San Francisco, CA
Lone Mountain Children's Center

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
What an amazing place! The director knows more about preschool age child development than most parents I know (including myself). He was always open to discussions about our child, helpful with direct and honest advice, and a gem when it came to the kindergarten selection process. The teachers are seasoned and experienced and the love their jobs (in turn the kids love them!).

Parent #2
Strengths - Incredibly well thought out program with regards to balancing structure and free play and integrating an excellent curriculum. Kids are more engaged here than any preschool we visited. They have an amazing time, are really disciplined, and learn a lot. Fantastic program. I believe it is the best in the city.

Parent #3
Lone mountain is the BEST pre-school in the City! They take children for who they are and where they are developmentally (potty trained or not) and love them while creating an environment that encourages a love of learning. I can think of no better place to send a child for a first school experience. The teachers love what they do and have been teaching there for a very long time - a true testament to what a wonderful place it is.

Parent #4
Lone Mountain is an awesome place because the teachers are so experienced and loving and caring. The environment is amazing and I love the fact that it's play-based, but also has some structure. The only negative I've experienced is that it's been harder to develop connections as a parent with other parents than it is at other schools. I think this is largely a function of the way the drop-off and pick-up is structured with a drive-up so there's not a lot of time for leisurely chatting with other parents.

Parent #5
Lone Mountain is great at everything except its hours. There is no full day program and for most of a child's 3 years there, he or she will be in school for about 8 or 9 hours a week. So if you work outside the home, you will still need full-time child care. If you are home with your kids, school will not give you much relief. So I don't think Lone Mountain is a great place for parents. But it is a wonderful place for kids and our 3 girls have flourished there. They are always happy to go there and I have never worried about any one of them for even a minute while they are at Lone Mountain.

Parent #6
Strength: Great program. Everything you would like in a preschool for your little one. Weakness: Only three and three quarter hour programs per day. No extended care.

Parent #7
Lone Mountain is unique because it develops a large group of children in a highly creative manner. The 5 teachers and 1 daily 'expert' provide a wonderful student to teacher ratio and expose the children to more areas (art, French, drama) as well as different types of teachers. For those of us with boys, its wonderful that the school is led by a male, so children are exposed to men as teachers (since women are more predominant in this area). The most spectacular aspect of the school is the communication and administration. Parents are always well informed and given thoughtful guidance by the teachers. The monthly newsletter is thought-provoking and provides valuable nuggets of information to help parents be better parents and to encourage children to grow. The school is top-notch in helping parents and children get through the kindergarten process.

Montessori? Waldorf? Play-based?

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

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