Early Education and Care in Wheat Ridge, CO

Every Moment Matters
- The components of our Balanced Learning® approach are intentionally aligned to create developmentally appropriate learning experiences.
- Your child will stay engaged all day with the right balance of child-initiated and teacher-guided learning experiences.
- Our students learn the foundational skills to develop Active Minds, Healthy Bodies, and Happy Hearts® that will forge a path to a brighter future.

Franchise Owners
Emily and Bryce Durke
Welcome to Primrose Schools!
We are Emily and Bryce Durke, proud owners of the Primrose School of Wheat Ridge at Applewood. We are excited to bring high-quality early education and care to families right here in Wheat Ridge and the surrounding communities.
I’m Emily, and I hold a master’s degree in elementary education. For the past fifteen years, I’ve had the joy of teaching—five years in Arizona and ten years in the Cherry Creek School District—where I’ve seen firsthand how the right foundation shapes a child’s confidence, curiosity, and love of learning. That journey led me to Primrose and its research-based Balanced Learning® approach, which blends purposeful play with nurturing guidance to inspire a lifelong love of learning.
Bryce brings a background in construction and business, which has been essential to bringing our vision for this school to life. As parents of young children in Northwest Denver, we understand how important it is to find a place where children feel safe, cared for, and inspired to grow.
We are committed to creating the kind of environment we would want for our own children—warm, welcoming, and filled with meaningful learning experiences. We are honored by the trust families place in us and cannot wait to welcome you into our Primrose family.
Our doors will open early next year, and we truly look forward to meeting you and your little ones soon.
With warm regards,
Emily & Bryce Durke
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all staff members background-checked and CPR/first-aid certified?
Yes. Every Primrose staff member undergoes a thorough background check before joining our school. All staff are also CPR and first–aid certified, so you can feel confident your child is in safe, prepared hands every day.
What curriculum or educational philosophy do you follow?
Our school uses the proprietary Primrose Schools Balanced Learning® curriculum, which is research-informed and designed to nurture the whole child — intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically. We believe in balancing teacher-guided learning with purposeful play to build a strong foundation for the future.
How do you support school readiness and the transition to kindergarten?
All of our programs are designed in age-appropriate ways to prepare children for kindergarten and beyond. We focus on early literacy and numeracy as well as social-emotional skill development — so children arrive at kindergarten confident and ready to thrive. 96% of Primrose Schools Pre-K students met ASQ benchmarks for problem solving.*
What are your hours of operation?
We are open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am-6:00 pm.
How do you keep parents informed about their child's day?
Connecting school to home is one of the ways we help children thrive. We use the Procare app to share daily updates and photos so you stay connected to your child’s joy, learning and special moments













