We feel so lucky to have found this magical school. My child loves going to TK and it's been a delight to hear what she learns -- every day different activities and new challenges. The teachers are all incredibly invested and work hard to support each childs' needs. They also work hard to support parents and foster community building. It's been transformative for our child and we can't recommend it highly enough. read more

We feel incredibly fortunate to have discovered this wonderful TK program, and we can't recommend it enough. Each day, our son comes home excited to share something new, like proudly pointing out where my femur is or telling us that his little brother has more bones than we do (if you couldn't tell, last week was body week!). The teachers have fostered such a nurturing, joyful atmosphere, and it's clear how much our son is thriving under their care. In just a few short months, we've seen his confidence and curiosity blossom, and we're so grateful to be a part of this wonderful school community. read more

We came to Eureka Learning Center by way of a private school consultant, after pulling our daughter out of a $38K/year preK-8 program that left us cold and our daughter hating school. From day one at Eureka, we saw the change in our daughter. She went from being suspicious of school and miserable at the end of the day to the kid she used to be--confident, joyful, excited to learn, excited to go to school, and curious again. Eureka Learning Center got our daughter's spark back. Every day at pick up, she says, "Today was a GREAT day!" The educators at Eureka all have incredible talent with this age group. Oh, and Eureka is $18K/year instead, and we are getting SO MUCH more--both our daughter and us as parents. What's different about Eureka compared to other schools we considered/attended: - the teacher ratio is very, very good. Other schools advertise the same ratio but they pad it with aides who don't have credentials or experience and are kind of like extra bodies in the classroom. But at Eureka, you're getting FOUR incredibly gifted, talented teachers to 22 kids and it has a huge impact on the experience. - how teachers speak to the kids. I'll never forget watching Teacher Laura, at pickup time, respond to a kid who had just tripped and fallen. It was something like, "oh ouch that hurt a lot, didn't it? I'm right here" and the way she looked into the child's eyes and nodded with empathy really stuck with me and is my goal for how I respond to my own kids. They really see each individual kid here and don't just shuffle them along or try to get the kids to just "behave" like at our other school--after all, that's the whole point of TK, to work with kids through all the big emotions and transitions so that they're prepared for Kindergarten! - your kid is not just one of many at Eureka--they get to know your kids better than you know them! I was amazed at the insights Teacher Laura had on our kid during the parent teacher conference. And at how Teacher Leanne bonded with our daughter the first week by remembering what she'd worn the day prior and improvising a little game with her so they had their own little bond. - the classroom truly bonds as friends and a community. The teachers facilitate this beautifully. - the curriculum is SO dialed in. Every single thing they do, from the 100 Days of School celebration to the Star of the Week to learning about traditions, sock drive and bake sale, how they teach even and odd numbers with spiders to building empathy amongst classmates with their creation of a "TK Kid" (I could go on and on) is so perfect for this age and stage of development and we see the impact on our daughter's love of learning and curiosity. - the private school consultant told us that if you're applying to private schools, you can't do better than Eureka because of the hands-on help the teachers give with the application process, knowing where your kid will thrive, and writing recommendation letters. They have relationships with admissions offices for practically all the private schools and are super hands on--this is tremendous value add. - omg did I mention the aftercare program?! It's not like the aftercare at other schools where it's a bit of a holding pen until pickup--Teacher Yvette makes aftercare an extension of the curriculum and every time I come to pick up, the kids are super engaged working together to build a "city," making their own books, reading all together, cooking, making inquiries...it's calm and restful enough where it's not exhausting for our daughter to be there until 5pm each day but it's also very clearly stimulating and fun for her. In other aftercare experiences we've had, the kids were supervised by non-teachers and adults intervened as needed--NOT the case with Eureka aftercare. Teacher Yvette is such a star. - the teachers really live by their values and teaching philosophy of meeting each child wherever they're at. Other schools have applications and admissions processes but at Eureka they admit first come first serve because they believe in the teachers serving the children, not the children being selected for the teachers. I didn't really understand what TK was all about before this. What does one need to "prepare" for kindergarten, anyway? And how is TK different from just another year in preschool? But wow, the impact is huge. This is an incredibly special school that specializes in just the TK year, and boy are they good at what they do. We are so grateful for this experience for our daughter which we know will last a lifetime. If your kid qualifies for TK, DO IT!! read more

Eureka Learning Center - At Eureka every day at pickup, it's "I had a GREAT day, Mama!" and that's how it should be! - Preschools Near Me - San Francisco, California

I cannot say enough good things. My son went to Eureka and my daughter is currently a student (22-23). Eureka is absolutely fantastic and it all comes down to the teachers and director. We know the lead teacher, Laura Miles-Banta, the best and she has been teaching there for over 25 years and is simply amazing. We were blown away by how well and quickly she got to know our kids and was able to point out strengths and opportunities. The director Leanne is also amazing and is extremely well organized and is engaged with the kids (our daughter talks about her a lot). She has been the director for over 15 years as well. They were also an amazing partner to us in the kindergarten application process (private schools). We liked our kids preschool but the level that Eureka knows the kids and would partner with us was remarkably better - I didn't know it could be that good. As a side benefit, many of the private schools (we were focused on ones in the southern half of the city), all knew Laura and the school well. My son's current school, Live Oak, has a kindergarten teacher who sent her three kids to Eureka and I know Live Oak has recommended Eureka to parents (younger sibling situation). The only downside is they only offer that one TK year! read more

Eureka Learning Center is truly a hidden gem. I've had 2 of 3 of my children attend TK here. I cannot recommend this school enough. The teachers are wonderful, kind and thoughtful. The head teacher Laura is also a professor at SF State in the Early Education program and has created an incredible curriculum. The kids learn about community and values and also able to be creative. The school is run very well and Leanne has clear communication. We get daily photos, the day's agenda and also a weekly newsletter. This extra year of TK made a real difference in the confidence level of my son. My youngest daughter is a current student there and absolutely loves going to school every day. read more

ELC has been an absolute blessing for our son and our family. Our current TK son is thriving in every way possible. He wakes up eager to get to school and is bummed he can't attend on the weekends. The curriculum is age appropriate, interesting and helps each child become a stronger member of the community. This stepping stone before K is setting each kid up to be an independent, engagedlearner. As a K teacher this is the best gift any TK kid can receive. We highly recommend ELC to any family looking read more

Our kid absolutely loved her TK year at ELC. After being offered a spot at the school we were offered a place on an enrichment program over the summer which would help introduce our kid to the new school. Our kid felt right at home from the first session of the weekly program and with the lovely teachers (Ivy and Yvette). What impressed me greatly was the thoughtful and sensitive way that the teachers interact with the children. Yvette figured out within the first hour-long class that my kid could read, which was pretty impressive. A month into the school program, both teachers, Laura and Yvette, had a good grasp of my kid's personality and quirks and her strengths and weaknesses. The director and Teacher Laura were consequently extremely helpful helping our family selecting apply to suitable kindergartens. All the children in my daughter's class who applied to private kindergartens (I think there were 15 out of 19 who applied to private elementaries - the rest had older siblings at Alvarado and Rooftops and were set to go there) were offered at least one place - ours received 2 firm offers and one waitlisted place and three kids got offers from all the five/six kindergartens they applied to.) The program offered is both fun and informative and my daughter loved going to school and missed her school on weekends and holidays. The teaching is also top notch: the kids learned about different countries and cultures through bread. They learned how to appreciate each individual child in the community. they learned about insects and made amazing 3D papier mache models of the insects.. In addition they spent the last couple of months of the year on field trips, exploring the city. The teachers initially took them shorter trips on which they taught them expected behavior on public transit. My kid came out of this TK year, a happy and confident child, ready for Kindergarten. Three years on, she still speaks fondly of her time at ELC and we stay in touch with her teachers there. read more

My son is a current student at ELC and is having a great experience. Leanne and her team run a tight ship and provide a safe and nurturing environment for all her students. Every day parents receive photos and reports of the day's activities so they can engage at home. The facility is a converted house on a quiet mountain-top street with extensive outdoor infrastructure. The instructors are professional, communicative, and kind. Somehow they have kept ELC open and effective throughout the Covid era. ELC has provided an excellent environment for my son to make the transition from preschool to K. They even assisted us extensively and proactively in our search/application for a suitable private K-8, with great results. read more

The proof is in the pudding, our kid is genuinely excited to go to school every single day. I like that when I drop off, there is no tearful goodbye because ELC feels like an extension of home. The school is not one size fits all, it all feels truly personalized to our kid. The communication with parents is excellent. Our kid comes home excited to talk about what she learned at school. The staff genuinely cares and has been around for, in some cases, decades--they do this because it's their calling. I love how they speak to the kids respectfully and with kindness, for example, our kid walked in with a half eaten banana and instead of the teacher saying, "go throw that away," the teacher said, "oh look, you have a banana! What's your plan?" and another time when our kid's mask was falling off, instead of jumping in to fix it, the teacher asked our daughter, "oh it looks like your mask is falling, would you like me to tighten it for you?" We absolutely plan to send our son here as soon as he's of age. I would recommend ELC to anyone who wants their kid in a loving, respectful environment with teachers who help kids flourish as individuals that builds their self esteem, and helps them become confident, joyful learners. read more

Our TK-age son just started at Eureka Learning Center this fall, but already, one week into school, we've had such a positive experience. It has been an incredibly personalized experience. Leanne (the director) has shared updates about our son as things have come up. When I arrive in the morning, the teachers know who we are and say hello. And each week, we get a thoughtful newsletter from Teacher Laura. The space is thoughtfully set up. The teachers are clam, patient, and very thoughtful about how they engage with the kids. Already, I can see my son exhibit a kind of focus that I don't see him have at home. Also the parent community has been really friendly. We enjoyed the meet-ups before the start of school, and have already gotten a chance to socialize a bit outside of school. I'm so thrilled we found this program. It's kind of what we've always been looking for. I can't say enough good things. If you have a TK-age kid and the logistics work for you, I wouldn't hesitate. read more

We have sent both of our kids through Eureka Learning Center for their TK years. Our son went two years ago and our daughter this year. I recommend the school without hesitation. Being a TK-only program really prepares the kids for kindergarten by putting them in a same-age environment and teaching them for the social emotional and academic skills they need to be successful. The teachers Laura and Yvette have been leading the program for years and it shows. They show incredibly respect for the kids and also teach them to respect each other. Administration and communication wise, Leanne, the director, and the teachers are fantastic and easy to work with. We always felt in the know of what was going on at school and with our kids. Thank you! read more

A privately owned, nonsectarian pre-school and kindergarten. Two classes of thirty students, with two instructors per class. Program includes creative and visual arts, computer training, and off-site excursions. There's an outdoor recreation area with equipment. Students are motivated to express themselves openly and honestly, to respect each other, to embrace differences in cultures, and to forge a distinctly individual personality. While enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at San Francisco State, I student taught here, and the experience I had that semester was one of the most memorable and enjoyable of my life. read more

my son was there this year. i honestly couldn't have picked a better school for him. the teachers were amazing, providing parenting support and brainstorming with us when we had any difficulties, and he learned so much while there. the parenting community keeps joking that we should hold our kids back and send them there another year. a wonderful, sweet school. read more

This school has been around for more than 30 years. My God Daughter went here back in the early 90's. I would walk over and pick her up every day and there wasn't a day she didn't leave a happy child. I would make surprise visits from time to time and things were always as they should be. Now it's time for my God Daughter's daughter to begin a Pre school program and we are hoping to have her go to ELC. Any preschool that can endure decades in San Francisco is doing something right. read more

Our child is thriving in a K-8 school now, and we have no doubt that the social-emotional grounding was a product of Eureka's fantastic director (Leslie Banta) and his terrific and caring teachers (Laura, Ivy, Yvette). Eureka gets the important things right - long-tenured teachers (some have been there for decades) and intense thought and passion on the curriculum. It doesn't belong in one school (Reggio, Play-based, traditional) but draws on aspects of each and tested early education principles. All the learning is available inside and outside and kids can go in between easily. Once nice feature after preschool in the TK, there are a series of field trips where kids experience the city on public transportation and carefully develop their independence so they can go into Kindergarten and beyond with confidence. One thing the director said that struck me is that some schools look for specific kids that will thrive in their format, and that format can sometimes be narrow. At Eureka, they take kids where they are and meet them. Also, they don't screen kids in advance and take them "blind" unlike other schools that have a playdate. Eureka is very selective and hard to get into, but it's not based on who you are are how well behave your child appears to be during a one-hour playdate. It's simply just when you apply, and all families have an equal shot of getting in. Also, it's quite economical compared to other selective schools. Our child remembers his 3 years at Eureka (Preschool and TK) very fondly and we miss it too! read more

Everything about Eureka Learning Center thoughtfully focuses on each child's development with such grace ... it is a joy to observe! DIrector Leslie Banta is not only a phenomenal visionary for the school, but also a valuable community resource offering individualized parenting classes. The school itself has a lovely backyard carefully re-crafted each week by the yard teacher, in ways often integrating with the curricular study (e.g. the playhouse might become a delicate Japanese Tea Garden, or a space control depending on what's happening that week). More critically the care with which explorations are encouraged and skills developed is nothing shy of masterful. Our experience has been with the Preschool, but our observations of the Transitional Kindergarten are the same - excellent educators infused with passion for their craft and care for the little minds and hearts in their charge. read more

If I could give this school less than one star, I would. I've been meaning to post about it for a year now, but just didn't want to sit down to even re-think my child's experience there. We signed up for a year of T-K after a wonderful experience at a local pre-school. My daughter's confidence was high, and she loved school. It took only one month at Eureka before all that she had gained at preschool was totally eviscerated. First of all, the school is filthy. Why they cannot spring for some new rugs, blankets etc. for these kids is beyond me. Also, their educational resources are outdated and their supplies are sparse and of very poor quality. However, the main drawback to this school is that it is a "sink or swim" environment and they do nothing - not one thing- to help with the child interaction. Consequently, there is much early bullying and NO consolation for these children. As my daughter explained to me "they watch us, but they don't help us." My sweet girl was the victim of severe bullying. At one point, all the girls in the class pretended not to hear her at all for the entire day. Seriously - she was 5. I tried many times to work with the school teachers and explain what was happening. Their approach was 2 fold - first, they denied there was any problem and told me my "overly sensitive" child just wanted attention. Next, they said it was my husband and myself who caused the problem by acknowledging her sadness. In the end, we pulled her out early (though not early enough). She is now at a wonderful kindergarten where she is once again happy, confident and loves school. She does occasionally have bad days at school, but her teacher and TA help the kids to better understand each other; so each disagreement is actually a step forward instead of a step backwards. She will never forget her "mean school" and still has nightmares about it. We had to work so hard to erase the damage done at Eureka. I know it is hard to find a TK program in SF, but do not believe whatever hype you hear - your kid would be better off home-schooled or without school at all, rather than to be put in this program. I could go on about it forever....... read more