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Preschools/CA/San Francisco/Chinese American International School
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Chinese American International School

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Ages
Ages 2–5
Teacher ratio
1:12 (CA min)

3250 19th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132

Visit website ↗(415) 865-6088Directions ↗Licensed for 120
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Licensing & safety record

Citations on file
1
Complaint visits
0
Last visit
6/10/2025
Total visits
3

Citations are part of routine licensing oversight and range from minor (Type B) to serious (Type A). A citation alone doesn't mean a program is unsafe — read the full reports for context.

Source: California Dept. of Social Services, Community Care Licensing (updated 2025-09-29). View official inspection reports →

About this preschool

Chinese American International School offers Mandarin immersion education from preschool through eighth grade, with the preschool program (ages 2-5) featuring full immersion instruction in Mandarin. The school is the first Mandarin immersion school in the US and has 44 years of innovation in bilingual education.

Philosophy
Developed by the community in 2019, CAIS Core Values include Inclusion (belongingness and care for all), Kindness (supporting each other with kind words and actions), Perseverance (pushing through difficulties), Courage (taking risks and responsibility), and Curiosity (wondering about the world and pioneering new possibilities). The school applies Confucian wisdom in its approach.
Ages served
2 years old through 8th grade; Preschool ages 2-5, Kindergarten, and beyond
Outdoor
Preschool playground available; Water Play Day is an annual preschool tradition

Programs

  • •Mandarin immersion (full immersion in preschool, 50/50 model in kindergarten and lower school)
  • •On Stage at CAIS Theater
  • •Firedragons Athletics
  • •Mandarin World Language Pathway for students without prior Mandarin

Highlights

  • ✓First Mandarin immersion school in the United States
  • ✓87% of 8th graders met benchmark to teach Mandarin
  • ✓Preschool classes of approximately 18 students
  • ✓Community-developed core values emphasizing inclusion, kindness, perseverance, courage, and curiosity

Not stated on their website: Tuition, Hours of operation, Meals/snacks, Teacher-student ratio, Before/after care, Curriculum details, Parent involvement expectations. Ask the preschool directly.

Summarized by AI from the preschool's own website (Jun 23, 2026). Not written or verified by PreschoolWise — confirm details directly with the program.

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Listing facts from public CA child-care licensing records. Reviews are the opinions of individual contributors, moderated before publishing; they are not endorsements by PreschoolWise. Always visit and verify a program directly before enrolling.