Creative World School was founded by Billie and Duane McCabe, early childhood educators with a passion for inspiring young minds. They opened their first school in Independence, Missouri, blending innovative curriculum and nurturing environments for children to thrive in their earliest years. Their unique vision was quickly embraced as they expanded and operated up to 45 childcare centers in seven states.
Billie and Duane’s daughter, Dr. Marianne Whitehouse, PhD, became the CEO. She infused the company with new energy, building on the family’s legacy of educational excellence.
Creative World introduced the Exploratorium™, a signature, interactive learning space that empowers preschool and pre-k students to explore with unique hands-on experiences using extra special materials and resources not found in a classroom. This space is also the hub of iSTEAM education – science, technology, engineering, art, and math – with inquiry learning as the focus.
Creative World School began franchising, allowing passionate educators and entrepreneurs to bring the unique Creative World experience to families across the nation.
Creative World School celebrated its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of educational innovation and community impact.
Creative World School continues to grow, opening new locations nationwide while remaining dedicated to its mission of nurturing young learners and inspiring the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and creators.
At Creative World, we believe in nurturing a future built on purpose,
imagination, and innovation. These guiding principles shape everything we
do and drive us to explore the incredible in every moment.
Living our purpose
At Creative World School, integrity is more than a value—it’s the foundation of who we are. From the moment Billie and Duane McCabe founded our schools, honesty, transparency, and accountability have guided everything we do. We believe that living our purpose each day means upholding the highest standards in education, creating safe and nurturing spaces, and making a lasting impact on the lives of children and families. Our unwavering commitment to excellence is recognized through our Accreditation, a testament to our dedication to quality, growth, and the trust placed in us by our communities.
daring to play
At Creative World School, we celebrate imagination as the key to unlocking every child’s full potential. Through our signature Exploratorium™ experience, we create an environment where curiosity thrives, and learning becomes an adventure. We believe in the power of play—not just as an activity, but as a way to think, explore, and create. By encouraging open-ended discovery, hands-on experimentation, and joyful expression, we foster a deep love of learning that lasts a lifetime. Imagination is at the heart of everything we do, empowering children to dream big, embrace possibilities, and see the world through a lens of wonder.
Exploring the Incredible
Innovation drives the way we teach, learn, and grow. At Creative World School, we go beyond traditional learning by integrating cutting-edge technology, inquiry- based experiences, and hands-on exploration into every child’s journey. Our classrooms are designed to spark curiosity, from interactive learning tools to our proprietary CW App, connecting families with their child’s educational experience. We don’t just embrace change—we lead it. By exploring the incredible, we inspire the next generation of thinkers, creators, and problem- solvers, preparing them for a world where anything is possible.
Together, we inspire a love of learning and discovery, creating joyful experiences for children that fill each day with curiosity, laughter, and growth.
This is How We WOW! These values are shared by our leaders, teachers,
and families and truly describe our culture.
Discover and embrace the question that make your ponder!
Think beyond the box. Have the courage and vision to imagine!
Have fun! Share your joy and exactment!
Look for the “AHA” moments. Be curious!
Be inspired and inpire others. Work together and give back!
CW Cares is our philanthropic division which aims to foster community engagement, charitable initiatives, and social responsibility within the Creative World School network. This program seeks to involve franchisees, staff, students, and families in various activities and projects that give back to the community and support causes that align with the values of Creative World School.
As we Dream Big and set our standards high, we recognize that the pursuit of excellence is best achieved through ongoing review, meaningful communication, and teamwork. We have sought to build a system that affirms and rewards big goals and authentic growth. All of our leaders, from the corporate office to the classroom, share a vision for excellence as we pursue our most important goal: loving and educating young children.
Creative World School is proud to have earned System Accreditation through Cognia, the largest accrediting body in the world. Their rigorous review process ensures that only the best Early and Elementary Education schools receive the Cognia seal. Our values of leadership investment, exacting policies and procedures, and educational excellence have earned us the highest level of approval from this esteemed accrediting body.
We require all our Creative World Schools to be accredited within one year of opening. With Cognia System Accreditation, our standards for education, teaching, health and safety, and leadership are reviewed through an ongoing self-improvement process. Through on-site visits, Cognia validators interview staff, families, and children to ensure that we live out our high standards every day!
In addition to extensive external review processes, each Creative World School receives a bi-annual IQ: Inspection for Quality visit. This detailed inspection evaluates adherence to Creative World policies and procedures, education and teaching outcomes, leadership and staff performance, and community and parent partnerships. IQ Support Coaches provide continual input and mentorship to ensure growth for every team in every school.
