Just started year 4, second child at Pac Heights Kidz, and we absolutely love it!…read more I don't think I've ever experienced more fear and anxiety in my life than dropping off my first child for his first day of preschool. He'd been nothing but glued to us for the first two years of his life, and now I'm handing him over to strangers? Doesn't feel right. There's no way they're going to be able to care for him and love him as much as we do! And... how are they going to get them to nap?? Welp, Nisha, Marinelle, and the whole team at Pac Heights Kidz come closer than I ever could have imagined. And they get them to nap. Not sure how, but they do. They are seasoned, professional, communicative, and incredibly loving childcare providers. From day one, they've made sure our whole family feels comfortable. They constantly communicate the events of the day through the app and regularly post pictures of your child so you can see their day and the smiles! It's great for a little break from work when you need a mental uplift. The first week is hard. There are tears. By the end of the second week, they're walking in on their own. No tears. Comfortable. My 3yo is in his second year now and loves his teachers. My 5yo, who just started kindergarten, misses his teachers and friends. He started at Pac Heights Kidz, went for two years, and then transitioned to Nature Kidz, their sister program. He genuinely looked forward to going to school! I cried at pickup on his last day because they've had such a positive and memorable impact on his life and mine. One of the best parts is seeing your child learn and grow. My oldest was extremely well prepared for kindergarten. He writes his name while holding his pencil correctly, knows all of his uppercase and lowercase letters, draws amazing pictures, knows the sounds of each letter, is starting to grasp early math, understands taking turns and sharing, and knows how to act appropriately in a classroom setting. They have an incredible emphasis on art, music, and dance. And more than anything, they focus on fun. When it comes time to start thinking about kindergarten, they'll hold your hand through that extremely confusing and important process. They've helped place their kids at many of the best schools in the city (public and private) and have incredible relationships with the leaders at those schools. I cannot recommend Pac Heights Kidz and Nature Kidz more highly. Our experience with them has been outstanding, and the care and love at the heart of their team permeates through every single person there. Dropping your child off for that first day can feel terrifying. Looking back four years later, I can't imagine having trusted anyone else with ours.

We LOVE Nature Kids program that lets kids learn outside all day. Our son, 3 now, has been with…read morethem for over a year and we can sense the deep enrichment he is getting, plus he is so excited to go to school everyday! This has been a fantastic program for our early childhood enrichment and we can't recommend them enough.

We've been at this preschool for a few years now with both of our kids and couldn't ask for a more…read morechild focused, play-based experience. The teachers and staff are knowledgeable, kind and tailor their approach to match each child's needs. The space is a true kid paradise with art, music, gardening, and so much more. It's a co-op, so parents/caregivers get a truly unique experience of working along side the teachers and staff and learning from them while they get to participate in this special period of their kid's life. And because the parents/caregivers put in so much work, I feel the prices are way below the average of SF. And the community is like no other. Others families are there to support with everything from carpooling, to extra child care, or even hand-me-downs of outgrown clothing! Without a doubt, I've made some of my closest friends from this school community.

My family will be starting our second year at this co-op and I can't say enough great things about…read moreit! The teachers are exceptional, and I have learned so much about how to parent and understand early childhood because of the knowledge each staff member shares. I have also gained a lot through being a work day parent. It is very rewarding to be a part of the school in this way, and see first hand how play based learning works. We chose a co-op initially because it was more affordable, which it has been- but going into our second year I honestly just have fun being a part of Laurel Hill, and I like the people so much and I would hope every kid could go to a school this cool!

We absolutely loved Little Bee. Our son started at 19 months and stayed there until just before…read morekindergarten, right after his 5th birthday. Sarra and the entire team always made us feel very comfortable and we could see how much our son thrived there. As Sarah will note if you ask her, the teachers speak Mandarin, but the kids usually speak English to each other. On top of that, as a non-mandarin speaker, I was a little nervous at first that I wouldn't be able to communicate effectively with the staff. That was not the case. I never felt out of the loop on anything. I think it's also notable. Just how great we found the little bee parent community to be. We did not anticipate making such good friends so quickly. At the funston locations for little bee, in particular, there is a great community of parents hanging out at pickup and the kids play outside the front yard. If you want to get a feel for this I would suggest stopping by a little b or even just walking by, right around 5:00. Especially in the lighter months, we would sometimes play outside with other kids and parents for an hour after school.

Little Bee is an incredible preschool, and I could not recommend it enough to prospective parents…read more Our son has attended the Funston (Presidio) location since he was 2 years old. Each class has 3 main teachers + floating teachers, who all care for the kids with kindness and empathy. The campus' location in the Presidio creates an idyllic and beautiful environment for the kids - they go outside to explore nature every morning and we get sent daily pictures and videos of their adventures. We love the Mandarin immersion aspect, and our son is fully bilingual thanks to the teachers' efforts. Sarra, the director of Little Bee, runs a tight and efficient ship. The involved PTA organizes many community events, such as monthly playdates, Easter Egg Hunts, an annual Camp Out, Pumpkin Picking, Santa's Brunch, parents' nights out and more across the Funston and Lombard locations. Beyond just a preschool, this is also a supportive, caring, welcoming community of families and we have met many wonderful friends through Little Bee.

We had a great two years at Petite Explorer. Andy and Vickie have built an exceptional program…read morewith a caring staff of teachers.

Our daughter has attended PE for two years now (from age 2.5 and she is 4.5 now). We've had a…read morephenomenal experience. The entire staff is attentive and the teachers genuinely care about the kids while providing a stimulating environment. Our daughter has learned to read and write her name, all her letters, can count to 100+ but more importantly has learned social skills like being a caring friend, patience, and listening. Vicky who runs the school also knows all the children which shows how tight knit of an environment it is. Good student/teacher ratio (12 - 15 kids to 3 teachers in the two years we were there). Can't recommend enough!

Calvary has been the perfect first school experience for my kids. I love the consistency of the…read moreprogram and that from the start they attend 5 mornings a week, plus that they don't have to switch to afternoons. It's a nice progression with a longer day for the second (or third) year kids which helps with the transition to kindergarten. We knew we wanted a play-based school and felt the curriculum at Calvary was very thoughtful and engaging and our boys, who are on the younger end, were well-prepared for kindergarten. The wonderful director, Deb, is a huge asset to the kindergarten process, guiding each family through with tips, checklists and informational sessions to give you the information you need to make the best decision for your child and your family. The teachers are so dedicated and caring and you can see the passion they have for teaching and a true love for the children. I loved reading the detailed stories about my son on his progress report. Classroom blog posts and a private Instagram account give a great glimpse into their school day. I appreciated the quality and number of volunteer opportunities -- not so many that the kids got distracted by having parents around all the time, but enough that everyone who wants to volunteer gets a chance. The teachers are very appreciated (delivered breakfasts, lunches and coffees on special days) and well-supported (mentor program, professional development, etc.) both by the parent community and by Deb. One of my favorite parts about the school is the parent community. You get a nice mix of working and stay-at-home parents (Dad's too!), who are interesting, welcoming, involved, always up to do something for the school or help another parent out. The school has a long history and many Calvary graduates are back with their own kids attending now. The school has many sweet traditions; one of the kids' favorites is Bedtime Stories night where the older kids get to come back to school in their pjs for pizza, stories and flashlight tag on the rooftop playground. I also appreciate that the school introduces kids to giving back through school-led initiatives like Project Night Night and a Halloween costume drive benefiting Raphael House. My youngest tried to run upstairs to go to school with her brothers every morning when we dropped them off so I'm so excited for her to have her turn starting in the fall.

Is there a 6 star review option? Because I cannot recommend Calvary Nursery School highly enough…read more Our son is absolutely thriving this year in kindergarten in large part to the exceptional job that Calvary did to prepare him. In addition to being phenomenally prepared to start grade school, he loved the eye dropping rooftop playground and all of the friends he met there. I asked him this past weekend whether he misses Calvary because he is so happy at his new school. He responded that he still misses Calvary because of how much he loves his teachers and all of the friends that he made there. As an added bonus, my wife and I met some of our best friends through Calvary. Lastly, Stephanie and the other staff at Calvary provided the perfect level of support and guidance to help us find the best grade school for our son. One of the best decisions we made was to transfer him from another preschool to Calvary. If you are looking for high quality teachers, small class sizes, a parent community that is second to none and quality programming that will prepare your child for the next step in their educational journey, then look no further than Calvary.

If you want your child to be taught holistically, and if your kid's overall development is more…read moreimportant to you than only achieving high test scores, then the Waldorf School is for you. The academics are excellent. It is amazing to see and hear 3 year olds tell coherent stories, thanks to the way that arts and literature are integrated into the curriculum. My daughter has been going to the pre-school program, kindergarten, and is now in first grade. I'm delighted to see how she and her school mates are developing intellectually and artistically. It is also reassuring to see Waldorf School 8th graders that are smart, well adjusted, and do community work. The school doesn't feel or look like a factory, but is a pleasant, inviting place of learning and playing. If you see the interiors of the kindergartens alone, you'll be in awe. Feel free to sign up for a tour. The school is a strong community that supports each family that is part of it. I work full-time and feel very connected to the other families and the faculty. I also love the fact that my child will have the same class teacher from first through at least fifth grade (There are also other subject teachers throughout those years.) The teacher will really get to know the students and can guide their development tailored to their individual needs. I wish I was in first grade again at that school!

This school played a very large part in destroying my life…read more I attended the waldorf grades school from k1-8th grade and transitioned to the waldorf high school after (all while paying full tuition). Due to some unfortunate events based on false allegations I was asked to leave the waldorf high school during my sophomore year. I lost all of my friends, everyone i had known for the past 15 years where ripped away from me. I remember crying in the principles office not being able to accept the words she uttered.. I remember my mom driving me home, it was silent in the car except for the sound of my tears dropping onto my northface. Since that day I was an outcast to the community I once called home. The waldorf school ruined my life, but everyday, I am healing from the wounds it left me.

Our daughter started at Diller this year and we've been so happy with the school and the community…read more We started in summer camp to ease her into going to school full time, and it's been such a fun experience for her. We are grateful for our teachers, learning specialists, and the adminitration (shout out to Karla, Rose and Mina) for supporting our kiddos and families through this special time in early childhood development. We've witnessed first-hand how Diller fosters curiosity for the children, while providing them structure and guiding them. The teachers are so warm and welcoming, and the staff are so thoughtful and simpley are just amazing. Our daughter is excited to go to school everyday, and we cannot be happier with our decision in choosing Diller to be our preschool.

The JCC Helen Diller Preschool has not only been a wonderful place for my daughter, but for our…read moreentire family, as well. We were drawn to the school for so many reasons and here are just some that really stand out for us... It's an Emilio Reggio school with a phenomenal teaching staff and the director works diligently alongside parent volunteers to be sure that the teachers are consistently feeling as supported and appreciated as they make our children feel every day. There is a full time garden teacher, music teacher and art teacher who all have great expertise in fostering curiosity and appreciation for the beautiful world of nature, music and art and work with the children and alongside the classroom teachers to bring these amazing components to the kids. The school community feels like a home away from home. There are numerous ways parents can volunteer (which is completely optional) and be involved in the school community. My daughter started school in the height of the pandemic and the staff really thought outside the box in how to keep that feeling of community going. Now that we're past that, events and opportunities to come together as a community abound and really make us feel like we're living in a small town. Children do not need to be potty trained (let's just say this was VERY important to us ). The teachers really meet the kids where they are and gently encourage them to step outside their comfort zone to grow. I have personally learned so much from watching the teachers respect an individual child's own comfort level in any situation and think outside the box to ensure each child feels respected to be who they are. Yet through creating a safe space and gently encouraging growth, I have seen the children blossom into confident individuals and take such pride in their own achievements. My daughter will say things like, "mommy, I'm so proud! I believed in myself and I did it!" Logistics perk: drive through drop offs. I had a newborn at home when my daughter started preschool and I'm sure that every parent can relate - the drive through drop offs without needing to get the baby out of the car saved my sanity . Almost 2 years later, I still find the drive through drop off option to be an incredible, time saving perk. I still love to walk my daughter into school or go into the classroom to pick her up, but having the drive through option has been a game changer . The Pre-K program really prepares students for elementary school and the director, Karla, works alongside families to provide resources and guidance as they navigate the process of transitioning to elementary school. It's a place that instills the start of a lifelong love of learning and discovery.

We've had a wonderful experience at Tinker and couldn't recommend it more. It's a great community,…read morewith focus on the outdoors, learning through play, and building a great foundation for elementary school. We've loved watching our daughter thrive at Tinker. She has learnt to embrace nature (climbing trees, picking up bugs, learning about our parks) and brings home new skills almost daily (writing skills, songs and even learning new words in Mandarin and Spanish). The teachers and staff build strong relationships with the children and families and genuinely care about each child's daily enjoyment as well as their long-term growth and development. We have made lifelong family friends along the way. We feel incredibly lucky to be part of this community!

My son started at Tinker when he was about 1.5 years old. He is now almost 5 and will start TK in…read morethe fall. I do not have enough wonderful things to say about Tinker. They are not just a preschool but a genuine community with deep roots to the local neighborhood. The teachers and leadership stay up to date on evolving philosophies around early childhood development, with a strong focus on raising happy, confident, and emotionally well-adjusted children. There's a deep respect for each child as an individual, along with an emphasis on social-emotional growth, independence, and curiosity. We feel incredibly grateful to have been part of this community and for my son to have this enriching early childhood experience.

I love MCH because it is so thoughtfully and impeccably run, with experienced, long-tenured…read moreteachers and a genuinely inclusive community. I especially value the mixed-age classrooms, where children have the opportunity to learn from one another and deepen their own understanding by helping and teaching younger students. I've also seen so much growth in our daughter during her time at MCH. She has learned to trust herself, become more confident and independent, and grow more skilled each day at expressing herself and communicating what she thinks, feels, and needs.

My daughter (age 5) just graduated from MCH this year, and my son (age 3) just started this fall…read more We love the traditional Montessori approach! The materials and the environment are beautiful and inspiring. The lead teachers both have almost 30 years' tenure at the school, which is felt in their wisdom, patience, and kindness. The education for independence, dignity, and respect was so formative for my daughter, who is now a confident, focused, and delightful kindergartener. My husband and I have made some of our best friends from the parent community at MCH, and it's always a place where I feel like I can be myself. Highest recommendation!