We love Shining Star ! The school has been wonderful for our son. Because it's a small class (and…read morenot a big institution) they provide personalized attention, with a focus on happiness and learning. There's lots of activities and materials (he comes back singing a new song or playing a new game every day). The teachers make sure my son eats well (and help him if he needs). He also sleeps well there and also gets a lot of social and mental stimulation. They give us updates about his day and my son loves the teachers and his classmates They are a Montessori based school (which encourages independence in kids) and are bilingual (English & Mandarin). We love the Montessori approach to learning and this school is truly Montessori where the young ones can interact and learn from elder kids and the elder ones can role model and help the younger one. While we don't speak Mandarin, we thought it might be nice to expose our son to it and he picked up words very fast. Within the first month he could could to 10 in Mandarin, and could change his intonation and pitch while singing rhymes in English.

We found Shining Star a week after a really terrible 2-day experience at a home-based daycare for…read moreour then almost 2 year old daughter (you can read about our experience at that daycare in my reviews). The school was recommended to us by a mom we had just met at a local park, and she had shared with us that her ~1.5 year old son was enjoying it and thriving at the school. We considered several options which included two other home based daycares, TinySchool, Bright Horizons -- and ultimately decided to go with Shining Star after much deliberation and vetting of our options. During the tour, we saw the space, observed the kids with the teacher, and importantly Richard had assured us that they would help support our daughter's transition to the school, and that it was expected that it could take several weeks for a child to feel comfortable. He even noted that a second teacher would be there during our daughter's first week in case extra care and attention were needed for her. This was really important to us, again, given the terrible experience we had just had. As expected, the first few days were hard. Dropoff was hard and she also cried during the day, but I really appreciated that the school helped to support her through this and kept telling us it was normal and letting us know when she showed signs of feeling more secure there. Our daughter would cry hysterically and they would give her the space to just be (eg she preferred eating on the floor and not at the table with the other kids, and she was allowed to do that until she felt ready herself a few weeks later to join them at the table). During this time, we got zero frantic texts or calls -- and after about 2 weeks, there was no more crying and we could consider her relatively adjusted (what a relief for us considering the terrible experience we had had previously at the home-based daycare). Fast forward several months now, and our daughter enjoys going to school. She is still her fun, playful self after school (which sadly was not the case after just 1.5 days at the home-based daycare). She has learned a ton (ABCs, counting, letter and number recognition, she can hold a pencil properly, and her speech/vocabulary has exploded). The teachers are so kind (eg Ms Xing gave us a thermos to take home to use for our daughter's school meals after noticing that her lunches are always cold in the bento box that we had been using), caring, and help her to feel safe and looked after. They have supported her potty learning as well. The class is relatively small now, and all the kids really take to each other and to the teacher. It's always fun for us to see them all together be silly and energetic at pickup and dropoff. A plus as well is how easy it is to communicate directly with Richard. He is responsive on text and quick to reply to emails. The school is just super understanding, and I have a soft spot for it since they really do care about the children. Our daughter leaves school happy and goes to school happy too. I could not recommend it enough!

The school is small (8 kids) ages 3 to 5yrs. the teachers name is Cruz(my kids love her) the…read moreclassroom is downstrairs from her parents home and they( her parents) are often in the classroom helping. and boy do the kids love them! the kids also go on outings to parks and the Mission Libary. the school is very Montessori. it was the only Montessori school I found in the Mission. Big City Montessori was near, but TOO BIG for us.

This is a hidden gem of a school. My oldest daughter has been attending for the past 2 years and my…read moresecond will be joining her in the fall. The materials are incredible (and they make me want to spend the day there as well!), but what is even more important is the warm, intimate atmosphere. Cruz is an experienced Montessori teacher with an amazing gentle hand, but incredible control on the classroom (I call her the Pied Piper, since I have never seen children behave the way they do with her!). The school is located in the lower level of the home she grew up in, and her parents, former public school teachers who live upstairs, participate in the school as well so it has a true homey environment, but with truly professional and amazing materials. But the greatest indication of its success is both how much my daughter loves it and how much she has grown, socially, intellectually, artistically, and emotionally since attending. The small class size builds valuable friendships and all families who attend are a joy. I concur with all of the previous posts as well!

My son started at the Dahlia School when he was 18 months old and has been in the toddler program…read morewith Ms. Liz for two years. She is a true gem of a human -- balances warmth, consistency, and redirection beautifully to create an environment where my son has grown so much in his independence. Specifically, I've seen huge growth in his emotional regulation skills, responsibility (e.g. he helps me unload the dishes every day), fine motor skills, and ability to focus for longer periods of time. His imagination has grown, his ability to play independently has grown, and he is oriented towards being helpful to younger kids. And he speaks Spanish and was potty trained with no effort on our parts! The other thing I'll mention is that the school has been very receptive to making improvements and discussing potential changes with all parents. It's an inclusive, caring community, and all-in-all Dahlia has been a wonderful experience for us! Based on what I've seen so far, Dahlia is the strongest authentic Montessori program available in SF -- and the most diverse private preschool in the city.

Bottom line: My kids are thrilled to go to Dahlia School every single day--so much so that I…read morepractically have to peel them away at pick-up time because they don't want to leave. Both of my children have attended since the school's inception, and our experience has been nothing short of extraordinary. The teachers here are beyond attentive and caring. From day one, I've witnessed how each child is genuinely seen, heard, and supported. The Montessori-based approach strikes the perfect balance between giving children the freedom to explore and learn independently while maintaining a healthy structure that keeps them engaged and growing. I am particularly impressed by the range of practical life skills my children have gained. Tasks such as loading the dishwasher and folding laundry are no longer unfamiliar to them; in fact, they are eager to help around the house! This truly illustrates how effectively Dahlia School promotes autonomy, builds confidence, and nurtures a genuine love of learning, all while ensuring consistent progress on the recommended curriculum. If you're looking for a nurturing, hands-on environment for your child, I can't recommend Dahlia School highly enough. The entire team is clearly deeply committed to each student's well-being and growth. My family feels incredibly fortunate to be part of this wonderful community!

Yes I used to work there as a Assistant teacher. I did enjoyed working with the staffs that I knew…read morebefore. I love it when the school was organized on their curriculum, parents information, how they decorated the school in different holidays, how the lead teacher, and assistant teacher teaches the children well on Montessori materials. I heard the school is close. I will miss the school that I felt like a home and lots of loves

My daughter has been attending the Montessori House of Children for over two years, starting as a…read morethree year old. She has had a wonderful experience at the school and I recommend it to anyone looking for high-quality preschool. A few highlights: Great teachers. I have been very impressed by the quality of the educators at this school. My daughter's teacher, Ms. Tanja, has over 20 years experience in Montessori education, and is a delight. My daughter has a budding interest in science, nature, art, reading, and math, in large part due to this wonderful school. Flexibility. With both before-care and after care, the Montessori House of Children works well for two working couple families. Fun. My daughter loves it there. She loves the Montessori method and the friends she makes.

Studio Montessori is a wonderful, warm school, with caring teachers and a close community. Our son…read morestarted in Nido and then transitioned to the Maternelle classroom. He loved his teachers in both. They were kind and deeply attentive to his development and growth. He learned so much, so quickly! We toured many Montessori schools in the city (I think all schools with AMI lead guides), and Studio was our favorite. We are very happy we went there, and highly recommend that you visit to see if it's right for your children.

The primary reason my family has not moved from San Francisco is due to Studio Montessori. We were…read moretempted to leave the city with the ability to work remote but seeing how much my daughter enjoys going to class, singing to herself in french, and the overall independence she is gaining was the main reason we are giving SF at least one more year. Our daughter joined Studio when she was 3.5 and has been attending the Maternelle class since November. Our daughter has grown and thrived so much over the past 9 months. The other day I mistakenly asked my daughter what she played at school. She reminded me "I don't play at school, I do work." She said this in such a proud voice. They learn so many practical life skills in a warm, safe, and nurturing environment. I found all the teachers exceptionally strong. They have a strong amount of empathy for the children while also balancing a level of directness and respect my daughter has responded really well to. Seeing all the kids growing together into their own little communities has been such a treat. When you see all the kids together with the teachers it is amazing to see how respectful, comfortable, and caring they are to each other. So if you were like us, new to montessori, new to french, new to really any group childcare and are looking for a safe, nurturing, and respectful place to send your children I would recommend Studio.

Absolutely Exceptional - More Than Just a School…read more Year after year, this Montessori school continues to amaze our family. It is rare to find a place that balances rigorous academic excellence with such a genuine focus on character development and respect. We have watched our youngest (now 4) blossom here over the last two years. The growth in his education level is nothing short of outstanding--he is learning concepts I wouldn't have expected at his age, yet he is doing it with joy and curiosity. But beyond the academics, what impresses me most is the school's commitment to constantly bringing in new activities and enhancing the learning environment. They never settle; they are always finding ways to be better. A few amazing days of the year for you and the family: All the Holidays - The school ensures we celebrate holidays from across all cultures and life. Fathers' Night: An amazing way to connect their children with their fathers. One of the best moments I look forward to every year. I Mother Tea Time: Another amazing experience for the children to spend some quality academic and fun time with their moms. This standard of excellence isn't limited to just one teacher; it is consistent across the board. Every staff member, at every level, cares deeply about these children. If you are looking for a place that will truly invest in your child's future, this is it. We couldn't be happier.

Absolutely amazing school. Staff is very engaging, supportive and great with the students. My son…read morehas advanced so much in their program and we look forward to another year!

I had two children attend GPM over the past two years, and while I am grateful for the education…read moreLisa and Minyi were able to provide, working with the administration of this school was a singularly frustrating experience, which ultimately led us to withdraw our daughter from the school after having put down a deposit for the upcoming school year. The school administration, led by Rosemary, consistently under-communicated and miscommunicated with parents in the downstairs classroom, leading to frequent confusion, surprise, and frustration, to the point where the parents of the downstairs classroom felt like second class citizens at this school. The final incident that prompted our withdrawal occurred when it was discovered by a parent in late May 2025 (less than two months before the end of the school year) that Lisa would be removed as the teacher of our children's classroom, to be replaced by Rosemary herself. I say "discovered" because this plan had apparently been in the works for some time, and based on Rosemary's subsequent reaction to the leak of this information, it was clear she would have preferred to not to tell the affected families until much later. The firestorm this caused prompted Rosemary to schedule a meeting with the parents whose children this change directly impacted, ostensibly in order to hear our concerns. To call what we experienced at that meeting disrespectful would be an understatement. We felt gaslighted, our concerns were belittled, and we were subjected to meandering, confusing, and deceptive answers to our questions. When we specifically asked why Lisa was being removed as the teacher, we were given a long circuitous explanation that started with budget cuts, and ultimately ended with philosophical differences in Rosemary and Lisa's teaching styles. Specifically, Rosemary felt that Lisa was over-emphasizing math and reading, while Rosemary herself wanted to emphasize "meditation" and "exploring spirituality". I believe the phrase Rosemary used was, "All [Lisa] wants to teach is math and reading". I responded to this answer by telling Rosemary that this was precisely the reason why my wife and I chose this school over others: I distinctly recall Lisa explaining at the open house we attended two years ago about how much the kids she taught were instilled with a love for math and reading. Of course, not every parent has to agree that math and reading is a better emphasis than meditation and spirituality. That's for every parent to decide for their children. But the key point I wanted to emphasize was that it was *our* choice as parents to decide what was right for our kids, not Rosemary's. When Rosemary began the parent meeting, she expressed no empathy towards what we as parents were worried about; the only thing she was upset about was the fact that this information was leaked at all. She would have preferred that we did not find out at all until it was too late. Preschools fill up quickly. This incident kicked off a mad scramble for many families, including ours, to find alternate preschools for our children. The parent meeting soon devolved into Rosemary questioning one parent's qualifications to judge their child's education, and then ultimately asking why it even mattered who the teacher was. Ultimately, the problem was not even that Lisa was removed as teacher (though we obviously wanted her to stay); it was the fact that there was zero transparency in any of this. Rosemary seemed intent on letting the clock run out and not announcing this until right before the start of the new school year. Nearly all of the parents who attended that meeting ended up withdrawing their children as a result. While this was the most egregious incident we experienced at this school, this was just the last in a series of other things, some big, some small, that we experienced during just this past school year, including: * The abrupt announcement of a nearly $400 per month school lunch program exactly one week before the school year began that was presented as mandatory. This amounted to an over 15% increase in tuition. This was reduced in price and made optional only after parent feedback. * Similarly, the other team in the downstairs classroom was transferred to an administrative role right before the start of the school year. This was announced 4 days before the start of the school year. * The school misaligned their spring break with that of SFUSD, which resulted in significant scheduling conflicts for several families. * Emails from the administration frequently went out with mistaken dates and locations. * Emails to the administration frequently went unanswered. If you've made it this far, my warning for any parents considering this school for their children is that Rosemary, in my experience, was a person we could not trust to give us timely, accurate, and ultimately truthful information.

If you are looking for a school that is inclusive, look elsewhere. Don't waste your time. We did an…read moreinterview and I mentioned there is some neurodiversity in our family. We were not called back. I don't think it's a coincidence. I'm so glad I mentioned it even though my child is not neurodivergent. Whew!

Ok so I've gave this school a call around December of 2024. The lady had told me to call them by…read morethis summer to see if I could get my daughter in by August of 2025. I've decided to call them yesterday and this is what happened... 1st call: a child picks up then hangs up the phone. 2nd call: a lady with terrible English answered the phone ask for my name (after I said it 3x) and then proceeds to hang up in my face. 3rd call: the lady who I spoke with months ago (I remember her voice) answered and while I'm explaining mid sentence how I've spoken with her before and was interested in enrolling my child she then rudely cuts me off to say they are booked she took 2 more kids and to try next year. I told her she was the one who told me to call back around this time just for her to cut me off again and say their classes are smaller now due to lack of staff so try calling next year. By then I was supper pissed off so I hung up the phone. They really need to work on supervising the kids since they are clearly allowing them to play with the phones and they definitely need to work on their customer service skills. I wouldn't trust to leave my child with rude people like them.

There are not enough good things I can say about this school! We've had our daughter at the SF…read moreMontessori school since she was 6 months old (she's almost a year and half) and we feel so lucky to have found this amazing place. They take such great care of infants, it was impressive and reassuring to us as first time parents. Our daughter loves coming to school everyday. In the mornings she runs into her teachers arms and reluctantly leaves them at the end of the day. Her teachers are extremely warm towards her and it is clear that they have an authentic love for all of the children at the school. We always feel that our daughter is tremendously cared for and we're happy that we never have to worry about that. Her teachers are also very skilled with caring for babies, they're true professionals and they seem to anticipate all of her developmental needs from sleep to eating schedules and adjust seamlessly to all of her milestones. Our daughter has learned so much from being at this school, it always blows us away. They spend time teaching her lots of words, how to eat with utensils and encourage her to do different independent activities like putting on socks etc. She has made many friends and has close bonds with the teachers. The principal Mrs Vasi. is extraordinary, aside from being an absolute professional who has had this school for over 35 years, she is amazing with the kids and parents and has formed closed bonds with all of the families. She has created a very special school with a skilled, warm and passionate staff. The culture of the school is really communal and inviting while not being time consuming. The parents have a WhatsApp group where they can share resources and try to meet up once a week with anyone that wants to. The school also has long hours so it's great for parents like us with demanding work schedules. I would recommend the SF Montessori school to any family, it's been the best experience for us!