San Francisco Preschool From Bright Horizons

Early Education & Preschool That's More Than Daycare

When selecting a preschool program, working parents don't need to choose between convenience and quality. Bright Horizons in San Francisco prioritizes school readiness while also offering flexible schedules all year round. 

Find openings at preschools near you! 

Bright Horizons San Francisco preschool locations

A Proven Approach for School Readiness

What parents and teachers have to say about Bright Horizons graduates

97%

of parents report their child entered elementary school prepared and ready to meet the demands of their new school.

Skills for the Modern World

Our integrated and emergent curriculum gives young children the ability to expand beyond strong foundations in reading, writing, and math to understand not just what to learn, but how to learn.

98%

of Bright Horizons’ parents and teachers agree Bright Horizons’ graduates entered elementary school with a strong enthusiasm for learning.

Developing a Growth Mindset

Bright Horizons teachers encourage children to ask questions, fostering more than just an interest in facts -- but a thirst to understand how things work.

97%

of parents said their child entered school with the ability to approach a challenge in an innovative or creative way.

Developing Executive Function

In our classrooms, education is more than facts and figures, but inspires children to innovate, problem solve, and apply information in creative and resourceful manners.

93%

of teachers agree that the Bright Horizons’ graduates in their classrooms were well prepared with the literacy and math skills they needed for academic success.

Prepared for 21st Century Skills

Our graduates leave our centers confident students who are ready to manage the academic, social, and behavioral expectations of the first year of elementary school and beyond.

94%

of teachers said that Bright Horizons graduates were ready to accept new responsibilities and greater independence.

Social-Emotional Learning

Curriculum elements such as Caring Matters and Toward a Better World support important social skills, helping children to express themselves, resolve conflict, and work cooperatively with classmates and teachers.

Explore Preschool in the Bay Area

We have a number of convenient locations throughout Downtown San Francisco including Fisherman’s Wharf, North Beach, Chinatown, Embarcadero, Financial District, Union Square, Central Market, SOMA/Yerba Bueno and Castro/Noe Valley, East Bat cities of San Ramon, Dublin and Alameda, San Mateo in the peninsula, and Silicon Valley cities of San Jose, Sunnyvale and Cupertino and Marin County.


With 23 convenient San Francisco area locations, we're never far from your home or workplace.

Little Trailblazers

50 Fremont Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
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Bright Horizons at Hills Plaza

2 Harrison Street Suite 150
San Francisco, CA 94105
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UCSF at Mission Bay Child Development Center

727 Nelson Rising Lane
San Francisco, CA 94143
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UCSF at Laurel Heights Child Development Center

2675 Geary Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94118
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Bright Horizons at One Letterman

One Letterman Drive Bldg. B
San Francisco, CA 94129
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UCSF at Marilyn Reed Lucia Child Development Center

610 Parnassus Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94143
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UCSF at Kirkham Child Development Center

10 Kirkham Street
San Francisco, CA 94143
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Bright Horizons at Garner

2275 North Loop Road
Alameda, CA 94502
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Bright Horizons EDS Tam Valley

350 Bell Lane
Mill Valley, CA 94941
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Miniverse

279 E Grand Ave.
South San Francisco, CA 94080
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Bright Horizons at Hillside

80 Lomita Drive
Mill Valley, CA 94941
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Bright Horizons EDS Edna Maguire

80 Lomita Drive
Mill Valley, CA 94941
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Bright Horizons EDS Park School

360 E. Blithedale
Mill Valley, CA 94941
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Bright Horizons at Mill Valley

10 Old Mill Street
Mill Valley, CA 94941
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Bright Horizons EDS Old Mill

352 Throckmorton
Mill Valley, CA 94941
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Papillon Preschool managed by Bright Horizons

1311 S El Camino Real
San Mateo, CA 94402
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Bright Horizons at San Mateo

1700 Alameda de las Pulgas
San Mateo, CA 94403
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Bright Horizons at Marin Commons

1600 Los Gamos Drive, Suite 230, Lobby C
San Rafael, CA 94903
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Bright Horizons at San Carlos

2851 San Carlos Ave.
San Carlos, CA 94070
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Bright Horizons at Redwood City

403 Winslow Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
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Bright Horizons at Bishop Ranch

2603 Camino Ramon
San Ramon, CA 94583
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Bright Horizons at Dublin

7035 Dublin Boulevard
Dublin, CA 94568
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Bright Horizons at Palo Alto Shoreline

991 Commercial St.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
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Our Other Programs

Early Education Programs

Providing experiences that capture the joys of childhood and pave the way for success in school and life.

Daycare in San Francisco

Preparing children for school through academic and social learning.

Summer Programs in San Francisco

Action-packed days, engaging projects, fun and educational activities, and more at Bright Horizons Preschools & Daycares.

What Questions Should I Ask a Preschool Provider?
 

I've looked at other preschools in San Francisco that have long waitlists. What if I want to enroll at a San Francisco Bright Horizons center but space is not available?

OPEN

You can select up to 3 Bright Horizons child care locations to be registered at, including the center you are most interested in. By registering, you are confirming your strong interest in all 3 centers. We will add you to our wait list and you will be offered a space as soon as one becomes available. While waiting for a space to become available at your first choice location, many families will choose to enroll at their 2nd or 3rd choice temporarily until space becomes available at the center they are most interested in. In many centers, a child currently enrolled at a Bright Horizons location has priority over the general community so enrolling at another location will not only solve your care needs but will also give you additional priority in getting into your 1st preference. Our goal is to accommodate families as soon as space allows. During the entire process, we will keep in touch with you regarding your status.

Find Preschools in San Francisco


Can we start preschool at Bright Horizons in San Francisco in the summer?

OPEN

Yes! We have age-appropriate programs for preschool and Kindergarten Prep that run year-round. Many families choose to begin a preschool program in the summer, before the rush of back-to-school in the fall.

What is the background check process for preschool staff at Bright Horizons San Francisco?

OPEN

Bright Horizons conducts a comprehensive background check on all prospective employees and frequent visitors. In San Francisco, the state of CA Department of Youth and Families requires background checks for employees of a daycare or licensed child care facility.

Bright Horizons background checks consist of a county criminal record check for the past seven years performed in all counties that a person has lived, worked or attended school. In addition to the county criminal search, a sex offender search, OFAC search, and a social security verification trace are also conducted.

Are preschool staff at Bright Horizons in San Francisco trained in CPR and First Aid?

OPEN
All Bright Horizons San Francisco staff are trained regularly in CPR /First Aid and Universal Precautions. You can feel confident that your child is safe and receiving the best care possible while in our care.  Families of children in our care use the MyBrightDay app to get photos, real-time updates on care, learning, and milestones, and stay up to date on important notifications.

What do children learn in San Francisco preschool?
 

OPEN

In the preschool program at Bright Horizons, we focus our daily experiences on comprehensive, optimum development of each child: mind, body, social self, and character. Here's how we do it:

Preparing Children for Success in Life by:

  1. Approaching life as an invitation to learn
  2. Becoming a confident and competent lifelong learner
  3. Becoming a confident and competent user of technology
  4. Developing emotional intelligence: personal power and social skills

Preparation for Academic Excellence by:

  1. Developing the social and cognitive skills necessary for school success
  2. Achieving excellence in language and literacy
  3. Developing an engaged, reflective, inquisitive mind and appreciation of science
  4. Achieving excellence in logical/mathematical understanding
Providing a Rich and Rewarding Childhood by focusing on:
  1. Happy days
  2. Wonderful relationships
  3. A World of experience

How much does preschool in San Francisco cost?
 

OPEN
Preschool tuition in San Francisco is dependent upon your child’s age, developmental level, and the location of the school you have chosen. To get a customized tuition quote for Bright Horizons in San Francisco, please set up a Zoom meeting with us. Our center staff can talk through your family's needs to help calculate what tuition would look like for you.

Does Bright Horizons in San Francisco have a daycare preschool program?

OPEN

Yes. Most of our locations offer preschool and kindergarten preparation programs for children to start working on getting ready for school. We're happy to schedule a safe, personalized Zoom visit for parents who would like to learn about why Bright Horizons can offer more than a daycare. Come see what school readiness at Bright Horizons in San Francisco looks like.

How can I find child care when my preschool in San Francisco is closed?
 

OPEN
Having a sitter or two familiar with your family can be extremely helpful when you need back-up care. With the Sittercity app, you can search for local babysitters and nannies or post a job detailing your needs and have interested child care providers reach out directly to you. Sittercity has built-in screening tools to give you the control to hire with ease and confidence. This includes secure messaging, interview booking, professional references, and running background checks.

Is Bright Horizons hiring preschool teachers in San Francisco?

 

OPEN

Yes. Please visit our careers site to view all active Bright Horizons job openings in your area. Our careers site allows you to search for all open positions (part-time, full-time, and temporary) in our centers, including positions at client center that only enroll families who work for specific employers.

Is Bright Horizons a good place to work in San Francisco?

OPEN

Yes, but don’t just take our word for it! We’ve been named 20 times as one of FORTUNE's 100 Best Companies to Work For, and are honored to be the only child care company to ever make the list.

How are working parents supported by Bright Horizons in San Francisco?

OPEN

Bright Horizons in San Francisco supports the whole family because we know that success at work and success at home go hand-in-hand. We designed our centers, programs, and schedules to keep the needs of both children and parents in mind. 

Does Bright Horizons have summer preschool in San Francisco?
 

OPEN
We have a partnership with Steve and Kate's camp locations as well as our Summer Explorations programs for children ages 3-5 and 6-12. 

Does Bright Horizons in San Francisco allow children with special needs to enroll in preschool?

OPEN
Yes! Bright Horizons in San Francisco can successfully accommodate a wide range of special needs and individual differences in our preschool programs.  We believe in inclusive programs to focus on each child’s strengths. We support a collaborative team approach – the teacher, director, specialists, and parents. The team will work closely together to try to maximize each child’s opportunities for learning, growth, and development, and to attempt to eliminate any barriers or safety issues which a preschool program may present.

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