Children's Day School
333 Dolores St, San Francisco 94110
Preschool is such a precious time in your child’s development, and their first introduction to school is so important. At CDS, we cherish this amazing stage of childhood, honoring the way your little one learns best with our program that prioritizes play, curiosity, and community in a brand new building designed just for them. Our Early Childhood Center, aka the Treehouse, features preschool & TK classrooms, a makerspace and art studio, a courtyard for outdoor and messy play, and a rooftop playground just for our youngest learners.
At a glance
What this means
Play-based means children learn through free and guided play — social skills, problem-solving, and early academics emerge through play rather than direct teaching.
This school teaches primarily in English.
Tuition shown is as of 2024 and may have changed — confirm with the school.
Good questions to ask on a tour
- 1What does a typical day look like, and how much of it is child-chosen play vs. teacher-led?
- 2What are the exact drop-off and pickup times, and is there any flexibility?
- 3Beyond the listed tuition, what other fees should I expect (application, deposit, materials, field trips)?
- 4How do you handle the transition for children starting mid-year or moving up from a younger classroom?
- 5What is your potty-training policy, and how do you support children who are still learning?
- 6How do you handle discipline, conflict between children, and big feelings?
- 7How does the transition to kindergarten work, and which elementary schools do graduates typically attend?
- 8What is your application timeline, and when do families typically hear back?
- 9How large is each class, and what is the teacher-to-child ratio?
- 10What does parent communication look like — updates, conferences, opportunities to be involved?