At Calvary Nursery School, we place great value on learning through the process of exploration. Our hope is to guide children in making meaningful connections as they investigate their environment and the people around them. This is why we honor child-initiated play as a major tenet of our program. Above all else, we honor each individual child and his or her strengths. We cultivate a climate of respect and warmth, where a child can build lasting relationships with other children and teachers, and find out what it means to be an important part of the group. This focus on social and emotional development, fostering good will, and general esteem for others is at the core of the Calvary program.

Each year, we typically have 30 to 33 openings for incoming students. Some of these spaces are filled by priority applicants, which include siblings, legacies, and active members of Calvary Presbyterian Church. All other applicant families are considered equally, and we give every application our full and thoughtful attention.

Siblings of current and former students are the first to be considered for spots in the upcoming year. Whenever possible, we also honor legacy applicants and active members of Calvary Presbyterian Church. We build each class around these applicants, with attention to a balance of ages and genders. The remaining spaces are then offered to families new to our community. In a typical year, roughly 70% of our openings go to new families.

Children must be 2.5 years of age to begin our program. The current admissions season is open to March 15, 2025 birthdays or older. To express interest in a future admissions season, please fill out our inquiry form: https://www.calvarynurseryschoolsf.org/inquiry-form

Calvary Nursery School graduates go on to a wide range of independent, parochial, and public schools across the San Francisco Bay Area. In recent years, these have included Alta Vista, Burke's, Cathedral School for Boys, Claire Lilienthal, Convent & Stuart Hall, George Peabody, Hamlin, Marin Country Day, Marin Horizon, Mount Tamalpais, Notre Dame des Victoires, San Francisco Day, San Francisco Friends, Sherman Elementary, St. Vincent de Paul, Town School for Boys, and more.

Families are welcome to submit an inquiry form any time after their child is born. Formal applications open once your child is eligible for the upcoming admissions season.

Yes. We value socioeconomic diversity in our community, and financial assistance is available to eligible families. Please reach out to admissions@calvarynurseryschoolsf.org with any questions.