Little gators preschool san francisco: Little Gators Preschool – Little Gators Preschool

Admissions — Little Gators Preschool

Watching our students grow and blossom is one of the great joys of teaching. Our responsibility as educators is to prepare our children to leave Little Gators with a love of learning. 

Rolling Admissions

Little Gators Preschool is from September – May year-round program, with a rolling admissions process so children may be accepted at any time throughout the school year. Our enrollment process is designed so that the bulk of new students enter in the fall each year. Children may be enrolled if they turn 2.0 years old by August 1st of the school year.  Our rolling admissions process allows us to accept children into the program from our wait pool if spaces become available at other times of the year. If your child turns 2 during the school year, please contact us for more information.

Age Eligibility

Age Cut-Off : September 1st

If your child turns 2 years old during the School Year, s/he would be considered for Itsy Bitsy Gators 2’s Program (8:30 – 11:00 T/Th)

If your child is 2 years old by August 1, s/he would be considered for Teeny Tiny Gators 2/3 Program (8:30 – 11:00 T/Th)

If your child is 3 years old by August 1, s/he would be considered for Little Gators 3/4 Program (8:30 – 11:30 M/W/F)

If your child is 4 years old by August 1, s/he will be considered for a Little Gators Pre-K 4/5 Program (12:00 – 3:30 M-F)

If your child is 5 years old by August 1, s/he will be considered for a Little Gators TK Program (12:00 – 3:30 M-F)

Class Sizes

Class sizes range from 20-27 children. There are 3 to 4 teachers per class. Our student-teacher ratio starts with a 6:1 ratio in the young class and does not exceed 10:1 ratio in the other classes. 

application Process

1. Download our application and send it to Little Gators Preschool with a $150.00 application fee.

2. Once we receive your application we will email you a confirmation letter.

3. Tour: We have an Open House three Saturdays throughout the year. During the tour you will have a chance to meet the director and teachers and you will be given a presentation about Little Gators as well as have time to ask questions.

4. Siblings and legacies are given priority consideration in the admissions process.

5. We have a rolling admissions process and your child may be accepted to our program at any time during the school year.

6. Admissions decisions are based on a balance for age and gender.

7. If accepted you will receive a letter via email. If your child does not receive email for the year that you have requested, he/she will remain in the wait pool, moving to the next class level, unless you specify that you want your child removed from the wait pool.

Sign Up for Tours

Our tour is an in-depth presentation about our program and philosophy presented by the director and supplemented by a slideshow. You will receive a brief tour of the facility. You will then have time to ask the director questions. Our openings vary year to year. We encourage you to visit and apply.  Please call or email in advance to reserve a spot. Adults only, please. If you would like a tour during the months of July, August, or September please call or email us to schedule one. 

Tuition and Cost

The application fee is $150.00 and is due with the application.  Please call for tuition cost. 

Where do Gator Graduates go?

Little Gators provides a lot of support during the Kindergarten application process. The director meets with the parents starting in the Spring before the child is eligible to go through the Kindergarten process.

Little Gators has a Kindergarten information night each September where the director shares important information. After the parents have had the opportunity to tour the schools we have a Kindergarten Question and Answer night. The director also has individual meetings with all of the parents throughout the process.

Little Gators advocates for each student.

Our little gators move on to…

• Bentley School

• Cathedral School for Boys

• Children’s Day

• Chinese American

• Convent of the Sacred Heart

• French American

• The Hamlin School

• Katherine Del Mar Burke School

• Kittredge School

• Live Oak School

• The Laurel School

• Marin Country Day School

• Marin Primary and Middle School

• Mount Tam

• Notre Dame Des Victoires

School Calendar

School is typically in session from the week after Labor Day until the last week of May. In general we adhere to the calendars of the Independent Elementary Schools in San Francisco. 

Program Overview — Little Gators Preschool

Staffed with the Director and two teachers, Little Gators offers three to four-year programs, each appropriate to age level of the children, gradually increases educational levels as children prepare for kindergarten. A variety of activities are designed to provide students with balance between self and teacher-directed projects in various group sizes, in both indoor and outdoor settings. Working in areas which will stimulate perceptual and muscular development, social and emotional growth, the program consists of four separate levels, each geared to the age and ability of the class as follows:

Two-Year-Old Program

For many children, this is their first experience in a structured school environment. Our goal is to introduce new concepts of letters and numbers in learning through music, art, games, stories, cooking and other activities, while providing an environment which feels safe and loving to each child. Children have the opportunity to develop friendships with their peers and teachers during this new learning process. 

 ITSY BITSY GATOR

• Tuesdays and Thursdays

• 8:30 am – 11:00 am

• If your child misses the August 1st deadline, they are able to enroll once they turn 2 years old. This can at any point during the School Year.

Teeny Tiny Gator

Three-Year-Old Program

little gator

During this crucial period of intellectual development and strengthening to peer relationships, children are continuing to learn letters and numbers, social studies, science, computer and fine and gross motor activities, in a style that shows learning is fun. 

• Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays

• 8:30 am – 11:30 am

• Must be 3 years old by August 1st

Pre-K Program

pre-k gator

For our four and five year olds, the goal of this program is to prepare children for Kindergarten. Building on the concepts introduced in the Three Year Old Program, with the addition of more advanced worksheets, phonics and educational visitors, children enhance letter and number recognition and writing skills. The class is divided into small groups in order to meet the individual needs of each child based on their level of readiness for Kindergarten. 

• Monday through Friday

• T/TH 11:00 am – 3:30 pm

• MWF 12:00 pm – 3:30 pm

• Must be 4 years old by August 1st

Transitional Kindergarten

This is for children who need to complete a second year of Pre-K before entering Kindergarten. Children who turn 5 years old during the summer before or fall of the final year of Pre-K are eligible to enroll. The T-K class meets Monday through Friday from as a part of the Pre-K class and then divided into their own T-K group. This is offered to current Little Gators as well as those who would like to experience one year at Gators before Kindergarten.