My daughter attended Noe Valley Nursery School (NVNS) a few years ago and we have such fond memories of our experiences there! A few highlights include: Loving, dedicated teachers -- There's a different Director there now (who I have heard wonderful things about) and I've had firsthand experience with the two other teachers who are both fantastic and loving. They are both moms whose own children attended NVNS, which I think is also a great testament to the school. Curriculum steeped in nature and outdoor play -- I love how much of the day is spent outdoors with one or two days of the week (depending on the season) dedicated to exploring Glen Canyon Park. The kids also get to spend plenty of time in the fun and vibrant George Christopher playground. Valuable enhancements -- All the little extras, from weekly trips to the school's garden plot, music class, and the swimming pool to field trips, camping trips, and Spanish enhancements add up to a full, rich curriculum that is hard to beat. Community -- My daughter was born when Covid quarantining first began and when it was time for her to start preschool, we were eager to join a community where others were eager to do the same. My daughter takes a little bit of time to warm up and NVNS provided the perfect welcoming environment to usher her in to her first school experience. In NVNS, we found genuine friends with whom we still get together on a regular basis, even a couple years after we've become alumni. As an added bonus, its convenient location in a plaza with a large empty parking lot right by a Safeway, Walgreens, USPS, Jensen's Copy, and Club Pilates makes it a breeze to run errands right after drop-off or before pick-up. It takes dedication to participate in a cooperative preschool -- in our experience it's well worth it, and NVNS is a wonderful choice.

Our son attended NVNS for two years - it was an amazing first school experience! We loved that we (as parents) could "work" one day a week as "teachers", it allowed us to bridge the gap from being home with us as his primary caregivers to starting school for the first time. It was a lovely progression. The school values lots of outdoor unstructured playtime (beginning each morning with an hour on the playground, canyon exploration & field days, lots of outdoor field trips), art/music (we loved Teacher Daniel & all his instruments on Thursdays!), swim program on Tuesdays, and the community. Our son still loves & plays with his friends from NVNS, even though many have moved on to new & different schools. We will definitely be back when our 1 year old is ready for her own preschool adventure!

My daughter attended NVNS for two years, from the time she was 3 until she started Kindergarten, and it was such a positive experience for our whole family. She started off as a rather shy and slow to warm kid and I can truly credit the school with building her confidence and bringing her out of her shell. She developed trusting and loving relationships with a whole group of adults - from the staff teachers to the parent teachers. The incredible ratios in the classroom, where there was never a shortage of caring adults to support her, really helped in this. Seeing her get close to some of the parent teachers, who also became very close friends of mine over the years, was honestly one of the most rewarding things about being part of this community. She was born during COVID and we all felt pretty isolated, and I truly think NVNS helped turn that around for us. Beyond this, I loved the enrichment activities the school offered. Gardening, swimming, Canyon hikes, music. I loved that free, self directed play was balanced with some fantastic organized opportunities for her to get a little taste of different hobbies and things she might like. Being a coop is definitely a commitment but one that we were happy as a family to make and I can say, it has paid off with long term friendships for both our daughter and our family. Highly recommend!

We’ve sent all three of our kids to NVNS over the past five years, and I cannot say enough wonderful things about this school. From the very beginning, we knew we didn’t want to just drop our kids off and take a hands-off approach to their early education. NVNS has been the perfect fit because it’s a true co-op: run by the parents, supported by the parents, and enriched by the parents’ active participation. One of the best parts is that rotating groups of parents are in the classroom alongside the children. This means we’re not only deeply involved in our kids’ early education, but we also get to see them learn, grow, and socialize in real time. The parent community has been nothing short of amazing—we’ve built friendships and connections that extend well beyond the classroom. The play-based curriculum is fantastic. It has given our children the tools to socialize, gain confidence, and be fully ready for school. What makes NVNS so special is the variety and richness of the experiences: outdoor play, nature hikes, swimming, field trips, and so much more. Because the curriculum is parent-driven, it reflects a wide range of interests and creativity, which makes for an incredibly well-rounded early education. Simply put, NVNS has given our kids a joyful, engaging, and meaningful foundation for learning. I could not recommend it more for any parents who want to be actively present during such an important stage of their children’s lives.

When our son started preschool it was a big change for our family, and I’m so happy we chose NVNS! What makes this school special to us is the community and friends, the truly caring and knowledgeable teachers, the great location, and the routine of weekly activities. I’ve watched our son grow socially and be much more comfortable in groups, and he LOVES his friends and teachers!! It’s very cool to see him enjoying school after the feeling of being a little nervous to start. I absolutely love that kids spend time in our neighborhood garden and hike around weekly. All the time spent outside was a big reason we chose the school and that part has been really fun! I truly love the teachers at NVNS! To work alongside them with our children to learn and practice communication, how to handle conflict resolution, and support kids with learning through play is a beautiful gift! Above all it’s getting the chance to spend time with new friends with whom we’ve fallen in love, our son and us alike. We are so thankful for our first year and a half at NVNS and look forward to all to come!

Our daughter went here for two years. Our daughter absolutely loved it. We definitely had to put in some work to help out at school! It definitely takes a fair bit of your time. But we are so happy that our daughter got to have such a great time. The location is excellent and the playground and classroom are just top tier. We loved that we knew all the children and their parents so well and our daughter made so many friends at school. The sense of community was really something we now miss now that our daughter has moved on to kindergarten.

We are so happy at NVNS! I love how many different hands-on and outdoor activities the kids get to do—hikes, gardening, music, playground activities, nature visits, and so much more. The teachers and parent teachers really care about all the kids, and it shows every day in the photos we get. Compared to other preschools we visited, NVNS stood out with the best teachers and the most engaging variety of activities for kids. The welcoming community of parents and teachers has made this such a positive experience for our whole family.

After three wonderful years at NVNS with our second child, we can wholeheartedly recommend this co-op preschool. Raising our kids alongside other dedicated parents has been a fantastic way to introduce them to the school environment, fostering a strong sense of community and shared growth. The commitment from parents is truly inspiring, creating a special bond among like-minded families. With the George Christopher playground, Glen Canyon, and a community garden right next door, the children spend ample time outdoors, exploring and playing in a natural setting. Each week, a musician visits to engage the kids with songs and play, adding a joyful musical element to their learning. The preschool’s play-based approach emphasizes social and emotional development, giving children the tools to connect, collaborate, and grow in a supportive environment. Parents are also deeply involved in the school community. From helping in the classroom to organizing activities, we get to share in our children’s daily experiences while observing how they interact with both peers and adults. Beyond the classroom, the school fosters strong community ties with social activities such as camping trips twice a year and regular meet-ups, which have led wonderful new friendships. The diversity of cultures represented at NVNS enriches the experience even further, making it a vibrant and inclusive community. Overall, NVNS has been an incredible journey for our family—blending education, social development, and lasting connections.

Our family has loved being part of NVNS. We love the caring, thoughtful teachers and the school’s special location at the top of Glen Canyon — it feels like such a unique space for kids to learn and play. The school has a focus on community and my daughter has developed so many important social-emotional skills that I believe will serve her well forever. The kids regularly get out of the classroom for hikes, swimming, gardening, and field trips all over the city. They truly have the most fun! I’ve especially enjoyed working with the children myself. I find that I learn so much about parenting from the other community members and teachers. Being able to be so involved in our daughter’s very first schooling experience has been a gift, and we’re so grateful to have found NVNS.

My son is in his third year at NVNS and we’ve so enjoyed our experience here. It was his first time in any kind of care, and I was so anxious. Everyone was so welcoming and kind and made sure to directly send me photos and text updates throughout the first few weeks. My husband and I have loved being so involved with the school and getting to know all of the kids, parents and teachers- it’s very easy to connect through Slack and we love seeing photos of the kids’ adventures every day. The variety of activities (visits to the community garden, hikes in Glen Canyon, weekly music classes and more) is unmatched by any other school we toured- we even decided to stay for his potential TK year partially for that reason. And most of all, the community we’ve created and friends we’ve gained is priceless. I’d highly recommend NVNS to any family looking for a preschool for their child.