

Closing the Gap, One Child at a Time

The issues we seek to address — academic success, achievement gaps, diversity, equity and social inclusion — are all determined by access and the quality of opportunities we are given in the earliest years of our lives.

CAIRO strongly believes that our students at the Academy will have improved their social skills prior to graduation, will have less or no need for special education instruction during subsequent school years, and attain better grades with enhanced attention spans.

We work with a variety of partner agencies and foundations in ensuring access to quality preschool for all children in the regions we work in and communities we serve. We aim to get students off to a good start in our preschools, so they can have successful transitions through K-12 and college to career.

We build pride in heritage and strong foundations through our CAIRO Academy that integrates African culture, early literacy, and parent training. Bilingual, bicultural African community members welcome families and are an integral part of all of our CAIRO Academy programs and leadership.

Kindergarten Readiness

Children enter kindergarten confident, capable, and proud — with strong social-emotional skills and early literacy foundations.

Family as Partners

We recognize families as children’s first and most important teachers — actively partnering with them throughout their child’s learning journey.

Reduced Special Education Needs

Early intervention and inclusive practices mean children are better prepared and less likely to require special education in later years.

Cultural Pride & Heritage

We integrate African culture into every aspect of learning — building identity, self-confidence, and a strong sense of belonging.

Our Team

Qualified, Credentialed & Caring Educators

Every member of our team is carefully vetted, trained, and committed to ongoing professional development. Our educators hold a range of qualifications — from Child Development Associate credentials to Masters degrees in Early Childhood Education — and all speak multiple languages to serve our diverse community.

Meet the full team →

CAIRO Academy