Our son has had such a wonderful experience at this school! The teachers are incredibly sweet and…read morepatient. They manage to create a warm, nurturing environment while also teaching these young kids about boundaries, independence and introducing them to a more structured environment (since it's many 2/3 year olds first time in "school"). It's clear they genuinely care about each child's individual growth and happiness. Additionally, a majority of the teachers are sisters which makes APP feel like you are part of a giant family. Beyond the classroom, the community of parents is fantastic. Since it's more intimate than some larger programs you basically know every family. Can't recommend it enough!

Our daughter has been attending APP for a bit over a year now, and absolutely loves it. The…read moreteachers really focus on making sure our children develop their social-emotional sides, and are instilled with a love of learning. We've seen her natural curiosity flourish at APP, and she's been equipped with the skills she needs to make sense of her big feelings. We couldn't be happier with her growth, and are sure she's ready for the big step up to K. A couple things to mention: The school was honest with us up front that they are not a super-traditional "drill the kids with worksheets" type of program. That has been accurate; while they do have a curriculum that includes math/English/science skills, that isn't their focus. (That said, what they are doing seems to work - our daughter is on the verge of reading by herself at age 4, and has basic addition and subtraction down as well.) And unlike our previous daycare, their yearly schedule does include a fair number of holidays and breaks, meaning we sometimes have to solve childcare on days where work isn't closed but APP is. We think it's worth it - the breaks give the teachers a chance to sharpen their own skills, and probably also help with retention - but it's something a prospective family ought to know.

As parents, we care deeply about our children's safety, well-being, and education--and Nopa…read moreMontessori is one of the rare places that you can get all three! The teachers are incredibly caring, attentive, and deeply invested in each child's academic and social growth. I fully trust them to both care for and educate my children. In our four years here, there's been virtually no teacher turnover, which creates consistency and a strong sense of trust. Having experienced another Montessori school before, we truly appreciate how special this community is. It's a relatively new and small school, yet it already has strong placement into private elementary schools across SF/Marin--giving parents confidence that children are well prepared. Most importantly, our kids are happy, confident, and excited to go to school every day. We feel very grateful to be part of Nopa Montessori and highly recommend it!

Our daughter has attended NOPA Montessori for over a year, and we couldn't be happier. Every…read moreteacher and member of the staff cares deeply about the development and well-being of the children. I've enjoyed learning more about the Montessori approach to education. It's had a clearly positive impact on our daughter!

This school is pure magic! My oldest has been at wise for a year (4) and my youngest just started…read more(2). Every teacher is caring, has long tenure with the program and has the educational credentials to foster a safe environment. Being an outdoor school safety is my main concern and Wise takes every precaution to ensure those standards are met. It is a true small pod where teachers are interactive with each student. Lastly, the director, Faye is incredible. She is professional, organized, flexible and warm. Having experience with alternative forest program I can confidently say this is the best program in GGP.

This is an absolutely utopian-wholesome school. The teachers are fantastic. Our three year old…read moreloves going here. He was welcomed with so much empathy during the more difficult days at the beginning, and dropping him off and picking up now is such a pleasure. This place is a true gem!!

Our daughter has been attending RA for the past three years, and we could not be happier!…read more Jiali, Jiawen, and all the teachers are amazing! Everyone is caring, supportive, and works with you when it comes to diet, sleep, and potty training! They foster a fun, and educational environment in which our daughter is now my personal Mandarin translator. The curriculum at RA promotes learning and social - emotional growth. Our daughter talks about social/ emotional awareness and what she learns from her experiences at RA. Finding the right daycare can be a stressful process. Our daughter does well with structure, along with needing a platform for silliness and fun. RA has been able to provide that for us. We're grateful for the relationships that we have cultivated and love RA.

Jiali and the teachers at Richmond Academy taught our kids everything from the time they were 1…read moreyear old. When we applied for private schools in SF, we got into 5 out of 5 schools we applied to, and I attribute how prepared our kids were for the evaluations due to Richmond Academy. If you want your kids to learn Mandarin, math, manners, and kindness -- this is the spot. When we were deciding which kindergarten to attend, we decided not to continue Mandarin immersion because, frankly, our kids would be bored waiting for other kids to catch up. You won't need to keep switching schools each year; Richmond Academy handles all levels, including daycare, TK, and PK. They let us focus on our careers, knowing our kids were taken care of 8-5pm. Even when we got off work earlier, we would leave them with Jiali, knowing they were happy and thriving at school. Lastly, while many places were closed during Covid, they didn't let us down and found a way to stay safe and open. We had no learning loss to deal with. Forever grateful for the time our children spent with Richmond Academy!

Terra has felt like San Francisco's best kept secret for our family. The biggest thing we noticed…read moreearly on was how much our son genuinely looks forward to going to school. He comes home excited to talk about what he learned, what he built, and what he explored that day, which gave us confidence that we made the right choice. We visited a few public and private schools with a strong Mandarin immersion program. What stood out with Terra over time was how balanced the learning feels, both inside and outside the classroom. Academically, he has grown steadily in both English and Mandarin, and at the same time we have seen real growth in confidence, independence, and how he works through challenges. The outdoor program has been especially meaningful for him. Spending time learning outside each week has clearly shaped how he approaches learning. He often comes home talking about things he created or discovered in nature, and those experiences seem to stick with him in a way that traditional classroom lessons sometimes do not. The small class size has made a big difference for our family. His teachers really know him as an individual, including both his strengths and the areas where he needs more guidance. That level of attention has helped him grow academically and emotionally without feeling pressured to fit into a single mold. We have also appreciated how involved the parent community is. It feels collaborative, and communication between families and the school is very open. The after-school enrichment classes like engineering, cooking, and art have been another highlight because they give him more ways to explore interests he might not otherwise try. Terra is a smaller school, but for us that has created a strong sense of connection and support. Most importantly, our son feels happy, challenged, and excited to learn, which is ultimately what we were hoping to find in a school.

My son started in Kindergarten at Terra Schools and I have loved our experience. I've decided to…read moreswitch my younger son from his current pre-school to Terra Schools' pre-school program as well because of how strong I've found it to be. When I went through the Kindergarten application process, I toured a ton of schools across public, charter, and private (independent and parochial). I am the type of person that likes to dig deep and understand all of my options. The reason I ended up choosing to attend Terra is because: - Outdoor Nature: We came from a nature based pre-school and I saw the benefits of being able to regularly play outside. It was tough to find an elementary school that offered dedicated time in nature. Elementary grades at Terra have Earth Ed one full day per week, and pre-school has two full days. Earth Ed is led by Dylan, who has decades of experience and holds a PHD in environmental studies. He's great with the students. They love him. - Strong Academics: I asked every school I toured about differentiated learning, and they all gave an answer. However, Terra was the only one where the logistics made sense to me. They have banded classes for subjects like math and reading, which means that for those subjects, my son is grouped with students that are at the same level as him, not based on his grade or age. For example, he is in Kindergarten but he is in the 1st grade math group. - Quality of Teachers: The teachers go through a rigorous process before they are hired full time. They are highly qualified. They are also loving and caring. My son is excited to run to his teacher every morning (which was not the case at his prior schools). - Language Immersion: We are in the mandarin immersion program, but my son is naturally exposed to some Spanish as well and has enjoyed picking up some of the language. It's unique to be able to give him a multilingual experience in a fun, low pressure way. - Parent Community: There are multiple opportunities to connect with each other including coffee meetups, PTA meetings, mom's/dad's nights, and WhatsApp groups. I have met many awesome families at Terra that I now call my friends. My son is thriving here. I have seen noticeable improvements in his academic progress, his self confidence and his ability to advocate for himself.

Our son has been going to Magic Kingdom for 1.5 years, and it has been a wonderful experience for…read morehim. Nelly and Masha, who run the daycare, are excellent caregivers. They genuinely care about the children, and have given invaluable support to our toddler. He looks forward to going to daycare every day, and regularly asks to see his teachers on the weekend. From an educational perspective, they offer preschool curriculum and music classes, both lead by teachers who come in 1-2 times per week, respectively. Our 2 year old has learned numbers and his ABCs, and has developed a love of music and singing as result. It's been an extremely beneficial experience for him. Some other callouts: - Russian language exposure - Breakfast, lunch, and snacks included - Safe and secure outdoor time in their backyard I can't emphasize enough how much we've loved going here. Thank you, Nelly and Masha!

We absolutely love Magic Kingdom of Learning! Our son attended daycare here since he was nine…read moremonths old and we only left because we moved. Our son was treated like family there and was always so happy to see everyone. We were so sad to leave. Nellya and her team are so sweet and attentive and it's obvious how much they love the kids there. We highly recommend this daycare!

Our son has been at Pacific Primary for two years, first in Gray Whales and now in Coyotes at the…read moreYellow Sun School. It has been a wonderful place for him to grow. What stands out most is how well the teachers know the children. They pay close attention to who each child is and help them build confidence, empathy, and curiosity. One thing we especially appreciate are the learning stories the teachers share with families. In one moment from the classroom, our son became frustrated while playing and said, "I'm feeling upset." Another child came over, sat next to him, and comforted him. The teacher helped them talk about what happened and how they supported each other. It was a small moment, but it captured exactly the kind of learning that happens there every day. Keiko has been a remarkable teacher for our son. She connects with him in a genuine way and clearly wants to see him thrive both in and out of the classroom. We have also appreciated the community of families at the school. It feels thoughtful, welcoming, and grounded in a shared goal of raising kind and curious kids. Pacific Primary has been a very special place for our family. We feel lucky our son has spent these early years there.

This is our last year at this gem of a preschool, and I'm genuinely sad to say goodbye to such a…read moremagical place. Our kids -- two very different personalities -- have both thrived at Pacific Primary. We wanted a school that would partner with us in raising good human beings: children with empathy, curiosity, and kindness. And boy, did they deliver. Among the countless things we adore about Pacific Primary are the incredible in-house chefs who prepare fresh, homemade lunches and snacks, and who weave in thoughtful lessons on food, farming, and nutrition. Another standout is the expressive art and music programs. My kids have been huge fans, and have learned so much about life, emotions and experiences through the magic of music and theater. I am forever grateful for the exceptional time we've had at Pacific Primary

Peter's Place Nursery School is a delightful school that feels both homey and invigorating. Aside…read morefrom the natural light that fills this homey space, the director and teachers exude warmth and joy. For this reason, I'm so honored to have joined the Peter's Place community as a teacher. This is a quality preschool, where all areas of child development are considered closely with curriculum planning, and where children learn to work through social challenges. If you are looking for a school where your children are truly cared about, respected, and encouraged to shine their light (Raffi), then you will find that at Peter's Place Nursery School.

I was really excited when I found this place, and felt their Mission and Philosophy valued…read morediversity, and the uniqueness of each child. However, I was saddened and disappointed with the interim Directors response once she heard that my son may have a possible disability. Unfortunately, I discovered this after paying the application fee. While taking a tour of school I asked if outside therapists are allowed on some days for a couple of days. She then proceeded to say that they previously had a child that would come in with a therapist and supervisor which they found to be disruptive. She then added that my son would need more attention and would take time away from the other students and would not be a good fit for their school. She suggested we instead check with the school District to see what they could offer. I explained he only had 1 therapist for a couple of hours, but dismissed it. I didn't have a problem with not allowing the therapist, as I understand that some schools are particular about allowing others into their premises, and that's okay. No problem. I understand. What I did have an issue with is that she made an assumption of my sons behavior based on a prior experience she had with another student and that I mentioned his therapist. She has never met my son, nor does she know his behavior, his condition or the exact purpose of the therapist. She assumed he would take away the teachers time based on an experience she had with another child without ever even meeting my son. It felt as if the issue was more about my son, rather than the therapist coming in. No two children are alike, and having a therapist does not always mean one will require more attention than one who doesn't. It's unfortunate these stereotypes still occur in SF.