We’re so glad you’re here.

A school for children between the ages of 2½ and 5 with a play-based curriculum in the heart of San Francisco since 1974.

Pacific Primary offers full-day, year-round programming grounded in play, curiosity, and belonging. Our caring teachers, expressive arts, and strong family community help children thrive, today and for life.

What makes Pacific Primary special

About Pacific Primary

Nurturing children through play, relationships, creativity, and community.

Our play-based, emergent curriculum is designed to spark curiosity and support the whole child. Children explore art, music, movement, nature, and storytelling while developing confidence, independence, and a love of learning.

The skills children practice here every day (solving problems, working through conflict peacefully, making friends, and caring for others) are skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives.

Learn more about our approach
A teacher and children exploring together in the classroom A child wearing a hand-made Peace Parade hat Children building together with colorful blocks

Explore the school

**re-posted** 
Last week the Prairie Dog teachers put out the leftover big paper from our Professional Development Day.
**re-posted** Last week the Prairie Dog teachers put out the leftover big paper from our Professional Development Day. It sat in the classroom for two days before a child started using it as a place to hide treasures, and then trying to twirl it into a skirt. The rest was chaotic fun for everyone! The Prairie Dogs are 3-4 years old and have generally moved beyond parallel play to cooperative, engaged play that incorporates other children and their ideas. #playbasedlearning #pacificprimary #earlychildhoodeducation #sfpreschool #letthemplay
We’d love to tell you about our play-based, child-centered program in the heart of San Francisco. Join us and other SF p
We’d love to tell you about our play-based, child-centered program in the heart of San Francisco. Join us and other SF preschools on October 22nd! #sfpreschool #sanfranciscopreschool #sfearlychildhood #preschoolfair #pacificprimary
A huge thank you to Tommaso from Embodied Learning who came in today and inspired us to find the joy and freedom of expl
A huge thank you to Tommaso from Embodied Learning who came in today and inspired us to find the joy and freedom of exploration and play, just like the children do every day. Reggio Emilia teaches us that children are capable investigators of the world and that our job is to step back and let them learn by doing. Thank you Tommaso! #playbasedpreschool #reggioemiliaapproach #pacificprimary #sanfranciscopreschool @embodiedlearning
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We hope to see you soon at a Folk Dance or All-School Singalong! Best way to spend a Friday afternoon, if you ask us. #p
We hope to see you soon at a Folk Dance or All-School Singalong! Best way to spend a Friday afternoon, if you ask us. #pacificprimary #earlychildhoodeducation #communitysingalong #musiceducation #allireallyneed
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The new and improved OSS yard is open for play and exploration! This project has been a labor of love from many communit
The new and improved OSS yard is open for play and exploration! This project has been a labor of love from many community members, years in the making. #pacificprimary
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I’ll be taking over our feed (with the help of others!) while our Instagram maven, Sabine, is away on maternity leave. L
I’ll be taking over our feed (with the help of others!) while our Instagram maven, Sabine, is away on maternity leave. Let’s hope I can muster up half the social media savvy she has… #pacificprimary #sfpreschool #playbasedpreschool #playbasedlearning #earlychildhood
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Three young friends with their arms around each other

Alumni

Once a Pacific Primary child, always part of our community.

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A Pacific Primary teacher working with children

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Two children painting at an easel

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