The Growing Tree Preschool
1984 Great Highway, San Francisco 94116
Welcome to Growing Tree Childcare and Preschool, where we prioritize exceptional care and nurturing alongside fostering optimal development in young children. Each program is thoughtfully designed to deliver age-appropriate experiences that nurture growth and learning within a bilingual (English and Chinese) environment. Discover our diverse range of programs tailored to meet the needs of children at every developmental stage
At a glance
What this means
An academic (or structured) program has more teacher-led lessons and routines to prepare children for the structure of kindergarten. 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 in Mandarin but isn't a full immersion program — Mandarin is woven in alongside English rather than being the main language of instruction.
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?
- 3What is the current monthly tuition, and are there different rates for different days-per-week schedules?
- 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 much of the day is in Mandarin, and do children need any prior exposure to the language?
- 8Does having an infant/toddler program give siblings priority or a guaranteed spot later?
- 9What is your application timeline, and when do families typically hear back?
- 10How large is each class, and what is the teacher-to-child ratio?