St Mark’s Nursery School

This place is amazing!!! When you are not with your children you can feel 100% comfortable that they’re in loving, caring hands here! All of my children will go to st marks! It is intimate, every teacher knows you and your child. It is such a great atmosphere for young children!!!

My daughter has been at St Marks since she was 10 months old in 2013. We are so happy with St. Marks and all the staff. They work hard to maintain consistency and really connect with the children they care for. We plan to keep our daughter at St Marks all through her preschool years.

My son has been going to St. Marks since June 2013. He/​we love it there. All the teachers are so welcoming, there are always different activity stations for him to go to when I drop him off. In pre-​school he is learning various topics during any given month and it is posted and shared with parents. I feel like socially he has grown a lot in the last few months and he rally likes his teachers and new «buddies». There is a open door policy here and everyone (including administration) is very engaged in making sure the children are getting the best experiences. I am really enjoying the experience and if it is any testament I went to this school 36 years ago along with my brother when we were toddlers and my mother who is a 1^st grade teacher (36 years) really wanted my son here because of the environment and curriculum. A great choice if you are looking around :)

This is where you want your child to be when they’re not with you. The love, leadership, and overall passion for young children can be felt on your first visit, every visit, and on every level. It really has its own magic. My son goes to school happy and comes home happier, and says «I love school.» That’s all I need. I wish there was room for a 40 year old student!
I am so pleased my son has the opportunity to learn, explore, play, make first friendships and bloom under the roof of St. Marks. I have great gratitude and appreciation for every person that works there and makes it happen. I will always remember, and beam, when I think of his preschool experience.
Thanks St. Marks!!!

St. Mark’s Nursery School is, in fact, a loving place to grow. My kiddos are flourishing happily at this preschool. Children learn best in an environment where LOVE, RESPECT, and the ability to FEEL, TOUCH, EXPERIENCE, and GET DIRTY are all supported. When my little ones come home with shoes full of sand, washable paint on their hands and clothes, happy, and excited for the day passed, I know my huband and I have choosen the right school for them in their early and most impressionable years.
The teachers get to know each child on an individual basis. This dedication and intimacy is evident to me in the thoughtful evaluations the teachers have sent home regarding my kiddos.
We adore the teachers in St Mark’s, but want to give special mention to Mr. Hai — the one and only male teacher who is a wonderful role model to the boys in the school and who is loved by all the children on the «big» side.
Don’t be discouraged by the long wait list. Families’ priorities change all the time and others move out of the area, so you never know if the children ahead of your child on the list still intend to enroll. We started at the bottom of the wait list a couple of years back and ended up getting in the next school year without problem.

We moved to San Diego in 2010 and my youngest attended St. Mark’s Nursery School for the next 1 ½ years. I was very impressed with their program. The director, M’Lu, is outstanding. I had personal contact with Ms. Janie, Ms. Lindsey, Ms. Karen, and Ms. Rocky and they were all exceptional. Their love for young children really comes through.
I believe play IS learning for young children… it concerned me how many preschools I toured showcased the worksheets (ie: «academics») they offer in their classes. Why do we value this? St. Mark’s is on the right track… education through play, exploration, and hands-​on activities.
Most importantly, I wanted to find a program where the adults truly seemed to value and «get» young children. St. Mark’s felt like a community of families/​teachers/​staff that were all committed to nurturing the hearts and minds of the kids there. It is a unique program and I would heartily recommend it to anyone searching for a fun and engaging preschool for their child!
I agree with another reviewer… if St. Mark’s had classes for older kids we’d still be there! :)

Had a child at this school for the past four years (one moved on to elementary school as another started.) It’s a fantastic school, great teachers, and an overall positive environment. If you are looking for a play-​based approach to teaching, they’ve got it. The teachers are so good at integrating educational experiences into fun activities the kids have no idea how much they are learning. I’ve met many wonderful parents through the school as well. There isn’t a teacher at the school I’d hesitate to recommend. You really can’t go wrong with any of the staff at St. Mark’s.