Early Care
Wah Mei offers early care and education programs that are focused on the “whole child”. Across our spectrum of programming we offer a caring, safe and fun environment that nurtures each child’s unique strengths, as well as a promise for high-quality early care and education.
Classroom Locations
Sunset / Main Office
1400 Judah Street, San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 665-4212
M-F 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Ages:
2 Years 9 months to 5 years old
Civic Center (Temporarily Closed)
90-7th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 554-8100
Ages:
6 weeks to 5 years old
Financial District
75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 363-0337
M-F 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Ages:
Ages 6 weeks to 5 years old
Sample Schedule
Take a peek at a vibrant day in our preschool, where imaginative learning and nurturing care intertwine to foster holistic development in our young learners!
Sample Menu
We provide breakfast, lunch, and snacks that are Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) compliant and prepared by our in-house certified chef.
Promise of High-Quality early care and education
Quality Rating and Improvement System
A Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) is a systemic approach to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early and school-age care and education programs.
A quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) provides a framework for defining high-quality early care and education centers and family child care homes.
California has a collective of county and regional QRISs. Each QRIS in California:
Assesses program quality comparably across provider types (publicly and privately funded, centers and family child care homes) throughout the state;
Aligns program standards with early learning and practitioner standards;
Supports continuous quality improvement for participating programs and their staff;
Provides families with information about program quality to assist them in making informed choices.
Wah Mei holds a QRIS tier level of 5, the highest possible tier.
*More information about the QRIS can be found here
NAEYC Accreditation System
NAEYC is the professional association advancing high-quality early childhood education for children from birth through age 8. They support educators and programs across the field through research-based resources, professional development, accreditation, advocacy, conferences, publications, and community connection.
Accreditation signals to families, educators, and policymakers that a program prioritizes high-quality learning experiences and continuous improvement.
Wah Mei holds a 5-year NAEYC Accreditation+ at our Financial District site.
*More information about the NAEYC can be found here
Tuition Rates & Financial Assistance
Monthly Tuition
| Child Age | Price * |
|---|---|
| Infant (6 weeks - 24 months) | $3,440 |
| Toddler (25 - 35 months) | $2,915 |
| Preschool (36+ months) | $2,380 |
Over 90% of our families qualify for financial assistance, please contact us to find out more on tuition options.
* Plus an additional $75 processing fee for all applications
* Fees Subject to Change
How do I apply?
Interested in learning more? Please fill out the Interest Form.
To join the private pay waitlist, please complete the Early Care and Education Application and submit it with the $75 processing fee by email at preschool@wahmei.org or mail to our Main Office at 1400 Judah Street, San Francisco, CA 94122.
Only completed applications with payment secure placement on the waitlist. Once received, we will confirm your status. When a spot opens, we will contact the next family in line.
Families enrolling through local or state-funded programs complete a separate eligibility certification process and are not placed on the waitlist.
Site Tour
Interested in a site tour of our early childhood education sites? (0-5yrs old)
We do tours every 2nd Tuesday and Thursday for our Judah site and every 2nd Tuesday for our Financial District site.
Testimonial
“As an adult, I can now realize that both of these programs embraced me as a whole person, without dissecting and categorizing me into parts. My two home languages were taught side by side, and my two cultural identities were modeled with everyday normalcy. Through these programs, appreciating two cultures wasn't something that was unique to my family and families like us, but rather something that all the children and teachers were part of.”
— Kelly Wong McGrath, Alumni
FAQ: Early Care
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Yes, we offer and can help you enroll in Local and State-funded programs that help pay for tuition:
California State Preschool Program (CSPP)California Department of Education (CDE) funded program serving 2 through 4-year-olds in California
Determined by eligibility (ex., income, families experiencing homelessness, child receives protective services, or identified as at risk) and need (why the child needs childcare; ex., parents are employed, seeking employment/housing, enrolled in vocational school, parents are incapacitated)
General Childcare Program (CCTR)California Department of Social Services (CDSS) funded program serving infants and toddlers in California
Determined by eligibility (ex., income, families experiencing homelessness, child receives protective services, or identified as at risk) and need (why the child needs childcare; ex., parents are employed, seeking employment/housing, enrolled in vocational school, parents are incapacitated)
Early Learning for All (ELFA) Fully Funded or Tuition Creditfunded by the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood (DEC)
If your family meets the income eligibility requirements, you may qualify for tuition coverage or a credit applied toward our published tuition rate.
DEC FY 2025-2026 Family Income Eligibility Chart
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Yes, breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack will be provided by our Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) compliant Food Program at no additional cost.
Please check out our sample menu above.
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No, potty training is not required for enrollment. We understand children develop at their own pace. For preschoolers who are not yet potty trained, our teachers will partner with families to implement a potty training support plan. This plan is a standard part of our approach and ensures consistent support between home and school, helping promote the child’s progress in a positive and developmentally appropriate way.
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For further questions and tour inquiries, please email us at preschool@wahmei.org or call us at (415) 665-4212.
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Our hours of operation are 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Program schedules vary by location and type of enrollment (private pay or government-funded programs).
For families in subsidized programs, hours of service are determined based on eligibility guidelines. Additionally, families may choose to participate in our extended care options from 8:00–9:00 AM and 5:00–6:00 PM when space is available.
We strive to be flexible and accommodate the needs of every family. Please reach out so we can find the best schedule to support your child and family.
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Yes. Our program offers exposure to both Cantonese and Mandarin. While each classroom primarily uses its designated language, children hear and use both through cultural celebrations, special events, and shared activities. Those in extended care also have daily opportunities to interact with peers from other classrooms, creating additional natural exposure to both languages.
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Children can remain enrolled at Wah Mei until they are age-eligible for kindergarten. Some families choose to transition to transitional kindergarten (TK), while others stay with us until they begin kindergarten the following school year.
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Attending Wah Mei does not give official priority for SFUSD immersion schools. However, it can help children develop Chinese skills that may improve their performance on the language assessment, which can strengthen their chances in the school’s enrollment lottery.