Preschool Advice - San Francisco

I'd suggest start when you can. My son is now 5 yrs old and Just started a preschool by the beach two weeks ago, yes for me it took that long. BUT TO JUST FIND OUT ON FRIDAY THAT THE SCHOOL WILL BE CLOSING AT THE END OF THIS MONTH FEB 28TH. I am just so devistated. I been working my but off trying to find him a school, I been on waiting list for so long or they dont have room, always something. At this point I dont know if he will ever be in preschool,I might just have to home school him until Sept when he starts KG.

Wish you the best,
C.

Here is a very useful website that I used a lot when searching for pre-schools:

www.savvysource.com

What's great about the site is that it includes parents' reviews and you can also do a search based on the type of teaching methods you prefer, as well as neighborhood.

Good luck with the search!

Savvysource.com is a great resource. There is such a demand for preschools in San Francisco. I have been applying since my Son was 18 months old and am still on waitlists. Most of the schools are giving places to siblings and that seems fair, except that it is making it hard on first time parents. Anyway, we visited another school last night (the Little School) and really liked it. Halfway through the presentation the Director, explained that they are full for next year already but we were welcome to apply just in case. There were 60 parents at the "open house' and at $100 per application and then not to get in, seems like a bit of a scheme. I have applied for 5 schools and so far, no luck. I was very fortunate last week I heard through the grapevine of a new school and I called and they had one place left and my son got it. I am very happy with the school. It is Presidio Pre school on Sacramento street. It is small which is what I wanted for my son. They seem to care, it is a playbased school and the staff are very ethusiastic. You should contact the school and meet with them. Starting age is 2 years and 6 months and they take kids in Diapers.
I am now starting to apply for Kindergarten. My son isn't 3 yeat. Isn't that ridiculous? Good Luck.
Y.

Apparently there are a few preschools in SF (at least there was when my 9 year old was a baby) where to have any chance to get your child in you had to put them on the waiting list while in still in utero!! Yeah right! Anyway my son just started preschool in September this year at age 3 1/2. If you are worried about waiting lists and things like that, it seemed to me that while searching, most preschools do not require nor have waiting lists that are so long that you have to start your search any earlier than the winter before you plan on sending your child to school. Often too some preschools (actually most that I talked to didn't start a wait list any earlier than a year before). It can be difficult sometimes to find an open spot for your child at a preschool and some have deadlines for application or required tours only offered at certain times during the year so you do have to pay attention to dates. Other than that you can relax and don't hve worry about it for a few more years. And as you near that time you'll hear other parents talking about it and you can visit websites (sfkids.org) to see lists of schools and get a better feel of what's going on. Anyway, hopes this helps...M.