Our Process

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. Click on this application link and complete the google form.

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.