East Bay Preschool Guide

24 Hour OPTCC's play based program supports children ages 2-5 in developing social, emotional, and cognitive skills through meaningful, hands-on learning. They honor each child's growth and individuality. Subsidized child development services are available for families who qualify.

Aurora School has partnered with Mills College Children's School to add transitional kindergarten to their K-8 program. The curriculum includes language & literacy, math, science, art, Spanish, music, PE, and woodworking with a focus on social-emotional learning, community-building.

Warm, loving adult authority, a calming rhythm of homelike activities, and ample outdoor free play allow your child to relax into their first school experience. At Berkeley Rose, they will be valued in the community while learning who they are as individuals.

Bloomers is a play based in-home preschool program in the Glenview neighborhood of Oakland. Children have hands on opportunities for art, storytelling, math, cooking, science, yoga, music, movement, and imaginative play. They have a library of over 1000 children's books, a children's garden, and hours outside every day. LGBTQ+ Welcome.

Broadmoor Preschool is a parent-operated cooperative offering a nurturing, play-based learning environment. With experienced directors, engaging activities, and a strong sense of community, they foster creativity, social skills, and early education foundations. Enroll today for joyful learning!

Broadway Children’s School of Oakland is a diverse, play-based community preschool that has been building community in Oakland since 1952. Programs reflect the belief that every child is unique and special. They nurture and encourage that sense of individuality so that each child will develop within his or her own framework.

Founded in Berkeley in 1927, CCC is a parent co-op preschool with a deep legacy in play-based, anti-bias education. Parents/caregivers and longtime teaching staff collaborate to support children in valuing differences and resolving conflicts, while sprawling outdoor spaces and gardens inspire exploration and nature play. Tuition is sliding scale

Curious Explorers Academy offers a hybrid play-academic approach to Preschool and TK! Their wonderful teachers work with students to prepare them for Kindergarten, with a focus on social emotional development with flexible schedules, low student teacher ratios and accept subsidy programs (Coco Kids, BANANAS, etc).

The EBGIS Early Childhood Program offers bilingual English and German immersion, and a play-based and project-oriented approach widely used in Europe. The EBGIS preschool and kindergarten serve children aged two to five. No prior knowledge of German is required.

For nearly 50 years, Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley has been an innovator in Preschool-8th Grade bilingual education, cultivating confident, creative and adaptable learners with a unique, immersive dual-curriculum in French and English. The Maternelle program begins at age 2.

EBI’s pe-kinder Spanish immersion program provides a nurturing learning environment where students explore their environment through play. Rooted in the International Baccalaureate (IB) with Reggio Emilia influences, our youngest students are engaged in learning and socio-emotional development.

Explorer Children’s School is a play-based, joy-FULL, Reggio-inspired early childhood program with a strong STEM and art-in-all-its-forms focus. Children learn through hands-on exploration and purposeful play in beautiful, intentional environments, while developing strong social-emotional skills. Math and literacy are seamlessly woven into each day

Gan Ilan, or “Garden of the Trees,” is Temple Isaiah’s preschool, licensed to enroll 18 months to Pre-K, prioritizing members of Temple Isaiah. Children engage in active learning through exploration and play with peers and teachers infused with foundational Jewish values and concepts.

Golestan School's Persian immersion program blends Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio approaches in natural environments. We emphasize empathy, communication, music, practical life skills, process-focused art, and nature exploration through emergent, interest-driven curriculum that helps children thrive.

Grand Lake Montessori has been serving families since 1978. They have a beautiful two acre campus in the heart of Oakland with Montessori trained teachers and a tight knit community. They enroll children from 12 weeks - 6 years old.

Hearts Leap Schools — where learning begins with heart. Nestled in beautiful, nurturing spaces in Berkeley, Oakland and Kensington, they offer child-centered emergent curriculum, grounded in kindness and curiosity. Every child is supported to grow into a confident, creative learner.

Now in Rockridge, The JCC East Bay Preschool offers nurturing, relationship-based programs that integrate Jewish values with anti-bias education. Focusing on the whole child, the preschool builds social-emotional growth and critical thinking—the foundation for lifelong learning and inclusive community.

KSS Spanish Immersion Preschools offers PK2–TK in a nurturing, play-based, Spanish-only environment. With four Bay Area campuses, children build confidence, curiosity, and friendships while learning from native-Spanish-speaking educators in a joyful, Reggio Emilia-inspired setting. Program starts at age 2.

L’Academy is expanding from Kensington/Berkeley to Albany, Pleasanton, and Pleasant Hill in 2026. Infant–Pre-K preschool & daycare feature Mandarin and Spanish immersion, nurturing teachers, and a blend of Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and play-based learning to build bilingual skills & kindergarten readiness.

At The Little Schools, children (18 mos-5 yrs) learn through play and connection, exploring and creating in a bright, cozy indoor/outdoor environment. Drawing from Montessori, Reggio, Waldorf, and project-based approaches, the school fosters discovery and is where lifetime friendships begin.

M.O.M. is a mixed-age preschool serving children from 32 months through 5 years of age with an intimate 5:1 student-teacher ratio. M.O.M. is a thoughtfully designed environment where learning is a joyful pursuit. Due to a distinctive TK program, graduates step into kindergarten well prepared intellectually, socially, and emotionally.

Northern Light School’s Montessori preschool inspires a joy for learning and discovery in a nurturing, inclusive environment. Children develop independence, concentration, coordination, and confidence at their own pace while fostering creativity, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.

Peter Pan is a parent-led co-op nursery school in Oakland, offering a low 1:4 teacher-child ratio in a play-based, mixed-age (2-6) environment. Community, inclusivity, and fostering child autonomy are central to its pedagogy, with monthly parent education included.

Prospect Sierra’s transitional kindergarten is designed for four- and five-year-olds who are ready to learn by doing. The program is designed to help students to develop empathy, find joy in learning, and cultivate strong pre-academic skills.

Play-based parent cooperative located in the beautiful Sequoia Lodge in the Oakland Hills. Diverse community of 30 families, 1 director, and 1 teacher supporting children as they grow emotionally, physically, socially, and intellectually. Oakland non-profit preschool since 1947.

Shu Ren International School in Berkeley offers PK2–Grade 5 in a joyful, inquiry-based environment. Through Mandarin immersion and the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, students grow as confident, creative, and globally minded learners within a caring community.

Sunshine Preschool and Childcare offers a year-round, play-based program for children ages 2 to 5. Their inclusive approach encourages creativity, communication, and active learning. With a low 5:1 child-to-teacher ratio, each child receives personalized care and support.

Temple Beth Sholom (TBS) Preschool is a nurturing early childhood program for ages 2–5, where children learn through creativity, connection, and ample outdoor exploration. Rooted in Jewish values and open to families of all backgrounds. Enrollment is open now.

The Berkeley School's multi-age Early Childhood classrooms incorporate elements of Montessori and Reggio Emilia pedagogies in an environment that invites children to learn through sensorial experiences, practical life activities, art-making, language exploration, inquiry, wonder, and play.

The Lake School celebrates 45 years serving Oakland as a non-profit play-based preschool for children ages 2-6! Core classes meet from 2-5 days per week until 12:45. Create your child’s schedule with Enrichment and Aftercare programs offered daily until 5 pm.

Located in the heart of North Berkeley since 1966, The New School offers a nurturing, engaging preschool experience rooted in creativity, play and community. They are a full day program from 8 am-6 pm serving children ages 2-5 years old. New School also offers an afterschool program with transportation for BUSD elementary school children.

TRIS Montessori program, designed for children aged 2 to 6, develops the whole child academically, socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively. A strong art and music curriculum, as well as French/English or Spanish/English immersion options lay the groundwork for creative expression, bilingualism, and cultural awareness from an early age.