CHALLENGE SCHOOL SAN CARLOS

Hours

Hours change without the licence record changing. Call before you plan a drop-off around these times.

Licensing visits on record

California records 0 routine inspection visits and no visits prompted by a complaint to CHALLENGE SCHOOL SAN CARLOS.

Amenities and accessibility

Reported on the provider's Google business listing, not verified by the state.

How the reviews split

The 4.7 average comes from 14 Google reviews. An average hides whether opinion is consistent or divided, so the spread is shown too.

• 5 star13
• 4 star0
• 3 star0
• 2 star0
• 1 star1

From Google

Recent parent reviews

• ★★★★★

  My 3 kiddos have attended 4 different preschools over the last 6 years (thanks to COVID and Google daycare closing...) and we're so happy to have finally found Challenge, where kids get to learn in both Mandarin Chinese and English. The school offers a great mix of play and learning, and the kids also get opportunities to perform in front of family and friends. My daughter often comes home excited to show us the latest song she's learned and new dance moves. She was also reading simple English books by the time she graduated - which is really impressive for a bilingual school! The teachers are engaging, generous and warm, and they put in so much care and heart into what they do. And we're extremely thankful the school has a hot lunch option (with veggies!), which is extremely rare to find at a preschool. There are so many good things to say about this school it's really difficult to do it justice in a short post...!

  Christina JainJun 13, 2026
• ★★★★★

  We've had a great experience at this school. The teachers are dedicated, creative and loving. You can tell that the owner has parents' needs in mind - option for lunch, extended hours. The facility is great - neighborhood location with a big backyard. My daughter's Chinese improved a lot within just a few months. Honestly I have absolutely no complaints about the school.

  Ting Chen EvangelistaJun 13, 2026
• ★★★★★

  Challenge School has been such a special part of our daughter’s early childhood experience. The teachers are warm, engaging, and truly care about the children, creating an environment where they feel supported, confident, and excited to learn. The school offers a wonderful range of resources and enrichment programs, including English, music, and dance, giving children opportunities to develop academically, socially, and creatively. One of the things we appreciate most is the strong sense of community. The teachers and parents are incredibly supportive, and the school does a fantastic job organizing events and celebrations that bring families together. We recommend Challenge School to other families. If we could change one thing, it would be finding this school sooner. We feel very fortunate to have been part of such a caring and vibrant community

  Jessica PhanJun 12, 2026
• ★★★★★

  We’ve sent both our kids here and they absolutely love it there. The teachers are extremely warm and supportive, they have become like family to us. We’ve also connected with so many families and found a tremendous community of like minded families in the area. The San Carlos location is on the former KinderCourt preschool building with large classrooms filled with natural light and a good sized play area. But it’s really the teachers and the community that has been the highlight over the last 5 years (we were previously on the Belmont campus).

  Lily ChengJun 12, 2026
• ★★★★★

  My daughter has been at Challenge School belmont campus for 2 years. She is having fun at school everyday and loves the school and the teachers there. From day one, it's been clear that the teachers are not only dedicated but also genuinely caring and patient, which has made a world of difference for my daughter who took some time adjusting to a new environment. The environment at Challenge School is incredibly nurturing, and it's evident that the teachers know each child individually. They go above and beyond to accommodate different needs, which has helped my daughter build confidence and feel comfortable expressing herself. The daily activities are not only fun but also educational, ranging from crafts and role-playing to planting and even making ice cream! They also had short field trips to the post office to mail their first valentine's day letter! One of the standout features for us has been the bilingual education. In the Blueberry (2yr-old) class, the entire curriculum is in Mandarin, which has been fantastic for my daughter's language development. As she transitioned to the Strawberry (3yr-old) class, she began learning English alongside Chinese, with dedicated teachers for each language. Beyond language skills, the school places a strong emphasis on social and emotional development. In Blueberry, the focus was on adapting to school routines and learning self-care, while in Strawberry, it shifted to teaching manners, cooperation, and empathy. It's been incredible to see my daughter grow not just academically but also in terms of her social skills and independence. Overall, our experience with Challenge School has been overwhelmingly positive. We've watched our daughter blossom in ways we couldn't have imagined, and we owe a huge thanks to the wonderful teachers and staff who have been instrumental in her growth. If you're looking for a preschool where your child will be nurtured, challenged, and supported every step of the way, Challenge School is an excellent choice.

  Xiaoli, Shirley WangJun 26, 2024
• ★★★★★

  My son has been at this school for almost 3 years. Compared to other daycares my two kids have been in (and we've tried 4 other Mandarin ones), Challenge is organized and welcoming of parents. They get a well-rounded Chinese and English education. They have time to explore and play and still learn the fundamentals like the alphabet and so on. They have building toys, sensory bins, special art and science projects, Chinese cultural performances, field trips, you name it they've probably done it. The teachers are generally very good, although like all day cares they sometimes have a hard time retaining the best ones, but that's pretty typical. The director Jenny is great, very communicative and on top of things. In terms of actually learning Chinese, they do their best. The kids are split, some speak mostly Chinese and some mostly English. There's usually one Chinese speaking teacher and one English-speaking, and activities like circle time are also split half Chinese half English. My son definitely understands Chinese but he aggressively refuses to speak although the teachers do their best, that's more on him than them. He has also sometimes been a problem child and they are patient and do their best to work with him while still making sure all the kids are happy and safe. I'm also glad it's in the same system as Challenge Afterschool, which is a big bonus. Next year, my son will join my daughter and several of his preschool classmates there!

  Alicia ChenJun 23, 2024

Reviews shown verbatim as published on Google Maps.