We enrolled our toddler in this school with a lot of hope, but unfortunately it ended up not being…read moresupportive of our child's emotional needs. Our son started when he was two and struggled with separation. We understood that can be normal at that age and trusted what we were being told. What was especially hard for us was that we weren't told there were serious concerns until about six months in. At that point, the teacher asked to meet with us and told us that he "shouldn't be crying this much at this stage." The conversation felt less focused on how the school could better support him and more like we were being asked how to manage his emotions for them. As parents, that was really unsettling, especially given how young he was. There were also other moments that didn't sit right. We were told our child was crying during an overstimulating freeze game because it seemed like he "didn't want the other kids to be happy." On another occasion, when he was upset, a teacher pretended to call us in front of him and then said it went to voicemail. Those approaches felt confusing and absolutely not appropriate for a toddler. Our son also learns by observing first, but he was often pushed to participate before he was ready, without much flexibility to let him ease in at his own pace. We also had concerns around communication. For example, we were told sunscreen had been applied during outdoor time, but when we checked the bottle later, the seal was still on. His small wins also often felt overlooked and brushed off. When he completed projects or showed progress that felt meaningful to us, those efforts didn't seem to be encouraged. Looking back, there were other things that gave us pause as well. There was no waitlist and very few children in the class, which didn't stand out to us at the time but now feels like something we should have paid more attention to. When we ultimately decided to withdraw him, what stood out to us was that no one asked why. There was no follow-up from the teacher or director, no conversation about our concerns -- just a short message with the financial details. Two months after leaving, our son started at a new school, and the difference was immediate. Within just three days, he was happy, comfortable, and excited to go to school. He is thriving in an environment that better understands and supports him, which confirmed for us that the issue was not our child -- it was the care and environment. I'm sharing this so other parents, especially those with sensitive toddlers, can ask very specific questions about emotional support, communication, and how concerns are handled.

I can't tell you what it's like for when your children are in this school, but I can tell you that…read morebased on how they present themselves, I don't think they would be doing a good job at that. To start with, you're asked to message them on their website or email. Cool. And then they'll tell you over email to call and make appointment to tour the facility....why can't you just tell me over email? I took a tour and I wasn't sure about it, so I wanted to arrange another time to come back with my wife. So I called them again, and guess what they told me? "Call back in January." No explanation. Why would you give me a tour just two days ago in September, and then say that I can't have another one until the next year? "That's when the waiting list opens"....got it. I was promptly hung up on. So now it comes time to tour again. We come back and make an appointment over the phone. The school is a school but...the people just don't seem like they care at all. The tour was so lackluster. It took all but like 15 minutes. I've spent more time looking through a grocery store. I don't think they're paid enough to give tours, let alone look after your kids. I've seen high schoolers give better tours at the children's museums. I could have been guided around with a lifeless robot. Hell, if robots could critically think, then they would be like, "...Damn. You're making me look bad." The ratio is 7-8:1, at the toddler age. It's ideally supposed to be 5-6:1. I guess the school is affordable, but it seems too good to be true. It's too affordable for something that's supposed to be Montessori, so I'm suspicious. RESPONSE: "...genuinely wonder if your review may have been intended for a different school." Does your version of Montessori teach children to deflect and gaslight to protect a narcissistic ego?

We would like to give it a Five starts, since we've had wonderful experience with the school. My…read moreson is happy there and has made many friends, which has helped him become more confident and excited about going to school. One of the things we appreciate most is the bilingual program. My son has developed strong language skills and is becoming fluent in both languages, which is amazing for his growth. He also really likes his teachers. The teachers are kind, responsible, and truly care about the children's learning and well-being. The school is always clean and well maintained. It's also very convenient that they provide lunch, fresh fruit, and snacks, etc. So we know our son is well taken care of throughout the day. We've also been impressed by how much he learns through hands-on activities. He's constantly bringing home new skills and willing to share what he's learned. We're very grateful for everything Genius Learning Preschool has done for our son and would highly recommend it to families looking for a caring, nurturing, good-quality preschool.

I would give Genius Learning 6 stars if I could. Both of my children, now 4 and 2 years old,…read morestarted at Genius Learning when they were 2. Genius Learning feels incredibly underrated. They provide full-day coverage (until 5:55 PM), have a very reasonable holiday schedule (which, as a working parent, I deeply appreciate), and serve hot lunches every day. I'm so sad to be parting ways with Genius Learning. We're moving to the lower peninsula, and my older child is entering TK. Those are the only reasons we're leaving. We've toured many private immersion schools in the city, and the funny thing is that the more expensive they are, the more days they're closed. What are parents supposed to do? The hot lunches alone remove a huge logistical burden for families. They don't use Brightwheel or seem to invest heavily in marketing, which I suspect helps keep costs down for parents. They still share photos through LINE, so you stay connected and see what your children are doing throughout the day. My children have never resisted going to "school." At their age, there's only honesty, so I think that says a lot about how they feel about the environment. They leave happily in the morning and come home happily at pickup. Academically, I've been extremely impressed. My 4-year-old is now writing Chinese, and I want to emphasize 'writing' Chinese. He comes home talking about 偏旁部首 (Chinese radicals). We recently traveled to Yunnan, and my son saw some farmers and commented, "他们在粒粒皆辛苦". I immediately texted the principal because I was so thankful and amazed. It wasn't just that he was speaking Mandarin. It was the vocabulary, the sentence structure, and his ability to express empathy and observation in another language. The children also practice numbers, the alphabet, and both uppercase and lowercase letters. I feel that he's well prepared for TK. At home, he speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, and the school environment has tremendously reinforced his language development. While it's a Mandarin immersion program, some of the children speak English as well, and I don't mind that at all. Heidi, the principal, is incredibly responsive whenever parents have questions or concerns. The teachers are wonderful and provide exactly what we were looking for during these important early childhood years. The school feels like an extension of home. I trust that the teachers truly have my children's best interests at heart. Some of the teaching assistants are Cantonese-speaking, so there's occasionally a language barrier for me, and I'm sure it's even more challenging for some other parents. That said, you simply can't replace the love and care they show the children every day. And then there's Teacher Anna. Every child seems to adore her. I honestly don't know how she does it. My son tells her, "I love you," and he barely says that to his mama! I've heard the same thing from other children. When she leaves for the day and walks to her car, the kids rush to the window, excitedly waving and shouting goodbye. That kind of love and connection can't be taught. It's a testament to the warmth, dedication, and care she brings every single day. We'll miss Genius Learning dearly, and we're incredibly grateful for the role it has played in our children's early years.

My feeling is that a real great place doesn't even need a review, because it's staff speaks for…read moreitself. That is what I think of TTT. I moved my son from one preschool as he was unhappy and decided to give TTT a try. I am so thankful for Yvonne, Rosa, and Salma for helping my son get adjusted. They are seasoned, patient, loving and have everything under control. My son looks forward to school and has told me that he is happy, that he loves his school, and that his school is great. Send your children to TTT!

I chanced upon them too late but the month spent here was great! The place is very well organized…read moreand they always have a theme of the month and teach based on this theme. The outdoors area is great and feels safe. The teachers are lovely. Thank you so much

My daughter was at Gateway from age 3 to 4 (graduated to TK) and it was such a great experience…read more This was her first step into care/schooling outside of home so I was particular in what I wanted for her: Clean facilities: Due to covid, I couldn't go inside but I did a video tour, reviewed classroom videos, and was able to sneak peeks from outside. We felt good about it what we saw. After she was enrolled, we were allowed in a few times for family events and I was thrilled at the space. Neat, clean and organized. (The outdoor play area has shade for the kids and soft padded areas ... no tan bark!) Learning and Development: I'm amazed at how much my daughter learned over the year. They focused on the things you would expect like ABC's and numbers but also STEM experiments and social development (managing feelings, consent/boundaries, and relationships). Celebrations: when searching for schools, I came across a number of them that didn't celebrate holidays, birthdays and the like - which was a little sad to me. I understand it isn't for everyone but I wanted my daughter to be able to celebrate the fun stuff... gateway was an awesome place for that. They hosted a really fun Halloween event, a few family events and an adorable graduation ceremony (caps, gowns, awards, flowers, goody bags and all!). Teachers: They are truly wonderful. My daughter absolutely adored her preschool teacher (we had teacher Jianna) and I know all the parents in the class felt the same. She took the time to really build relationships with each child and work with them on individual needs. We had a parent-teacher conferences and I always appreciated how thorough her assessments were. Overall, I we have a lot of great memories at Gateway and I'd highly recommend.

I was a bit concerned with some of the earlier reviews here. BUT thankfully, this is a great…read moredaycare and we have both our kids here (2, 4). ALL of the teachers that we've encountered seem so friendly and you can tell they truly love kids, love what they do, and are so caring. The infant teacher that takes care of my son truly loves him SO much, and as for my 4 year old, the teachers are always on top of how she is, what she's doing, what she likes/dislikes, what she needs work on. The facilities COULD use some updates, but honestly, staff & kids are what's most important, kids don't care that much about amenities. I can tell my kids are really thriving here and would highly recommend to anyone! I think the only gripe was that it was a bit hard to get a hold of them for enrollment, but it's only one main office staff and I'm sure she has a lot to deal with dealing with parents, general office & building maintenance, etc. Took some persistence over email and over phone. The contact info on the site is updated so just keep trying!

Both of my kids attended Parkside Day School, one being there for 1 year and the other being there…read morefor 2.5 years. We recently decided to make a switch in schools as this place was no longer the right fit for our needs, but overall, had a generally positive experience with the school during our tenure here. Positives: * Ms. Tina from the toddler class is amazing. There is no better Head Teacher to work with kids that are entering preschool for the first time, dealing with separation anxiety and lots of big emotions, and also having to learn how to potty train at the same time. Both of my kids loved her and you can tell that she genuinely cares about the children. * The classrooms here are big and well maintained. * The playground is big with lots of equipment for the kids to interact with. * There are plenty of organized parent volunteer events or offsite field trips. * All meals/snacks are included as part of tuition. * You get tons of pictures throughout the day of your little ones. Cons: * The teachers speak little to no English. If you don't speak Mandarin or Cantonese, you have to rely solely on the Assistant Director to translate for you. And things get lost in translation when you are not communicating directly with the teachers that are the ones watching your kids ever day. * As the staff are all Chinese, the cultural philosophies of how kids are cared for lean very much toward an Eastern approach. Many of the kids that attend the school are also from a Chinese background so in general, this can be a good match, but if you identify more with a Western philosophy, as we do, then the values and philosophies don't always align. * There were many teacher changes during our time there, especially in the Rainbow Class, with new teachers and new faces showing up with no communication from the school in who these people were. * Price - you are paying an arm and a leg to send your kid(s) here, especially when you consider the amount of holidays/school closure days there are and having to drop off later than 8:30 and pick up before 4 (unless you pay extra for extended care hours). * Class size - they advertise the class ratios as 1:8, which is reasonable and normal. However, there are actually 4 teachers assigned to each class, meaning you can have up to 32 kids in a class. Having 32 3-5 year olds together at once can be very overwhelming. The reason we pulled our kids out is a mixture of the cons above, but primarily, there was a severe drop in the ball from the staff in communicating some important information about our son to us in a timely manner. This was already unacceptable on its own, but in addition, by the time we were notified of what had been going on, changes in our son's school plan were already being actioned without our input or consent. This led to us losing faith that this school was the best fit for our child's needs. While this was our unfortunate experience, others may very well have a positive experience here, so take my review with a grain of salt. But I do think that the ability to speak the language and/or have an alignment with the Eastern philosophy of how to raise kids will be a major determining factor in the type of experience you have here. We were fortunate to find another academic institution that is much better aligned with our values and philosophies and have a more nurturing environment that meets both of our kids' needs. Our kids are currently thriving in their new school and while I wish our experience at Parkside could have ended differently, I'm grateful for the time that we spent there and for the good times that we did have.

My daughter Nora attended the toddler class here in 2025, and it has been a truly wonderful…read moreexperience. She absolutely loved her classmates and teachers -- especially Miss Tina, who is incredibly thoughtful and treats every child with so much care and love. The teacher-to-student ratio is excellent, which gave us great peace of mind. We received tons of photos showing the kids enjoying circle time, making crafts, and learning letters. They host fun events like pajama night, and the facilities are among the best we've seen in South San Francisco. The classrooms are bright, spacious, and even larger than some entire daycares we toured -- both Chinese immersion and English-speaking ones. As we say goodbye, I just want to share our experience and give this school the review it deserves.

Our son attended Fun Learning for about six months before transitioning to a preschool closer to…read morehome when he was around 2.5 years old. We had a wonderful experience throughout our time there. Drop-offs and pickups were always smooth, and the staff were warm, caring, and genuinely enjoyed working with the children. It was clear that the kids were well cared for in a safe and nurturing environment. The tuition was also very affordable and offered great value. While we ultimately chose a more academically focused preschool that was closer to home, we honestly would have been happy keeping our son at Fun Learning until kindergarten. Ms. Rachel, the owner, is incredibly kind, accommodating, and truly cares about the families she serves. We highly recommend Fun Learning to any parents looking for a trustworthy, caring daycare.

Exceptional - We are so grateful to have found Rachel's daycare for our daughter, Connelly. She's…read morealmost 2 and has already grown so much--she's more verbal every week and comes home excited about the new things she's learned. Rachel and her team provide such a loving, safe, and enriching environment. Connelly has made friends, eats well, naps well, and is always happy to go in the mornings (a huge relief for us as parents!). We especially appreciate how Rachel blends play, early education, music, and even bilingual learning into the day--it's more than just childcare, it's a real foundation for growth. This place feels like family, and we wholeheartedly recommend Rachel's daycare to any parent looking for both nurturing care and meaningful learning.

I enrolled my 3 year old at GMM in Spring 2024 and he will be there until next year. Miss Donna…read morededication is impressive. She creates educative monthly curriculum with mindful intent. Since my son joined has learned about geography, art, math, alphabet and many others things in a so creative and fun ways. On Mondays they walk to the library, Tuesday they have soccer, some Fridays they have cooking classes and they have a couple of field trips during the year. In GMM they have great activities for his development and they care so much for the kids. I'm super grateful with Miss Donna and Rosalina for the hearth and soul they bring every day to help the kids grow so well. Since we joined my son is really happy, plus the parents are awesome and warming that it feels like family. Unfortunately we have to go even my son and I don't want to.

We are so happy with our choice of Growing Minds Montessori. As this was out first child, coupled…read morewith the pandemic (born in Feb 2020) we were headed in to this process pretty much blind. After the intro tour, we almost immediately knee this would be the perfect fit. Our daughter was transitioning from a daycare where she was the oldest by a year, and understandably was a tad but behind socially. Donna's set up, coupled with the Montesorri ideology provided us with comfort, and an almost immediate/noticeable improvement in her energy, spirit, and curiosity. The Brightwheel app that Donna/Montessori uses has us in awe of how much they find to do in the house, backyard, and the local neighborhood. An added bonus has been the relationships our daughter, as well as the parents have made thru the school. Parent zen achieved!

We will always have a special place in our heart for Bermuda Montessori. Our son attended for two…read moreyears and loved every minute of it. Sandra does a wonderful job of building community and celebrating the kids' milestones. The teachers are all loving and attentive and work hard to provide experiences that are developmentally appropriate. We highly recommend Bermuda Montessori for you little ones!

Bermuda Montessori Daycare is highly recommended. The teachers are caring and patient. My kid…read morelearned a lot here and enjoyed her time at school.

We love AVS! This gem of a school has been amazing for my two boys. The teachers are top notch -…read morethey are incredibly skilled at providing customized, differentiated instruction that engages students. From the music department to math, our kids have been provided with enriching learning experiences. Teachers meet their students where they're at - my boys have each received some extra guidance in areas where they required practice (spelling! writing) and have also had the opportunity to advance beyond the traditional grade level curriculum in areas where they excelled (e.g., math). We've been super impressed with the school's response to COVID - administration has juggled the priorities and needs of families who wanted their children to return to in-person instruction, and re-opened the campus as soon as the city permitted it - as well as the needs of families who have chosen to keep their kids in virtual instruction.

I love this school so much! I have a 3rd grader and a 7th grader. What amazes me about the school…read moreis the way that each child is treated with respect and concern for their social emotional development. Every student is seen as an individual and given the support they need to thrive. The teachers are awesome. My kids are so happy here!