San Dieguito United Methodist Preschool
170 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas, CA 92024
About
San Dieguito United Methodist Preschool offers story time, music through song and instruments, art, scientific discoveries, outdoor learning spaces, and playful activities in its classrooms, playground, and glorious play yard. The program also includes family events, Early Bird Drop Off, Extended Day, and a two-week summer school in July for current students and students enrolled in the fall program.
• Ages: 2–5 years old
• Schedule: Class options two, three, or five days a week, with 8:30–11:30 or 8:30–1:30 classes, plus 8:00–8:30 Early Bird Drop Off and 1:30–3:00 Extended Day (not available for 2-year-olds), and a two-week summer school session in July
San Dieguito United Methodist Preschool has used the phrase “Rooted in Care, Growing in Love Since 1980” and has been a part of the Encinitas community since 1980 as a ministry of San Dieguito United Methodist Church. The preschool welcomes children of all faiths and backgrounds and describes itself as a loving Christian preschool family that embraces diversity and celebrates the unique gifts of every child. The program introduces literature during story time and music through song and instruments, and children have the choice to explore art, delve into scientific discoveries, and use their imagination in outdoor learning spaces and the glorious play yard.
The preschool’s director is Anne Mari Buchanan, who first connected with the school in 2005 when her youngest daughter attended as a 3-year-old, began teaching there in 2006, and has served as director since 2017. The mission statement describes San Dieguito United Methodist Preschool as a place where learning, community, and a nurturing environment come together, with a focus on children flourishing socially, emotionally, and intellectually, and on building a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning. The mission statement also notes that the preschool aims to be a home away from home through engaging family events and strong community connections.
Parent testimonials describe San Dieguito United Methodist Preschool as welcoming and charming, with teaching staff who have been at the school many years, a traditional preschool setting, and a glorious play yard with tools from earlier generations. One family notes that they have four children and expect to spend a total of six years at the school, highlighting the classrooms and playground as major positives. Another parent mentions that outdoor learning spaces and playful activities support their child’s curiosity, with the child coming home full of stories and new ideas. A multigenerational testimonial describes children attending in the early 1990s and then the next generation returning to the same program, including a child in Miss Donna’s class more than 30 years after the parent had been in that class.
Last updated July 8, 2026.
• Ages: 2–5 years old
• Schedule: Class options two, three, or five days a week, with 8:30–11:30 or 8:30–1:30 classes, plus 8:00–8:30 Early Bird Drop Off and 1:30–3:00 Extended Day (not available for 2-year-olds), and a two-week summer school session in July
San Dieguito United Methodist Preschool has used the phrase “Rooted in Care, Growing in Love Since 1980” and has been a part of the Encinitas community since 1980 as a ministry of San Dieguito United Methodist Church. The preschool welcomes children of all faiths and backgrounds and describes itself as a loving Christian preschool family that embraces diversity and celebrates the unique gifts of every child. The program introduces literature during story time and music through song and instruments, and children have the choice to explore art, delve into scientific discoveries, and use their imagination in outdoor learning spaces and the glorious play yard.
The preschool’s director is Anne Mari Buchanan, who first connected with the school in 2005 when her youngest daughter attended as a 3-year-old, began teaching there in 2006, and has served as director since 2017. The mission statement describes San Dieguito United Methodist Preschool as a place where learning, community, and a nurturing environment come together, with a focus on children flourishing socially, emotionally, and intellectually, and on building a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning. The mission statement also notes that the preschool aims to be a home away from home through engaging family events and strong community connections.
Parent testimonials describe San Dieguito United Methodist Preschool as welcoming and charming, with teaching staff who have been at the school many years, a traditional preschool setting, and a glorious play yard with tools from earlier generations. One family notes that they have four children and expect to spend a total of six years at the school, highlighting the classrooms and playground as major positives. Another parent mentions that outdoor learning spaces and playful activities support their child’s curiosity, with the child coming home full of stories and new ideas. A multigenerational testimonial describes children attending in the early 1990s and then the next generation returning to the same program, including a child in Miss Donna’s class more than 30 years after the parent had been in that class.
Last updated July 8, 2026.
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