1. Growing Light Montessori School
4700 Lincoln Ave, Oakland, CA 94602
Montessori · Inquire
Why it stands out: ✓ State-licensed (verified) · Published tuition · Detailed policies
A Montessori school in the Redwood Heights area of Oakland.
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State licensing record — Licensed · capacity 72 · 0 serious deficiencies (Type A) · 1 minor · 1 substantiated complaint · last inspected 4/2/2026.
CA Community Care Licensing · license 013423129. The state publishes counts and outcomes, not the allegation text — request the full report from CDSS with the control number.
How to read this record →Published tuition (from the school's own site)- Oakland — Mid Day (8am-3pm), 2026-2027 · Base annual tuition — $30,191/year
- Oakland — Full Day (8am-6pm), 2026-2027 · Base annual tuition — $35,171/year
Fees: Application fee $60 · Annual fee (per student) $950 · Optional early drop-off (7:30-8:00am) $60/week · Optional drop-in after-school care (3-6pm) $45/day
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Montessori
Languages: Spanish immersion as daily instruction
Extracurricular: Daily music classes; PE, sports and skill-building for Kindergarten and Elementary; all-school performances and community service
Ages served: 18 months to 6 years (Toddler 18-36 months; Primary 3-4; TK/Kindergarten 4-6); Oakland campus serves through 2nd grade
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30am-6:00pm; Oakland blocks 8am-3pm (Mid Day) and 8am-6pm (Full Day)
Calendar: Year-round
Meals: Not included — families provide food
Allergy policy: No Nuts and Seeds Policy; school serves organic mid-morning and afternoon snacks, families provide lunch
Discipline: Graduated Level One-Four consequences (behavior reports, parental conferences, potential suspension)
Dress code: Play clothes required; close-toed shoes required at all times; no commercial character imagery
2. Montclair Community Play Center
5815 Thornhill Drive, Oakland, CA 94611
Parent cooperative · Inquire
Why it stands out: ✓ State-licensed (verified) — no serious deficiencies on record · Published tuition
A play-based parent cooperative preschool in the Montclair neighborhood of Oakland.
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State licensing record — Licensed · capacity 30 · 0 serious deficiencies (Type A) · 0 substantiated complaints · last inspected 9/24/2025.
CA Community Care Licensing · license 010216398. The state publishes counts and outcomes, not the allegation text — request the full report from CDSS with the control number.
How to read this record →Published tuition (from the school's own site)- Cooperative morning preschool (2025-26) · 10 months, September-June — $685/month
Fees: Deposit (equal to one month's tuition) $685
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Play-based and hands-on, organized around a monthly theme (art, cooking, outdoor play, science, music, pretend play, movement)
Languages: Spanish enrichment program (optional)
Ages served: The two years prior to kindergarten (eligibility begins at age 3 if the child turns three before September 1)
Hours: Morning preschool ~9:00am-12:00pm; extended-day options M/W and T/Th 12:00-3:00pm
Calendar: Academic year
3. Rockridge Montessori School
5633 Manila Avenue, Oakland, CA 94618
Montessori · Inquire
Why it stands out: ✓ State-licensed (verified) — no serious deficiencies on record · Published tuition
A family-owned Montessori school in the Rockridge neighborhood of North Oakland.
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State licensing record — Licensed · capacity 59 · 0 serious deficiencies (Type A) · 0 substantiated complaints · last inspected 6/27/2025.
CA Community Care Licensing · license 013417669. The state publishes counts and outcomes, not the allegation text — request the full report from CDSS with the control number.
How to read this record →Published tuition (from the school's own site)- One-year-olds — Full-Day (8:45-4:00) · 5 days/week — $40,626/year
- One-year-olds — Extended-Day (7:30-6:00) · 5 days/week — $42,941/year
- Two-year-olds — Full-Day (8:45-4:00) · 5 days/week — $38,332/year
- Three-year-olds and older — Full-Day (8:45-4:00) · 4 days/week — $33,083/year
- Three-year-olds and older — Full-Day (8:45-4:00) · 5 days/week — $37,236/year
- Three-year-olds and older — Extended-Day (7:30-6:00) · 5 days/week — $39,470/year
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Montessori — activities sequenced across language, reading, math, music, art, practical life and science; child-led learning in a prepared environment with multi-age groupings
Ages served: 12 months through the start of kindergarten (early-childhood classrooms ages 3-6)
Hours: Full-Day 8:45am-4:00pm; Extended-Day 7:30am-6:00pm
Teacher credentials: Trained Montessori Guides
4. Broadway Children's School of Oakland
394 Adams St, Oakland, CA 94610
Play-based · Inquire
Why it stands out: Published tuition · Staff ratios listed · Detailed policies
A play-based community preschool in the Adams Point neighborhood near Lake Merritt.
Published tuition (from the school's own site)- Preschool full-time (Mon-Fri, 8:45am-12pm) · 5 days/week — $13,550/year
- Preschool part-time (Mon/Wed/Fri, 8:45am-12pm) · 3 days/week — $8,000/year
- Extended care (scheduled) · after 12pm, to 1pm or 3:30pm — $16/day
- Extended care (drop-in) · after 12pm, to 1pm or 3:30pm — $17/day
Fees: Application fee $50 · Enrollment fee $75 · Annual fee (full-time) $475 · Annual fee (part-time) $300
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Play-based
Extracurricular: Art, music, science, math, cooking, stories, indoor/outdoor play
Ages served: Around 2 years (toddler PACT, 20+ months by September) through 5 years / kindergarten readiness (preschool 3-5)
Hours: Preschool core 8:45am-12pm; extended care available to 1pm or 3:30pm; toddler PACT program Tue/Thu 9:30-11:30am
Calendar: Academic year
Meals: Not included — families provide food
Allergy policy: School provides morning and afternoon snacks; lunches brought from home and must be nut-free. Food allergies posted in classrooms; parents provide documentation and EpiPens.
Staff ratios: Preschool approximately 6:1; toddler PACT program no more than 3:1
Teacher credentials: Teachers meet or exceed California Child Development Associate Teacher Permit requirements
Potty-training: Not required
Discipline: Only positive methods of discipline — modeling, redirection, and building communication skills
Sick policy: Handwashing, surface sanitization, HEPA air filters in classrooms, and ventilation via open windows
5. Rockridge Little School
5951 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
Preschool · Inquire
Why it stands out: Published tuition · Staff ratios listed
A preschool located on College Avenue in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland.
Published tuition (from the school's own site)- Core hours (9:00am-12:45pm), 3 days/week · 3 days/week — $2,400/month
- Core hours (9:00am-12:45pm), 4 days/week · 4 days/week — $2,600/month
- Core hours (9:00am-12:45pm), 5 days/week · 5 days/week — $2,750/month
- Full day, 5 days/week (core + all add-ons) · 5 days/week — $3,250/month
- Before-care add-on (before 9:00am) · extended care — $150/month
- Midday add-on (12:45-3:00pm) · extended care — $100/month
- After-care add-on (after 3:00pm) · extended care — $250/month
Fees: Supply fee (annual, due August 1) $500
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Play-based, mixed-age, indoor-outdoor / nature-based; blends Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, and Montessori; uses Center for Collaborative Classroom literacy curriculum
Languages: Spanish integrated through songs, books, and conversations
Ages served: 18 months to 5 years (Rockridge ages 2 through 5); includes a pre-K 'Panda Time' program
Hours: Rockridge 8:30am-5:00pm
Calendar: Year-round
Meals: Not included — families provide food
Allergy policy: Children bring their own lunch; school provides two healthy snacks each day
Staff ratios: 1:6 teacher-to-student
Potty-training: Not required
6. Grand Lake Montessori
466 Chetwood Street, Oakland, CA 94610
Montessori · Inquire
Why it stands out: Published tuition
A Montessori school serving young children in the Grand Lake area of Oakland.
Published tuition (from the school's own site)- Infant/Toddler/Primary (10-month contract, Aug-June) · 3:00-3:30pm pick-up — $3,082/month
- Infant/Toddler/Primary (10-month contract, Aug-June) · 4:00-4:30pm pick-up — $3,421/month
Fees: Deposit (first month's tuition + DEWAR tuition insurance) First month + 1.8% of annual tuition · Aftercare (until 6pm) $140/week
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Montessori (AMS and AMI affiliated); emphasis on personalized education, resilience, creativity, collaboration
Extracurricular: Art Studio, Enrichment Classes, on-site gardening/fruit trees, vegetable beds and bee-keeping program
Ages served: 12 weeks to 11 years (Infant/Nido 12 weeks-18 months; Toddler; Primary/Kindergarten; Elementary)
Hours: Drop-off 8:00-8:30am; pick-up 3:00-3:30pm or 4:00-4:30pm (by contract); aftercare until 6:00pm
7. The Children's Workshop Oakland
1937 8th Avenue, Oakland, CA 94606
Reggio-inspired · Inquire
Why it stands out: Published tuition
A Reggio-inspired, play-based preschool in the Grand Lake/Lake Merritt area of Oakland.
Published tuition (from the school's own site)- Full-time (Toddler & Preschool) · 5 full days/week — $3,087/mo ($147/day)/month
- Part-time (Toddler & Preschool) · 2-4 full days/week — $154/day
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Reggio Emilia-inspired, inquiry-driven and play-based; responsive anti-bias and anti-racist pedagogy; arts, maker, math, science and sensory explorations and project work
Ages served: 18 months to 5 years (toddler 18-23 months; preschool 24 months-5 years)
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:30pm
Meals: Included
Teacher credentials: A certified California Early Childhood Mentor Program teacher-mentoring campus; small class sizes and low child-teacher ratios (~12 teachers, 50 students)
Potty-training: Not required
8. Duck Pond Preschool
3947 Park Boulevard, Oakland, CA 94602
Reggio-inspired · Inquire
Why it stands out: ✓ State-licensed (verified) — no serious deficiencies on record
A child-led, Reggio-inspired preschool in the Glenview district of Oakland.
🛡️
State licensing record — Licensed · capacity 25 · 0 serious deficiencies (Type A) · 0 substantiated complaints · last inspected 6/17/2025.
CA Community Care Licensing · license 013418999. The state publishes counts and outcomes, not the allegation text — request the full report from CDSS with the control number.
How to read this record →9. The Renaissance International School
3650 Dimond Ave, Oakland, CA 94602
Montessori · Inquire
Why it stands out: Staff ratios listed
A Montessori school in the Dimond neighborhood of Oakland.
Fees: Enrollment application fee $100
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Montessori (whole-child, self-paced)
Languages: Language immersion in English, French, and Spanish
Extracurricular: Visual arts and Kodaly music instruction
Ages served: 2 years through junior high / 8th grade; preschool: Toddler 2-3 years, Primary 3-6 years
Staff ratios: Three teachers per classroom
Teacher credentials: At least one teacher per classroom holds Montessori credentials from a MACTE-approved program; others hold education credentials
10. The Room To Grow Preschool
5766 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94618
Reggio-inspired · Inquire
Why it stands out: Program details
A Reggio Emilia preschool in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland.
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Reggio Emilia / emergent curriculum with emphasis on outdoor learning
Extracurricular: Science, gardening, music and singing, yoga, storytelling, cooking and baking
Ages served: 3 to 5 years (inclusive mixed-age preschool)
11. Applegarden Montessori School
5667 Thornhill Drive, Oakland, CA 94611
Montessori · Inquire
See the listing for details, then confirm with the school.
A Montessori preschool in the Montclair area of Oakland.
12. Pacific Coast Montessori Program
326 51st Street, Oakland, CA 94609
Montessori · Inquire
See the listing for details, then confirm with the school.
A Montessori program in the Temescal/Rockridge area of North Oakland.
First Cubby ranks the 12 preschools it tracks in Oakland by how much verified, published information each one shares — state licensing and inspection records, published tuition, staff ratios, and program details — so you can compare the programs you can actually vet. The order is a transparency ranking, not a subjective quality score; tour your shortlist before deciding.
We order schools by the depth of verified, published data a parent can check: a verified state child-care license with a clean inspection record, published tuition, listed staff-to-child ratios, and detailed policies. We never take payment to rank a school and we never invent numbers — a blank means the school hasn't published it.
4 of the 12 programs shown have a state child-care license we verified against the official licensing database, including capacity and inspection history. Licensing is a health-and-safety floor, not a quality guarantee — always confirm a school's current status yourself.
7 of the programs here publish their tuition, shown on each listing. Cost varies by schedule and approach; our guide on how much preschool costs explains how to compare the real price, and how to afford preschool covers subsidies, TK, and Head Start.