Best Daycares in San Francisco, CA - Updated September 2026

1,059 Results
1700 Montgomery St # 100 Northern Waterfront
Openings Soon Verified 5.0

The Goddard School of San Francisco – Northern Waterfront is a private preschool center with highly qualified teachers. We offer a range of programs including preschool, toddler care,...

Friendly staff who pay close attention to what each child needs. Definitely recommend!

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Portola
Openings Now Verified

Colby Daycare accepts children from infancy up to five years old so that children of different ages can learn from each other and grow together. Facility has eight indoor areas and a large outdoor...

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50 Fell St Civic Center
Openings Now Private School Pre-K Verified 5.0

Mission Montessori in San Francisco provides a warm, authentic Montessori environment where children feel known, supported, and inspired to learn. Through hands-on Montessori experiences, children...

El ambiente tan agradable y la educación que día tras día le dan a todos sus estudiantes

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Parkmerced
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Little Sea Turtle Academy is a welcoming and nurturing space where children can grow, learn, and thrive. Our daycare is designed to provide a safe and engaging environment that inspires creativity,...

Our son has been attending Little Sea Turtle Academy for the past month and we could not be more grateful to have found this little gem! We were nervous first time parents sending our baby to daycare…

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139 Miramar Ave Ingleside
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Preschool follows Dr. Maria Montessori’s comprehensive approach to early education. Program is based on the principle that every child can learn in an environment that is both engaging as well as...

We feel so lucky to have found Growing Minds Montessori Preschool, especially Ms. Donna and Ms. Rosalina. From the very beginning, they created such a warm, nurturing, and supportive environment for …

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2358 24th Ave Parkside
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Preschool program offers full curriculum of Dr. Maria Montessori's philosophy and principles of education for older toddlers and school-age children up to age 6. Activities encourage curiosity,...

Rainbow Montessori brought back hope to my child who was overwhelmed by a TK program. Candace taught social-emotional and conflict resolution skills - beyond a simple 'be kind' message. She teaches…

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Ashbury Heights
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Jewish preschool program offering a curriculum that encourages learning through play. Teachers provide children with the tools necessary to build confidence, kindness, innovation, critical thinking,...

We loved our time at Cole Valley Gan. It is an incredibly thoughtful, intentional program, and it’s clear how deeply the teachers care about the children as whole humans. My son's teacher, Elishev…

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143 Clement St Inner Richmond
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Welcome to Building Kidz! We are a small preschool serving families in the Richmond District of San Francisco. Our philosophy is to develop the “whole child”. We focus on 6 key areas of development:...

We love Building Kidz and couldn’t be happier with our decision to send our son here. From day one, the warmth and dedication of the teachers and staff have made this place feel like a second home. O…

Older Toddlers

24 mo–2 yr 11 mo

Our classrooms are filled with endless learning opportunities to enhance children’s cognitive and language skills with basic academics through small-group activities that encourage investigation, exploration, and discovery. Our scaffolding approach is a critical component in teaching new tasks with multiple steps where our teachers provide support for students. Our children that are now engaging in short sentence conversions are able to absorb information within our curriculum that is designed to support creative expression, literacy and music by fostering their curious minds. By introducing skills that enable independence through enriching art projects and hands-on activities, we are ensuring they are able to expand concepts that were developed in Little Explorers.

Preschool

3 yr–3 yr 11 mo

This classroom provides an enriched and challenging hands-on curriculum that continues to ignite children’s inner curiosity enabling realistic learning opportunities through a solid routine that brings out their creativity. Exploring world geography, reading multicultural literature, researching world cultures, playing traditional games are just some of the ways we are building a community of global learners. Throughout the learning process, our students are able to watch their teacher model, or demonstrate, each step in the task or strategy multiple times. Such modeling and repetition allows students to understand both how to perform each step and why each step is important. In this phase our children are practicing by applying their knowledge and developing it further by learning about the world and its food, music and clothing. Children will get to explore and experience various cultures Around the World.

Also offers: Pre-K

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1 Miley St Cow Hollow
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Spanish immersion preschool program for toddler and preschool-age children operating as small neighborhood campuses throughout the Bay Area. Teachers provide early childhood education in a multi-age,...

10 STARS. As a first-time mom, I truly had no idea what to expect from a preschool program — and Hola Kids completely exceeded all my expectations. The program behind it is incredibly strong and thou…

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Union Street
Openings Now Verified 4.7

I believe that small class size and the development of a strong community allow me and my team to really know each child as an individual and to provide a solid and supportive foundation in the early...

This was our first experience with daycare and we started sending our son at about 5 months old. It’s hard to understand what’s going on inside during the day but the best indicator was that as our s…

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Ingleside Terraces
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Year round, preschool program that offers a play & project based curriculum that encourages school readiness and cultivates a life-long love of learning. Developmentally appropriate environment...

Our experience at Hearts & Minds Pre-K has been absolutely wonderful. What truly stands out is the beautiful and consistent emphasis on social-emotional learning from all the teachers. They are warm …

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Central Richmond
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Wang Mama’s Daycare is a small home daycare. Exploration and discovery are encouraged for interactive learning. Daily routine features dramatic play, storytelling, art projects and circle time. We...

We felt so lucky to find Lenora for our 8 month old at the time. She typically accepts up to 3 kiddos and one baby, and it was important to us that our little one have that dedicated attention. She a…

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Presidio Terrace
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Nature Kidz Preschool is an outdoors-only or forest preschool program. With nature as our classroom, we build our student's focus, curiosity, and intuition as we encounter The Presidio's natural...

Our 5yo recently graduated from Nature Kidz after attending for the last 2 years (transitioned from Pac Heights Kidz - their sister school). When we were considering transitioning him from Pac Height…

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2710 Pine St Lower Pacific Heights
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Nestled in the heart of Lower Pacific Heights, Pac Heights Kidz is an exceptional in-home preschool program that provides a nurturing & stimulating environment for children ages 1 to 5. PHK is...

We feel incredibly fortunate to have had our daughter attend Pac Heights Kidz for over two years. Our introduction to the school began long before our daughter was born. We watched a neighbor's da…

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Lone Mountain
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Forest-based preschool offering a French immersion curriculum through exploration. Children participate in daily outdoor excursions and indoor activities.

If you are looking into preschools, we would highly recommend Les Petits Canards. We were seeking a French-immersion program from the start. But more importantly, we found a fantastic place for our k…

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Central Richmond
Openings Now Verified 5.0

At our home daycare, we create a warm, loving, and safe environment where children are cared for with patience, kindness, and attention. We believe every child deserves to feel comfortable, secure,...

Yuki’s daycare has been a great experience. I was very anxious about transitioning back to work and finding the right daycare environment for my 5 month old son. Yuki immediately made me feel comfort…

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Outer Sunset
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Home-based preschool with a traditional Montessori-style curriculum. Two educational programs are available: early preschool for children under 3, and kindergarten prep for 3 to 6 year olds. Daily...

Our son started at LWM "little school" when he was 3 years old. He loved every day there. Mr Michael and the teachers make learning fun with crafts, art, sensory, and outdoor play, and gardening. Mon…

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2140 Pierce St Pacific Heights
Openings Now Verified

Play based preschool that strives toward a child-centered curriculum. Teachers put play at the heart of curriculum and help support children through activities, materials, and thoughtful teaching....

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Inner Richmond
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Creative Valley program provides a home-feeling atmosphere to enrich children’s learning as well as to help children explore new, exciting learning experiences. CV believes that every child is unique...

We are very lucky to have found Mrs. Joie at Creative Valley. She is very professional with her skills and experiences, and you can immediately see how much the kids love and trust her. As a parent, …

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3435 Geary Blvd Inner Richmond
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Chinese immersion preschool center located in the heart of the Inner Richmond District. Program offers developmentally based Mandarin immersion preschool while providing children with an educational...

We’ve been with Richmond Academy for the past year and couldn't be happier with our experience! The teachers bring so much genuine joy to the classroom, creating a warm, supportive environment where …

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1520 Pacific Ave. Polk Gulch
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Mandarin immersion preschool Center located Russian Hill.. Children enjoy a learning environment with an engaging preschool curriculum that emphasizes kindness and personal responsibility in addition...

Our daughter has been attending Russian Hill Academy for almost ~2 years. We were very worried about the transition from being at home with our nanny to school, but it has been nothing but smooth. Sh…

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Little Russia
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Child care center offering care and early learning to infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children. Program goal is to provide a safe and healthy environment for children to learn. Outdoor activities...

My son started at FeiFei when he was 4 months old and from day one it was a fabulous experience for him and our family. My son thrived there under their care! Feifei makes every child her number 1 pr…

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Parkmerced
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Home-based daycare and Spanish immersion language program. Small group setting allows curriculum to meet every child's individual needs and interests while daily activities focused on developing...

We’re so glad My Peke Care was recommended for our young toddler. Mirza and her helpers were so loving, caring, and accommodating to our family. Mirza’s curriculum and Spanish immersion program were …

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Parkmerced
Openings Now Verified 5.0

At Erika's Daycare in San Francisco, we nurture the whole child in a warm, loving home environment — with organic meals, enriching activities, and attentive one-on-one care. Now licensed for up to 12...

One year update: can't believe it's already been a year! We're still sending our daughter to Erika's and seen so much great progress in her growth and learning. Erika creates a fun and caring environ…

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West Portal
Openings Now Verified 4.9

Education-focused home daycare that offers yoga, arts and crafts, and celebratory activities for various holidays. Rest assured, program is committed to providing the utmost care for each child....

We couldn’t be happier with Alphabet Kids daycare! From the moment we enrolled our daughter, we have felt welcomed, supported, and truly cared for. The teachers are kind, attentive, and genuinely lov…

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Central Richmond
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Mandarin immersion home daycare in the Richmond District, San Francisco. Program offers care for infants, toddlers, preschool, and school-age children. Curriculum includes an introduction to letters,...

Our son attended Golden Baby Child Care from 17 months up until his 3rd birthday and we truly could not have dreamed of a better place for him to learn and grow. Nancy’s home is extraordinarily clean…

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Outer Mission
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Warm, play-based daycare with a small group setting where each child is cared for as an individual. Led by a teacher with 19 years of early childhood experience. We support social-emotional growth,...

My son has been at Happy Raindrops Daycare since he was about 18 months old, and he has now been there for a year and a half. We are truly grateful that we found Vivian. When he first started, he cou…

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Inner Sunset
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Home-based English and Russian bilingual daycare in the Inner Sunset. Program utilizes a holistic approach with educational activities that foster social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth....

My son has been going to Ella's for about 14 months. (As I am writing this, it is his last week as he is moving on to pre-K.) I was super worried about leaving my son with someone I didn't know, so d…

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Mission Bay
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Tracy Child Care A trusted early childhood education provider with over 14 years of experience. Our bilingual (English/Mandarin) program naturally integrates language learning through daily...

Our family feels incredibly grateful to have been part of Tracy’s daycare from January 2024 until August 2025, when our son was just 9 months old until he was 2 years and 5 months. In that precious s…

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Mission Bay
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Daycare program encouraging development and growth through hands-on learning experiences and exploration. Program goal is to allow children to expand knowledge and capabilities while providing...

Fatema is so wonderful. She is very warm and cares a lot for the kids. They learn, they play, they eat great food. Our son had a wonderful time with Fatema, and we are very lucky to have found her.

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Outer Sunset
Openings Now Verified

Chinese immersion family childcare and preschool offered in home environment. Caring for the children with love, heartfelt education, and patient guidelines, to develop the potential of children and...

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1523 28th Ave Outer Sunset
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Bilingual family daycare with indoor and outdoor play areas. Lessons are taught in both English and Chinese. Curriculum follows the developmental needs of young children and respects individual...

My kiddo started LeLe at 1yr old on the dot. As a pandemic baby, he was shy and fussy. The first two weeks was tough to hear him cry at drop off, then suddenly: it stopped. Not only did he stop cryin…

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Cayuga Terrace
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Home-based childcare program for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children. Home offers learning environment designed to cultivate children's mental and physical development. Program offers early...

Our family has had a wonderful experience with this daycare. Our daughter started at just 5 months old and has thrived at this daycare over the last year. She is always smiling at both drop off and …

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Outer Richmond
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Rimma's Day Care is a licensed home-based daycare provider in the Outer Richmond district of San Francisco. The daycare operates in a residential setting.

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Sunnydale
Openings Now Verified

Seeking a nurturing childcare option? Our licensed home daycare offers a structured yet flexible daily schedule with age-appropriate activities designed for healthy development. Located in a...

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Excelsior
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Athens Playschool is an excellent place for your child to grow and explore. We provide high-quality childcare for children from zero to five years old. Our Athens Playschool believes that every day is...

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1647 Valencia St Bernal Heights
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Preschool in Bernal Heights with a family-like environment. Curriculum promotes social and emotional development through age-appropriate activities and mixed-age peer interactions. Daily routine...

We had a really positive experience with Sweet Peas for our 4 year old. The staff are all very caring and dedicated and they are tuned into the social and emotional needs of all their students stude…

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2730 17th St Mission District
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Infant and toddler program in Potrero Hill with a family-like environment. Curriculum offers a variety of engaging hands-on activities and supports social growth in a developmentally appropriate...

We've been sending our child to Sweet Peas Too since he was 7 months, he's about to be 2 years old now. We have had an excellent experience with this daycare. The environment is welcoming and safe, a…

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334 28th Ave Central Richmond
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Childcare center offering early education and enrichment with a focus on literacy, art, early academics, physical education, and social skills. Site utilizes a play-based curriculum designed to...

Many of the other reviews here are older so I have a new perspective on this school. It has been re-branded as a Kindercare which is a corporate chain. I toured the school for my older child around 2…

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Pacific Heights
Openings Now Verified 5.0

In-home center offering care in the Pacific Heights neighborhood. Curriculum is play-based with an emphasis on developing early literacy skills. Children are offered age-appropriate toys and...

We have had a wonderful experience at Pacific Heights Prep! Our daughter joined as the youngest student around 15 months and is now one of the big kids! Over the last few years, we’ve seen her grow a…

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West Portal
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Step by Step CC & Preschool is where every child is known, celebrated, and prepared to thrive. We focus on developing the social, emotional, and academic foundations essential for school success and...

We are so incredibly grateful for this daycare and the wonderful teachers and staff who cared for our son from ages 1 to 4. Over the last three years, it truly became a second home for him and a seco…

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734 Arguello Blvd Inner Richmond
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Small in-home daycare just north of Golden Gate Park in the Inner Richmond neighborhood of San Francisco. We have been in service since 2012 with over a decade of experience.We offers a music based,...

Our daughter has been with Tuul for a year and we feel so lucky to have found this daycare! She is always so happy to run in every morning, and even excitedly says “Daycare!” on the way there. We lov…

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Portola
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Family child care that aims to provide various learning experiences for children. Features a home-like learning environment inspired by the Montessori and Reggio Emilia approach and carefully designed...

The best daycare experience we could ever ask for Our daughter was at this daycare for almost two years, starting at 6 months, and it truly became her second home. What made it so special was Pyre…

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Inner Richmond
Openings Now Verified 5.0

At Busy Little Bees Daycare, we provide a fun, safe, and nurturing environment where children can explore and grow through age-appropriate activities and daily routines. Our daycare is filled with...

Amara is incredible. Our son has gone to Busy Little Bees from when he was 5 months old to now almost 18 months and we couldn't be happier. Amara is incredibly caring and reliable. Her facility is ex…

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Outer Richmond
Openings Now Verified 5.0

Home daycare offering care and educational experiences for infants and children up to five years old in a bright and spacious home. Children will engage in a daily routine of age-appropriate...

Our son has attended Fei Fei Daycare for 1.5 years since he was 5 months old and it has been absolutely wonderful. The teachers are amazing, so kind and thoughtful, and they take such wonderful care …

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Guides

FAQs About San Francisco Daycares

How many daycare providers are in San Francisco?
There are currently 1057 daycare providers in San Francisco. This includes full-time, part-time, and home daycare providers.
How much does daycare cost in San Francisco?
The average monthly price for full time daycare in San Francisco is $2463. This is based on provider cost data for daycares listed on Winnie.

More About San Francisco, CA

San Francisco - this vibrant, beautiful cultural center of Northern California makes for a popular place to live and visit. Known for its hills and mild climate, there are many neighborhoods to explore, each with their own distinct character and microclimate. There are tons of family-friendly neighborhoods to live in including Noe Valley, Cole Valley, Bernal Heights, Potrero Hill, West Portal, Sunset, Richmond, and NoPa, to name a few.