Learn. Play. Grow.
Welcome to SF Tikes Academy
We now offer a part time option!
8:30am - 12:00pm Monday-Friday
Emaill info@sftikesacademy.com for more details or book a tour here!
SF Tikes Academy is a full-time, year round preschool in the heart of the vibrant SF Mission District serving children ages 18 months-5 years old including a TK program.
Our goal is for children to have that play-filled, social, joyful childhood experience that every child should have, and also to ensure that they have what they need before entering kindergarten.
Learn.
Your child will learn their ABC’s, 123’s, shapes, colors and more! We offer a thematic, hands-on, play-based learning experience covering all the developmental areas.
Play.
Our students play to their heart’s content, find their best buddies, and learn all the ins and outs of getting along with others in a group setting.
Grow.
Our students grow to become smart, aware and confident children who can navigate an ever-changing world.
Meet Our Families
“Over the last three years, both of our kids learned to ride tricycles, grew fava beans, and got silly in the gross motor room on rainy days. We love this community so much! Without fail, the teachers here are professional, warm, playful, and nurturing. There is an extraordinary level of care put into communicating with families and creating a fun and educational space for the kids to explore. SF Tikes connected us to so many families in the neighborhood, and we know we’ll continue those friendships long after we leave!”
- The Fisher-Fleig Family
“Our family has been a part of the SF Tikes community since 2017…Since then, both of our children have attended, and we could not be happier with our choice of preschools. The bilingual program is what initially drew us to the school, but it has been the teachers, educational philosophy and approach and community that have really made our children's preschool experience here so exceptional. Each teacher at SF Tikes has formed an immensely strong bond with our children, knowing their individual strengths and talents and providing a nurturing, supportive and loving environment for them to flourish alongside their peers. And as a family, we have formed an intensely strong and supportive community with the other SF Tikes families which will remain intact for years to come.”
- The Kjensli Family
Our Curriculum & Programs
English &
Spanish Immersion
We offer both, and at the time of admissions, parents can request either our Spanish immersion or regular English program. The goal of our Spanish immersion program is to increase children’s vocabulary and conversational skills in Spanish. There is no language prerequisite for either program, and all the subjects are covered in both programs!
TK/K Class
We offer a full day Transitional Kindergarten/Kindergarten class for children who miss the kindergarten age cutoff, or who simply want to stay another year before going off to kindergarten. This is popular for those families with children who turn 5 years old over the summer, as well as those who turn 5 years old in the fall!
Full Time Care
We offer full day and year round care for children for working families. No need to find a summer camp for your child! Our school year runs August - July. The school year starts the same day as SFUSD, and our winter and spring breaks are also aligned with SFUSD.
Vegetable Garden
In our sun-soaked outdoor garden space, we have raised organic garden beds where together with children, we plant seeds and seedlings, care for them and watch them grow. We grow herbs, vegetables, and flowers for pollinators!
Safety & Security
Our light and airy facility was completely renovated in 2016. We have a tall privacy fence, video doorbell access, security cameras & state of the art alarm systems, and are earthquake retrofitted.
COVID-19 Safety Plan
We follow all the latest recommendations & guidelines from the SF Department of Public Health to keep children, teachers and families safe.
“SF Tikes is a place where children can be children; have that playful, joyful, meaningful, social, hands-on experience that every child should have.”
— Sarah Shimkunas, Program Director
FAQs
Find more Frequently Asked Questions here. If there's something in particular you want to know, please contact us.
Which age groups do you serve?
We serve children from 18 months-5 years old, including toddlers, preschoolers and TK.
How many children will be in the program total?
We currently have 7 classrooms. Class sizes vary from classroom to classroom (based on square footage) and are determined by Community Care Licensing, which has licensed us for a total of 117 children.
What are the scheduling options?
5 full days a week to best accommodate working parents. We currently offer a part-time schedule of Monday-Friday 8:30am - 12:30pm. We are open all year round and require a 12 month commitment.
What is the ratio of teachers to children?
1 teacher to every 6-8 children. In the TK program, the ratio is 1:12.
What are the hours of operation?
We are open from 8:00am - 6:00pm pm Monday-Friday.
What is the holiday/break schedule?
We close for about 2 weeks around the winter holidays (same as SFUSD), a week for Spring Break (same as SFUSD), and a week in August before the school year for staff development and to prepare for the new school year.
Other holidays are: MLK Jr Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous People’s Day, Veteran's Day, and Wednesday - Friday of the week of Thanksgiving.