Looking for the best preschools San Francisco offers? You’ll find them in our guide! San Francisco is a vibrant city known for its iconic landmarks, thriving tech scene, prestigious universities, and passionate sports culture. With a population of approximately 827,526, the residents living in San Francisco is the 4th most populous city in California. The San Francisco metropolitan area has a population of about 3.34 million.
Iconic attractions in the city include the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, Golden Gate Park, and Chinatown. The city is home to major companies such as Uber, Salesforce, Reddit, Gap, Levi Strauss & Co., Genentech, Adobe, and Lucasfilm.
San Francisco is home to world-class museums, theaters, galleries, and public art. Some of the top cultural attractions in the city include the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the de Young Museum, and the Asian Art Museum. San Francisco’s performing arts scene includes the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Ballet, and San Francisco Symphony.
The American Conservatory Theater stages both classic and modern plays, attracting top talent from across the nation. The thriving local arts scene in areas like the Mission District and SoMa (South of Market), is filled with street murals, independent galleries, and performance spaces. Annual arts festivals, such as the SF International Film Festival, Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival, and the Stern Grove Festival, celebrate both local and international artists.
San Francisco is home to several prestigious universities, including the University of California, San Francisco, the University of San Francisco, and San Francisco State University. The Bay Area is also home to 4 professional sports teams: the San Francisco 49ers (NFL), the San Francisco Giants (MLB), the Golden State Warriors (NBA), and the San Jose Earthquakes (MLS). Overall, San Francisco blends cultural landmarks, academic excellence, corporate innovation, child care options, and sports enthusiasm, making it a dynamic and multifaceted city.
But despite all of the amazing things San Francisco has to do for fun, there are also amazing preschools San Francisco offers. If you’re looking for San Francisco preschools, you’ll want to find one that is reputable and has an excellent curriculum because early development and learning have a big impact on children’s educational growth.
San Francisco has many good preschool options. This guide to the best San Francisco preschools can help narrow your search down to the best preschools San Francisco can offer you.
Best Preschools in San Francisco
Little Star Preschool Too | Using a Unique Team-Teaching Approach
- Grades: 2-6 years
- Address: 1105 Quintara St, San Francisco, CA 94116
- Phone: (415) 731-7933
- Enrollment: call for info
- Student/Teacher ratio: 10:1
- Tuition: call for info
Little Star Preschool fosters in children the social, cognitive, motor, emotional, and language skills needed for kindergarten and beyond, in a warm, inviting, colorful classroom environment. They log both full- and part-time enrollment and provide morning and afternoon snacks, as well as a hot lunch entrée.
The school organizes many enrichment activities, both on- and off-campus, throughout the year, and offers annual assessments and parent-teacher conferences. In addition, they offer an optional second-language program where children can learn Cantonese or Mandarin. Little Star partners with parents to engage children and prepare them for the challenges that will lead them to success in school and life.
The curriculum is built around weekly themes that relate to the children’s lives. “Handwriting Without Tears” is a fun, engaging, and developmentally appropriate pre-writing program that helps children learn letters. Little Star employs art, dramatic play, science, language, pre-math, and pre-writing activities. Every day provides an opportunity for children to explore and collaborate with others while learning new ideas and concepts, truly making this one of the top preschools San Francisco has.
Telegraph Hill Cooperative Nursery School | Offers Co-Op Learning Environment
- Grades: 2-5 years old
- Address: 1401 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94109
- Phone: (415) 359-0193
- Enrollment: 18
- Student/Teacher ratio: 6:1
- Tuition: $725/month
Telegraph Hill Cooperative Nursery School (TelHi Co-Op) is a community-based nursery school built on the power of parent participation. If you’re looking for involved preschools San Francisco, this one really involves the parent-teacher relationship. The school is owned and operated by the families of enrolled children, creating a true partnership between parents, teachers, and students.
Parents work in the classroom once a week alongside trained professional teachers and also contribute through administrative, maintenance, and fundraising roles. This model not only strengthens the school community but also provides parents with valuable insights into child development and parenting skills.
TelHi Co-Op provides a healthy, safe, and stimulating environment where children can grow socially, physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Because this is mostly run by parents, this is likely the most affordable of preschools San Francisco has to offer.
The school will continue to be deeply committed to inclusion, welcoming families of all backgrounds and abilities, whether English or non-English speaking. They also welcome children with medical conditions or disabilities. The Learning through Play curriculum engages children in hands-on exploration and creativity.
Activities include art, science, early math, and sensory-motor experiences, along with fine motor development through puzzles, building blocks, easel painting, manipulatives, train sets, and dramatic play. Projects often grow out of children’s own interests, with recent themes exploring dinosaurs, geology, insects, mail and writing, and more. Performing arts and group circle times add music, dance, storytelling, and movement, giving children diverse opportunities to express themselves and connect with others.
The Growing Tree Academy | Where Safety Meets Nurturing Care, and Every Child Thrives
- Grades: 3-4 years
- Address: 1984 Great Hwy, San Francisco, CA 94116
- Phone: (415) 682-8889
- Enrollment: contact the school
- Student/Teacher ratio: contact the school
- Tuition: contact the school
At The Growing Tree Academy, the philosophy is that every child deserves a nurturing, safe, and engaging environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive. This makes it one of the top preschools San Francisco. Childhood is a time of discovery, and their approach is centered on meeting each child where they are, honoring individuality, and guiding them toward their fullest potential.
The dedicated team of educators at Growing Tree is deeply committed to providing high-quality early childhood education, creating a warm, supportive community that celebrates curiosity, creativity, and confidence. Every day, they strive to cultivate an atmosphere where children feel valued, respected, and inspired to explore their world.
Learning at The Growing Tree Academy is play-based because play is how young children make sense of their experiences. Through hands-on exploration, cooperative activities, and imaginative play, children build the social, cognitive, and emotional skills that form the foundation for lifelong learning.
What sets this apart from other preschools San Francisco has is its curriculum. Lillio Learning is a comprehensive early childhood education program designed for children from birth through age five. This research-based curriculum is aligned with early learning standards and emphasizes whole-child development. Lesson plans include carefully designed activities in literacy, math, science, and the arts, as well as opportunities for outdoor exploration that foster curiosity about the natural world.
Montessori School of San Francisco | Premier Child Care Center in San Francisco
- Grades: 3-5 years old
- Address: 1550 Eddy St # 500, San Francisco, CA 94115
- Phone: (415) 292-7970
- Enrollment: Call for info
- Student/Teacher ratio: 11.5:1
- Tuition: call for rates
The preschool program at the Montessori School of San Francisco is built on the proven Montessori curriculum, using carefully designed materials such as cubes, spheres, cylinders, bells, cards and counters, golden beads, prisms, sandpaper letters, movable alphabets, and puzzle maps.
These hands-on tools engage all the senses and help children connect abstract concepts with concrete experiences, making learning both meaningful and memorable. In the classroom, children have the freedom to move, explore, and choose the work that sparks their interest. Specially trained Montessori teachers guide each child individually, offering support and direction while carefully observing and tracking progress each day.
The curriculum is broad and balanced, including practical life activities, sensorial exploration, cultural studies, language arts, communication, mathematics, and creative expression. At the Montessori School of San Francisco, children progress at their own pace, developing confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning. There may be financial aid available for qualifying families, making it one of the more affordable preschools San Francisco offers.
L’Academy Language Immersion Preschool & Daycare Potrero Hill | Bilingual Immersion and Whole-Child Learning
- Grades: 3-5 years of age
- Address: 200 Kansas St, San Francisco, CA 94103
- Phone: (415) 658-7817
- Enrollment: call for info
- Student/Teacher ratio: call for info
- Tuition: around $2,700/month
For the best preschools San Francisco has, you want one that will really facilitate teaching the child. The preschool program at L’Academy fosters whole child development in a mixed-age classroom where older children guide younger peers, promoting collaboration and social learning.
They welcome both native speakers and children who speak only English at home. The curriculum is inspired by Reggio Emilia, Montessori, and play-based methods, and focuses on hands-on, project-based learning that supports cognitive, emotional, and social development. Children build confidence and critical thinking skills through creative exploration.
They offer Spanish and Mandarin immersion programs, helping children develop bilingual skills as well as cognitive skills, memory, and problem-solving abilities. L’Academy understands the importance of preschool years and aims to help parents find the right educational path for their children.
This preschool program focuses on nurturing emotional intelligence, confidence, and communication, positive social skills, cognitive development, critical thinking, creative expression through arts, crafts, music, and movement, and physical activity.
Blueside Preschool | Spanish Immersion School
- Grades: 18 months to 5 years
- Address: 1019 Ashbury St Apt. 1, San Francisco, CA 94117
- Phone: (415) 712-9815
- Enrollment: call for info
- Student/Teacher ratio: call for info
- Tuition: $3,000/month
Blueside Preschool is a Spanish Immersion, Reggio Emilia–inspired program that combines forest exploration, play-based learning, and child-led, mixed-age experiences. Its curriculum supports the development of the whole child, including physical, social-emotional, cognitive, and communication skills, through meaningful, hands-on learning. Teachers at Blueside act as guides, fostering group learning while honoring each child as a unique individual and natural researcher with endless capacity to learn.
By observing, listening, and documenting each child’s journey, teachers gain insight into their needs and provide appropriate challenges that encourage growth. Though the cost is high, the location is worth it for this place. The intentionally small playgroup setting allows children to form strong peer connections.
Older children develop empathy, respect, and leadership, while younger children benefit from the guidance and experience of their older peers. A typical day includes table activities, art, free play, story time, reading and singing in both English and Spanish, and outdoor exploration, which ensures that every child’s day is rich with creativity, discovery, and connection. You can bet this is one of the top preschools San Francisco has!
San Francisco Preschools FAQ
What Is the Best Preschool In San Francisco?
San Francisco has many good preschools. The best preschools San Francisco depend on your preference. The 6 schools in this guide are among the best preschools in San Francisco. You just have to choose which first is best for your family.
Does San Francisco Have Good Preschools?
Yes. San Francisco actively promotes high-quality early childhood education and boasts numerous public and private preschools and various educational philosophies such as Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia. There are many good choices for preschools San Francisco.
How Many Preschools Are There In San Francisco?
An exact number isn’t available for preschools San Francisco, although the San Francisco Unified School District runs 35 early education sites. This number doesn’t include private preschools.
Relocating to San Francisco? AMS Relocation Can Assist You
There are so many great Bay Area preschools in San Francisco, and if you’re looking for the best preschools San Francisco has because you’re relocating, AMS Relocation can help. As the best San Francisco moving company, we can assist with local moving, long distance moving, storage, and more. Give us a call at 650-284-2931 for a fee quote.
