<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000721237</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOBEL LEARNING COMMUNITIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NLCI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000899083</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WYNNEFIELD PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>450 SEVENTH AVENUE, SUITE 509</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10123</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001251565</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WYNNEFIELD PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE LP I</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>450 SEVENTH AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 509</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10123</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001030806</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WYNNEFIELD SMALL CAP VALUE OFFSHORE FUND LTD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>450 SEVENTH AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 509</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10123</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001056835</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WYNNEFIELD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>450 SEVENTH AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 509</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10123</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001251567</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WYNNEFIELD CAPITAL INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>450 SEVENTH AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 509</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10123</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001273617</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHANNEL PARTNERSHIP II L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>450 SEVENTH AVENUE SUITE 509</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10123</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001017043</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OBUS NELSON</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>WYNNEFIELD CAPITAL INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>450 SEVENTH AVE STE 509</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10123</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>697300</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.70</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>697300</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On the date hereof, of the total number of shares of common stock, par value $.001 (&quot;Common Stock&quot;) of Nobel Learning
Communities, Inc. [NLCI] reported herein as beneficially owned, the Reporting Person directly beneficially owns 255,850
shares of Common Stock. Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC, as the sole general partner of the Reporting Person, has an
indirect beneficial ownership interest in the shares of Common Stock that the Reporting Person directly beneficially owns.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On the date hereof, of the total number of shares of Common Stock reported herein as beneficially owned, the Reporting Person
has an indirect beneficial ownership interest in 291,750 shares of Common Stock, which are directly beneficially owned by
Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P. I, as members of a group under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P. I, which maintains offices at the same address as the Reporting
Person, is filing this Form jointly with the Reporting Person. Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC, as the sole general
partner of Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P. I, has an indirect beneficial ownership interest in the shares of
Common Stock that Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P. I directly beneficially owns.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On the date hereof, of the total number of shares of Common Stock reported herein as beneficially owned, the Reporting Person
has an indirect beneficial ownership interest in 139,500 shares of Common Stock, which are directly beneficially owned by
Wynnefield Small Cap Value Offshore Fund, Ltd., as members of a group under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. Wynnefield Small Cap Value Offshore Fund, Ltd., which maintains offices at the same address as the
Reporting Person, is filing this Form jointly with the Reporting Person. Wynnefield Capital, Inc. as the sole investment
manager of Wynnefield Small Cap Value Offshore Fund, Ltd., has an indirect beneficial ownership interest in the shares of
Common Stock that Wynnefield Small Cap Value Offshore Fund, Ltd. directly beneficially owns.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">On the date hereof, of the total number of shares of Common Stock reported herein as beneficially owned, the Reporting Person
has an indirect beneficial ownership interest in 10,200 shares of Common Stock, which are directly beneficially owned by
Channel Partnership II, L.P., as members of a group under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Channel Partnership II, L.P., which maintains offices at the same address as the Reporting Person, is filing this Form
jointly with the Reporting Person. Nelson Obus, as the sole general partner of Channel Partnership II, L.P., has an
indirect beneficial ownership interest in the shares of Common Stock that Channel Partnership II, L.P. directly beneficially
owns.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>WYNNEFIELD PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE, L.P., By: Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC, General Partner; By: /s/Nelson Obus, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>WYNNEFIELD PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE, L.P. I; By: Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC, General Partner; By: /s/Nelson Obus, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>WYNNEFIELD SMALL CAP VALUE OFFSHORE FUND, LTD., By: Wynnefield Capital, Inc.; By: /s/Nelson Obus, President</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>WYNNEFIELD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, By: /s/Nelson Obus, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>WYNNEFIELD CAPITAL, INC., By: /s/Nelson Obus, President</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>CHANNEL PARTNERSHIP II, L.P., By:/s/ Nelson Obus, General Partner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Nelson Obus</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

