Schools in San Francisco, CA

“I had a great experience at Mathnasium! Jessica and the instructors are highly knowledgeable and patient, helping my kids understand complex math concepts in a simple way. The personalized approach and flexible scheduling made learning convenient and effective. Whether you're struggling with basic arithmetic or advanced calculus, they cater to all levels. Highly recommend for anyone looking to improve their math skills!”

“My wife and I considered a couple of preschools around the area that offered full day, full year, with meals and Little Star was easily our choice. Coming out of the pandemic, our goal was to have our daughter socialize a bit more and get used to a setting where sharing toys would be required. Seeing the larger play yard, we knew this would be a great place for her to have fun and also burn off some energy. The yard size is easily twice the size of most outdoor play yards in other preschools.

My 3 year old daughter has been attending for almost 6 months now and so far she loves it there. The school has 2 classrooms and 7 pods total. It's definitely a large school for the little ones but I think my kid really thrives in this environment. Within the past 6 months, she's learned to independently use the potty, eat by herself, engage in activities such as drawing, pretend play, and also sing children songs. She's also learned a bit about sharing and taking turns too. The teachers there are always nice and greet you with a smile. When I pick her up, she usually has quite a bit of sand in her shoes due to the large sandbox.

Overall, I'm quite satisfied with the skills and habits that she's building.”

“We absolutely love Fun with Mandarin. Binbin and Ben run a fantastic Mandarin immersion school, which we were interested in even before our child was born. We were fortunate to secure a spot for her when she was just 20 months old at the new Capitol Ave location. We feel incredibly lucky because this site offers well-lit indoor spaces, spacious outdoor play areas, and customized furniture for kids.Now, after nearly two years of being part of the Fun with Mandarin community, I'm delighted to say that our child thrives there. She has developed and grown not only in language skills but holistically. The school introduces a new theme every couple of weeks, where they learn new songs, engage in cultural activities, and create art. Our child has also formed close friendships with other kids. She genuinely enjoys her time there, has a deep affection for her teachers, and eagerly looks forward to going to school every day. The teachers provide detailed notes about our child's day during pick-up and share photos throughout the day via the app.We are overjoyed to have found a safe and happy place for our child.”

“We had a fantastic experience at Meaningful Beginnings - Taraval. Our daughter started in early 2022 in the infant room when she was appt. 8 months old, and was there through her second birthday. The teachers are warm, caring, and really get to know the children and families. We loved morning drop-offs with Thereza and Shenna, and Sandy always gave helpful updates at the end of the day. When our daughter graduated to the toddler room, her development in all areas really took off, and we loved seeing photos that teachers posted in the app throughout the day of activities she did, friends she made, etc. The checkin/checkout experience is secure and easy, and the director, Yarena, is very fast in responding to communication. In addition to the fantastic care our daughter had, Meaningful Beginnings also does some special events like parties for the family, which gave us opportunities to get to know other families and form relationships for playdates. Finally, when we departed because we moved away from the Bay Area, the teachers made our daughter very special gifts that really highlighted how much they cared about her. Meaningful Beginnings has very special teachers, which make it a great place that I would recommend to anyone looking for childcare.”

“We love laurel hill. We are now with our second child at the school and have only grown fonder and fonder over the years. We cannot recommend it enough. The philosophy of the school has been instrumental in our parenting and given us so much. The community and values of the school top. It is a very special place for children.”

“My son had a wonderful experience at DiscoveryLand! He started attending at 18 months old and continued until he was 3 years old. He cherished every moment spent with Marina and her team. Dropping him off in the morning was always a joy, as he felt comfortable and loved under Marina's care.Marina and her team are truly amazing, providing exceptional care for my son. They offer homemade meals and healthy snacks daily, ensuring he was always well-fed. My son felt right at home at DiscoveryLand and wasn't hesitant to ask for more food if he needed it.We feel incredibly fortunate to have found Marina's school and are immensely grateful for everything she has done for our son. I highly recommend DiscoveryLand to any parent seeking quality childcare.”

“Best decision ever made! They are the cleanest and most organized daycare/preschool we have ever enrolled our son. We were worried about full day for him but little bee has a very thoughtful way of easing the little one into their school program. The teachers are very attentive and communicate with us daily. We get daily photos of the classes day.We get lunch menus, snack menus, daily schedules and also weekly curriculum.Our son absolutely loves little bee and look forward to going everyday!”

“Diller is the preschool jackpot! The community is very welcoming and we've built deep relationships with other families. Our kids' days are filled with joy and discovery. Karla and her phenomenal team of teachers and specialists (art, music, and nature) are incredible and absolutely love the students! From cooking to creative art projects, garden explorations, and walks to the Presidio, every day is filled with joyful learning. We've seen our kids learn and grow a ton in their time here!”

“We have both of our daughters at Creative Gardens and LOVE it. The teachers and staff are amazing, the rooms are clean and full of light, and the kids are so entertained and are learning and growing mentally every day due to the daily focus on art, music, cooking, STEM, and more. We receive photos of the kids every day and love the clear communication from the management.Creative Gardens is a warm and nurturing environment and we are grateful they support us in our parenting journey every day!”

“Genesis and Eric are truly the absolute best! We were blessed to spend 4 years straight at Little Banana's as our daughters were two years apart. Moving on to preschool was bitter sweet moment for our family.One of our favorite things was the sense of community they fostered amongst the families. Even in a small environment it's easy for people to drop off and pickup without really knowing each other, but Genesis and Eric insure that's not the case and I am forever grateful for that.You will get everything you could hope for and more by sending your little hear: love, development, community and just a fun place to be daily. You'll also get daily updates and photos of your little which is so helpful.We hope to always stay in touch with this dynamic duo as our girls love them and still ask about them often.”

“My daughter recently graduated from Miraloma having spent two years at the adorable little red schoolhouse. Our family really enjoyed the co-op experience and supportive parent community. We formed lifelong friendships and made many sweet memories. We enjoyed parent teaching and felt lucky to have the opportunity to watch our daughter explore, learn and develop new friendships. It felt wonderful to be a part of a collective community effort with the goal of providing children with a safe and nurturing space where they can learn, grow and have fun. Miraloma is such a warm and welcoming place! I highly recommend touring in person to really appreciate Miraloma's wonderful space. The school has so many unique assets that affords unique experiences for the children like dancing on stage under a plum tree, harvesting plums from the same tree and making jam! Digging for worms and roly polys in the garden. Planting seeds, observing the growth of plants, harvesting fruits and vegetables and eating your bounty! Cooking up soups and baking cakes in the mud kitchen. Getting cozy in the book nook. Building strength and having fun on the trapeze! Challenging themselves to be brave and finally go down that fire pole. The current Director Rose and Teacher Anne (both began at Miraloma in July 2023) are highly credentialed and have decades of early childhood development experience at preschools. I have seen the tremendous passion and care they have for the children that I have never experienced before. I wish our daughter was able to have spent more time with these amazing teachers before she graduated. The play based and child led approach was wonderful and empowering for our daughter. Every day the teachers set up new and fun experiences and activities for the children, but the kids decide what they want to do. The teachers then build on and adapt the curriculum to support the interests of the kids at any given time. Kids are given the tools and freedom to explore and develop their authentic selves while knowing a loving and supportive adult is nearby if they need help. Anne and Rose are often found on the floor engaging with and connecting with the children. I would venture to say that Anne is the best preschool teacher in all of SF and she shares her insight and wisdom with families in weekly detailed updates. Parents can learn alot from both Rose and Anne. We are forever grateful to Miraloma for providing our daughter with such a wonderful foundation for learning. Take a tour and you will also be wowed by how wonderful this place is!”

“We love this daycare. Stacey and her team do a wonderful job teaching the kids colors, letters, songs. Our son loves their food, has a great time, and always learns something new.”

“This school is incredible and has only enriched our lives. Our youngest daughter is in her last year at MCH and we are going to miss the school and community so much! The teachers and faculty are amazing and you can tell they truly love what they do. They provide a world class Montessori education while building each child's independence, confidence, and social emotional skills. They provide a true Montessori curriculum, true to the Montessori method, and know your child inside and out. They integrate families at all times whether through circle time presentations linked to your family traditions, culture, or interests or through volunteering on site, you are a true part of a community. Our now 4th grader continues to use what she learned at MCH. Preschool builds a foundation to move you through your education years by creating a love of learning and a willingness to try and MCH does that 110%. I can't imagine how my daughters' foundation could be stronger.
As a family, we have built genuine life long friendships. The parent/guardian community is strong and has been integral in our lives since day 1 at MCH. We can't say enough good things about this preschool!”

“Linh and my family absolutely love Family Connection where has many nice, patient and experienced teachers. Linh has been in Family Connection 4 years ago. She loves FC activities likes making cake, creative toys...More over, the FC staffs and teachers are so nice and helpful. They are willing to help parents and students when we need. I highly recommend Family Connection to anyone who is going to enroll after school and summer camp program for their kids.”

“Holy Name has very supportive staff throughout the year of my children's education. The teachers are all hands on and ensure students learning environment to be engaging. The school also prioritize students safety emotionally and physically. Moreover they have a lot of extra curricular activities and sports that my children have participated and enjoyed. Holy Name has a great community where parents are very much involve, close and are tight knit. I highly recommend and support Holy Name for 4 years now.”

“We are now sending our second of two children to Tinker and love the teachers, admins and other families there. We were one of the first families at the Park Presidio location 4 years ago and, throughout, they have always been welcoming and caring with our little ones. There’s a lot of outdoor action which is terrific for kids learning about nature, etc. and it’s great to see the same teachers helping our second child grow years after our first was there. Highly recommended!”

“What a gem of a preschool. The campus is beautiful with two lovely outdoor spaces. The directors Kelly and Mo are responsive and caring, answering any question I might have. They've loved on my child who has various special needs. The parent community has been warm and inclusive. Your kids will be well taken care of here.”

“We toured a few preschools before my daughter went to Ark of Hope (Now Ark Christian as they merged). We decided to go to Ark by words of mouth as there were quite a lot of kids in our church from Ark. It took a while before she could start as Ms Mary insisted to have one new student per week (which is very considerate and loving). My daughter can now speak a lot of words both in English and Cantonese. She can also use scissors very well. During Christmas and graduation ceremony, the students will have performance in the church. She gains full confidence because of that, and loves to sing everyday. All the teachers and the Pastor are super kind and patient to the students. The Preschool is very well organized by Ms Mary and Ms Anita. My daughter feels the love from the teachers and not like a money making institute. I highly recommend Ark Christian.”

“Our son started care at kids paradise at 4 months old. I couldn't imagine how I could leave my tiny baby in the hands of a stranger but instantly I felt so comfortable. Jenya showed so much love towards him. When I dropped him off in the mornings, he leapt into her arms and when I picked him up, he always had the biggest grin on his face!So much experience was 100% appreciated as a new Mum, on this crazy journey. We both miss Jenya and the team at Kids Paradise so much!”

“Our child is currently in their 2nd year at Wind in the Willows and we could not be more grateful for the time that they have spent there. Wind in the Willows is a play-based preschool that emphasizes social-emotional learning and building strong relationships between peers, teachers, and families. The teachers are all warm and supportive, and show a lot of love for each child and their individual personalities. The director is incredibly hands-on and goes above and beyond to make the school safe, fun, and educational. Families are welcomed to participate and bond through after school/weekend events and play dates. Families are also encouraged to visit the class for birthdays and to share about their cultures and traditions.Kids who are in Pre-K can also enroll in “Kinder Prep” to participate in a program that provides academic preparation for kindergarten. Kids go on frequent field trips to the neighborhood playground and places like the grocery store. While the school follows the SFUSD calendar, there are 4 weeks of summer camp every June that students can opt into as well.Parents are sent daily photos, which helps us to see what our kids are learning and to have conversations about their day. We love being able to share the day in this way!The school is located close to CCSF and several bus lines, and has really easy street parking for dropoff and pickup (the school is located on a long block with “one hour parking” designation, that pretty much always has open spots).Choosing a preschool can be a daunting task. Wind in the Willows has provided our whole family with a small, safe, and caring place for our child to be every single day. Our child’s social world and self-confidence have blossomed in ways that we are so happy to see. We highly recommend this school and feel lucky to be a part of it.”

“I feel really blessed to have found this amazing school. We have 4 kids.. 2 older and 2 little ones. My oldest is now in college, the other one finishing high school and both attended Star of the Sea. We are so grateful for the education they received through the years from Star of the Sea, not to mention the academic experience and value as well. Their curriculum helped them get into a very competitive high school in the city. Star was definitely the base of their success. We were very sad when they had to close down. When it came time for the 2 little ones to start pre school I was desperate to find a place with the same values, ethics, guideness and discipline as Star of the Sea. I was in disbelief when a friend mentioned they had reopened! As a parent our main concern is the safety, education and morals that our child will be getting when you're not around. So I didn't hesitate to set up an appt and come in to talk to Mr. Colvert (Principal). He was so lovely and courteous. He really took the time to go over the new school academics and believes with me, answering all of my questions and concerns. He mentioned all the improvements they had on their system, the intro to Montessori...etc. With all the gratitude we had towards Star, we were thrilled to come back again! My little one's are in their second year at Stella Maris Academy and we couldn't be any more grateful and happier. Their school fundamentals, their values, the academics, all the staff and teachers are in perfect tune. They are just amazing. My kids love their teachers. They are so caring, respectful and very passionate for what they do that you can see the reflection through their eyes! My heart just melts listening to my kids getting home and talking all about their day at school. How much they learned and interacted with each other. Not to mention how many times I've been called Mrs. Navoa.. or Mrs. Janelli at home! That to me shows how much they just love them all. Thank you for taking so good care of them. Giving them so much love, support, guideness and teaching them kindness, compassion and the love of God! We look forward to being with Stella Maris for many more years to come. God bless the school and all of you that makes this school so special.”

“Our daughter attended this location for almost 3 years. We are really happy with the happy and nurturing environment. Her teachers are all very loving and it shows in their work. She loves the friendships she made and the school community is great as well. Tuition is very reasonable and affordable with many options available for working families.”

“An incredible school with welcoming teachers who understand the needs of every child. From the first moment I was at school I felt an immediate welcome with my daughter.”

“Amazing school! Our son has been going here for about two years and he’s always so excited to see his teachers and friends. Each different teacher has made a connection with him and they are all very caring.”

“Our almost 8 year old son has been attending to La Scuola since he was 5. He's currently in second grade. We have been having a great experience. We are a bilingual family (I'm from Italy) and it has been a highlight to be able to be closer to the Italian culture through the staff and other families. The school has a thoughtful approach to social emotional learning, has proactive communication, an enrichment program during after care, a great music teacher, and organizes several events, many to foster inclusion of minorities, to educate parents about their learning approach, and to encourage social connections among parents. Families here are very friendly, down to earth, and kind. They have a large outdoor area for kids to play and a garden. And our son loves their food and goes often for a second round!”

“We absolutely LOVE Learning Bridge preschool. Our twin boys started at age 2.5 and have had a wonderful experience. The teachers are lovely, very caring, nurturing & knowledgeable about early childhood development. They helped guide our potty training. The boys language development has exploded. They follow an age appropriate schedule & curriculum. They play, sing, move & learn. I know my children are safe & loved from drop off to pickup. Wonderful school.”

“My son attended B.K from the age of 2 1/2-5 he loved both his teachers he had the privilege of attending Ms. Serena and Ms. Barbara's school. It took my son a while to adapt as he is very shy but they were both very patient with him. Our first language at home is English and since it is a Chinese Emersion school my son learned a lot he actually understands Cantonese fully and he can speak it a little. I actually catch him at home speaking Cantonese which is a wonderful thing to me. This will help him in his future. I love how Ms Serena and Ms Barbara have there daycares set up and they go over every subject. the kids go on field trips and learn about nature as well. Another thing I loved was how clean and organized the facilities are. My son misses them both and so do I. I wish my son was able to stay until the 5th grade because I was comfortable with them both and I trusted them and that is very hard to come by these days.”

“We love Russian Hill Academy (RHA)! When we first toured RHA pre-pandemic, what stood out was how happy and engaged the children were. We joined RHA in summer of 2020, and our twin daughters started as quiet and shy toddlers and have since blossomed into curious, kind, and responsible rising kindergarteners. Jiali, the preschool director, and teachers Wendy and Loraine are amazing, devoted, and very nurturing and kind. They provide exceptional care with seemingly unlimited patience.Teachers Wendy and Loraine make learning fun! My daughters come home showing off amazing choreographed dances they learned, while singing accompanying Mandarin songs. They recite full stories and songs in Mandarin from memory. It's incredible! What I admire is the curriculum is balanced and accelerated without compromising fun. Through dance, song, and movement, all the activities are thoughtfully planned by the teachers and steeped in learning. Our daughters are always so HAPPY at pickup and have thrived under the personalized and wonderful care of Wendy and Loraine. Jiali is fantastic - very warm, approachable and super responsive. As preschool director, she really keeps the best interests of her students and their families in mind in everything she does. Jiali truly understands the challenges and dilemmas busy parents face, and she strives to make our lives easier. From providing nourishing and healthy meals and snacks (I never worry if the girls eat enough) to handling the weekly laundering of naptime blankets and to cleaning of their water bottles, so parents don't have to shuttle those to/from school every week. Even simply providing the nap mats. All these small things add up to one less parenting item that persists on our endless mental checklist. She is a lifesaver! We drop off our girls everyday with 100% reassurance they will be loved and nurtured by teachers Wendy and Loraine.RHA kids are well-prepared for kindergarten -- their social and emotional development, individual and social responsibility, and even practiced focus time on an activity or math or writing worksheet - all translate back into the home and beyond for a strong foundation. We were thrilled CAIS accepted our daughters into kindergarten, and I credit Jiali, Wendy, and Loraine for their preparation and instruction.We feel extremely honored and grateful to be part of this remarkable school and community. As we transition to kindergarten, we are sad to leave our RHA friends, Jiali, Wendy, and Loraine. If you are a parent considering RHA for a daycare/preschool, do it! We could not recommend RHA enough. It is that magical of a place.”

“My family is so grateful for the wonderful teachers and staff at Theresa Mahler. I was so nervous about my son starting pre-k with his diagnosis but they have been nothing short of amazing with him. His vocabulary & social emotional skills have grown exponentionally since he started. I am just sad that he can't rejoin next year since it is preschool only. I will definitely reccomend this school to friends and family.”

“Kids Kollege is an absolute gem of a preschool. Our two kids have been there starting before, during, and through to the other side of the pandemic. MIss Kelsi and now Miss Sarah, the directors of the school, set such an incredibly warm and nurturing tone. The teachers and staff are passionate and inspired. The level of creativity and attention to detail when it comes to teaching, activities, even the graduation, is incredible. We feel so fortunate that our kids were able to grow and learn in such a special community.”