Our almost 4-year-old son has been attending Hillcrest Preschool, and we've had a great experience. We really love the progressive vibe of the school, and everyone has been so friendly and helpful. They helped us quickly get our son enrolled when I had to return to work from maternity leave and needed childcare right away. The administration was on top of everything and made the process so much less stressful. One of our favorite things is that they send photos throughout the day so we can see what our kid is up to. A special shoutout to Ms. Michell, who has been absolutely wonderful. She is kind, patient, and you can tell she truly cares about the kids. Our son has loved being in her class, and we're so grateful for everything she's done. Our son will be heading off to TK in August. We're sad to leave the school, but we'll definitely get our 2nd baby enrolled when she becomes a toddler! read more

I'm not sure where to begin. There are simply no words to describe the love I have for Hillcrest Preschool. After 3 months of touring a few other centers, I finally found HP and the security, joy and support both of my children felt was worth all of the research. Hillcrest Preschool were the first people we trusted our babies with, they were supportive and patient as they dealt with this very anxious mom. Having 2 children in different age ranges provided such a great perspective as to just how much HP was offering our children. The value is high quality, both of my children were noticeably becoming social butterflies, their vocabulary expanded and one even came out potty trained! The staff is just *chefs kiss* their attention to detail to my littlest one as she dealt with separation anxiety was comforting and a breath of fresh air. The love doesn't just stop with the teachers, Kelli in the front office, was always available when needed and made the transition from one director to another so seamless and smooth. She truly deserves so much credit. All in all, if you stuck around to read all of this, I highly recommend you swing by, tour and take a look for yourself. Hillcrest Preschool was a Godsend to our family. read more

We've had such a wonderful experience at this preschool! Our daughter was here for one year and truly thrived. Ms. Kelli and the other teachers are absolutely amazing--they genuinely care about the kids and create such a nurturing, fun environment. They were especially supportive during potty training, which made a huge difference for our family. Recently, the school welcomed an interim director, and we sincerely hope she becomes permanent. She brings such heart and care to the children's experience, planning fun activities and making each day special. She's also introduced a new check-in system with an app, which makes drop-off and pick-up so much easier while also keeping parents informed about daily updates, injuries, and communication. This preschool is on a wonderful path, and we're so grateful for the teachers and leadership who are making it such a positive place for kids to learn and grow! read more

I can't say enough great things about Dana and this pre-school! The vibe there is so calming and nurturing even amongst the beautiful chaos that naturally ensues with groups of toddlers. Dana was so kind and upfront from the very start and clearly has a lot of pride in her school. The classrooms are small and intimate, but covered wall to wall in really unique and colorful art projects and activities. By far the safest looking playground I've seen at any of the local daycares - lots of shaded turf and sand. And.... a boat? Cracks me up every time I think about it. I also really appreciate how upfront they are about tuition and believe me, you will not find a school like this at this price point anywhere else! read more

Hillcrest Preschool has been an absolute joyful experience for our boys. After their previous school announced a somewhat sudden closure, we were anxious and scrambling to find another affordable option that would not only welcome our kids, but align with our values. Watching our kids thrive under all of the teachers' care is so great to witness, and brings a genuine feeling of community. Shout-out to Ms Kelli for preparing our oldest for TK and sparking his curiosity in science! read more

I'm writing this review to share an extremely upsetting and traumatic experience I had with Hillcrest Preschool, which led to me immediately withdrawing my 3-year-old son from their care. On the morning of May 1st, 2025, I dropped off my son and was called into the office by the director, Dana Trowbridge. I assumed it was to sign routine paperwork, as I had done every month, but was instead blindsided by a serious accusation -- Dana claimed that multiple staff members had seen me entering her office and going through her things. No evidence was presented, no staff members were named, and no police report was filed, despite her claim that things had gone missing "for a while." When I requested to review the surveillance footage she mentione, "there are cameras all over this office", Dana became hostile. She got in my face, pointed her finger aggressively, and said, "Listen to me, little girl." At that moment, I wasn't being treated like a parent or an adult -- I was being talked down to, like a misbehaving child. Her tone was not just unprofessional, it was deeply demeaning and dismissive. The level of disrespect she showed me, especially as a young mother doing everything I can for my kids, was beyond humiliating. I have been diagnosed with complex-ptsd and I've been doing my best to manage my stress levels and my emotional well-being and this experience triggered intense emotional distress that I mentally could not afford. I had to call off work that day, explain the situation to my manager while sobbing, and adjust my entire childcare and custody arrangement -- all because of a baseless accusation and the way it was handled. I pride myself on keeping things professional, but I was so shaken that I broke down at work. I've never experienced such blatant disrespect, especially from someone entrusted with children's care. I removed my son immediately. And honestly, I now fear what might happen to other families, especially those who rely on state-funded childcare and may be seen as easy targets. It felt like I was being profiled -- like my family was seen as less-than or disposable. Until Dana is held accountable and there are serious changes in how families are treated, I cannot recommend Hillcrest Preschool. read more

Could not be more happy with Hillcrest Preschool! A wonderful experience for my daughter and we plan to enroll our son next year! Teachers go above and beyond embracing creativity and authenticity. A lovely school that's recently been renovated. Clean classrooms and a nice outdoor play area. Forever grateful for our experience. read more

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Hillcrest Preschool. They've always had caring, engaging, nurturing staff members who truly care for the children. And now, they even have brand new facilities, which were custom built for the preschool. My older daughter has thrived there and has grown more and more with every teacher she's had. I signed my younger daughter up as well as soon as she was old enough, and even though she was home with me for the first 1.5 years of her life, she adjusted very quickly and was soon as comfortable there as her sister with the help of the caring toddler staff. It honestly feels like a second home for both of them. The icing on the cake is that they are year round, open 8-5, and the tuition is somehow one of the most affordable I've seen in San Diego! read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE HIllcrest preschool. This is my son's second home! We moved him over to the school 18 months ago after his old preschool shut down due to financial issues. At the time I was stressed out and very concerned for his care, given that we did not have a choice about the move. Ms. Dana was so kind, she prioritized all the families that were in the same situation as us, and did her best to give every family a place at the school. Since that time the school has moved from an older facility to a brand new, state of the art space, on the same campus. While the cost has gone up a bit, it is worth every penny knowing my son has the same (or better) care than what he has at home. Every teacher knows his name and mine. There are always fun events, and most days when I pick my son up, he doesnt want to leave. He learns and plays all day long! Thank you to the team for being such a caring space for my kiddo, I know he is safe and cared for! read more

Great personnel kind caring welcoming. Highly recommend. Safe and inviting. Good for 18 months to 6 years old. read more

Ms. Gaby was our son's first teacher when he was 18 months old. She is a great teacher with care and enthusiasm. Ms. Aneisha, Laura, Jessie were great teachers and they will take good care of your kiddos. I would love to send our second child if we could stay in this area but we are moving so that was the reason why we are removing our son from this preschool. The director of this place (Dana) is very professional and accountable. read more

My son absolutely loves going to school at Hillcrest! He's in his 3rd class there and all of his teachers have been wonderful. It was barely a transition when he started because they helped him feel comfortable right away. The new site is beautiful, clean and has a wonderful amount of shaded outside space. We plan on sending our daughter there when she's 18 months and know she'll be given the same loving care and thrive there like our son has. read more

I would give this 6 stars if I could :) Highly recommend Hillcrest Preschool. There is an immediate positive energy to the school. They have created an enriching curriculum and caring, dedicated staff. We feel very comfortable with Hillcrest Preschool. Drop off and pickup is really a pleasure. The kids are happy to go in the morning. The Director (Ms. Dana) has done a really admirable job keeping up with the pandemic challenges. She helped create a safe environment and actively communicated with parents. You can tell Ms. Dana and her staff really care for child development. Special thank you to Ms. Kelli, Ms. Kim, and Ms. Yoli as well! This has been a big part of our family and helped our son prepare for kindergarten. Thank you! read more

I can not recommend Hillcrest Preschool more! My son was like every 18 month old and cried when I started taking him to school and dropping him. Within a month there were no more tears! Now after a year and a half he doesn't want to leave school. I literally had to drag him out the gate the other day because he wanted to be at school! This means so much to me because my older son had such a bad experience at two other schools in the Clairemont area 10 years ago. I can not thank everyone here for how hard they work everyday. I just realized while writing this that in the entire time he's been going here there's been ZERO teacher turnover!! The schools my older son went to? New teachers WEEKLY!! I thought, and had been told by those school directors, that high turnover was the norm not the exception. Clearly that's not true! read more

Was not the best daycare. My son was attacked by other kids multiple times. After I took my son to the hospital after one of his attacks. The hospital of course took info to repoert to the law about child neglect for a investigation. I then made them pay for medical bills. Then shortly after he got hurt again. Then next day I get cps. I fallowed cps and there request. Blood work a physical and all that. Over a bruise he said he got from falling on a woof block. An all was good no pollow up or anything from cps or law. So after that I would report all injuries or marks on pick up. Then the school kicked me out for covering my ass. But they didn't like me knowing the made the report. An as I would keep reporting everything to them before I left the school. I then was forced to stop coming. So over all be careful on who watches your kids and make sure not to be bullied by the daycare also. read more

My husband accepted a new job that relocated us and our 2.5 year old to the San Diego area. Due to the quick move we didn't have the time to have daycare arranged beforehand, so my son stayed home with me. After a few weeks of this, I knew it was time he resumed schooling full-time, but found extreme difficulty finding care that was A) available, B) affordable, and C) reliable. Thankfully, I stumbled upon Hillcrest Preschool and contacted the Director, Dana, who responded quickly to help set up a tour. The only opening they had was a Mon, Wed, Fri and my husband and I figured it was better he had the socialization and schooling part-time versus none at all. So, after our tour we went ahead and enrolled him and had him begin the following Monday. We appreciated they offered a very do-able tuition cost and their staff seemed friendly. However, after about a month or so we ended up leaving due to my returning to work in the new year and they didn't have full-time available. My son really enjoyed going to school everyday and was delighted every single time we picked him up. We got a sense that the staff really do care for each child and their supervision was always top-notch. It's important for parents to make the effort to get to know the people caring for their children and I found the staff to be very friendly and communicative when it came to my son's day-to-day happenings. I've never had a problem with any of his teachers and found Dana to be communicative with parents and always there should I needed to talk. There was an incident within the first week of my son attending that his lovey went missing (a stuffed animal he's had since a baby). Although a frustrating situation for us as parents, I have to say that we greatly appreciated that his teachers all helped us in looking for it and took it as seriously as we did. Unfortunately it seemed as though it may have accidentally been taken home by another child so we asked Dana to print out a little missing sign just to let other parents know - and the following day his lovey was returned! We were so relieved and what made it even better was that Dana overnighted it to us in Texas (we were visiting with family). The efforts the center took when they didn't have to really meant a lot to our family and remains one of our fondest memories here. The only downside, and reason I'm giving it a 4/5 stars, is the facility itself. It's older and hasn't had much TLC in what appears as a long time. It's connected to the church there, but I don't think receives the same kind of care or "upgrades" as the main church building. However, the kids all seem to enjoy attending and it goes to show that you don't need a state-of-the-art daycare facility to engage children and teach them the skills needed to be successful in school! I wish them all the best at Hillcrest Preschool and thank them for serving our family and son the best that they could! read more

You know a two year old is in a good environment when he comes home, plops down in a chair, and mimics reading to the class. I am a nanny whose young charge was part of Miss Yoli's class while his parents worked extra hours last year. He was loved, nurtured, and stimulated, just like he is with us. There isn't a lot of parent/outside adult interaction, so if you, as a caregiver, need a more hands on preschool, you won't find that here. You will find everything a child needs to thrive however. They are building a new playground to give even more, but my little friend loved the trikes and outside toys they had. read more

Our daughter has been going to Hillcrest Preschool for two years now, and we are so grateful for this school. The Director Dana is very professional, helpful and always has a pulse to what's going on and communicates quickly and very effectively. Our girl has had Ms. Gabby, Ms. Claudia and now Ms. Aneisha; and these teachers are not just people "babysitting" your kids all day. They are educators who are thoughtful, strategic and creative when putting together the week's activities, always mindful of their development and they utilize tools that, quite honestly, enlighten my husband and I so that we have better tools in our tool belt as parents and there is cohesion between school and home. I cannot say enough about this school! We are excited for our daughter to continue flourishing here and look forward to the transition to the newly constructed beautiful preschool building that the kids will be in later this year. read more

Extremely grateful for our experience at Hillcrest Preschool. Our daughter went through each age level from when she was 2 starting in Ms. Kim's class up to pre-k with Teacher Kai! Besides the teachers being engaged and caring for the children, I was impressed with their knowledge of child development and focus on social skills. We felt supported in a our daughter's developmental phases from kicking the bottle, potty training and learning to share and interact with others. They are currently remodeling a different section of the church for a new preschool facility which will just make this preschool that much more amazing. Would recommend this preschool to any parent who appreciates community and can know their child will be cared for and thrive! read more

Hillcrest Preschool is truly a gem. The teachers and staff are warm, nurturing, and communicative. As an educator myself, I appreciate the professionalism, dedication, and effort they show in their curriculum and the established educational environment for the little ones. Since enrolling my daughter over 2 years ago, and now my son, I have felt confident and comfortable when they are there. read more

As the first school I enrolled my daughter into, I was so pleased and happy with the care. She really loved her teachers Ms Kim and Ms Yoli. Ms Dana was also very helpful. I felt safe dropping her off everyday. We recently moved and had to change schools, but I def recommend if you're living near the area read more

I enrolled my son at Hillcrest for his first preschool and it was the best decision I've made. They made the transition so smooth and his teacher Miss Kim treated him like he was her own. Miss Kim and staff are absolutely amazing and I'm so appreciative of the love they showed my son. His vocabulary was limited when he started and now he's talking up a storm. I would recommend them to everyone and only left since we moved farther away. read more

Both of my kids had a wonderful experience at this school for many years. Dana is awesome! The other teachers are always great. My kids always came home happy. read more

Both my children went to Hillcrest Preschool starting at the age of 3 until they started Kindergarten. They loved all their teachers. They were all very nurturing, engaging, and helped prepare my kids for Kindergarten. The Director, Ms. Dana is very approachable and accessible about any concerns. She followed through and made other staff members aware. It was very bittersweet when we left Hillcrest Preschool. I'm grateful that they helped build a good foundation for my children to enter elementary school. read more

This preschool has been amazing! Our daughter has been going here for over a year. She started off in Ms. Sarah's class. Ms.Sarah genuinely loves her students and is always hugging them. Now she is in Ms. Wilma's class and loves it there too. We sent her to this school because they do not have a long waiting list and the tuition is VERY reasonable. In the summer, they have water days with small pools and sprinklers. During the rest of the year, they take walks down to Trader Joes, Ralph's, and Golden Spoon. The kids love this. The only downside is the facility. I really wish they had a grassy area. It is an older complex so things are not new but at the end of the day, the children don't know that and they are surrounded by loving and fun teachers. read more

Loved this preschool...their curriculum and teachers are great..my daughter loved going to school every day :)

We are super happy at Hillcrest Preschool! My daughter began when she was 18 months, her first childcare/preschool experience and she adjusted very quick with the help of her teacher and staff. She is loving it and even cheers as we drive into the parking lot. I love that it is small but do wish we could magically build a grassy area as another review noted. I highly suggest this preschool. read more

My daughter just completed her first week of kindergarten. Her first day was met with anxious, nervous, yet ultimately enthusiastic energy. She is excited by the learning process and getting to know new people/classmates. Outside of the home, i attribute her positive and proactive engagement of the educational process to her time at Hillcrest Preschool. As a first time parent, preschool is that first real time you are entrusting your child to an outside influence. I'm pleased to report that over the course of 3 years, age 2-5, my daughter, her mother, and myself, have nothing but positives to take away. The teachers/staff most notably Ms. Carrie, Ms. Lynn, and Ms. Dana(principal) were fantastic. You get a real sense that these people truly enjoy what they are doing. It was quite touching seeing Ms. Dana shed a tear during preschool graduation as she sent another crop of students off to elementary school. I always enjoyed picking up my child from school at the end of the day being greeted by smiles and excitement over what she learned and experienced that particular day. This attitude continues as her elementary school journey begins... Hillcrest Preschool is a big reason for this. read more

We love Hillcrest Preschool and highly recommend it. Our oldest son graduated a year ago and is doing great in Kindergarten. Our younger son started a few months ago in the toddler program. The teachers are great and provide a warm, nurturing environment for the kids. It's one of the few places where I fully trust everyone working there with my children. It's play based which is shown by research to be beneficial to preschool aged children. They do a but if academics before kindergarten which is nice given what kids are expected to know going into kindergarten. Yes the facility is on the older side as mentioned in a previous review. But your kids aren't concerned about that. They just need someone to love and care for them while they're in school. Hillcrest Preschool provides this and more read more

I can say only good things. My daughter has started in the group of Ms.Lynn. She is amazing ticher who loves the kids and her job. Due to her my daughter has learned so much. She can count, write the numbers and letters. She starts speaking English, which is her second language. My kid loves that Preschool. She even doesn't want to go home when I pick up her. That means she feels happy there, so that I highly recommend it. The director Dana and stuff are great. read more

Hillcrest Preschool - Child Care & Day Care Near Me - San Diego, California

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Both of my boys attended Hillcrest Preschool from 18 months to age 5. We've had such a phenomenal experience there, all the teachers were nurturing and accommodating and prepared my kids so well for kindergarten. The preschool provided a stimulating environment with age-appropriate themes and creative curriculum. I especially appreciated the teachers' hard work in helping to potty train both kids. I also found the price to be very reasonable and a great steal. read more

Miss Rosie is so sweet, and all of the staff I have encountered here has been so amazing. They keep the kids engaged and active all day long. Our son loves it, and sleeps soundly through the night after a full day of fun! read more

This place is the bomb-diggity! This is why they have a wait list! This review is long over due, but hey, I'm a busy Mom, what more can I say?! This school is worth every penny and then some! They are always very concerned about the well being of the children, they have community events that involve parents, it is clean, well structured, and the hours are very convenient for my family needs. The other day I asked my little Nugget how she got so smart, and without pause, she said, "Preschool Mommy!" Priceless! read more

After visiting multiple pre-schools in Metro San Diego I was thrilled to find Hillcrest Preschool. The teachers are patient, loving and really understand what the children need. I enrolled my daughter when she was nearly 2 and she thoroughly enjoys every day she spends there (often not wanting to leave at the end of the day). Miss Dana does a great job of keeping it all organized and fun. And BONUS, Miss AnnMarie potty-trained my little one! That's worth the price of tuition right there! If you want an environment where your child will be loved, learn new things and be encouraged you would be well-served at Hillcrest Preschool. read more

My son has been going there since he was 2. Now he is in the pre-K class and I can't say enough nice things about the place. The staff is compassionate, their focus on social skills and problem solving is exactly the right approach for this age group. They are engaged in a lot of physical activity, Ms. Danna cares about nutrition and giving kids organic snacks, they subscribe to a CSA program, and I love that the kids get to nap for over 2 hours. It's also super-reasonable price wise and that's wonderful! read more

A big dissappointment. When I signed up my daughter for this preschool, I had big hopes for a quality and reliable care of my daughter after reading all the positive reviews. This center appeared to have safety, neglect and hygiene problems as well as very poor communication. First of all, the only thing that is keeping children from getting outside of the gate is the fabric string between the fence and the gate. We've seen children freely opening the gate and almost walking out on their own. When we mentioned this problem to the director, she only said "well, that's what we have for now, we can't do anything about it". This is a huge safety problem. There is a busy street right outside the center. Secondly, every time we picked up our duaghter her diaper was very heavy and we always had to change it ourselves before leaving the center. My daughter would develop a bad rash after the days she was at the daycare. Also, my daughter's face and hands were always soiled as if she was never cleaned after lunch and playing outside. Lack of hygiene and neglect of the center cobtributed to my daughter's multiple bacterial infections. When we tried discussing all these issues with the director, she would become extremely deffensive. So we gave up and took our daughter out of this place. I would never recommend Hillcrest preschool to anybody. read more

Both of our kids went to Hillcrest Preschool so we were there over an 8 year period. We loved it there and highly recommend it. All the teachers were very nurturing and kind. Ms. Dana is wonderful and gets to know each child there. Ms. Lynn in pre-K sits with each student individually to work on letters and math and our son was more than prepared for Kindergarten. We really loved it there and feel lucky to have found it! read more

We have been very happy with Hillcrest Preschool. My daughter loves her teacher Ms. Carrie. The staff is very welcoming and attentive. Ms. Dana the director is great. Ms. Carrie greets my daughter with a big hug each morning. The school looks small if you just walk by, so be sure to call to take a tour to see the classrooms. When the kids play outside they get access to a wide variety of toys, water table, tricycles and scooter. I highly recommend this preschool. read more

We have been sending our daughter for only three months and already she LOVES it. I can already see the difference in her letter recognition, imagination and social skills. She knows the names of her peers and her teacher (Ms. Carrie) is the BEST. I agree about the lack of a grassy area, however I accept the fact we live in an urban area and I now have a "city kid". Once we have been there over a year, I hope to have good reason to change my rating to 5 stars. Hillcrest Preschool has been wonderful, I recommend it to anyone who wants a safe, friendly environment for their child. read more

We have loved this school for our 3 year old! We never had ANY safety concerns as the teachers and director were very attentive. There is a routine for toileting and washing hands. His clothes would be dirty because he was encouraged to play! We had left a different daycare situation and I was very pleased with the communication at Hillcrest Preschool between the parents, director, and teachers. There is a newsletter every month, signage everywhere as reminders, and lots of discussion with the teachers. Our son potty trained while at the school so you KNOW there is a lot of communication happening. He made awesome friends, received a thoughtful gift from one of his teachers when he became a big brother, and enjoys every day he is there. This school makes an effort for the parents to connect with other parents to build a community. The director also helped with ideas for some difficult behavior we were experiencing at home. We would NOT be leaving this school except that we moved and wanted our infant and 3 year old in the same place. We will miss them! read more