Rosenberg Early Childhood Center

Ages 2 – 5

Rosenberg Early Childhood Center is a play-based preschool and vibrant community rooted in Jewish values. We’re committed to giving children the freedom to discover their world through play at our full-day program.

Led by Senior Director Kelly Dotson, Rosenberg Early Childhood Center is located in the Inner Richmond at 325 Arguello Boulevard, just blocks from the JCCSF. Set inside the beautiful historic landmark Campfire Girls building, the school features spacious classrooms, 7,000 square feet of dedicated outdoor play areas, garden space and art studio. Children and teachers also make regular trips to the Presidio for additional outdoor time.

Our preschools are built upon shared goals, values and knowledge that deliver the highest quality experience possible. We’re committed to creating an inclusive community that’s infused with meaningful Jewish values. We celebrate holidays with our children and families throughout the year as well as a weekly Shabbat. Our program is built on the fundamental premise that children learn and understand their world through play. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, we provide a variety of opportunities for learning, exploration, creativity and self-expression. Our children leave our program fully prepared to be successful in Kindergarten.

Admissions

Tour applications are now open!

We can’t wait to welcome you and your little one to our family of preschools! Our tour season for the 2026 – 27 school year will take place from October 2025 – January 2026.

You will need to complete all three steps below for your application to be considered complete.

We’ll support you every step of the way – from applying and touring, throughout your days with us, and into the big transition to kindergarten. All three steps below must be done in order for your application to be considered complete. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Submit an Application

Any applications received after January 31, 2026 will automatically be placed on a wait list and be contacted for rolling admissions.

When you select the “Apply” button, you will be prompted to either log into your existing JCCSF account or create a new one. Once you’re logged into your account, select “Personal Information” from the settings, and under “My Household” create a new contact for your child. Then when you continue onto the application, select your child’s profile to complete the process.

APPLY

Step 2: Take a Tour

Tours are scheduled from October 2025 through January 2026. Once you submit your application, you will be invited to register for a tour.

Step 3: Fill Out a Questionnaire

After completing a preschool tour, you will receive a Post-Tour Questionnaire that needs to be returned to complete the application process.

Decision Time

Admission letters will be sent on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at noon for fall enrollment.

Enroll

After accepting your spot, you’ll receive an enrollment agreement and a non-refundable deposit is due. We maintain an active wait pool and fill additional spaces as they become available throughout the year. Families who have applied, but not toured, will still be considered for mid-year vacancies.

Financial Assistance

If you wish to apply for financial assistance, please complete your application with FACTS and submit the required documents.

We encourage all families who may need assistance to apply. At the JCCSF, we believe that quality early childhood education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances. Economic diversity enriches our classrooms, giving children a chance to learn from a wide range of experiences and perspectives.

Our Financial Assistance Program awards between 5% and 70% in aid to 95% of families who apply. We make every effort to support as many families as possible so that children can participate in our programs and thrive as part of our community. If you think financial aid could make a difference for your family, we warmly invite you to apply.

Visit our financial assistance page to learn more.

HELPFUL REMINDERS

To be considered for enrollment in the 2026 – 2027 school year, your child must be 2 years old by September 1, 2026.
You must complete all three steps of the application process.
Only one application is required for admission to all three preschools.

Questions about applying or touring? Contact [email protected].

We embrace diversity and believe that every child deserves a welcoming, supportive environment to learn and grow. We are committed to fostering an inclusive community where all families, regardless of culture, family structure, language, racial identity, gender, religious beliefs or economic class are welcome.

Dates & Rates

Rosenberg 11-Month Program

August 2025 – July 2026

8:00 am – 6:00 pm

$38,460/ year

Children gardening with a teacher at Rosenberg Early Childhood Center.

FAQs

What is Reggio-Emilia philosophy and how is it applied?

Over forty years of dedicated work from Reggio Emilia inspires us to further think about the rights of children, their autonomy, and to listen for what they know and want to know. This will challenge our inherited impulses to contain, correct, and guard children. Observing, documenting, reflecting, designing, and experimenting on the teachers’ part will make this ongoing shift possible. The listening and observation teachers do will enhance their ability to create sensitive contexts for children’s play and learning and then teachers can truly recognize the insights the children and small group work can bring.

What does a typical day at Rosenberg look like?

After welcoming the children to school, we begin the day with a time of open exploration that can include art, blocks, dramatic play, manipulation, writing or quiet time. A mid-morning snack and meeting then take place before we move into a small group facilitated experience like music or gardening. We then head outside for some playtime before lunch. Children then transition to a rest period with either a nap or meditation before the afternoon continues with another small-group experience and more time playing outside or going on a walk. The afternoon starts to wind down with a final meeting before preparing to be picked up.

What makes Rosenberg different from Helen Diller and Brotherhood Way?

Rosenberg is an 11-month full-day program serving children ages 2 – 5 in a historical cottage nestled within the Inner Richmond District. Rosenberg has two large play yards and a bountiful garden for children to explore.

Does my child need to be Jewish to enroll?

We welcome children of all faiths and backgrounds to apply. Neither your child nor your family need to be Jewish to apply or enroll.

What is Transitional Kindergarten?

Transitional Kindergarten is programming built into our JCCSF preschools and bridges preschool and kindergarten, giving children the confidence, skills, and academic readiness they need for a smooth transition to elementary school. For more information, visit the TK California website here: https://tkcalifornia.org/parents/

Navigating the Kindergarten Process

Graduating from preschool to kindergarten is a big step! Did you know that 90% of our preschool families get into one of their top two choices of kindergartens? Our enrollment support process can help you get a spot in local programs like Brandeis, San Francisco Day School, Burkes, Town School for Boys, San Francisco Friends School, Hamlin, Convent, Stuart Hall, Marin Country Day School, Live Oak and more. Listen below as Diller site director Karla Cianci shares how the JCCSF family of preschools can help your family navigate the tricky and stress-inducing SF kindergarten process.

Meet the Team

Thank You To Our Sponsors

The school's approach, space, and leadership team foster an environment that builds good kids. During our time there, the parent community provided wonderful support and camaraderie as well.

Donald C.

Rosenberg Early Childhood Center Parent

Two of our children attended Rosenberg for three years each and we can say, without a doubt, that the experience was a transformative one for each of them. The environment, the staff, the facility and the parent community were all exceptional and the bonds of friendship formed in the Rosenberg community will last us a lifetime.

Jonathan K.

Parent

Staff are trained and coached to really listen to the kids and understand their needs before deciding how to work with them. The result are children who have a strong sense of who they are and their own agency in the world.

Margot L.

Parent

How Rosenberg adapted to COVID really highlights its strengths . . . [The teachers] talk with the kids and really engage the whole child in understanding why things are different and why it's okay because it keeps us all safe. I am so grateful to have Rosenberg as a partner in parenting during this experience and being apart of the Rosenberg community has been an incalculable benefit.

Natalie F.

Parent

Get in Touch

Contact Us

Have a question about Rosenberg Early Childhood Center? Reach out to our team — we’d love to hear from you!

Rosenberg Early Childhood Center