Enrolling our child at Retoños Schoolhouse was hands-down the best decision we could have made for…read moreher early education. From day one, the staff created a warm, nurturing environment where our child felt safe, valued, and excited to learn. Watching her grow from a hesitant toddler into a confident, curious graduate ready for kindergarten has been incredible. The teachers go above and beyond to tailor learning to each child's unique personality, blending academic readiness with play-based discovery. We are so grateful for the wonderful community here and will deeply miss everyone as we move on to kindergarten! When our daughter first started at Retoños, she hadn't been diagnosed with autism or ADHD yet, as she was still so young. As time passed, we noticed she wasn't learning or speaking at the same pace as other children. Retoños went above and beyond to ensure she felt safe, comfortable, included, and truly happy alongside her peers. Karen, Jessica, Nancy, and Stephanie (who is no longer there) did such an incredible job supporting and teaching her. I am forever grateful for their dedication. I honestly don't know how we could have navigated those early years without them. Retoños is far more than just a preschool; it is a true community. They became like an extended family to us, and I will never forget the staff, the wonderful students, or the supportive parents we met along this journey. I highly recommend Retoños to any family looking for a loving, inclusive space for their children. I would love to share photos, but I want to respect the privacy of the other children and families. Honestly, the warm, supportive environment here is something you have to experience for yourself. Words and pictures don't do it justice. As far as value goes, what this school offers is truly priceless. No amount of money could ever repay what these incredible teachers at Retoños Schoolhouse have done for our family.

My son just graduated Retoños after three years there, from 18 months to 4.5 years and moving on to…read moreTK. I cannot say enough about this program and Karen and her team. They care for our kids like their own. The school is reliable and clean, the meals are healthy and high quality. And yes, the kids really do learn Spanish, but my son is also very well prepared for conventional TK in English. Sending our kid to Retoños is the best decision we ever made, we are so lucky we found them!

All Souls School is a beautiful and healthy environment that my kids feel happy and comfortable…read moregoing to everyday. All 3 of our children have attended All Souls Catholic School with my eldest having graduated as part of the class of 2025. We've been here for 10 years. At All Souls, my children have found a warm home away from home, school curricula and extracurriculars that challenge them academically (such as the school's successful Academic Decathlon program for 6-8th graders), and paths to active athleticism fostered here. Outside of academics, parents and children come together to appreciate and kinder the spirit of family. We have never felt that All Souls is merely groups of students who share classes and distant parents that drop off and pick up their kids from school. We look out for each other, we come together to support each other and our children, and I have seen how my children have formed bonds that  transcend far beyond these walls. Transitioning back to the curriculum at All Souls, we've lived the incredible foundation and preparation it has provided my children. Our daughter (our eldest) profited greatly by all the academic resources in her daily classes and high school preparation provided here and currently attends Notre Dame Belmont as an honors student. With my two boys still attending All Souls, I am impressed by the rigor expected of them and how the teachers so seamlessly guide them and encourage them to learn. Communication is efficient and effective with the teachers and it is very clear to us that they give their best effort to their role. Their dedication and heart they've given to this community does not go without thanks and praise. We're grateful for all the moments we've been able to live so joyfully in this inclusive, familial, and academically / athletically stimulating community we call All Souls Catholic School. To any parent looking for an K-8 for their child, if you want to help your child cultivate their confidence in their futures, this family of teachers, parents, and students is for you. Every lesson, every event, every year has been a blessing for our family.

We have two children currently attending 1st and 2nd grade at All Souls. Both started in preschool…read moreand have loved every step of the way. Each has lamented having to leave their teacher at the end of the school year but have instantly fallen in love with the next teacher. As a South City resident living just a few blocks from the school, it makes us feel even more connected to the school and the community. The new principal and all of the teachers that we've encountered are so enthusiastic about the school and the children and it makes us feel at ease leaving them at school each morning. I really hope that they bring back preschool or a t-k program because that is what really ingrained us and I think many others to the school. But Ms Pyun as the introduction to learning at all Souls as the kindergarten teacher is a pretty good compromise until that day returns. Thank you for providing our children a home away from home, All Souls!

We have had a wonderful experience at Mills Montessori School. The teachers are caring, dedicated,…read moreand highly professional. The quality of education is excellent, and the staff provides wonderful attention and support to the children. My child has grown so much academically and personally during our time here. We have been at this school for 4 years, and we are very happy with our experience. I highly recommend Mills Montessori School to other families!

Our family has had a wonderful experience with our choice of Mills Montessori for our two-year-old…read more He started very shy and had only been cared for at home, so starting school was a big transition for him. His first two months were with Ms. Cali, who was absolutely amazing--so kind, patient, and nurturing. She took the time to make him feel comfortable, supported him through the transition, and helped him come out of his shell.He is now with Ms. Bella who has been just as excellent of a teacher and caregiver. We are so grateful for the care and attention he received during those first few months. It was clear from the beginning that both teachers truly cared about him and wanted him to feel safe, confident, and happy at school. Watching his growth and seeing how much he now enjoys going to school has been so special for our family. We are very happy with Mills Montessori and feel fortunate to have found such a caring environment for our son.

My son has been attending this daycare/preschool since he was 8 months old. He is now 2 years old…read more He loves it here and he loves his teachers. The rooms are all set up in a way to foster the kid's development and learning. Everything is so neat and clean, their sanitizing rules are always adhered to. Even the parents are asked to follow the procedures. I couldn't ask for more in a daycare. When he is happy, I am happy and that is all that matters. You can see that the teachers love what they are doing and this makes the environment very welcoming and enjoyable. I would never choose another school for my son. They have truly exceeded my expectations.

My daughter has attended the preschool program here for the last two semesters and we absolutely…read morelove it. The school follows a Reggio-Emilia (google it) philosophy and the teachers and staff are amazing. It is open to students, staff, and alumni of SFSU, and if there is space available they do accept children whose parents are not affiliated with the school. I have a special needs child and the school has made every effort to make the classroom accessible. They have really put a lot of energy into making sure she has a positive experience. There seems to me to be an emphasis on fostering a sense of community among the children and families. This includes having pot lucks, greening days, weekend outings, and family participation. Parent's must volunteer once a semester and can choose from a list of things that the school needs. For instance you can provide a snack for the teacher's meeting, mow the grass, or some other task that the school needs done. There is tuition assistance (that is provided by the ASI) for qualifying families. You must pack a lunch for your child as no lunch is provided by the school. However, they do provide two snacks a day and water is always available outside and inside the classroom. There is also a community fruit basket that each child is asked to contribute to which becomes part of the snacks. We have been very happy with this preschool. They have gone out of their way to provide services for my daughter and to make sure that her transition to kindergarten will be a smooth one.

I highly recommend this hidden gem. You can tell that the staff and the management really care…read moreabout the kids and take great pride in providing a healthy, safe, and happy environment for them to grow and thrive. The owner of the school is one of the most caring, empathetic, and thoughtful people I've ever met. She's down-to-earth, sharp, and genuinely kind hearted. She's always thinking about what can be upgraded at the school even when there aren't complaints. For example, she noticed that tanbark/wood chips were always getting everywhere and when everybody came in on Monday, the entire playground had been upgraded, replacing the wood chips with a beautiful artificial grass. Another example is that she ordered adorable caps and gowns, and little diplomas for a graduation ceremony. On Mother's Day, she organized ad beautiful arrangement of homemade quiches and other treats (some nicely tied up in cute packages with pink ribbon), so that all of the moms would feel special (she did something similar for the dads too!). This is not a place where they just care about making money. This is not a place where they'll act differently once you leave. This is a place you can trust, where you know your child will be well taken care of.

My kids absolutely love coming here. The staff is amazing! Super attentive and caring. Nothing but…read moregreat things to say about this place. So thankful my wife and I found this place.

Great school with great teachers. My kids had attended this school since kindergarten. Most of the…read morestrict teachers have retired. Every one of the teachers here at this school is amazing. They have security cameras in the school and the classroom doors remain locked throughout the day. The afterschool park and rec is on site which is a huge plus and super affordable compared to Ponderosa and other schools. The ratio is 24 students to every 1 teacher. It is a uniform dress code school which helps getting the kids dressed every morning a breeze. The only negative is dropping off the kids every morning. There's a white passenger drop off zone but some of the parents has zero disregards and would park their car there, making it hazardous for kids as parents would double park to drop off the kids. Too many close encounters of kids getting hit by cars. Other than that, it's a great school.

OK... so the previous reviews need to be taken with a grain of salt as many of the aforementioned…read morestaff members have retired/relocated as of the 2017-2018 school year. And besides, a school should not be judged on YELP of all places. So please, before you pass judgement and brush this school aside-- feel the culture of the school by walking around and getting to know the factors that make a school a school: the staff and its children/families. Of course for the safety and best interests of everyone, get clearance from the office first. Bottomline is: you cannot get a feeling for any school from YELP, greatschools.com, or scoring/rating system from a website, etc. --a supportive parent

Found this school in the summer of 2023 for my granddaughter. My first impression was really great…read moreseeing the summer school program teachers and aides were very welcoming. Enrolled her to 1st grade and I can say that it was the best decision we made for her. She was always happy and excited not only to see her friends and teachers but the learning experience she has with this school. I can understand the frustration of some parents about the recent changes that the school experienced, however I am also confident that these changes will bring better outcome too. The school earned an accreditation despite the changes and that speaks a lot. On a personal note, I would choose this set up than public elementary school where ratio is somewhere between 20-25:1 (student:teacher) vs 2:1 at HCA. If I am looking for quality education and experience for my granddaughter, I am still going for HCA.

Never seen a school environment where the parents and teachers giving 200% involvement on the sake…read moreof our future leaders. Everyone knows each other children. A very save environment. A small community has its potential. At least I see it from my niece. Due to low enrollment, 1 teacher teaches 2 grade students. Being in the kindergarten last year, she was exposed listening or learning the 1st grade work. Now, she is in 1st grade. It's just the 2nd week of the school year, she did 1st grade homework all on her own.

Looking for a great preschool? Check out this new addition to the schools on the Peninsula. There…read moreare great teachers with fabulous credentials that work extremely hard with each student. Take a tour, your family will be very happy! The really cute little boy on the schedule page is mine!

This is a very special little school. Teachers Shannon and Erin and Asst. Teacher Vivianna are…read moremagic workers. The day is organized and structured for the kids but doesn't feel overly monitored or rigid. Teacher Shannon is highly educated and just as intuitive. I look forward to the daily report/assessments of my son. Her feedback whether it be positive or negative is constructive. We came from a co-op which felt too loosey-goosey and I felt like the Pre-K fundamentals weren't being taught. I hadn't realized that both play and learning could be taught together. I had thought it was either all learning or all play based. Nurture and Nature embraces both beautifully. Get your application in early as they do fill up. You don't want to miss out on this school for your kids. I feel so good about this decision. Love Nurture and Nature!