Laurel Hill Nursery School and Pre K

My son is in his third year at Laurel Hill and as we begin the inevitable slog through kindervisits I am constantly reminded what a special place it is and how strongly it’s both nurtured my son’s growth and enhanced and added confidence to my own parenting skills. Staff and community are simply amazing! I love Laurel Hill!

As a work from home Dad, I have the pleasure of working one morning a week at LH and watch my daughter thrive in this environment. The teachers and staff work with each other to create a safe and enjoyable learning experience. Constant communication between parents and staff through the work hours, business meetings, and parent Ed classes might seem very involved at first, but I’ve found it so beneficial for my growth as a parent!
I look forward to visiting LHNS daily. It’s a gem of a co-​op and my toddler is already asking me when can she come to school with her big sister!

Our daughter is in her second year at Laurel Hill and absolutely loves it. It’s been amazing to watch her grow emotionally and socially, not to mention gain confidence and independence. We fully believe in the play-​based philosophy. It’s all about letting kids be kids, expanding their creativity through play and learning to navigate a world of different personalities, cultures and beliefs.
The art that comes home is clearly hers. I love that. I also love watching how it has evolved and the fact she’s figured it out on her own. The teachers and staff are wonderful. Our Director leads with passion and compassion. She sets the tone for the teachers and parents, and has created a school that is welcoming and nurturing. I couldn’t be more pleased with the leadership.
As a co-​op there is the parent involvement that is required to make the school «go round.» For our family this extra level of engagement is a plus. We get to see what our daughter is doing on a weekly basis, we know the other children she is forming friendships with, and we have an incredible community that we know is here for support. Beyond the classroom, the parent-​run co-​op puts together incredible events like the pancake breakfast, Halloween party and winter-​fest.
I honestly feel like we are better parents for the experience we’ve had a Laurel Hill. We can’t wait for our younger daughter to start next fall. As an alum of the school some 40 years ago, I couldn’t be prouder of the fact my girls will be the next generation of Laurel Hill graduates and trust it will still be as vibrant 40 years from now!

Very free form and very play based, but that is offset by a pretty rigid structure applied to the parents. Since it is a Co-​op, you are obliged to turn up and look busy a fair deal and there are also a plenty of secret rules you only hear about when you are scolded for breaking them.
If you buy into the community and have lots of time it can be a great school.
It is a large nursery school by SF standards presided over by a head teacher who has a rather proprietorial air. You can feel like she is doing you a favour by letting your child go to Laurel Hill, and she can give the impression that she regards the parents as if they are also small children.

It’s a wonderful layout, it’s vibrant and has lots of play area, and is basically a playground with a school on top. It’s definitely different than the other preschools we’ve explored, and the co-​op part of it is really nice. Unfortunately, there are a few idiosyncrasies about this place that I can’t seem to get past.
Apparently, our son’s preschool teacher is at Burning Man, so that in itself makes me question dedication. We only have less than a full school year to get him ready for kindergarten, and his teacher is off in the desert partying. Strike One.
Secondly, our son was bitten by a co-​op parents kid right in front of the teacher while having a conversation with said parent, which again raises questions about whether the staff was even paying attention to an argument happening right in front of them. Strike Two
Thirdly, this same day our son was inadvertently wacked in the head with a metal shovel, which has left a lump, and will be taking him to the pediatric ER as he has been complaining of headaches. Who would give 3 – 4 year olds metal shovels in a small digging space? Foul Tip.
So being as this is only our 2^nd week of having our child here at this preschool I am not impressed at all. Taking into account that apparently there is no real skills being built here and according my wife observing that our son «spends most of the day on the monkeybars or water table» as there is no obviously apparent structure, It’s got me worried about what skills he will have come Kindergarten time. Strike Three.
So if you want a nursery-​school, day-​care, open-​ended play-​based Preschool and you will probably be putting your kids through private schools and tutors, then by all means, enjoy.
If you are a family that wants your child to enjoy their pre-​school years, but also come away with the established standardized skills they will need in a SFUSD public school, then there are so many other schools in SF that are just as good, and in some cases, better and more focused on your child’s education.
This is simply my opinion based on observation and happenings these last couple days. Everyone else i’ve talked to loves this school, but they have different needs than us and we have a different cultural view of our child’s needs.
I can’t stop thinking about our vacationing teacher… Burning Man… seriously???
/​facepalm

Fantastic school. Caring, kind, patient, smart teachers who are worlds better at parenting and working with 3 – 5 yr olds than I could ever be. Our son is in Pre K and I’m dreading him going to kindergarten next year because I know he won’t get the kind of warmth and support he gets at Laurel Hill. The community is fantastic and organized. It’s a well oiled piece of machinery and every last detail is thought out. There is something like 4,000 feet of outdoor space from a walk climbing wall to a huge sand/​water/​shovel area, to a cement slide zip line. Kids are welcome to explore and play with anything, any time they want. My son couldn’t be happier at his school. I enjoy the co op portion because it gives me a chance to see my son in action in his environment and learn from the teachers so I can be a better and more patient parent. It makes me happy every time I go to see my son in such a warm and loving environment. It’s the best!

A wonderland for kids…
My daughter started LH last year and has grown so much since then. The school philosophy is all about the child, seriously! No, this is the newest trend about parenting, or this is what the experts are saying. Honest, beautiful, sincere, carefree days for the students. They are free to explore there own interests as they choose and it is truly amazing to see them blossom. The staff that makes up the school is amazing, and the parent network is such a huge support, I would have been lost without it. If you are looking for a place that you want your child to thrive and be happy LH is the right place. The nice thing is you will also meet wonderful like minded parents to support you and share your experience with. I am so grateful to LH.

Our 3 year old just started there in January, and after just a couple of days of acclimation she can’t get there fast enough in the morning. This is a co-​op, so it requires parent involvement. One of us works one morning shift per week, since our daughter is in the morning class. Two kids would require two shifts per week, etc. There are also business meetings and committee hours required, but this gives you both insight and some control in your child’s schooling. It’s particularly enlightening and educational as a first time parent as well.
The teachers, and even the on-​duty parents, are all so caring and in tune with the needs of the children. I noticed from afar on several occassions my often shy daughter lingering in the background observing play, and almost right away someone would notice and invite her to play… a hop, a skip and a jump and she was in on the fun.
If you’ve got the time to get involved in a co-​op school, Laurel Hill is hard to beat. There are 4 indoor activity rooms, and several outdoor areas including a sand pit with monkey bar, a kiddie zip line that my daughter loves, a bike/​run platform, and more. She’s come home with new songs, new arts and craft skills, and big smiles. Definitely 5 star.

We LOVE Laurel Hill! Our older son spent three years there, his final year in the Pre-​K program. Our daughter is in her first year and will spend another year at Laurel Hill next year.
This play-​based cooperative is a wonderful experience for both kids and parents. Kids are encouraged to explore and direct their own play, while given the opportunity to engage with dozens of amazing tools, toys and activities, including sand, water, bikes, scooters, painting, puzzles, building, making music, clay, dress up, drawing, etc., etc., etc. It’s been priceless to have the opportunity to spend one day a week working at the school to share the preschool experience firsthand with our kids.
The staff is amazing, lead by Maria Chew, who over the years, has been a parent, director of the Board, teacher and now director of the school. The teachers treat my kids with love, warmth and respect and have given me wonderful guidance over the years. They also do a great job of nurturing the kids, helping them learn how to communicate about disagreements, be inclusive and loving.
Do yourself a favor and visit our school! The space is unmatched and the community is wonderful. LHNS — It’s the happiest place on earth.

2 kids, 1 graduated after 2 years of preschool and 1 year of Pre K, 2^nd is in her first year. Amazing facility, built on the side of a steep hill so the backyard is multi-​tiered, and btw, they own it outright (no mortgage and no rent means tuition goes where it ought to — to the amazing staff and to resources/​materials for the kids). The other reason it is cheap but not for everyone is that nearly all families work there ONE 3 hour shift PER WEEK, IF you can swing that you need to check them out. Visit an open house or call to tour the school. It is a wonderful ‘play based’ program with a staff who knows how to work with kids and how to utilize the volunteering parents. As much as my kids learned there, I learned quite a bit too about parenting, etc. from watching and interacting with the staff, the other kids, and parents

Laurel Hill has been a truly wonderful experience for both of my daughters. The Staff is thoughtful and attentive to all of the children’s individual needs. When I sent my first daughter there, I was concerned that there was not enough structure. I came to learn that what looks like a lot of free play is actually a well thought out philosophy that nurtures a child’s natural curiosity and love of learning. I am grateful that my children have had this experience.

My kids spent two years at Laurel Hill and I can’t say enough good things about it. First and foremost are the teachers, all of whom are loving, smart and imaginative. The play-​based curriculum is amazing, dirty, inspiring, fun, messy, imaginative, helpful and wonderful for children. My kids look at bugs and build volcanoes and ride bikes and garden and paint and read books and play with clay and make art and sing songs.
I only wish my kids could stay there forever.

Laurel Hill is simply the best. Our 5 year old is about to «graduate» from the Pre-​K program in May and our 2 year old will start in August. The facility and curriculum are top notch but what separates LHNS from other schools are the teachers. They all fully grasp the theories behind play based learning and bring the best out of the children. They nurture each kid to be sure they are in a safe environment while at the same time allowing them to grow into confident individuals.
The community that LHNS builds is also amazing. In our 3 years there, we have become friends with wonderful people from all walks of life and since moving to San Francisco in 1998, we can unequivocally say that Laurel Hill is the best thing to happen to us.
Lastly, Maria Chew, the director, is phenomenal. She was our son’s teacher the first two years and now is thriving as director.
We can’t wait for the next 3 years to watch our younger boy grow at Laurel Hill.
We love Laurel Hill!!!

My daughter attended this Nursey School, the staff is great and I seen my daughter grown and socialized due to the help of this nursery, thanks! Clean set up and atmosphere, great guidelines and program, visit them for more information, highly recommend it!

I love Laurel Hill Nursery School!!!
We have been at the school twice, a few years back with our oldest and now again with daughter number 2.
Finally the director (Anne Randall), that the school deserves, has been hired, and everything is right in our LHNS-​world.
The facilities are simply great. A completely open indoor/​outdoor environment, so the kids can choose for themselves where they want to be and play. Many different areas are set up every day to meet the kids need for swinging, biking, goo, paint, water, sand, glitter whatever they would want to explore.
Count on your kid coming home completely soaked in water and or paint, the first few weeks, until they get over that initial: I CAN PUT THE PAINT ON MY TUMMY! YEAH THAT FEELS GREAT!
The work you have to put in as a parent is really a joy. It’s just so great to know all the kids, and the parents and the teachers. You can never get that at a non-​participating school, where you drop your kid off at the door, and then you have no idea what goes on.
Everyone who works there are fantastic. There are both male and female teachers, which creates such an special place.

This is our second year at Laurel Hill. I can hardly think of words to describe our journey at LH. To best capture the essence of Laurel Hill I resort to stealing words of other inspirational leaders:
«Children were not born to walk. There were born to run — barefoot, over rocks, through the water, through the mud. We need to give greater recognition to the energy and joy of children.» Child development writer Bev Boss in Before the Basics.
«If it hasn’t been in the Hand… and the Body… it can’t be in the Brain!»
— Bev Bos
«It’s all about the kids, man, it’s all about the kids.» — Ann Randall
Last note: As of January 2008 the Laurel Hill Board of Directors and the new Director, Ann Randall, are amazing!

Laurel Hill is a fantastic preschool. Our 3.5yo just loves it (she asks to go there on the weekend) and we can afford to send her there without having to give up paying rent and going to live in our car! Hooray!!!
When we first toured LH, my husband was a little worried because he expected to see more emphasis on sitting at a little desk reciting the ABCs, raising your hand, and waiting to be called on. However I work in the neighborhood and had been hearing parents rave about the place for years, so I knew there had to be more at work than running amok and swinging in hammocks. But on that tour it was clear that, as far as the kids were concerned, they were getting to do some AWESOME amok running. Everyone seemed very happy, adult and child alike.
Flash forward to current day — our kiddo is thriving in a play-​based educational setting. She really is learning a lot, but gets to spend time building sandbox volcanoes complete with tempera paint lava!
The teachers are great and incredibly supportive and nurturing. It is affordable (and we are scraping by on one civil servant’s paycheck, so by affordable I mean ‘dirt cheap’), the setting is marvelously open and uses the outdoors in such a way that I feel like my child gets to have some of that outdoorsy fun that city kids miss out on.
For me, I like that there is some parental involvement required, because let’s face it, when we had kids and our friends didn’t, we fell right out of everybody’s little black book. Now we have a posse again!
Parents take their work hour shifts very seriously and the teacher-​to-​parent ratio is such that you always feel like you have a pro at your fingertips, should you need support. The teaching staff is very supportive of parents too, and doesn’t treat you like a dumbass even if you ask the same question fourteen times.
So yeah, I don’t Unilocal much, but I will Unilocal from the highest mountaintop about Laurel Hill. It is the BEST.