Foundations
Montessori Curriculum
Hands-on materials in language, math, science, geography, botany, and zoology.
Established 1988 · Encinitas, CA
Joyful learning for curious little hearts.
Montessori prepared environments and warm, credentialed teachers — a home-like setting for your child's first steps into school. Mommy & Me, Preschool, and Kindergarten.
35+years serving Encinitas
2–6year-olds welcomed
1:8typical ratio
Sunlight, wood, and purposeful play.
A Note from the Director
"Come see the beautiful home-like environment we've prepared for your child."
The preschool years are a joyful time, full of wonder and excitement for the little things grown-ups take for granted. At our school on Encinitas Boulevard, you'll find the perfect combination of learning and nurturing you've been seeking. I understand how difficult it is to make a decision about your child's first placement away from home — it will be my joy to show you around and answer any questions.
— The Director
Our Approach
A Montessori program with a traditional overlay.
Hands-on Montessori materials let children learn the fundamentals at their own pace while satisfying their need for movement. Pre-kindergarten classes are prepared to teach reading and math through early elementary levels, with conversational Spanish in kindergarten.
Community
Warm & Loving
A nurturing environment where every child feels secure, valued, and encouraged.
Expression
Creative Arts
Exploring color, texture, and technique across painting, sculpture, and mixed media.
Rhythm
Music & Movement
Weekly music with Orff instruments and gymnastics — included with tuition.
Character
Character Education
Honesty, courage, courtesy, and service woven through daily classroom life.
Global
Cultural Studies
Appreciation for the world's traditions, languages, and shared humanity.
The Montessori Difference
Children learning at their own pace, with their own hands.
Manipulative phonics, math, reading, and language materials transform abstract concepts into something children can see, hold, and master. Movement, repetition, and self-correction are built into every lesson — the way young children naturally learn best.
See our daily program →Included With Tuition
In-school special programs
Music with Mrs. Crawford
Weekly Orff instruments, solfege singing, and movement activities develop rhythm, pitch, melody, and harmony in joyful, age-appropriate ways.
Gymnastics with Erich's Mobile Gym
A husband-and-wife team brings basic gymnastics training and body awareness to our young students each week — coordination, agility, and self-discipline through play.
Serving North County San Diego
A trusted Montessori preschool for Encinitas & neighboring beach towns.
Families come to us from across Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Leucadia, Olivenhain, Carlsbad, and Solana Beach for our hands-on Montessori curriculum, private kindergarten, and parent-child Mommy & Me classes.
- ◆Encinitas, CA
- ◆Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA
- ◆Leucadia, CA
- ◆Olivenhain, CA
- ◆Carlsbad, CA
- ◆Solana Beach, CA
Frequently Asked
Questions Encinitas parents ask us most.
- What ages do you accept at your preschool?
- We welcome children from 18 months through 6 years across three programs: Mommy & Me (18m–2.5), Preschool (2.5–5), and Kindergarten (5–6).
- How much does preschool cost in Encinitas?
- Tuition varies by program and schedule — full-time, part-time, AM/PM, or drop-in. Weekly music and gymnastics are included with tuition. Contact our office for a current tuition sheet.
- Do you offer extended day care?
- Yes. Extended day care is available with full-time, part-time, AM/PM, and drop-in plans to fit your family's schedule.
- Can I tour the school before enrolling?
- Absolutely. We invite every family to schedule a tour, observe a classroom in session, and meet the director before enrolling.
Come visit. Sit in on a class. See if we're the right fit.
We invite interested families to take a tour, observe our classrooms, and join one of our Mommy & Me sessions for little ones not yet ready for preschool.