Welcome to Woodland, where agricultural heritage meets cutting-edge innovation, and world-class education drives economic opportunity. Located at the heart of Yolo County and just minutes from Northern California’s primary university, research, and policy centers, Woodland offers an interconnected educational ecosystem spanning early childhood learning, career-technical training, and globally renowned university research.

Whether you are expanding an enterprise, relocating your family, or seeking specialized industry talent, Woodland’s educational and workforce institutions provide the skills, innovation, and pipeline required to thrive in today’s evolving global economy.

Early Childhood Education & Childcare: Nurturing the Next Generation

A strong economic foundation relies on accessible, high-quality childcare and early education that support working parents while preparing children for lifelong learning. Woodland offers a rich network of public preschools, private early learning centers, cooperative nurseries, and family support infrastructure.

Public Preschool & Universal Early Learning

• Woodland Joint Unified School District (WJUSD) Preschools: WJUSD operates full-day and part-day State Preschool programs across multiple elementary sites—including Beamer Park, Dingle, Freeman, Gibson, Maxwell, Whitehead, and Woodland Prairie. Programs utilize the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) assessment framework to foster foundational literacy, math, science, and social-emotional skills while providing school meals and family support services.
• Universal Transitional Kindergarten (TK): Offered across WJUSD elementary campuses, TK serves as a vital bridge between early learning and kindergarten, ensuring four-year-olds build essential academic and social readiness in a structured school environment.
• Yolo County Office of Education (YCOE) Head Start & Early Head Start: YCOE operates Head Start and Early Head Start facilities in Woodland (including the Lemen Center, Lincoln Center, Casa Del Sol, and Home Base programs). These centers deliver comprehensive early education, health and developmental screenings, nutritional support, and family engagement services for income-eligible families.
• YCOE First Steps Infant Program: Delivers specialized early intervention, therapy, and developmental support services for infants and toddlers ages 0 to 3 with specialized needs.

Private, Cooperative & Specialized Preschools

• Woodland Parent Nursery School (WPNS): Established in 1956, WPNS is a cooperative, outdoor play-based preschool where parents work alongside child development experts to foster inquiry, problem-solving, and nature-based experiential learning for children aged 8 months to 7 years.
• Woodland Montessori School (Bergamo Montessori): Provides child-centered, hands-on Montessori education for children ages 2½ through elementary grades, prioritizing self-directed exploration, practical life skills, and academic discovery.
• Woodland Wonder School: A private early learning facility offering pod-based instruction, full-day/part-day care options, and targeted kindergarten-readiness curriculums for children ages 2 to 5.
• St. John’s Preschool: Operating as an extension of St. John’s United Church of Christ, St. John’s Preschool provides a play-based early childhood program for children ages 2 to 6. The program emphasizes hands-on experiential learning, social-emotional development, and kindergarten readiness within a supportive Christian environment, offering full-day, extended-day, and morning preschool schedules for working families.
• Faith-Based Early Learning: Both Woodland Christian School and Holy Rosary Catholic School offer accredited preschool and early childhood programs that integrate foundational academics with character development and values-based guidance.

Childcare Resources & Working Family Support

• Children’s Home Society of California (CHS) – Yolo County Office: Located directly in Woodland (1100 Main Street), CHS serves as Yolo County’s central Child Care Resource and Referral (R&R) agency. CHS provides families with free localized childcare listings, child care subsidy administration, and parent education resources.
• First 5 Yolo & Help Me Grow Yolo: First 5 Yolo invests in early childhood health and education across the county, funding provider coaching initiatives (IMPACT Quality Early Learning), home visiting programs (Welcome Baby), and early mental health support. Help Me Grow Yolo operates a centralized resource line (844-410-GROW) connecting families to developmental screenings and specialized care.
• Yolo County Child Care Local Planning Council (LPC): Works closely with city leaders, school districts, and private providers to expand local childcare capacity, secure facility infrastructure grants, and workforce development for early educators.

Primary & Secondary Education: Building Tomorrow's Workforce

Woodland’s K-12 educational landscape emphasizes academic rigor, hands-on career technical education (CTE), and college readiness across public, charter, and private institutions.

Woodland Joint Unified School District (WJUSD)

Serving over 9,000 local students, WJUSD delivers comprehensive K-12 education across elementary, middle, and high schools.

• Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathways: WJUSD partners closely with regional agricultural, tech, and healthcare industries to offer accredited CTE pathways in high-demand sectors:
• Agriculture & Environmental Sciences: Sustainable agriculture, floral design, plant science, and ag-mechanics.
• Health Sciences & Medical Technology: Patient care, emergency response, and medical terminology.
• Engineering & Architecture: CAD drafting, robotics, and structural design fundamentals.
• Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management: Food safety, commercial kitchen operations, and business management.
• Public Safety & Public Service: Law enforcement, fire science, and civic leadership.
• Dual Enrollment & College Prep: High school students earn transferable college credits prior to graduation through articulated pathways with Woodland Community College and regional institutions.
• Advanced Placement (AP) & Career Counseling: Academic tracks geared toward top four-year university admissions paired with work-based learning and local mentorships.

Yolo County Office of Education (YCOE)

Headquartered in Woodland, YCOE provides specialized educational programs, career technical training, early learning oversight, and special education services across Yolo County. YCOE collaborates directly with local school districts and industry partners to align career technical training with regional economic demands.

Private & Independent Schools

Woodland features private and faith-based learning environments that emphasize individualized instruction, STEM enrichment, and community leadership:

• Woodland Christian School: A comprehensive pre-K through 12th-grade college preparatory institution offering robust athletics, fine arts, and advanced STEM programs.
• Holy Rosary Catholic School: Serving preschool through 8th-grade students with a strong foundation in academic excellence, service, and character development.

Higher Education and Vocational Training

Woodland provides direct access to high-value, affordable higher education and specialized technical certifications right in our community.

Woodland Community College (WCC)

A cornerstone of local workforce development, Woodland Community College offers associate degrees, career technical certificates, and seamless university transfer pathways tailored to Central Valley and Sacramento regional industry needs.

• Agri-Food & Environmental Sciences: Degree and certificate programs focused on precision agriculture, plant science, environmental technology, and ag-business administration.
• Trade & Technical Excellence: Industry-aligned certification programs in:
• Welding Technology: Code welding, fabrication, and structural metals.
• Automotive & Diesel Technology: Diagnostic systems, alternative fuels, and heavy machinery maintenance.
• Environmental Control Technology (HVAC/R): Energy management, refrigeration, and commercial climate control systems.
• Construction Management: Project estimation, safety compliance (OSHA), and building codes.
• Health Sciences & Public Safety: Accredited programs in Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and Criminal Justice / Administration of Justice.
• Business & Information Technology: Associate degrees in Business Administration, Accounting Technology, and Computer Information Systems.

Woodland Adult Education

Operated in partnership with WJUSD and regional workforce boards, Woodland Adult Education provides essential adult literacy, High School Equivalency (GED/HiSET), English Language Learning (ELL), and targeted career preparation to help community members upskill and transition into rewarding local careers.

World-Class University & Research Ecosystem

Woodland sits inside one of North America's most dynamic research corridors, placing local enterprise within minutes of world-renowned researches, top-tier laboratories, and venture-backed innovation.

University of California, Davis (UC Davis) — 9 Miles Away

Consistently ranked the #1 agricultural sciences university in the United States and #2 worldwide for plant and animal sciences, UC Davis drives over $1 billion in annual research funding.

• AgTech & Biotechnology Engine: UC Davis fuels Woodland's position as a global epicenter for agrifood technology and bio-based innovation.
• Seed Central & Innovation Partnerships: A public-private initiative connecting UC Davis faculty and researchers with over 100 seed, crop science, and ag-biotech companies located in Woodland and Yolo County.
• Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science: Global leadership in viticulture, enology, food safety, and sustainable food processing.
• World Food Center & IIFH: Innovation Institute for Food and Health driving research in nutrition, crop resilience, and sustainable food supply chains.
• Aggie Square & UC Davis Health: Expanding health science research, biomanufacturing, and clinical discovery across the freeway corridor.

Woodland Research and Technology Park

Capitalizing on our proximity to UC Davis, the 350-acre Woodland Research and Technology Park is planned to deliver up to 2 million square feet of state-of-the-art office, laboratory, R&D, and biomanufacturing space. This master-planned hub enables breakthroughs made at neighboring universities to scale seamlessly into commercial production right here in Woodland.

Local AgTech Incubators & Industry Facilities

Woodland hosts a critical concentration of commercial ag-biotech facilities and business accelerators:

• The Lab@AgStart: Located in downtown Woodland, providing Northern California’s largest shared wet lab and commercial food kitchen incubator for emerging agrifood and biotech startups.
• Bayer AG LifeHub California: Situated directly in Woodland at Bayer’s vegetable R&D facilities, serving as an international site for open innovation and crop research.
• HM.CLAUSE Innovation Center: A business incubator offering wet lab facilities, seed processing labs, greenhouse space, and open field trials.
• Superior Farms & Local Agribusiness Leaders: Driving advancements in livestock science, sustainable meat processing, and supply chain automation.

Greater Sacramento Higher Education Network

Within a short commute, Woodland connects directly to a regional network of higher education institutions enrolling over 190,000 post-secondary students: