Glenridge Cooperative Nursery School

Glenridge Cooperative Nursery School is truly a MAGICAL place. My son only had the privilege to attend Glenridge for 1 year before he went off to Kindergarten, but it was an amazing transitional year for us all. The teachers, staff & parents are more than amazing, they became like family, whom we trust and know would watch out for our children. The best part for me was being part of a community who loves the children, loves learning, and continues to learn along with the children.
We will never forget Glenridge, always in our hearts & such a magical canyon.

Glenridge is a GREAT preschool that is not just a school; it’s a community of hard working San Francisco families who appreciate the environment, want their children to be able who they are, and be exposed to diverse families/​fun family experiences (camping trips, hikes, picnics, etc.)
The school is a Coop so, parents’ opinions are heard and it’s a lot of work. Our household is of 2 FT working parents and we were able to make the commitment (but had to manage our time strategically). Great elements of the schools: teachers are wonderful with the children, playing outdoors in the rain, utilization of the canyon as a learning tool, and parents work together.

I was lucky enough to come here for 3 full years, and I have so many wonderful childhood memories of this place. It’s in glen canyon, and those of you who grew up in SF probably know it as silver tree, and those of you who grew up in sf and liked to drink in parks, will know the upper area of glenrigde really well, the fire pits, ect.
This preschool really helped me grow as a kid, I stil talk to some of the friends I made while going to school here. I’m sure all the staff has changed since my day. but I still remember Barbara’s pancake breakfasts that I would insist my mother bid on at the auctions every year. going here you’ll also spend a lot of time hiking in the woods, learning about different plants and animals. I remember getting to hold snakes, and taking care of flower beds. Holidays are a ton of fun here. In my day, they crafted up fake leprechauns and would send us out hunting for gold.
officially stopping rant here.
In all seriousness, I’m really glad I went to a more… creatively structured pre-​school like this, even though we didn’t spend much (if any?) time learning to read or write, or numbers. We grew socially and imaginatively. They helped us develop how we saw the world, and I will sometimes credit my architectural inklings to this.
I know my mother put in a lot of time helping out here, and I loved seeing her in my pre-​school, and spending time with her making snacks in the kitchen for my school mates.
My younger brother came here as well for 2 years, he loved it just as much as I did. I think every child should be given a chance to run free like I did here, it’s good for the soul.

Glenridge is an AMAZING preschool. Our son was so lucky to have gone here for three years. It’s located IN Glen Canyon park (the same building that the city uses for the Silver Tree day camp in the summer). You hike into the canyon each day — enjoying the scenery with your child. Kids at this school get to play in the canyon, turning over rocks to look for salamanders, digging in the mud, walking on logs as balance beams. It’s hard to believe that it’s in the middle of the city.
The staff are wonderful. The director of the school is the perfect blend of warm and fuzzy with a solid knowledge of early childhood development. The other teachers and energetic and fun. Most of all, the level of respect and care that they give to each and every child at the school is truly commendable.
It’s a parent co-​operative school, meaning that the parents are required to work part of the time in the classroom, as well as working an adminstrative, fundraising or maintenance task. It takes a big commitment as parents to be part of this school (and it could be a tough place to be if both parents work full time). But the payoff is completely worth it. You’d be hard-​pressed to find a better preschool environment for your kids. And as parents, you end up making lasting friendships with the other families at the school.