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.

I don't know where to start. Whenever concerns were raised, the admin team seemed more interested…read morein protecting the school's image than addressing genuine issues. Their lack of transparency and unwillingness to engage with parents about the issues left me feeling frustrated and powerless.

Cow Hollow School is wonderful. I have one daughter who just graduated here in 2022 and one who is…read morein her second year. In total, we have been at the school for 3.5 years. We absolutely love the school and community. The setting is unbeatable in the Presidio. How many kids get to go to school in the middle of a national park? The leadership team is top notch and have all been there for several years, including Darcy, the founder. The kids truly learn through exploration, play, and collaboration. It was really fun as a parent to see their many collaborative projects come to life. The teachers truly care about the kids and everything is done with thoughtful intention. The parent participation in the classroom is also a great way to experience the class and build relationships with the kids. The community is fantastic and we've made friends we hope to have for a very long time!

I feel incredibly fortunate to have found Star of the Sea preschool. It has exceeded my hopes and…read moreexpectations for what a top preschool should be. First and foremost, the teachers are amazing, warm, caring, and professional. The curriculum includes Montessori, learning letters and numbers, Spanish, reading stories, and some religion. The children clean up toys and learn how to put things in their proper place. My little one has grown so much and comes home happy and excited to tell us about her day and the things she has learned. The families are lovely and there's a strong sense of community. The preschool organizes several events throughout the year to help families get to know each other. The facility is beautiful - the classroom is big and airy with lots of windows and there is a large play area onsite with a playground and sandbox. I like that the preschool is associated with the elementary school so we get to partake in fun school-wide events like the Christmas concert and have resources like the music teacher. There's a TK program in case you want to continue on at Stella Maris. I wish I could give this preschool 10 stars instead of 5. I toured many preschools in the neighborhood and think this is the best one, hands down.

Our son went to Star of the Sea preschool last year and we loved it. It's a great community and our…read moreson has made several great friends. The teachers are wonderful, and it's clear how much they care and are passionate for what they do. It's a great classroom where they read stories, play, learn their letters, numbers, and some Spanish. They also learn and practice their faith. It's fun to see them celebrate certain feast days and holidays during assembly. We're so happy with the school. Our son is now in the TK/K classroom. If you're looking for a loving, faith-based, and classical/traditional education for your children, I'd highly recommend Star of the Sea!

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

Our 5yo recently graduated from Nature Kidz after attending for the last 2 years (transitioned from…read morePac Heights Kidz - their sister school). When we were considering transitioning him from Pac Heights Kidz to Nature Kidz, we were skeptical. This is an outdoor program. San Francisco weather is so unpredictable. How is he going to stay warm and dry and not be miserable? What happens when it rains? How is he going to learn the tools he needs for Kindergarten in an outdoor setting? Welp, he loved it more than we could have ever imagined. This is because the teachers are amazing and the program that they've designed is flawless for an explorative and energetic child. They are out and about, exploring different trails, parks, and playgrounds daily! During the explorations, they are learning and growing. If weather is poor, they adjust and communicate the change that best suits the day / group. Our son is well prepared for kindergarten academically because of the guidance from his NK teachers. He can write his name, draw beautiful pictures, understand more vs less, knows the sounds of each letter, can write each letter in both upper and lower case, and is able to act appropriately in a classroom setting (raising hand to answer questions, taking turns, ability to focus and pay attention). Over the last 2 years, Nature Kidz has been a huge part of our lives that we are truly going to miss. The teachers and families have had a big impact on our life and we were in tears at pick up on his last day. We are so happy with the decision to join Nature Kidz. If you value kids playing outside in the fresh air, exploring, running, laughing, learning, growing, and most importantly, spending their day surrounded by teachers who absolutely love and care about them, then Nature Kidz is the perfect program for your child. We love Nature Kidz and the care and love that they provided for the last 2 years! 10 stars!!

Our son had been home with us his whole life, and at 5.5 years old we needed to find childcare for…read morehim. We found Naturekidz! We loved the idea of an outdoor preschool where he could be in Nature and playing, while still learning and having structure and a curriculum. As you could probably imagine, our child did have a hard time adjusting the first few weeks, but it was made easier by the kindness and attention of the teachers... after a few weeks he absolutely LOVED Naturekidz and would always comment on how it's his favorite part of his day. He also has many food allergies which we were concerned about for his safety and the staff were always careful, safe, and aware if he was around any allergens. They also communicated with us if there were going to be any parties or "treats" they were going to have for the kids ahead of time and we were always able to provide our kiddo with a different, allergen-free option so he could still partake in the festivities and not feel left out. The teachers really care for the kids (shoutout Santosh, Shay, Kat and Rebeca!) and want to see them grow and thrive. They don't just play all day. They have lessons and crafts on things they experience and see in nature, but they also balance it with learning letters and phonics, simple math for their age, etc. I'll say, like any other school you'd be looking into as a parent, do your research and set up a play date to see if it's right for you/your kiddo. No program is perfect, but the one thing they recently started is a parent group that meets every so often to provide feedback to the leaders regarding the program and how it can be improved, identify any issues, etc. I think this is a great thing because you know as a parent, your voice is being heard and considered. Would recommend any family looking for a preschool to consider NK!

I have two kids at Russian Hill Academy - one is leaving for Kindergarten this fall 2026 (started…read moreat the tail-end of COVID) and the other just started last year in 2025. We had our son in the thick of COVID and were nervous about sending him to daycare. His interaction with people outside our home was limited, not to mention the fear of illness at the time. Jiali and her staff made sure we were totally comfortable with their practices, and they are super clean in general. It is a safe and clean space for kids to learn, explore, and remain healthy. When it came time to send our daughter to daycare, it was a no-brainer. We jumped at the available slot and she has been happy and thriving for the last 9 months. She is in her own class with kids in her age group and has made her own friends. The school does a good job of having the siblings find one another at select points in the day but she also has a strong independence which is important as we prepare for our son to leave RHA. If we could keep our son at RHA we 100% would but alas it is time for him to move on so we will hold onto the remaining time our daughter has there, dearly. The friends we've made will be with us for a lifetime, and we give so much credit to Jiali and her staff for all the heart (and sweat) they pour into creating a community for kids and parents alike.

We cannot say enough good things about Russian Hill Academy and the care we get with Jiali and her…read morestaff. Our daughter started at a year and a half and thrived around having children her age and older around. She always came home with new words and found her best friends at the daycare. She has since started kindergarten but misses the daycare and always wants to come in and give a hug to the teachers when we come to pick up my son. The children go to the playground, have a beautiful indoor area for play and learning. The food is home cooked by the staff (my children eat more vegetables there than I can introduce at home!). I love to see the combination of fun with education as well. Our son now attends and also started at the same age, he loves going in and is always excited to tell us about his day. The school is Mandarin immersion (we do not know/speak Mandarin at home) but both children love and speak the language well, always singing songs and teaching me words. My daughter has loved it so much that we continue to find opportunity to continue to learn Mandarin. They both are able to identify symbols and converse easily with the staff. The activities that are posted and shown to us through Brightwheel are always impressive with respect to the breadth of activities like learning about caterpillars and butterflies or doing motor coordination activities. The children are always enthusiastic about singing and dancing and my children's Mandarin proficiencies are demonstrated through the video as well. While we do not always get to communicate as thoroughly with some of the teachers, Jiali is always very responsive to questions and keeping us updated on our child's progress. We have not had issues despite not speaking Mandarin for our children and we have loved that another language is being developed with our children. The families in the community are also wonderful and we love attending the yearly event where the children learn dances and songs to present to the families. Jiali is second to none in expertise in care for children. I credit her for both of our children being potty trained at the daycare, and she had to use very different approaches for both of them which I know comes from her understanding there's different personalities and needs for children. She has the children's safety and growth both in mind. We moved away from the Russian Hill area but felt so strongly about our great care with Russian Hill Academy that we have continued to have our care with her despite moving further away.

We have spent 3 years at BCMS with our kid. We have loved the teachers, the admin personnel, and…read moreevery staff member we have interacted with. The school is a great year round, full day program which has been a lifesaver for us as working parents. They provide all meals (snacks & lunch) which have significantly reduced the mental load for me. I like they have 1 price and it includes everything so I don't have to think about what is included vs what is extra. We have enjoyed all the various activities they offer - Spanish, music (Miss Tessa is the best!), yoga, tennis, and so many other things that I am glad my kid has exposure to. My kid loves being there right when the school opens and has asked me many times not to come too early for pickup at the end of the day. He looks forward to going every Monday after the weekend. He has built a great connection with all 4 of the teachers in his class. As a parent who was learning all about K for the first time, the school was great about supporting us through the process. We have enjoyed our time there and would recommend the school to anyone who is looking for a great, well-rounded program that is full of SEL and a strong focus on academics.

Our daughter spent three years at BCMS and over that time, we watched her blossom. She is emerging…read morefrom BCMS with strong curiosity and interests in reading, math, science, music, and art. We attribute much of her development to the nurturing she received from the staff, particularly Miss Evelyn and Miss Hilda. The school's curriculum is formally structured around the Montessori method. The approach at BCMS is deliberate- they don't pick and choose from a grab bag of approaches; instead, they stick with the classical methods. Even seemingly small activities like coloring are meant to build confidence and help the teachers judge readiness for higher level tasks like writing. Our daughter's experience with the Montessori method was positive. She learned how to develop her focus and her own individual interests; she learned how to respect boundaries and to be in a community of others. We believe that she is leaving BCMS with a very strong foundation. We observed that many of her peers also learned strong foundational skills in literacy and mathematics. The structure of the school is friendly to working parents. The schedule covers more of the year than many other preschool programs, and a full day of learning is included, along with lunch, snacks, and bedding. In our opinion, the program was a great fit for both our schedules and our daughter.

What can I say? We absolutely love SLS! From the moment we stepped onto the campus for a tour, we…read morewere enveloped by the warmth of this amazing community. And, since then, our child has blossomed beyond our wildest expectations! The building itself is bright, clean, colorful-- brimming with all of the touch points one would hope for in their child/ren's primary education-- from toys to sand trays to nooks for both self-regulated play and scaffolded academic instruction. As such, each classroom is outfitted with the tools necessary for so brilliantly blending both play and academics-- a foundation that sets SLS apart from so many other neighboring preschools. The teachers are the true heartbeat of this beautiful community-- each one as talented an educator as they are kind, compassionate and masterfully whimsical. Their tenures in primary education speak for themselves, but what stands out even more is their dedication to knowing every child as an individual; they celebrate all of the facets that make them unique. Guided by a Head of School who is fiercely committed to preserving this 75+ year-old jewel-of-the-city all while growing and evolving its structure to align with both best practices and meeting students and families where they are today, SLS continues to be a beacon for families looking for a multi-faceted preschool experience for their child/ren and themselves as parents/guardians. My husband and I couldn't imagine a better place for our children than SLS!

We've been SLS parents for the last 6 years and can attest to the school's unique strengths. In…read moreshort - SLS has been amazing for our family. Every morning at drop-off we've seen our kids run, not walk, to get inside and start their school day. What stands out for us as a family is the highly experienced and tenured teachers - the SLS faculty is warm, engaging, hands-on and covers an impressive range of both academic material and creative play to bring joy to the classroom and outdoor experiences. From music class, to languages, to immersive art, to the charming rooftop recess to outdoor school sessions - SLS gives kids a truly holistic education that best prepares them for kindergarten and beyond. SLS excels at preparing kids for their next chapter of education - our daughter attends an all-girls private school in San Francisco and had a wonderfully smooth transition because of her SLS foundation. There's a reason the school has been among the best in the city for 75 years - we could not recommend it more highly for prospective parents looking for a unique mix of both academic and experiential learning.