Interior of a classroom or daycare or preschool room with large windows showing outdoor play area, wooden furniture, potted plants, books, and educational materials organized on shelves, and a carpeted area in the back.

Welcome to Montessori Children’s Center

We welcome children
ages 2 to 6

Schedule a Tour

Now Enrolling for Fall and Winter Start Dates

Montessori Children’s Center is a classical Montessori school offering a Toddler Program (ages 2–3) and a Preschool and Kindergarten Program (ages 3–6), where each student’s evolution is nurtured individually, where families feel proactively supported, and where teachers are consistently well cared for.

Located in the Parkmerced neighborhood of San Francisco, California, we are dedicated to helping children feel that they belong in the world and that the world belongs to them.

At our school, children choose purposeful, hands-on work at their own pace in a calm, carefully prepared environment. With individualized guidance from Montessori-trained teachers, children build independence, concentration, and a genuine love of learning, forming a foundation for how they make thoughtful choices, navigate challenges, relate to others, and contribute throughout their lives. Afternoons build on this foundation with hours of outdoor time dedicated to nature exploration and a range of enrichment lessons, all taking place in our beautiful outdoor space and student garden.

Our Toddler Program introduces children to Practical Life, Sensorial Exploration, Language, Art, Music, Movement, Foreign Language Learning, and Nature Exploration. In our Preschool and Kindergarten Program, children build on this foundation through Practical Life, Sensorial Work, Language, Math, Science, Geography, History, Art, Music, Movement, Foreign Language Learning, and Nature Exploration.

The first step in our enrollment process includes scheduling a tour (in-person or virtual upon request), or attending one of our Open House events. After visiting with us, you will be invited to submit your enrollment application. Once we’ve received your enrollment application, we will invite your child to visit with us for an in-person observation, which, assuming program fit, will be followed by an offer for admission.

We operate as a year-round program with year-round start dates, subject to program availability. We offer half-day, short-day, and full-day schedules across four- and five-day options, with our Full Day program running from 8 AM - 5 PM. Tuition is structured to reflect each family's schedule, and details are shared during your tour. Download our 2026-2027 academic calendar here.

A woman and a young boy playing with pink tower montessori blocks inside a room with large windows, wooden furniture, and plants.

A Trusted Montessori School Since 1976

Reopened in 2026 by former Montessori Children’s Center parents, the school carries forward its long legacy while renewing its space, programs, and care for today’s families.

What can your child gain at our school?

  • Confidence that grows from within

  • Real independence in daily life

  • The ability to focus deeply

  • Grace and courtesy towards others and the environment

  • A strong foundation for the rest of their life

What sets us apart?

  • A classical year-round Montessori program

  • A school designed to support children, parents, and teachers

  • A dedicated building, custom-built for our school

  • A rare outdoor nature environment in San Francisco

  • A location that provides ease of access to families from and outside of San Francisco

A playground area next to a modern building under a sky with a rainbow and clouds. The playground has a slide and climbing structure, surrounded by green grass and trees.
Two children, a girl with dark hair and a boy with blond hair, are gardening together. The girl is smiling and looking at the boy, who is turned away from the camera. They are wearing gloves and working in a garden bed with flowers and soil, surrounded by plants and a wire fence.
AMS American Montessori Society Membership Logo

What Families Are Saying

  • The classrooms feel calm, clean and organized. The school building is specifically built to be a preschool which is really unique in San Francisco! Kids have lots of space to explore both indoors and outdoors and everything is built with children's' needs in mind.

    — Bella M.

  • Our daughter attends this preschool, and it's genuinely one of the best decisions we've ever made. The staff loves and adores her. They lean into her strengths while thoughtfully partnering with us on areas where she's still growing, from navigating big feelings to potty training. We receive thorough weekly updates about her development, along with gentle, thoughtful guidance that has been incredibly helpful at home, too.

    — Christine S.

  • It is unlike any other preschools I've seen. The outdoor nature space, the calm aesthetic, the people, everything. There’s a strong sense of love for children, parent support, and community that foster development beyond the school.

    — Ekaterina P.

“The child is both a hope and promise for mankind.”

Dr. Maria Montessori

Visit Our School

The best way to understand Montessori Children’s Center is to experience it in person.

Our tours offer a chance to see the classrooms, learn about our program, and ask questions.

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