Codify Academy

(104 reviews)

1.4 mi

I took my first class with CP, and it was exactly what I was looking for. I have been modeling for…read morejust about a year and was craving guidance, knowledge, and a resource to direct questions to. In my first class I learned all about runway walking and casting etiquette, it was all new things I had never heard before and I now hold them very valuable to my heart. I can't wait to continue learning under CP, and see how far this modeling journey can take me.

Charleston is a very knowledgeable and experienced teacher. He has many connections and can help…read moreopen doors for people. I attended a few classes and learned things I'll never forget. He preaches anyone can be a model. Attending his class you'll see various heights, ages, ethnicities, body types and weights. Which is why I found it quite hurtful he found it appropriate to send me an exercise video. I'm disabled, which he was made aware of. Its an invisible disability but it can impact my physical capabilities so I've chosen to no longer attend.

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Magnetic Speaking

(114 reviews)

1.9 mi

Highly, highly recommend. I attending one of their virtual Delivery Bootcamps a few weeks ago and…read moreLEARNED so much. I truthfully thought it would be eight hours of lecturing tips and tricks, but it was actually a lot of in-person and real time training with your classmates for the day. Our instructor, Erin, was fabulous -- patient, empathic, and empowering as each of us navigated through our pain points and public speaking. Again, I highly recommend and hope to do another bootcamp with Magnetic.

Magnetic Speaking is truely out of this world! Under Giles insightful guidance, the classes promote…read moregenuine self-reflection and collaboration. Dani has also been fantastic in addressing my specific ADHD high masking needs. In just four months, I've experienced tremendous growth. I now feel more comfortable in group settings, even when speaking with leaders, and my overall communication skills have significantly improved. As an entrepreneur, communication is one of my top priorities. They continue to elevate my skills to keep me evolving. Thank you for making such a positive impact on my life through accessible communication training!

Fun after a full day delivery boot camp!

Great group and training at Magnetic HQ

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Half day awesome presentation training at Sojern!!

Tradecraft

4.7

(24 reviews)

0.7 mi

Thankful this place shutdown. The owner was an egotistical maniac and at one point literally had a…read moreswearing/screaming tell off session with our group. He also enjoys using his "status" as a way of putting down ppl and making them feel less than. All of the "lessons" you take at this "school" can be found for free online and there is absolutely no need to drop $14K or more. Not only that, you're expected to do all of your own work in terms of networking and finding jobs during and after. You're deemed a lazy, entitled brat if you're not doing most of the work yourself. So not sure what we're paying the tuition for? I'm not surprised by the reviews here. The owner uses bullying tactics to scare ppl from speaking out such as telling students he will ruin you and that knows all the CEOs and founders in silicone valley (I highly doubt such an assinine person would be accepted in those circles). Hence my need to make this account to avoid jeopardizing my own career that I built myself from scratch. If you contact alumni and ask for the real tea, you will find out these shiny reviews are a farce and I welcome you to do that to save yourself. I hope this review saves people a ton of money and emotional abuse caused by this establishment.

I am an alum, and I am so glad to hear this place is shut down. The founder and his team are…read moreegotistical, delusional, abusive, and rude. I had low self esteem when I joined which is why I tolerated their attitudes. I was once yelled at by the founder's mother, she literally yelled at me at the school. And the team bullied students who were so afraid of losing the network. 14K was not worth it. I wasted my time and resources there. My previous 1 star review was deleted, not sure why. I am adding another one here. If they represent Silicon Valley, I would not touch SV because the culture is toxic.

Kate teaching the UX track

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Bay Area Medical Academy

3.3

(93 reviews)

Took the 3 week ekg course in March, moved quickly and hard to understand the instructor although…read morehe was very knowledgeable and sweet. Had a sub one day and it was helpful. There are 3 labs and the teacher for the labs had no clue about ekg material and was not even aware we would be there so we just practiced and taught each other. More than half the ekg students didn't even get their books. Lots of confusion, inconsistency, and no preparation even though they're charging and advertising it as such. A lot of the material on the ekg nha exam was not in the course, thank god I studied externally with external resources. Met with an externship counselor before the course ended. Made an appt with him which he no showed. Kept trying to email, call, reach out, get more info, and they can't give a range of how long it will be or any information really other than the externship isn't available even though they've reached out to barely two hospitals. It's been two months with no word of an externship, cannot get a hospital job or any job without it. Very disappointing /: not sure why they advertise the externship when it's an essential part of the program being relevant enough to find any job in the field. Highly recommend looking into other options.

Do not do business with this school. I went through their program twice and each time felt as…read morethough i powered through it on my own since they seem to be just a place to collect your tuition and nothing more. If you are going to do this, know that you will not have advocates on your side here. I passed the exam and completed my externship but only with the assistance of friends from outside the program. Midway through the second cohort they let go of the intructor and the new instructor made it cleat that she normally does not teach as she is the curriculum producer, not the instructor. When I finally finished the lab portion of the class (the second time). their externship program process would not be able to place me anywhere for close to two months. I reached out to some folks who helped me get placed sooner but it ended up being a two hour drive daily (each way) for the month long externship. When I finished all aspect of the program, it was made clear to me that despite having already paid for the program in full prior, I would have to pay for the second time around in full before they released my certificate and testing. This place is a terrible choice for anyone looking for a supportive environment to learn a skillset. Avoid it at all cost.

Students in the Bay Area Medical Academy 3-in-1 Medical Assistant Program practicing their phlebotomy skills

BAMA Alum and Guest Speaker on the topic of hospital work experience after training

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Injection's

App Academy

4.6

(504 reviews)

I chose App Academy because it was one of the few bootcamps that still offered an in-person…read moreexperience. I attended App Academy's 16-week in person software engineering program in San Francisco. Being able to have your instructors there with you and pair program with your peers in-person was invaluable. If being in-person is something you can commit to, I highly recommend it! The coursework is extremely rigorous (about 8 hrs of lectures/programming during the day and a few more hours of readings/homework at night) and the job search after is even more rigorous. But they do provide you with all the tools you need to succeed with experienced instructors, opportunities to build projects to showcase your skills, and career workshops and partnership jobs after. The in-person curriculum may be lacking Python, but App Academy prepares you to learn and implement new languages and frameworks on your own. I was previously a marketing manager with little coding experience. The job market was slow at the time I graduated App Academy and it took me 6 months to receive 2 software engineering offers. The program is tough, but definitely rewarding if you are dedicated to shifting your career into engineering.

App Academy is the most rigorous program I have ever completed, but it was absolutely worth it…read more Starting with no coding experience, I was able to develop three full-stack projects by the end of the course. The program equips you with all the support you need from instructors, TAs, career coaches, and fellow students. I loved the structured curriculum, as it suited my learning style perfectly. However, be prepared for a very fast-paced environment that requires your full dedication. If you want to break into tech, learn how to code from scratch, and are willing to commit all your time to become a developer, I would definitely recommend App Academy. At the end of the day, success ultimately depends on your commitment and effort to secure your first job in the field, which is tough in this market. However, after completing the bootcamp, you will have the confidence to keep pushing forward.

About 70 students attended the SF alumni event. Great turn out and we are excited to host more! :)

Alumni Night, SF, October 27th, 2022

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A/A alumni attending the SF Alumni night

IO Music Academy

5.0

(2 reviews)

0.4 mi

I have learned a lot here and it's only the beginning! Their instructors are heavy supporters of…read moreyour musical goals and have the trained skills and knowledge to help make your creative visions come true! Grateful to say I'm a student here and even beyond thankful they opened a second location in SF (next to home). Can't wait to progress and learn more! Cheers

I highly recommend the Building Blocks class! Before finding IO Music Academy, I explored other…read moreplaces for my musical journey, but none stood out quite like this one. I started with the Spin Class, where I learned to DJ, and now I'm enrolled in Building Blocks as part of their 12-month program to start making my own music. The instructors make learning so comprehensive and accessible--it's been an incredible experience. 5/5, would definitely recommend to a friend... or whoever's reading this!

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Hack Reactor

4.8

(205 reviews)

0.7 mi

I went through hack reactor a while back and am leaving a review…read more This part of the review is in hopes that hack reactor addresses some of their issues: During the cohort, there was a student that was expelled due to inappropriate jokes during a show and tell. However there were many other instances of inappropriate behavior never addressed. 1. There was a male student that had at the same time of the show and tell repeatedly walked around behind the audience checking out female staff and students backsides. He never faced any issues. 2. The male students had at points discussed female students and rated them based on looks and date-ability. 3. There were lunch trips that weren't appropriate. 4. Female students were judged differently based on their behaviors aligning with certain gender norms than male students. This directly did affect some of the ways their career paths developed. To hack reactor, stop enabling sexism even at the entry level to the field. Be more aware of biases within the instructors and have some training. In terms of the course merits based on their ability to help land a job: 1. I think the lead instructor at the time was good. The instructors for the actual cohorts varied in their experience and their ability to help students. The progress, results, and the cohort's feeling of togetherness (which does play a huge part in final team projects) depended in part on the cohort's instructors participation or willingness to be a leader. I think in general the cohort instructor I had was not as helpful nor as experienced to really be effective in teaching others. So while the overall course was decent at giving barebones fundamentals to some of the concepts in software engineering and structure to those that need it, the impact varied based on your cohort instructor. 2. The course is really geared to be successful for certain people. The prereqs does filter a lot of people out. The financial cost filters even more out. I think that for a lot of people trying to enter the field, it's not the best option available. Especially since the job market entry rate is more reflective of the individual's ability to ace interviews and the current job market availability and not the boot camps ability to necessarily train people.

Hack reactor was an amazing program, and I can attribute my success in the field to it. It was fun,…read moreand intense, and I distinctly remember it being a work hard, get rewarded type of scenario. The instructors were fantastic, and the curriculum really taught you what you needed to know to succeed as an engineer in the valley. As grateful to the program as I am for what I learned there, what really amazes me is the support I continue to get from its Alumni Director, Marlene Tang. Marlene is truly a lighthouse in the dark when it comes to actually functioning as a software engineer in the industry. Sure, Hack Reactor had gotten me in the door, but Marlene not only keeps me in the building, she pushes me to climb to the top. She gives support in working, learning, growing, promoting... you name it, she's there. Recently, I left my previous company and started looking for my next home. I brought it up, and as usual, without hesitation, she dove right in, set up meetings with companies, reviewed resumes, emails, and made sure I stayed on track. I just signed my offer, and she was a huge part of it. All I had to do was study! I honestly don't know how she does it all with an ever growing network of Alumni. In addition to being a tremendous resource when you reach out to her, Marlene actively reaches out to the Alumni network to collect feedback and make it even better. She is ever present and if for some reason a HR graduate forgot about the immense support system available to them, it won't be long before Marlene is there to offer her precious time and energy. All in all, Hack Reactor was an amazing experience and I'll never forget it. The real start of the show, and the one thing that continues to provide immense value on a consistent basis is its extremely dedicated Alumni Director, Marlene, and her superhuman program. I can't emphasize enough that this is the one thing that puts Hack Reactor leaps and bounds ahead competition. Whether you're thinking about which boot camp to go to, or are currently a student, or have graduated long ago, you can rest assured that Marlene will take care of you.

Thesis project idea brainstorming

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First day of HR 24/25 :)

Voice One

4.5

(44 reviews)

0.6 mi

I spent a wonderful Sunday here!…read more The owner asked me to come in and teach a class, so I did. I hadn't been to Voice One before. I can tell you it's a wonderful facility with great ownership and management. The students here are and welcoming to new people. As a professional Voice Actor for 20 years, I feel that the education they are giving their students is top-notch. They have wonderfully defined coursework and everything is mapped out to gear students for success. I have a friend who teaches here and she is also very fond of the school. She and I are both very honest people, and we appreciate that being reflected by the owner of Voice One. The integrity is lovely to be behold. If you were looking to learn about voice acting or any of the other things they teach here don't hesitate to sign up.

Took a number of classes and really couldn't recommend any aspect of their approach to teaching…read more Most, but not all, of the instructors seem jaded, burnt out, and obnoxious, sally in particular. There didn't seem to be any effort to build meaningful connections between instructors and students, their attitudes seem very detached, joyless, and transactional.

Incredible faculty and staff. Get feedback on a reading from an industry professional.

Big classroom

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Your classmates are wonderful, talented and represent a diverse group of aspiring and working professionals.

Songbird Studios

OMG. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly The good: location,…read morecost and flexible schedule (you can go every week or every other week) I love that! The Bad: Very commercial The Ugly: They use high-pressure tactics /Hard sell techniques, which I found very off-putting.

I've been taking lessons with Christina since about 2018 and knew from our first meeting that I was…read morein the presence of someone special - for real. She makes learning fun, accessible and pushes me to do things with my voice I never thought possible! Before lessons I honestly never knew there was so much to learn about how to use your voice as an instrument and I've grown so much as a vocalist in my time with her! Beyond being an amazing vocal coach, she is a beyond fabulous human being with a passionate, and creative soul. I'm so lucky to have found her and beyond happy to be a member of this amazing Songbird community!!

On set. Music video production at Songbird Studios Singing & Performance Summer Camp!

Songbird Studios hosts Celebrity Vocal Coach, Dave Stroud in Noe Valley.

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Songbird Studios 2019 Fall Adult Performance Showcase

Barbizon of San Francisco

2.9

(65 reviews)

My sister and I got scouted in my local mall when I was in high school. I didn't think anything of…read moreit but my sister really wanted to try it out. We went to the "audition" at a hotel where it was just a bunch of other kids that got scouted with their parents. We watched a video about the kids who had been in Barbizon and gained success. After, they made all the kids "model" or give them short lines to read out loud. A Barbizon graduate gave her speech on her experiences and what she was doing now. After the presentations, they called the parents and their kids by groups to tables to a representative that would try to get us to join and sell the ridiculous fee. The woman that we got pointed out my insecurities and told me that if I joined I would be a lot more confident. She had claims that only a therapist/ a mental health professional could ever do. My sister was sold because she thought she would be discovered as an actress. Fast forward to the actual classes in SF, I thought it was a waste of money. It was pretty fun and interesting but you could get those experiences elsewhere. Even at school, through clubs and organizations that will benefit your resume and college apps. The best part of it was just meeting other kids and playing hide and seek. I didn't know it back then but Samantha had prejudices based on race and disabilities. She was very rude to the students she didn't like and was unprofessional. When someone would volunteer to give advice they have learned as well from other sources, she quickly shot them down. She also singled out the people who were shy and would ask them in front of class, "Why are you holding back?!" She also claimed she made me a lot more confident in my line reading, but she wasn't the instructor I usually had, so how would she know that? I did my "commercials" just as I had did the first day I started. Cindy was an amazing instructor and she was very professional and kind. She actually does a lot of professional modeling. She made the experience a whole lot better. I quickly found out that the graduates they bragged about only had careers in Barbizon as instructors and representatives. Once in a while, they have "modeling" and acting opportunities but you have to be a certain height for almost all of them. One email that got out to us was only hiring Caucasian models. TLDR: it's not worth it. The price is ridiculous. You can get the experiences elsewhere and have a better college application resumé by joining clubs and organizations, volunteering, dance classes, music classes, etc.

This was a good experience, but that's all it really was to me. I had dreams of becoming an…read moreactor/model and although you will learn some basic skills, your gain is from the effort made by participating and listening. Unless you have remarkable talent and/or looks, don't expect to be "discovered" before or after completing all of the courses. It helped me become more outgoing with some of my jobs because I work in public places, but like college it is no guarantee of future success. You learn to appreciate this program more when you become older and it was something to look forward to in my early years. My parents did not want me to go and would not assist me, but I went anyway. This was not the best location for these classes and it is difficult to travel in that city. I would not do that again there now, but am grateful I had the opportunity to go and nobody else in my family had similar aspirations that I knew of. Do what you want and can in life. Your dreams are your own and we all should be happy with what we do. Don't be concerned with what others think, especially if they can't be objective.

San Francisco Barbizon Graduate, and IPAC participant... NOW a regular on Desperate Housewives!

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Apple Tree Children Center

(99 reviews)

0.6 mi

Women-owned & operated

Certified professionals

We feel incredibly fortunate to have had our daughter attend Apple Tree for a short but very…read moreimpactful six months before we moved out of San Francisco. It was, without a doubt, one of the best decisions we made for her early development and happiness. From day one, we had complete confidence in Jasmine and her dedicated team. They made a thoughtful effort to ensure our daughter felt welcome during her transition into daycare--bringing her favorite toys (baby dolls) to her at drop-off to help soothe her. By the third day, she was no longer crying at drop-off and quickly began looking forward to going to school. She regularly talks about her amazing teachers--Chloe, Toni, and Ruby--and all the friends she made in her classroom. One standout example of Apple Tree's incredible attention to detail: during her very first week, they surprised us by celebrating her 2nd birthday with a cake and singing, even though she was brand new. She was absolutely beaming in the photos they shared with us. The classroom activities were varied, thoughtful and based on monthly themes. We loved receiving weekly photo updates that showed all the fun and educational things she was doing. It was clear she was thriving in this environment. A unique and helpful perk of Apple Tree is the monthly Parent's Day--offering full-day weekend drop-in care. This gave us valuable time to recharge, knowing she was in a safe and familiar space where she was happy and well-cared for. We also really appreciated the flexibility Apple Tree provided with our variable weekly schedule, allowing for earlier drop-offs when needed. Since starting at Apple Tree, our daughter's confidence and independence have blossomed. The school gently encouraged her to do things on her own--like putting on her jacket and shoes--which built her self-esteem. We started potty training over spring break, and thanks to the attentive support from her teachers, she was fully potty trained within a month. There are so many more positive things we could say about Apple Tree. We are deeply grateful for the nurturing and joyful community they created, and we feel so lucky our daughter was a part of it, even for a short time. If you're considering enrolling your child here and have any hesitations, let this review be the encouragement you need--Apple Tree is truly a gem.

We have been sending our daughter to Apple Tree for the past year and a half, since she was a baby,…read moreon the recommendation of a friend. Now as a toddler, she loves to tell us about her friends and teachers there. Jasmine and the team are very warm, experienced and communicative, and all the kids look delighted to see them each day at dropoff. They plan an amazing range of activities, usually with a fun "theme" of the week, and we've noticed at home that she picks up practical skills like tidying and putting on clothes. We also appreciate that they have a large outdoor space, and provide meals for the kids. We are very grateful and would highly recommend!

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SOMA Daycare & Preschool

(59 reviews)

We sent both of our sons to SOMA over the course of four years. Our older son was there for three…read moreyears, and our younger son for one. We would have happily kept sending our younger son there longer, but we moved to Berkeley. We had such a wonderful experience at SOMA. Over the years, we built really close relationships with the teachers--so much so that on our son's last day, all of us were tearing up. It really felt like saying goodbye to people who had become part of our family's daily life. Our kids loved the teachers, the activities, and all the little "firsts" they experienced there. They learned how to try new things, make friends, share, work through conflicts, and grow in so many ways. The teachers were also amazing partners for us as parents, helping us guide the kids through changes, transitions, and the normal ups and downs of family life. Communication was another thing we really appreciated. Between Brightwheel updates, photos, messages, and seeing the teachers every day at drop-off and pick-up, we always felt connected and supported. It truly felt like we had partners helping us through some of the most important years of our kids' lives. SOMA set the bar so high that when our older son started kindergarten, it was a real adjustment. No daily pictures? No regular drop-off and pick-up chats with teachers? No easy messaging? We had gotten spoiled. And when we moved to Berkeley, it was hard to find another preschool that matched the warmth, care, and community we had at SOMA. We're so grateful our kids got to spend those four years there. We'll really miss SOMA and the wonderful teachers who made such a lasting impact on our family.

SOMA has been an incredibly special place for our family and, most importantly, for our son . We…read morejoined the SOMA community after moving to San Francisco from Houston, and it was a year filled with big changes and emotions for our little one. From day one, the teachers at SOMA welcomed him with open arms, creating a warm, nurturing, and joyful environment where he could truly thrive. The care, empathy, and intention the staff brings to each child is remarkable. The teachers took the time to understand our son as an individual--his personality, his sensitivities, his interests--and supported him through his transitions with patience and love. Under their guidance, we saw him blossom socially, emotionally, and intellectually. He is always full of stories about his teachers and friends. SOMA is more than just a preschool--it's a place that values connection, creativity, and growth. We're so grateful to the entire team for such a strong and loving foundation. While we're sad to be leaving due to a move, SOMA will always have a very special place in our hearts.

Teacher Ngoc teaching kids about sea animals.

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Holistic Seedlings

5.0

(13 reviews)

0.2 mi

Massiva, Younes and their family are such warm and supportive caregivers and I am so grateful that…read morethey founded Holistic Seedlings and I feel so blessed that we were fortunate enough to find them online and for our son Camden to be accepted into their program. What Massiva offers at Holistic Seedlings is truly unique. It is clear that running her daycare, in the way in which she does, is both her passion and purpose in life. She an exceptional cook and with her holistic nutrition knowledge she makes the most delicious and nourishing food from scratch for all the children every day. (Breakfast, lunch and snacks). She often shares homemade snacks, dates or freshly baked sourdough loaves with the parents as well! She takes the children to their community garden every week to teach them about where their food comes from, how to tend to the plants and how to harvest and enjoy whatever is in season. Her eldest sons host and teach soccer every Friday afternoon. Their support and influence has had a remarkable impact on my son, who loves soccer and basketball and clearly looks up to the older boys and enjoys playing with them. It warms my heart to see Camden so well taken care of. Massiva and her husband Younes, provide such a warm and loving environment at their home. I trust them wholeheartedly and I honestly could not imagine what I would do without their holistic support. My husband and I felt instantly at ease with them, in contrast to other daycares we visited that just cannot compare. An added bonus is that Massiva an excellent and creative photographer! The regular photos she sends parents through the daycare app are an absolute gift and treasure for us to have. We can see all the wonderful activities she has created for the children and get to witness all of the joy that radiates from their smiling and excited faces. I also keep each of these high quality photos as a document of my son's growth and development. I also so appreciate the bi-monthly mother meetings that Massiva hosts to bring the mums together over a delicious homemade meal to discuss important topics related to our children and how best we can support them and align in our approach. Most importantly it's been an incredible blessing to find someone like Massiva that shares so many of my own concerns and values regarding nutrition and a blend of both traditional and modern, holistic approach to childcare. Her care is not only consistent with our approach at home but supports, amplifies and exceeds any expectations we could have for Camden's health, happiness and wellbeing.

We've had our little one at the holistic seedlings wonderschool for just about six months now from…read morethe age of 11 months. From the moment we met Massiva, we were assured our son would be well taken care of. We have had no problems at all, a testament to how Massiva keeps the kids safe and happy (what more can you ask for?) She fills his tummy with nutritious (and delicious!) food, helped us put him on a regular nap schedule, and she regularly updates us with pics and videos on how much fun he's having throughout the day (indoors and outdoors). Definitely the best option you will find with a home day care in SF.

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Cool Valley Kids

5.0

(3 reviews)

3.3 mi

We've had such a great experience at Cool Valley Kids! Eli is incredibly warm and caring, and it's…read moreobvious how much attention she gives to each child's individual needs. Stacey and Vika do an amazing job with the food and are always so communicative, which we really appreciate. Stacey also creates opportunities to connect with the wider parent community. It's no pressure, but really valuable if that's something you're interested in. We love getting the daily updates, photos, and videos to see what the kids are up to. It's a bit more expensive than some other options that we looked at, but having meals provided, the overall quality of care, and the super convenient location right off the N line make it totally worth it. Our daughter comes home happy and tired every day, and it's clear she enjoys her time there. I whole heartedly recommend Cool Valley Kids for anyone in the market for a new daycare.

My child went here before switching to another by same owners closer to our house but had to leave…read morea review because they loved going so much! Wonderful loving environment. My child always was happy to go and I cannot thank them enough for being one of my kids first daycare experiences. Made the transition smooth and easy and relieved any guilt I had prior. They thrived! Thank you.

Lots of opportunities for imaginative play

Nap room

Main play room

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Building Kidz of Daly City

4.8

(16 reviews)

8.0 mi

Certified professionals

Women-owned & operated

Inquired for daycare services and was routed to so many different locations when I was referred to…read morethe pacifica location and was told by the regional manager there was spaces for my child. Upon arrival for my tour that was not the case... they took a $25 waitlist fee and the rates provided to me over email were not the rates provided to me upon my visit. Also when I did visit the facility the care takers or teachers looked as if there were in some sort of tension or disagreement. All in all it didn't seem like a peaceful environment I would want my child to be admitted to. Unfortunately building kids isn't for me and the can keep my $25 waitlist fee I guess.

We could not love BK more! The teachers are kind, caring, and nurturing, and you can tell they love…read morewhat they do. Parents are kept in the loop and there are regular updates in the school app. Plus the staff plans fun, themed days for the kids.