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Our 10 Best Private Preschool in San Francisco
August 23, 2023

The private preschool programs in San Francisco will not only help your child embark on formal education but also support your child’s learning and growth early on!

As parents, you want to provide a safe and nurturing environment where your child can explore, learn, and grow. Thus, it is deemed necessary for you to choose an early childhood learning program that can provide a positive and motivating atmosphere for the child. If you are thinking about how and where to find the best private preschool programs for your kids, well, don’t worry! We offer you our top choices of the best private preschool in San Francisco.

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San Francisco private preschool provides a developmentally appropriate curriculum that addresses the multi-faceted educational needs of your child, either through play-based programs, in-depth learning, innovative arts, or a project-based curriculum. They are known to deliver an intense curriculum tailored to every child’s needs.

This kind of educational institution focuses on programs that develop your kid’s math, literacy, social, and fine motor skills. More so, these private preschool programs are designed to help your child advance through meaningful play and various academic activities. 

To identify the best private preschool, we reviewed rankings for all private schools from the 2023 Best Private Preschools in San Francisco list released by school and neighborhood data clearinghouse Niche. The rankings below have been compiled based on parent reviews and pre-K statistics from the U.S. Department of Education, a comparison of pre-K cost, part-time and full-day PK options, and independent school ratings.

To make choosing the best private preschool for your child easier, we have picked our top 10 best private schools in San Francisco.

Our 10 Best Private Preschools in San Francisco

Best Private Preschools in San Francisco

1. Bing Nursery School

850 Escondido Rd., Stanford, CA 94305
Phone Number: (650) 723-4865

Every year, young children are welcomed as “honored guests” into Bing’s light-filled classrooms that open wide to a sprawling terrain of hills, rabbit hutches, fruit trees, and play structures. Children, ages two to five years are enrolled in the school. The Nursery School Program is designed to encourage a balance of child-initiated and teacher-facilitated activities. It offers children a variety of choices provided within a carefully prepared indoor and outdoor environment.

At Bing, children are encouraged and empowered to take learning into their own hands—literally. Blocks, paint, sand, water, and clay are vehicles of their unbridled imaginations and tools through which they shape and understand their worlds. Emphasis is on learning through play in an environment planned to encourage discovery, independence, and social interaction. The school operates on the Stanford academic calendar.

2. Children’s Center of the Stanford Community

140 Comstock Circle, Stanford, CA 94305
Phone Number: (650) 721-0101

The Children’s Center of the Stanford Community (CCSC) provides child care and preschool in San Francisco Bay area for children 8 weeks to 5 years of age. Their infant and toddler programs provide a nurturing environment that encourages growth in all areas of development. CCSC program is based on a modified RIE approach with an emphasis on predictability and respect for the child. Children are free to explore within a predictable, individual rhythm of daily life (eating, sleeping, diapering, playing).

Children’s interests and explorations provide the framework for curriculum and investigation. Their thoughtful and intentionally designed environment fosters children’s experiences, relationships, and opportunities for cooperative work. Materials are selected that are interesting and provoke creativity and wonder. Their work with children hinges on respectful, collaborative relationships between staff, families, and the community.

3. George Miller III Children’s Center

300 S 27th St., Richmond, CA 94804
Phone Number: (510) 374-3526

The Community Services Bureau (CSB) has various options for childcare services. Under the Head Start & Early Head Start and State Preschool program, which also includes a Home Base Option for Early Head Start Children, services are offered to children from birth-5 years. Direct comprehensive services, including Nutrition, Disabilities, Health Services, Mental Health, School Readiness, and Parent Involvement, are provided by CSB staff to the enrolled families and children.

The Childcare Alternative Payment Program (CAPP)/Calworks Stage II Program administers subsidized child care through a vendor approach, providing full or partial payments for child care of eligible families. These programs are designed to maximize parental choice in selecting child care to fulfill their working needs and the learning needs of their child(ren) ages 0-13 years and up to 21 years under special circumstances.

4. BlueSkies for Children

3021 Brookdale Ave., Oakland, CA 94602
Phone Number: (510) 261-1076

BlueSkies is committed to providing high-quality support to children and their families, ensuring that parents can focus on their jobs and knowing that their children are experiencing healthy days of balanced play, nurturing, and learning. They serve about 74 children from 2 months to 5 years of age in six classrooms, in regular hours and extended hours daily. Children’s Programs are intentionally inclusive of all families.

BlueSkies for Children serves both working parents and supports the growth of children through play. BlueSkies classrooms are separated into the Hedco Infant Toddler Center and the Ellen Sherwood Nursery School. As part of its program serving both children and families, BlueSkies provides diapers, assists in toilet training, and provides nutritious meals throughout the day appropriate to each age group.

5. Holy Family Day Home

299 Dolores St., San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone Number: (415) 565‑0504

Holy Family Day Home (HFDH) is a private San Francisco preschool offering a progressive, Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool curriculum that emphasizes individualized learning, self-exploration, play-oriented lessons, and child-initiated, teacher-led education. They provide affordable, high-quality, early childhood education and family support services in a stable and nurturing environment, thereby providing working families skills and hope for lifelong development.

HFDH envisions a future where more Bay Area children and families have the opportunity and skills to maintain stable, healthy lives, realize their potential, and better contribute to their community.  At Holy Family Day Home, daily activities include early literacy lessons, STEM learning, small classes in the art studio, and outdoor education in the community garden.

These are all supported by our highly qualified teaching staff and a wide variety of age-appropriate teaching tools. They work to expose children to language, letters, and vocabulary through various non-print mediums like puppets, storyboards, music, and age-appropriate play.

Stratford School - San Francisco Parkside

6. Stratford School – San Francisco Parkside

2425 19th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94116
Phone Number: (415) 324-6921

Nestled in the Parkside District, this neighborhood campus offers private preschool programs. Intentionally designed, Stratford School is tailored specifically for young students! From an expansive playground with equipment and amenities that are just the right size to bright and spacious classrooms, children blossom in this safe, nurturing environment that focuses on excellence in instruction and learning.

Each class is led by experienced teachers who create an encouraging learning connection with each child. Stratford School’s program cultivates their natural curiosity and wonder by encouraging inquiry and teaching lessons through hands-on learning. Students explore problem-solving exercises with classmates, without the teacher’s specified outcome or direction, where they know to build, test, fail, and try again. At the same time, they balance academic knowledge with socialization and lots of fun to inspire a love of learning at a young age.

7. Little Bee Preschool

2733 Lombard St., San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone Number: (415) 377-0303

Little Bee Preschool offers a year-round Mandarin Immersion or English language program for children ages 18 months to 5 years. Through a unique blend of Reggio-Emilia, Montessori, project-based, and play-based learning, children are encouraged to make discoveries through curiosity, experimentation, and free play. They are raising global citizens through its inclusive curriculum, local community presence, nature outings, and rich cultural heritage of the school community. 

Little Bee has two campuses located inside and next to Park Presidio. Both sites host daily outings to explore nature, breathe fresh air, and learn through natural curiosity. So many learning opportunities await your kids, both in nature and in the classroom. Children take the lead through in-depth studies. They explore different personal interests framed through academia and various sensory experiences.

8. Bright Horizons – Montgomery Street

1700 Montgomery St., San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone Number: (415) 240-4336

9. Bright Horizons – 221 Main

221 Main St., San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone Number: (415) 400-0103

10. Bright Horizons – 2nd Street

303 2nd St., San Francisco, CA 94107
Phone Number: (628) 895-0312

Bright Horizons private preschools in San Francisco offer more than the best in early education – but an inspiration for young children to grow into confident, joyful learners. In keeping with Reggio Emilia and Montessori philosophies, its preschool private preschool programs consider not only what children need in space but also how they will use it. They know its centers will be integral to a child’s earliest learning.

With that in mind, they carefully curate high-quality materials for every center to create beautiful environments with rich experiences that nurture development and inspire learning. Bright Horizons believes that the environment is the key to creating a joyful place for childhood. They put great thought and care into creating those positive places.


Preschool-age children gain the social-emotional, critical-thinking, and academic competencies to thrive. Enroll your child in high-quality early learning that meets your expectations on a schedule that fits your life.

Bright Horizons

Our 10 Best Private Preschools in San Francisco

Now that you’ve discovered our top choices, your next step is to assess which academic institution will cater to your child’s educational needs. Your choice of private preschool programs can impact the foundation of your child’s future learning. Each of these early childhood institutions is capable of providing a comprehensive curriculum that can help your preschool-age child get a head start.

Undeniably, the best private preschool in San Francisco aims to deliver high-quality education and help them reach their fullest potential – preparing them to become concerned, independent, and active citizens.

San Francisco offers so many opportunities for kids to enjoy and have fun all year round! Check out our list of resources, or browse through our things to do in San Francisco with kids. Still looking for more activities for kids in San Francisco? No problem! Check out our comprehensive listing of places to go in the region and our highly recommended education blog posts.

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