7 preschools near San Diego, CA, including Montessori and other private programs. Compare approach, tuition, hours, and location — then save your shortlist.
Montessori School of San Diego
1323 West Spruce Street, San Diego, CA 92103
Montessori · Inquire
A Montessori program in the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego.
🛡️ State licensing record — Licensed · capacity 132 · 0 serious deficiencies (Type A) · 0 substantiated complaints · last inspected 1/14/2026.
CA Community Care Licensing · license 376701603, 370801650. 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)
Primary & Elementary · Full Day, 8:30 AM - 3:15 PM — $14,750/year
Approach: Traditional Montessori by certified teachers; child-centered, self-paced, mixed-age (3-year cycles); practical life, sensorial, language, math, botany, zoology, history, geography, music, art
Extracurricular: Dance, art, physical education
Ages served: 18 months to 9 years
Hours: Toddler 8:00 AM-4:00 PM; Primary & Elementary 8:30 AM-3:15 PM; extended care 7:30-8:30 AM & 3:15-5:30 PM
Calendar: Academic year
Teacher credentials: Certified Montessori teachers (Montessori Institute of San Diego / Centro de Enseñanza Montessori Tijuana)
Potty-training: Required
Discipline: 'Low-key' discipline; 'The Child Comes First' philosophy
San Diego Cooperative Preschool
4190 Front Street, San Diego, CA 92103
Parent cooperative · Inquire
A parent-cooperative, play-based preschool in the Mission Hills/Hillcrest area of San Diego.
🛡️ State licensing record — Licensed · capacity 65 · 0 serious deficiencies (Type A) · 0 substantiated complaints · last inspected 7/16/2026.
CA Community Care Licensing · license 376700981, 376701351. 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)
Infant (6-24 months) · Full day 7:30am-5:30pm — $2,478/month
Toddler (18-36 months) · Half day 7:30am-12:00pm — $1,269/month
Toddler (18-36 months) · 3/4 day 7:30am-3:30pm — $1,576/month
Toddler (18-36 months) · Full day 7:30am-5:30pm — $1,777/month
Preschool (24 months+) · Half day 7:30am-12:15pm — $1,201/month
Preschool (24 months+) · Full day 7:30am-5:30pm — $1,708/month
Program details(from the school's own site)
Approach: Play-based, Reggio-inspired parent CO-OP (nonprofit since 1963); imagination, sensory perception, self-esteem, socialization, motor skills
Ages served: 6 months and up (Infant 6-24mo, Toddler 18-36mo, Preschool 24mo+)
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30am-5:30pm
Calendar: Year-round
Mission Hills Community Preschool
1211 West Lewis Street, San Diego, CA 92103
Play-based · Inquire
A play-based, Reggio-inspired preschool in the Mission Hills neighborhood of San Diego.
🛡️ State licensing record — Licensed · capacity 34 · 0 serious deficiencies (Type A) · 0 substantiated complaints · last inspected 7/23/2026.
CA Community Care Licensing · license 370800381. 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)
Standard Program · 5 days/week, 8am-1pm — $15,250/yr ($1,575/mo, 10 payments)/year
Extended Day · 8am-3:30pm (no Extended Day Thursdays) — $21,500/yr ($2,150/mo, 10 payments)/year
Ages served: 2 to 5 years (Little House 2-3; Pre-K 3-5)
Hours: 8am-1pm Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri; 8am-12pm Thu; extended care Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 1pm-3:30pm
Meals: Included
Staff ratios: Little House (ages 2-3): 1:5. Pre-K (ages 3-5): max 13 children with 2 teachers
Teacher credentials: Director holds MFA + 60 graduate units in Child & Family Studies; teachers hold BA/MA in Child Development / ECE
Potty-training: Required
Tesoro Preschool
3030 Thorn Street, San Diego, CA 92104
Play-based · Inquire
A dual-language-immersion, play-based preschool in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego.
🛡️ State licensing record — Licensed · capacity 48 · 0 serious deficiencies (Type A) · 0 substantiated complaints · last inspected 1/23/2026.
CA Community Care Licensing · license 376701538. 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 →
Extracurricular: Yoga, STEAM, Art Studio, Robotics & Coding (ages 4-5), Gardening, Music & Movement (included in tuition)
Ages served: 2 to 5 years
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00 am to 5:30 pm
Meals: Included
Teacher credentials: Staff trained in CPR & first aid; founder holds dual BA (Child Development & Psychology) + MA (Human Behavior), RBT
Potty-training: Not required
Ekobe School of Learning
4570 Mount Herbert Avenue, San Diego, CA 92117
Reggio-inspired · Inquire
A Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool in the Clairemont neighborhood of San Diego.
🛡️ State licensing record — Licensed · capacity 80 · 0 serious deficiencies (Type A) · 0 substantiated complaints · last inspected 12/4/2025.
CA Community Care Licensing · license 376105175. 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)
Infants (6-18 months) · Full Day (M-F) — $1,800/month
Toddlers (18-36 months) · Full Day (M-F) — $1,300/month
Preschool (3 years) · Full Day (M-F) — $1,250/month
Preschool (3 years) · Full Day (TTH) — $750/month
Pre-K (4-5 years) · Full Day (M-F) — $1,270/month
Language Program (Portuguese or Spanish, ages 3-5) · Twice weekly, Tue & Thu 10:00-11:00 am — $225/month
Fees: Late Pick-Up Fee (after 5:30pm, per 15 min) $50 · Delinquent account late-payment charge (per week) $35 · Returned/declined ACH payment fee $40 · Language Program registration fee $100
Program details(from the school's own site)
Approach: Reggio Emilia-inspired, emergent, play-based; Conscious Discipline + Kindness Curriculum; language via Preschool GLAD
Languages: Portuguese and Spanish (twice-weekly program, ages 3-5); states it is the only preschool in San Diego offering Portuguese
Extracurricular: Language Program (Portuguese/Spanish); Atelierista / art room
Ages served: 6 months to 5 years (Infants 6-18mo; Toddlers 18-36mo; Preschool 3yr; Pre-K 4-5yr)
Allergy policy: Nut-free preschool; no peanut/nut butters or whole nuts. Parents must disclose allergies and provide an EpiPen if needed; school dispenses only asthma inhalers and EpiPens.
Staff ratios: States child-to-teacher ratios 'lower than those required by the State of California' — no numeric ratio published
Sick policy: Must be symptom-free 24 hrs; excluded for fever ≥100°F, diarrhea/vomiting, unknown rashes, nasal/eye discharge; doctor's note to return; a sick child's sibling must also stay home
Withdrawal: 60-day written notice to the Director; full tuition due for that period
Dress code: Washable movement-friendly clothes + a full change; closed-toe/closed-heel shoes (velcro running shoes recommended); minimal jewelry under age 5
Maria Montessori School
4544 Pocahontas Avenue, San Diego, CA 92117
Montessori · Inquire
A Montessori school in the Clairemont neighborhood of San Diego.
🛡️ State licensing record — Licensed · capacity 77 · 0 serious deficiencies (Type A) · 0 substantiated complaints · last inspected 6/10/2026.
CA Community Care Licensing · license 372002147. 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)
Pre-Kindergarten · Full Day (8:15-3:00) — $16,400/year
Pre-Kindergarten · Half Day (8:15-12:15) — $13,050/year
Kindergarten · Full Day (8:15-3:00) — $16,980/year
Preschool tuition in San Diego depends on the program, the schedule (half-day vs. full-day), and the approach — Montessori and full-day private programs usually cost more than part-time or co-op options. Where a school publishes pricing it's shown on its listing above; otherwise ask the school for a current quote. Our guide on how much preschool costs shows how to compare the real price, and how to afford preschool covers subsidies, TK, and Head Start that can lower it.
What preschool approaches are available in San Diego?
First Cubby lists Montessori, play-based, cooperative and Reggio Emilia programs in San Diego, among others. Each school's approach is shown on its listing.
How much is preschool tuition in San Diego?
Preschool tuition in San Diego varies widely by program, schedule (half- vs. full-day), and approach — Montessori and full-day private programs typically cost more. Pricing is shown on a listing where the school publishes it; otherwise contact the school. Our guide on how much preschool costs explains how to compare the real price, and how to afford preschool covers subsidies and free options.
Are there Montessori preschools in San Diego?
Yes — 3 Montessori programs are listed in San Diego above. Montessori classrooms are child-led and mixed-age with hands-on materials; see our guide on what Montessori is.
Are the preschools in San Diego private?
Most standalone preschools in San Diego are private (tuition-based). Free and lower-cost options can exist too — Transitional Kindergarten, state pre-K, and Head Start — which our guides on preschool cost and how to afford preschool explain.
How do I choose a preschool in San Diego?
Shortlist nearby schools, then tour your top choices. Our guides on how to choose a preschool and the questions to ask on a tour walk you through it step by step.