San Francisco, CA
Laurel Hill Nursery School and Pre-Kindergarten

Director's Comments

Question to director: Do you have any additional thoughts on what parents should consider when looking at your school? Is there any advice that you would like to provide to prospective parents?


We ask that you come and tour our school before completing an application. This allows you to see the facility, get a sense of the philosophy and learn about the responsibilities of the parent co-op. You can call for a tour at 751-8784.

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
"Emergent" program is not very structured. It allows kids to pursue interestes but doesn't expose them to new experiences.

Parent #2
Strengths - socialization of children; developmentally appropriate activities--children learn SO MUCH through "free play" at Laurel Hill; connection to community--you really get to know fellow parents and all of the kids; kids learn to express their feelings, deal with emotional conflict, how to handle delayed gratification, how to be leaders and followers (mixed age groups). Fabulous, caring teachers.

Weaknesses: Strong parent community sometimes leads to conflict at the parent level, but this conflict is almost always constructive and has the best interest of the school as the focus.

Parent #3
Stenghts: philosphy, teachers, facility - this school allows children to be children and learn at their own pace - no pressure just fun - they leave this school and are truely some of the most well behaved /well adjusted children in their new schools. Weaknesses: we haven't had a committed director in 3 years (we just hired a new one that seems terrific) - the politics are awful but am feeling pretty positive that this will change when the new director starts.

Parent #4
Some parents were clicky, but there were enough really nice ones to go around. We have stayed friends with a number of families.

Parent #5
I can't recommend the co-op approach enough, for those that can afford the time commitment. It's also a considerable monetary savings (some families pay a non-participatory rate, which is significantly higher). Knowing the other parents, knowing the other children is so fantastic. When your child comes home to tell you about the great time he had with Child A, you *know* who Child A is. Additionally, if there are things about the school, the facility, the curriculum that you don't like, you are not only invited to participate in fixing them, you are encouraged and applauded for doing so.

Parent #6
The parents at Laurel Hill are a special bunch - there because they want to participate in their kid's lives and school experience. We are all there to do the best for our own and each other's kids. It is a very, very special place where community is built. We've made many good friends at Laurel Hill, and recommend it highly whenever we can. I guess the ultimate compliment is that we will all really miss the place when we leave this year.

Parent #7
The school could improve its integrating of new families into the community.

Parent #8
Sometimes I am frustrated with the extremity of the child centered free play model. I believe that a mix of free play and structured time is very valuable.

Parent #9
Laurel Hill is a great community. The only downside to LH and co-ops in general might be that it takes a lot of time to be involved in the work days, parent education meetings, etc. The upside is that you know exactly what's going on at your child's preschool, who her friends are, who the other parents are, and have a voice and role in shaping the school.

Parent #10
The school is great for teaching social skills, developing my child's independence and self-confidence, creating community among families, and it's just plain fun for kids and parents.

Parent #11
Lots of emphasis is placed on communication-children are encouraged to resolve conflicts: Parents are provided with classes, discussions, meetings. Strong sense of community.

Montessori? Waldorf? Play-based?

What school type is right for your child? Is one model better than another? What does the research say?

View an example from the Savvy Source guide to learn more.

Get large plastic buckets (or sand buckets if you have lots of really little toys )in a variety of solid colors (red, blue, yellow, green, pink). Ask your child to clean up his/her toys by putting the toys in the bucket corresponding to the color bucket. Great for teaching personal responsibility, color identification, and sorting.

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