I would give Genius Learning 6 stars if I could. Both of my children, now 4 and 2 years old, started at Genius Learning when they were 2. Genius Learning feels incredibly underrated. They provide full-day coverage (until 5:55 PM), have a very reasonable holiday schedule (which, as a working parent, I deeply appreciate), and serve hot lunches every day. I'm so sad to be parting ways with Genius Learning. We're moving to the lower peninsula, and my older child is entering TK. Those are the only reasons we're leaving. We've toured many private immersion schools in the city, and the funny thing is that the more expensive they are, the more days they're closed. What are parents supposed to do? The hot lunches alone remove a huge logistical burden for families. They don't use Brightwheel or seem to invest heavily in marketing, which I suspect helps keep costs down for parents. They still share photos through LINE, so you stay connected and see what your children are doing throughout the day. My children have never resisted going to "school." At their age, there's only honesty, so I think that says a lot about how they feel about the environment. They leave happily in the morning and come home happily at pickup. Academically, I've been extremely impressed. My 4-year-old is now writing Chinese, and I want to emphasize 'writing' Chinese. He comes home talking about 偏旁部首 (Chinese radicals). We recently traveled to Yunnan, and my son saw some farmers and commented, "他们在粒粒皆辛苦". I immediately texted the principal because I was so thankful and amazed. It wasn't just that he was speaking Mandarin. It was the vocabulary, the sentence structure, and his ability to express empathy and observation in another language. The children also practice numbers, the alphabet, and both uppercase and lowercase letters. I feel that he's well prepared for TK. At home, he speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, and the school environment has tremendously reinforced his language development. While it's a Mandarin immersion program, some of the children speak English as well, and I don't mind that at all. Heidi, the principal, is incredibly responsive whenever parents have questions or concerns. The teachers are wonderful and provide exactly what we were looking for during these important early childhood years. The school feels like an extension of home. I trust that the teachers truly have my children's best interests at heart. Some of the teaching assistants are Cantonese-speaking, so there's occasionally a language barrier for me, and I'm sure it's even more challenging for some other parents. That said, you simply can't replace the love and care they show the children every day. And then there's Teacher Anna. Every child seems to adore her. I honestly don't know how she does it. My son tells her, "I love you," and he barely says that to his mama! I've heard the same thing from other children. When she leaves for the day and walks to her car, the kids rush to the window, excitedly waving and shouting goodbye. That kind of love and connection can't be taught. It's a testament to the warmth, dedication, and care she brings every single day. We'll miss Genius Learning dearly, and we're incredibly grateful for the role it has played in our children's early years. read more

We had both of our children attend Genius Learning, and we couldn't be happier with our experience! The Mandarin immersion program is outstanding--despite not speaking Mandarin at home, both of our kids learned to speak it confidently. They were also very well prepared for kindergarten, with a strong foundation in their ABCs, 123s, and early learning skills. The teachers are caring, creative, and always come up with fun activities and projects for every holiday and season, making school exciting for the kids. If we had a third child, we wouldn't hesitate for a second to send them to Genius Learning. read more

Both of my two kids attended Genius learning and they learned good mandarin and English. They like to go to genius learning everyday and made good friends there! read more

My daughter has spent 3 years at Genius Learning since she was 2 years old. We even kept her here for 1 more year instead of entering TK because we have been extremely happy with the care and education my daughter has received. She is happy to go to preschool everyday and comes home telling us all about her friends and teachers. The teachers are very warm and nurturing. I don't worry about her when she is in school. I am impressed with my daughter's growth of knowledge. She is now fluent in Mandarin even though we do not speak Mandarin at home. She recites many songs and poems. She also knows some basic math. She does well socially with other kids. They encouraged and helped with potty training even before I was ready to start. I feel she is well prepared to enter kindergarten in the fall because of her experience at Genius Learning. The school celebrates holidays with class events which my daughter will miss! The hours are great for working parents. There are not that many days the school is closed. It includes snacks and hot lunch which is one less thing for me to think about. The director Heidi is very responsive to concerns and is easy to communicate with. I would highly recommend this school to my family members and friends. read more

We would like to give it a Five starts, since we've had wonderful experience with the school. My son is happy there and has made many friends, which has helped him become more confident and excited about going to school. One of the things we appreciate most is the bilingual program. My son has developed strong language skills and is becoming fluent in both languages, which is amazing for his growth. He also really likes his teachers. The teachers are kind, responsible, and truly care about the children's learning and well-being. The school is always clean and well maintained. It's also very convenient that they provide lunch, fresh fruit, and snacks, etc. So we know our son is well taken care of throughout the day. We've also been impressed by how much he learns through hands-on activities. He's constantly bringing home new skills and willing to share what he's learned. We're very grateful for everything Genius Learning Preschool has done for our son and would highly recommend it to families looking for a caring, nurturing, good-quality preschool. read more

My daughter has attended Genius Learning since February 2024, and from the very beginning, Heidi has been incredibly responsive to our family's needs and concerns. I truly appreciate the structure and care this preschool provides, starting with a thoughtful tour and orientation for parents. One of the things I value most is their gentle transition process. When my daughter first started, she attended half-days to help ease her in before progressing to full days. This made a world of difference in helping her feel comfortable and secure. I also admire their teaching approach, especially their emphasis on emotional development and expression. My daughter has come home singing in Mandarin and even used the word "Meiyou!" during potty training to say "none"--a moment that made us smile since we primarily speak English at home. It's clear she has learned so much in just a short time. It is with sadness that we'll be transitioning to another preschool after being on a 3.5-year waitlist. This move will support her long-term path, giving her priority in the afterschool program at her future elementary school--a decision that was not easy to make. I cannot recommend Genius Learning enough. The entire staff has been wonderful, caring, and attentive to my daughter. We are so grateful for the foundation they've helped build during this precious time. read more

Genius Learning - Genius Learning does this Easter Egg Hunt Annually and celebrates most holidays and kids birthday! Making it extra special for the kids. - Preschools Near Me - South San Francisco, California

We've just completed three wonderful years at Genius Learning, and I cannot recommend it highly enough! As a parent, it's been such a joy watching my child grow not only in Mandarin fluency but also in confidence, creativity, and friendship. The teachers here are caring and attentive. I also appreciated how flexible and communicative Heidi was whenever we had scheduling needs or questions. The art projects were always a highlight in our home -- full of creativity, color, and fun. They also did a great job teaching my child how to write in English & Chinese and built a strong foundation for learning math. Most importantly, my child made close friendships and came home happy and excited to return each day. read more

We absolutely love Genius Learning SSF! One of the things that stands out the most is the incredible patience and care all the teachers show toward every child. It's clear they truly understand early childhood development and are committed to helping the kids grow--not just academically, but personally. We've especially appreciated how they gently guide the children toward becoming more independent--a skill that's so important and sometimes overlooked at this age. The cleanliness of the school is also exceptional. As parents, we know how common it is to worry about our little ones getting sick in group environments, but Genius Learning goes above and beyond in keeping everything spotless and hygienic. It really gives us peace of mind. Our son absolutely loves all the activities the school plans! From holiday celebrations to birthday parties, there's always something fun and enriching going on. These events really make school a joyful and exciting place for him, and he comes home smiling and full of stories every day. We're so grateful to be part of the Genius Learning family for the last two years! read more

My wife and I recently had our first parent-teacher conference for our daughter, who's in TK, and we received wonderful feedback. Her teacher praised her for being well-behaved, enthusiastic about learning, and advanced compared to her peers. I truly believe that Genius Learning has played a key role in developing her foundation for both learning and social skills. The teachers are deeply invested in their students' growth, teaching with kindness and care. They make learning enjoyable through creative activities, such as singing songs, reading books in groups with active participation, and crafting art projects for various occasions. Personally, I love receiving the photos Genius Learning shares with parents, showing the fun activities our daughter is engaged in--it's always uplifting to see those updates while I'm at work! We're excited to enroll our second child at Genius Learning when the time comes. I highly recommend this place to any parent looking to give their child a strong start in both academics and social development. read more

Genius Learning - Preschools Near Me - South San Francisco, California

Our son attended Genius Learning for ~3 years, and it's been such a wonderful experience for our family that we recently enrolled our daughter as well. Over these years, we've watched our son flourish academically, socially, and emotionally. He gained so many skills and built close friendships, and we're constantly amazed by how much he's grown. One of the highlights has been seeing his creativity blossom. The school incorporates so many fun arts and crafts activities, and we've noticed how much his interest in art has grown. When we ask him what his favorite part of the day is, his answer is usually "everything." We've also loved seeing his confidence in speaking Mandarin--he's so proud of what he's learned! The community here has also been great. The teachers are caring and dedicated, and the parent community is friendly and welcoming. We're incredibly grateful for the nurturing environment Genius Learning has provided, and we feel confident that he'll thrive in kindergarten as a result. read more

All 3 of my kids went through Genius Learning. We had a wonderful experience with strong teachers and patient and thoughtful staff. My youngest especially came away with a strong Chinese starting point for both written and verbal, he's in first grade and still retains some of that language skill - thank you Teacher Anna for her help! The group size is great for little kids and they have celebrating different holidays while learning their basics. My kids still like to go back and visit. read more

Genius Learning has been a truly wonderful experience for our family. When my older son attended during the height of COVID, I was deeply thankful for how the teachers and staff went above and beyond to provide a safe, caring, and structured environment. Despite all the challenges, they kept the children engaged, happy, and learning, which gave us so much peace of mind during such an uncertain time. Now, my younger son is enrolled, and we continue to be impressed with the quality of care and education. He is already learning addition and subtraction and has developed a genuine love for math. He can also count from 1 to 10 in Mandarin and has learned basic vocabulary -- it's terrific to see his curiosity grow! What makes Genius Learning truly special is the well-rounded, joyful environment it creates. They celebrate many occasions -- from birthdays to Valentine's Day, Halloween, Christmas, and more -- making the children feel excited and included. They also participate in many different artworks that my son is always proud to show me. Additionally, they provide nutritious lunches every day, which is a great relief for busy parents. The teachers are incredibly caring, patient, and dedicated. We feel very fortunate to find Genius Learning, and I highly recommend it to any parent seeking a nurturing, fun, and educational environment for their child. read more

TLDR: A highly recommended Mandarin Immersion Pre-school. Fairly priced. Caring teachers. Today was our sons last day at Genius Learning and our son loved every minute of his time at Genius Learning. My family's experience with Genius Learning has been nothing short of exceptional. Over the course of two years, our son thrived in this nurturing environment. After touring 20 schools, we chose Genius Learning primarily because of the outstanding Head Teacher, Heidi, who guided us through the curriculum with great care. What sets this school apart is its reasonable pricing, full day (8am - 6pm), freshly cooked lunch and snacks are provided, and a limited number of school holidays. We were delighted that our son not only had the opportunity to really improve his fluency in Mandarin but also benefited from a strong academic program. Our son's happiness, educational growth, and the friendships he developed at Genius Learning were truly remarkable. The fact that we willingly drove from San Francisco every day speaks volumes about our confidence in the school. A heartfelt thank you to all the dedicated teachers who made our son's experience so wonderful. read more

As my son enters his 10th week of kindergarten, I just want to reflect and say how grateful I am that he spent his pre-kindergarten years at Genius Learning. Genius Learning has been such a kind and nurturing environment, and he still talks about all of the teachers and friends that he made! His Chinese is pretty good (even though I can barely speak it)! He sings and speaks conversationally in Mandarin and can read and write basic characters. I am also extremely pleased at how well prepared he was for public school kindergarten, having already learned his numbers and basic math, letters, sounding out simple sounds, and identifying sight words. Also, he enjoyed the food that was prepared each day, and loved all the arts and crafts they do. It has actually made him love painting, drawing, and crafting to this day! Overall, I am so pleased with the learning and social development that was fostered by the teachers, classroom aides, and Director Heidi. They are so engaging and attentive, and we were so sad to graduate and leave. Genius Learning was an environment in which he felt safe and supported, and for that we will always be grateful. read more

My nephews went to genius learning 6 years ago and since then my sister has told me so many good things about Genius Learning. So we enrolled our daughter for preschool and have been very happy with our decision. This school has a good program and the children learn Mandarin, English, Math and Art Work. Everyday my daughter comes home with a smile on her face and she shares so many good thing about how lovely the teachers are and how much fun she has learning in the class. l highly recommended Genius Learning to any parent who want to send their kids to learn Mandarin immersion program. The teachers are caring and the owner of Genius Learning is very kind, helpful, responsible and caring. A good example is that at the very beginning when l told her that my daughter's was a bit shy and struggle a bit to cope with the new environment, she immediately took action to pay more attention to my daughter's feelings and soon after my daughter adopted well to the environment. The graduation ceremony was fantastic and well planned. The kids and parents were all immersed in a fun and memorable event. Thanks to all the teachers for making this a great place where the kids has many great memories. read more

I agree with all the amazing reviews already given by others. My little one attended for 2+ years before leaving for kindergarten and was happy and thriving at Genius Learning Preschool. She learned various skills including Mandarin Chinese, math, art, social skills and independence. And she really enjoyed it. The teachers are dedicated and caring, and provide a safe and warm environment for the kids. The art projects are so thoughtful and cute and we kept them all! We appreciate the program so much and wholeheartedly recommend it to others. read more

We went to a couple day care centers and pre-schools and we like Genius Learning the most for its mandarin immersion environment, light flooded classrooms, large outdoor play area, flat fee for all students (include diaper changes)and hot lunch everyday. My son (2.5 years old) loves going to Genius Learning starting day 1. We see improvements in speaking and self discipline. The staff is very caring and experienced in taking care young children. I highly recommend Genius Learning to parents who are looking for mandarin immersion preschool. read more

My child has been at Genius Learning for the past year and we've been very happy with the school. We've been impressed with his progress in Mandarin, academics, and social skills. He comes home singing Chinese songs and can write/recognize some basic Chinese characters. He seems happy there and enjoys going to school. Teacher Heidi is wonderful - she is communicative and very attentive towards students' needs. The school is also year round with limited holidays and provides lunch and snacks. I would recommend Genius Learning to anyone looking for a Mandarin immersion preschool! read more

I was so lucky to have found Genius Learning for both my daughters and have been really happy with the school! A couple of things I love: - Lunch is provided everyday - The kids learn multiple things a day, such as mandarin, singing, art, writing, reading (even ABC sign language, which I didn't even know they taught that until one day my four year old daughter was showing us and she said she learned it from school). Even before the pandemic they learned simple cooking, which I thought was such a great idea! - All the teachers are so nice, especially the Director Heidi. She is super responsive, so wonderful with the kids, only wants the best for the kids, and does so much for the school! Teacher Coco even does my daughters' hair when it is messy, which I really appreciated because they both have long hair! I've gone to one immersion preschool in San Mateo and love Genius Learning a lot more! I felt like my kids learned more and enjoyed the activities more here. Thank you Genius Learning for providing such an inclusive and heart warming experience for my daughters. They have gained friends along the way and look forward to school every day (which is amazing)! read more

We're so glad we ended up at Genius Learning. We enrolled our daughter when she was 3.5 and she did not speak or understand any Mandarin. It's been about two years and now, she can recite many poems and songs in Mandarin. The school is clean, organized, bright, and happy. Our daughter enjoys the many creative art projects and has made many friends. Thanks Genius Learning for taking care of and teaching our daughter, especially during the challenging COVID period! read more

Wonderful preschool for kids preparing for grade school! All my 3 kids went through the Genius Learning program and my youngest is headed to Kindergarten in the fall. My kids had a great experience and fond memories there, and the preschool helped all of them during the transition from home to school. There is a younger class (usually age 3-4 y.o.) which focuses on the very basics of being able to sit down in class, participate in group activities, interact with other kids, and learning some basics like counting and ABCs, and an older class (5 y.o.) that focuses on preparation for Kindergarten. The school is bilingual and runs an all day curriculum (8-6pm) that includes singing, arts and crafts, writing in both English and Mandarin. The preschool provides a healthy, home cooked lunch that is different and much better than many I've seen. The play area is simple and fun, the teachers planted different fruit trees in the garden so that the kids can learn about each type and also pick and enjoy them, and there is plenty of space to run around during recess. Most importantly, the teachers and staff are patient and nurturing to the kids, help celebrate those little birthdays and milestones, and keep everyone tidy (all those diapers) - especially Teacher Heidi and several others who my kids both respect and love (and talk about all the time). I'm sad that we're leaving behind GL at this point for grade school, but grateful my kids had the opportunity to grow and develop their first years here. read more

I enrolled my son and daughter at Genius Learning at the beginning of 2022. I'm happy to find such a good school to help my kids for the transition from home (due to COVID) to preschool. All the teachers are very friendly and caring, especially Teacher Heidi. My kids are happy to go to school every day. The Mandarin immersion program is wonderful, and my kids have learned a great amount of Mandarin. Thanks, Teacher Anna for teaching the kids so many good Mandarin songs. I would recommend Genius Learning for parents who're looking for a good preschool! :) read more

We enrolled our child at Genius Learning for preschool and have been very happy with our decision. The Mandarin immersion program is great and we have noticed that our child has picked up a large amount of Mandarin even though we do not speak Mandarin at home. English has also improved with learning all the ABCs, reading some words, and practicing his penmanship. Our child has also learned to count and do some simple addition. He also enjoys all the art projects that he does at school and he is always excited to show us the artwork he has created at Genius Learning. He has made many friends at school and tells us about his friends every day. Overall Genius Learning has been a positive experience for our child for both academics and socialization. read more

Genius Learning was recommended by a few of my sister's friends who also enrolled their kids in the same preschool. With all of the positive referrals, I was excited to send my daughter there but also apprehensive that my daughter who is very shy might struggle a bit to cope with the new environment. The director of the school, Teacher Heidi along with other teachers at the school, are really friendly and passionate about providing the fun and safe environment for the kids to learn and play. They teach songs and poems to make it fun for the kids to learn Chinese. My daughter always comes home to sing us the songs she's learned from school and even teaches us all of the dance moves to the songs. (I can now sing all of the songs and rehearse all of the poems too!) Aside from that, I noticed that my daughter has learned and remembered quite a lot of simple Chinese characters! She has also learned a lot of fine motor skills like cutting papers, which she didn't know how to before attending preschool. In addition, Genius Learning makes it so easy for busy working parents like me! They provide hot lunches and healthy snacks so I won't have to prep them everyday! I'm sad that my daughter will be going to TK soon and will have to leave this amazing school and teachers. But luckily, I have another younger daughter that I can also send to Genius Learning! Thank you Teacher Heidi for everything! We can't be happier to have picked your school for my daughter's first schooling days! Thank you!!! read more

This school has a good program where kids can learn Mandarin and English. My kid likes this school and has learned quite a bit of Mandarin. The teachers are also friendly! read more

Long overdue review. My husband and came to visit Genius Learning (GL) shortly after it took over the space from Urban Sprouts. On our first visit, my son responded very positively to Teacher Heidi and was a good sign that he was comfortable with her. After visiting a few children daycare, we decided on GL. My son started attending GL in September 2019. Although he stayed home for a few months during the pandemic while the school stayed opened for essential workers, Teacher Heidi was very nurturing and helped my son reacclimate with the school. My son had an amazing experience and made some wonderful friends through school. Though he's graduated from preschool, he still remains in touch with his classmates. He has met two of his best friends from the school. Hope they will stay good friends for a long time. Thanks teacher Heidi for providing such a positive experience for my son during his formative years. read more

My daughter has been a student at Genius Learning for almost more than a year now, and the school has delivered beyond our expectations. It is truly incredible that since my daughter's first day of school at 2.5 years old, she has come home happy and excited EVERY school day. It's hard to imagine that a kid at that age can enjoy school so much. Heidi, the principal, is kind, caring, and truly cares about the kids. During COVID period, their dedication to the kids shined. They did everything they could to keep the school open. The hourse remained the same (8 to 6), and they never shut down. All the parents really appreciate that resilience. On top of that, my daughter's Chinese and English have both continuously improved. Genius Learning is truly a preschool gem in the Peninsula! read more

Genius Learning provides a very healthy environment for children. When we toured the center, the first thing that stood out to us was how clean the place was. The children get outside to play at least twice a day. They have a curriculum/teachings incorporated into their daily schedule in addition to the many activities. They also offer nutritious breakfast and lunch. This place is passionate about caring for children the right way. My kid loves the staff. Thank you Genius Learning! read more

My daughter currently attends preschool here. It took awhile to get her used to the school due to her stubborn personality but she loves all the teachers. And I have to give a special shout out to Heidi, the director, who truly cares about the children and their families. She finds creative ideas to get the children and parents involved, and she tries to create a Montessori-style environment which I believe helps my daughter grow and learn better. Highly recommended by me and my nursing friends :) read more

Our experience with Genius Learning has been fantastic from the start. It was highly recommended to us by friends of ours, who heard about the school through their friends too, so it's got excellent word of mouth. Our daughter has done so well there in a short time. She was conversational when she started. Within 3 months, her Chinese became almost as good as her English, and she was able to recognize a few dozens of Chinese characters! They actually teach, it's not just glorified babysitting. Probably one of my favorite parts is that they take care of lunch and snacks so we don't have to worry about that in the mornings, which is such a relief for working parents. read more

Our 4 years old daughter attends Genius Learning Preschool in South San Francisco for 2 years and our 2 years old son just joined the school. We were pleasantly surprised that they were so eager to go to school each day. We believe the director, Heidi, and her team of teachers really take pride in their work. We totally recommend this school to other parents! read more

Today is the last day of our son at Genius Learning after 3 years . We have mix feeling of happy and sad. Happy that he is going to Kindergarten,which will be one drop off for us for the children. Sad that we are leaving the school that he loves so much. Heidi is warm hearted, kind and very attentive to the children needs. She is a family to us rather than a teacher. She has such creative ideas and experiences in early childhood education that any parents and children would appreciate. With Heidi amazing leadership and unconditional dedication, I have no doubt Genius Learning will be one of the best preschool for all children. read more

My son has very good experience with Genius Learning Preschool at South SF. The school is my son's first and only preschool. He didn't start preschool until four and a half. I worried that he would have a hard time getting used to a school setting. But he came home excited from day one and doesn't want to miss a day, I'm so glad that he made his first friends here too. Every one of his teachers is patient and caring and takes good care of the kids. The teachers play with my son and read him books and talk to him and listen to his stories even when he's the last kid at pickup time. Ms. Heidi is very passionate about teaching the kids and has a clear goal in mind about what kind of skills the kids can achieve, and she teaches the kids as if they are her own. Besides learning English and Mandarin Chinese, there are creative art projects every day. I'm very impressed that my son is able to recite Chinese poems and Mandarin songs. Ms. Heidi communicates openly about her goals and curriculums and the students' performance and potential areas to improve. The school is very clean and neat. The kids get to play outdoor twice a day. Snacks and lunch are also provided. I'm very grateful for the teachers at Genius Learning preschool for being my son's first teachers. The teachers made each kid graduating from the school a year book, with the pictures of the kids dressing in graduation gown and have the friends sign for each other. Thank you for giving the kids one of the most cherished memories of their early lives. read more